Dinesh Agrawal

Professor of Materials, and Engineering Science & Mechanics

Senior Scientist

Director of Microwave Processing and Engineering Center

107 MRL Bldg.

Penn State University

University Park, PA 16802

Phone: (814) 863-8034

FAX: (814) 865-2326

E-mail: Dinesh Agrawal

Education:

Ph.D. Solid State Science, Penn State University, 1979
M.Tech. Materials Science, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India, 1975
M.S., Physics, Banaras Hindu University, India, 1972

Research Interests:

Microwave processing of ceramics, composites, metals, etc.
Low thermal expansion materials
Ceramic processing
Rad-waste management

Professor Agrawal has over 30 years of experience in the area of materials processing for variety of applications. He has been a pioneer in the field of the application of microwave energy to develop energy efficient processing of variety of materials, including ceramics, composites, and metallic materials. Microwave processing is now emerging as a new innovative method to produce better, faster, cheaper, and greener products. Microwave technology has been developed for cemented carbides, multi-layer capacitors, electroceramics, and variety of other advanced and engineering materials. Dr. Agrawal has also been involved in the development of new low thermal expansion materials; he had co-developed a new family of low thermal expansion materials, now popularly known as [NZP]. His interests also include radio-active waste management, involving the development of ceramic waste forms using microwaves and traditional processes.

Technologies Impacted by Research:

Ceramics
Powder metals
Multi-layer capacitors
Electroceramics
Varistors
Cemented carbides
Ceramic waste forms
Low thermal expansion materials

Professional Experience:

2006-present	Professor of Materials and Engr. Sci. & Mech.
1997 to present	Director, Microwave Processing and Engineering Center
1997-2006	Senior Scientist and Professor of Materials
1989-1997	Senior Research Associate and Associate Professor of Materials
1988- 1989	Senior Research Associate

Awards:

2008	Listed in Marquis Who’s Who: 2008
2006	Elected Professional member (academics) of World Academy of Ceramics
2005	Honored for completing 25 years of service to the Penn State
2004	Appointed Guest Professor at Wu Han University, China
2004	Nominated to Advisory Committee of International Microwave Power Institute
2003	Elected to the Technical Board of Microwave Working Group
1998	Honored by the International Union of Materials Research Societies by “Innovations in Real Materials Award” on the research in microwave processing of ceramics
1994	Honored for the research on “New Zero Expansion Ceramic Family NZP-CTP” by National Association of Science, Technology and Society (NASTS)

Selected Publications:

1. D.K. Agrawal and W.B. White, “Vibrational Spectra of the Intermediate Compounds in Y₂O₃-P₂O₅ and Gd₂O₃-P₂O₅ Systems", Mat. Res. Bull., 20(6), 697-704 (1985).
D.K. Agrawal and R. Roy, “New Low Expansion Magnetic Materials - A Composite Approach", in Tailoring Multiphase and Composite Ceramics, Mats. Sci. Res. Vol. 20, Eds. R.E. Tressler, G.L. Messing, C.G. Pantano and R.E. Newnham, p381-384 (Plenum Publ. Corp. NY, 1986).
B.E. Scheetz, D.K. Agrawal, E. Breval and R. Roy, “Sodium Zirconium Phosphate (NZP) as a Host Structure for Nuclear Waste Immobilization: A Review, Waste Manag., 14(6), 489-505 (1994).
D. K. Agrawal, “Microwave Processing of Ceramics: A Review” Current Opinion in Solid State & Mat Sci, Vol. 3 (5), 480-86 (1998)
B. Vaidhyanathan, A.P. Singh, D.K. Agrawal, T.R. Shrout, and R. Roy, “Microwave Effects in Lead Zirconium Titanate Synthesis: Enhanced Kinetics and Changed Mechanisms,” J Am. Ceram. Soc. 84[6] 1197-202 (2001).
Y. Fang, M. Lanagan, D. Agrawal, G.Y. Yang, C. Randall, T. R. Shrout, A. Henderson, M. Randall, A. Tajuddin, “An Investigation Demonstrating the Feasibility of Microwave Sintering of Base-Metal-Electrode Multilayer Capacitors, J. Electroceramics, 15, 13-19 (2005).