Non-Detsructive testing & Inspection of Materials, Research Assistant

EDUCATION

****-****, ********** ** ********, Winnipeg, Canada.

MSc. in Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Thesis: Microstructural studies on failure mechanisms in thermo-mechanical fatigue of repaired DS R80 and IN738 superalloys.

2004-2008, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

B.Sc. (Hons.) Materials Engineering (First Class Division)

Thesis: Wear rate of locally manufactured corn milling plate

RESEARCH GRANTS & AWARDS RECEIVED

2010/2011- International Graduate Student Entrance Scholarship-University of Manitoba

2010/2012-NSERC, Canada Graduate Research Funding –University of Manitoba

2007/2008-Ghana Engineering Students Association -Best Materials Engineering student

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Winter 2011/2012 (2years)- Teaching Assistant for Eng. Materials 1-University of Manitoba

•Graded student assignment and lab work.

•Coordinated group lab experiment for students. The lab covered basic skills in microstructural studies, with topic including specimen preparation, optical microscopy and electron microscopy (SEM). Also the effect of cold rolling and the various stages in annealing process such as recovery, recrystallizaion & grain growth and how they affect the mechanical properties of materials were covered. Effect of defects and surface preparation on fatigue life of components was also investigated.

Fall 2010/2011(2years)- Teaching Assistant for Manufacturing Process 1-University of Manitoba

•Graded student assignment and organized the lab work

•Demonstrating lab experiment and meeting students at office hours to address their concerns and further clarifications of course materials. The laboratory equips students with basic understanding to the effect of manufacturing process such as cold working and annealing on the microstructure and Tensile properties of materials.

RESEARCH INTEREST/RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

2011-2012-Research Assistant University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.(6months project) On Effect of Delta Ferrite on Tensile Properties of 304L Stainless Steel(S.S)

•Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopic identification of the Delta Ferrites

•Volume fraction analysis of ferrite using ClemexTM software.

•Estimation of feritte volume fraction using the Schaefler diagram.

•Dissolution studies of the delta ferrites to vary volume fraction

•Tensile testing of 304L SS with varying volume fraction of delta ferrites.

2010-2012-Research Assistant University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada (MSc).

•Base metal microstructure characterization of IN 738 and DS R80 superalloys.

Findings included γ’ phase, Ni-Zr intermetallics, γ-γ’ phase, MC carbides, M23C6, M6C grain boundary particles and porosity.

•Weld microstructure characterization of IN 738 and DS R80 superalloys

Findings include HAZ cracking, recrystalization, γ’ dissolution in fusion zone &HAZ, precipitation of fine MC carbides in interdendritic regions of fusion zone, and weld defects.

•High temperature failure mechanism in GTAW welded IN 738 and R80 alloys

Findings include oxidation related failures such as grain boundary embrittlement, brittle oxide crack ahead of crack tips, fatigue cracks, creep failures, carbide cracking, incipient melting of low melting point eutectic phases and carbide decohession due to oxidation.

2007/2008-Final year Research Project, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.

•Wear rate of locally manufactured corn milling plates.

Successfully managed two-semester research project to determine the wear rate of locally manufactured milling plates in Ghana and making concrete suggestions on how to improve on their wear resistant properties.

Novel Approaches: Developed an indigenous technique for simulating an experiment for friction induced wear using simple tools such as surface grinding machine, stop watch and weighing scale. Typical wear results were presented and discussed. Microstructure studies were also conducted to determine the various phases present in the cast materials. Hardness values and chemical composition of the milling plates were also determined and the results were discussed.

Research Project Delivery: Delivered results on time and within tight budget that was self-funded with colleagues.

Collaboration: Through contacts from previous vacation internships at various engineering and training institutes in my country, I was able to arrange access to their testing machines and equipment.

Research interest

•Mechanical properties & Microstructure characterization and analysis of materials.

•Microprobe analysis of phases and particles in microstructure studies.

•Failure mechanism in engineering components (fatigue, creep, environmentally related failures such as embrittlement, oxidation and corrosion).

•Electron and light microscopy techniques in research.

COMMUNICATIONS/CONFERENCE & POSTER PRESENTATION

October, 2011-Conference Of Metallurgists 2011 (COM 2011)-Montreal Quebec, Canada.

