Aniket Samanta

Materials Research Engineer with 6 years of experience in industrial R&D, advanced materials characterization, product development, and metallurgical failure analysis across automotive, glass-lined process equipment, and steelmaking industries. Proven expertise in solving complex engineering challenges through microstructure-property correlation using SEM-EDS, XRD, optical microscopy, metallography, and mechanical testing. Experienced in developing new material solutions, evaluating coating technologies, leading root-cause investigations, and collaborating with cross-functional engineering teams to improve product reliability, manufacturing processes, and customer satisfaction.

Materials Research Engineer - HLE Glascoat Ltd.

(2025-06)

Lead research activities involving failure analysis, materials characterization, product development, and process optimization for glass-lined equipment used in pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

• Solved recurring hydrogen-assisted fishscaling defect in SA106 Gr B pipes by correlating microstructural banding/segregation with hydrogen trapping behaviour using optical microscopy and SEM-EDS. Implemented preheating/annealing as an immediate corrective action and recommended Ti-stabilized steel as the long-term material solution.
• Investigated glass crystallization during glass lining using XRD phase identification and optical microscopy to identify crystalline phases responsible for devitrification and surface quality deterioration.
• Developed SS/Ni-Cr thermal spray coating as a cost-effective alternative to stainless-steel manway covers for GMP applications by evaluating coating integrity, interface quality, elemental distribution, and CTE compatibility using SEM-EDS elemental mapping and line scan analysis.
• Designed and executed comparative hydro-abrasion evaluation of multiple glass formulations to quantify wear rate rankings and generate engineering data for material selection for highly abrasive service conditions.
• Contributed to conductive glass product development through SEM characterization, optical microscopy, and electrical conductivity evaluation for formulation optimization.
• Conducted customer failure investigations involving AMT blade chipping and handhole cover chipping by identifying gas entrapment, excessive glass thickness at low-radius regions, and non-standard firing cycles as root causes.
• Currently involved in R&D projects on vacuum-assisted limpet coil technology for scale reduction and stainless-steel cladding development for manway covers.

Deputy Manager-Product Development - VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd. (A Joint Venture of Volvo & Eicher Group)

(2023-07 - 2025-05)

• Led metallurgical investigations of heavy-duty truck axles, chassis, and structural components using fractography, metallography, and mechanical testing.
• Reduced mining truck axle failures from 7–8 to 1–2 cases per six months through systematic failure analysis and implementation of engineering corrective actions.
• Led the prototype development of LNG tractor-trailer platforms through lightweight material selection, structural optimization, and validation of alternate materials.
• Performed material qualification, heat-treatment assessment, and component investigations supporting new product development.
• Collaborated with design, manufacturing, supplier quality, and testing teams during product development and validation.
• Received TBEMF Innovation Award for lightweight chassis redevelopment for LNG tractor trailer heavy duty trucks.

Deputy Manager-Technical Support Services - TRL Krosaki Refractories Ltd. (Formerly TATA Refractories Ltd)

(2018-07 - 2021-07)

• Provided on-site technical support at major stainless steel customers in north & central region of India for refractory performance improvement in AOD steelmaking vessels.
• Investigated refractory failures through wear mechanism analysis, slag chemistry evaluation, and operating parameter correlation.
• Improved refractory campaign life by 30–45% in Jindal Stainless, Hisar through optimized refractory selection and process recommendations.
• Conducted customer-facing technical discussions, troubleshooting activities, and performance reviews to improve refractory reliability.

MTech - Metallurgical Engineering - Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi (2023 - 2025)

BTech - Metallurgical & Materials Engineering - Veer Surendra Sai University Of Technology, Burla (2014 - 2018)