in the full system development, which included subsystem level technologies involving Aeronautics, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, Laser and Optics and Diagnostics and Instrumentation. He has published 14 papers in national and international journals and reports. He is a member of Indian Laser Association, ILA and many awards to his credit.

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Polyetherimide (PEI)/organoclay (Cloisite 30B) nanocomposite and PEI/pristine nanoclay (K10) nanocomposite were made by solution casting process. Nanoclay content of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0% (by weight) was reinforced in PEI. The dielectric properties (dielectric constant, loss tangent, and electromagnetic transmission/ reflection losses) of PEI/Cloisite 30B were observed lower than PEI/K10 in X band frequency (8 to 12 GHz). Mixed morphology in terms of intercalation and exfoliation was evident in wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis and transmission electron micrographs (TEM) of PEI/Cloisite 30B. Whereas, in PEI/K10, immiscibility, segregation, and phase separation of K10 were observed in WAXD analysis and scanning electron micrographs (SEM). Tensile properties (tensile strength, modulus, and elongation at break) of PEI/Cloisite 30B were superior to PEI/K10. Reinforcement with 1%, by weight, of Cloisite 30B in PEI resulted in the optimum properties, among all the compositions.

Organoclay (Cloisite 30B)-reinforced polyetherimide (PEI) and pristine nanoclay (K10)-reinforced PEI nanocomposite films were made by solution casting process with 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 wt% values of nanoclay. Scanning electron micrographs showed that Cloisite 30B was uniformly dispersed in PEI/Cloisite 30B nanocomposites. Glass transition temperature (Tg) of PEI/Cloisite 30B nanocomposites was observed to be higher than those of neat PEI and PEI/K10 nanocomposites. Tg remained unchanged for all wt% values of Cloisite 30B, whereas Tg of PEI/K10 kept on reducing with increasing values of the content of K10. Wide angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron micrographs showed intercalation and exfoliation, of Cloisite 30B, which restricted the diffusion of heat through silicate layers to achieve high thermal stability of PEI/Cloisite 30B nanocomposites over PEI/K10 nanocomposites in thermogravimetric analysis and isothermal aging.