•Paper presentation on failure mechanisms in thermo-mechanical fatigue of DS superalloy Rene 80

Tuesday session, 10:53am Second presentation p.21 of the conference guide

Winter 2011-Manitoba Institute for Materials Conference Seminar

•Poster presentation on failure mechanisms in IN 738 & R80

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~mfreund/MMC/Abstract_Book.html (No. 27)

TECHNICAL PUBLICATION

•E.O. Abrokwah, O.A. Ojo and N.L. Richards, Failure mechanisms in thermomechanical fatigue of DS superalloy Rene 80. Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum 2012,DOI 10.1179/1879139512Y.000*******

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCES

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

-Jeol JSM 5900 Scanning Electron Microscope operation-

•Microstructure analysis using SEI, BES-shadow, BES-topological and BES-composition operating mode in identifying phases with the compliment of atomic size variation with color contrast in the BES composition mode.

-Oxford window EDS system

•Area mapping techniques for qualitative studies of elemental distribution in phase transformation studies.

•Line scan profile for qualitative elemental analysis of minute particles smaller than the spot size of the primary beam.

•Point analysis for quantitative analysis of phase composition.

LIGHT MICROSCOPY

-Zeiss Axiovert 25 CA inverted Reflected-Light Microscope and Nikon SMZ 800

•Volume fraction analysis of phases, inclusions and porosity.

•Dark field illumination techniques to compliment poor image contrast.

•Bright field Illumination techniques

•Grain size and crack measurements

METALLOGRAPHIC SAMPLE PREPARATION AND ETCHING TECHNIQUES

•Standard metallographic sample preparation techniques

•Chemical and electrolytic etching techniques.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

2010-present, Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME)

2010-present, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

2012-present, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)-student chapter

INTERNSHIP TRAINING

11/2008-08/2009 Tema Oil Refinery, Tema, Ghana. NDT Inspection

What I did basically as an Assistant NDT Inspector was to use noninvasive techniques to determine the integrity of a material, component or structure. My duties included flaw detection and evaluation, leak determination, dimensional measurements, structure and microstructure characterization, thermal hot spot growth, material sorting and chemical composition determination. Specific exposure were in the areas of:

•Taking and recording of paint thickness at the exterior, interior and on the pontoons of floating cover tanks and certify whether they meet standard and requirements using Elcometer.

•Checking the thickness of elbow joints, to ascertain the amount of material loss as a result of erosion wear/corrosion using the DM-4 thickness corrosion gauge and make recommendations as to when it needs replacement.

•Periodic temperature monitoring/reading of the reactor to predict the working state and condition of the refractory lining using FLIR thermal imaging infrared camera.

•Periodic alloy analyzing of component parts using NITON XRF alloy analyzer.

•Pressure test on heat exchangers, vessels, columns and on the flue gas steam generator to check for any leakages and make the appropriate recommendations.

•Performing dye penetrant test on all welded joint pieces on the pipelines to certify that there are no blow holes which may lead to leakages at the joints.

•Scanning of boiler tubes to determine leakages and subsequently supervise the plugging of the tubes.

•Experience in pipeline and instrumentation diagram reading.

•Prepoping of all PSVs before installation in the refinery.

06/2007-08/2007 Tema Oil Refinery, Tema, Ghana. Vacation/Industrial Training

•Conditioning monitoring of running and rotating equipment.

•General inspection of Plant and Equipment.

•Nondestructive examination of Plant and Equipment.

•General inspection of tanks and reservoirs.

08/2006-09/2006 Gratis Foundation, Tema, Ghana, Vacation/Industrial Training

•General foundry practices: main areas of training included mould preparation, sand conditioning, pouring practice, and heat treatment processes.

•Basic operations at the machine shop: I had hands on experience in the use of the milling machine, surface grinder, and pillar-drilling machine.

06/2005-08/2005 Atlantic Structures, Accra, Ghana. Vacation/Industrial Training.

•Hands on experience in metal fabrication and joining processes such as welding and riveting.

•General workshop practices including experience in assembly line manufacturing

ADMINISTARTIVE WORK EXPERINCE

01/2004-07/2004 Atlantis Structures, Accra, Ghana, Office Clerk Grade III

•I provided administrative/secretarial support for the branch office such as answering telephones, assisting visitors, and resolving a range of administrative problems and enquiries.

•I was also responsible for the scheduling and coordinate meetings, interviews, appointments, events and other similar activities for branch manager, which includes travel arrangement.

•I did prepare invoices, reports, memos, letters, product requisition forms, receipts and expenditure sheets, financial statements and other documents.

•I ensured proper filing and retrieval of corporate documents, records, and reports.

•Greet visitors and determine whether they should be given access to specific individuals was part of my everyday routine work.

•I consistently prepared responses to correspondence containing routine inquiries.

•Perform general office duties such as ordering supplies, maintaining records management systems, and performing basic bookkeeping work.

•Provided exceptional client service and ensured clients’ needs were met during office visits.

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