Rita Khanna

The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Associate professor Rita Khanna holds a PhD in condensed matter physics and has worked at several leading institutes: Nuclear Research Centre, Jülich, Germany; Dep’t. of Atomic Energy, India; Australian National University, Canberra; Sydney University; University of New South Wales, Sydney Australia. She has extensive research experience in high temperature metallurgical processes, iron and steelmaking, computer simulations, disordered materials, sustainable recycling and waste management, nanoscale carbons, foams and structures, carbon-based oxide refractories etc. Her research has received over 1600 citations. She has 161 publications to her credit: 2 edited books, 13 book chapters, 118 journal and 28 conference papers.

2books edited

7chapters authored

Latest work with IntechOpen by Rita Khanna

Wettability at the solid/liquid interface, its dynamics, tunability, the influence of operating parameters, surface and interfacial phenomena play an increasingly significant role in a wide variety of applications, for example, material processing, nanotechnology, oil recovery, oil spills, chemical leaching, water management, and disease transmission. Although a mature field, it is experiencing dramatic developments on several fronts with emerging applications in new fields. This book presents a collection of eight chapters on nanoscale wetting phenomena, oil extraction from reservoir rocks, the role of coatings, particle morphology, surface roughness and viscosity in metal processing, and practical applications of superhydrophobic behaviour in cell culturing, isolation, anti-icing, anti-reflective and anti-corrosion coatings in the transportation and optical devices fields.

Go to the book

Wettability and Interfacial Phenomena

Edited by Rita Khanna

Books edited

Recent Developments in the Field of Carbon Fibers

Edited by Rita Khanna

Chapters authored

Atomistic Monte Carlo Simulations in Steelmaking: High Temperature Carburization and Decarburization of Molten Steel

By R. Khanna, R. Mahjoub and V. Sahajwalla

Part of the book: Applications of Monte Carlo Method in Science and Engineering

Atomistic Monte Carlo Simulations on the Formation of Carbonaceous Mesophase in Large Ensembles of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons

By R. Khanna, A. M. Waters and V. Sahajwalla

Part of the book: Theory and Applications of Monte Carlo Simulations

Influence of Wettability and Reactivity on Refractory Degradation – Interactions of Molten Iron and Slags with Steelmaking Refractories at 1550°C

By R. Khanna, M. Ikram-ul-Haq and V. Sahajwalla

Refractories, materials that can withstand high temperatures, play an important role in the iron and steel sector which alone accounts for ~70% of total refractories produced. In this chapter, detailed wettability and interfacial phenomena investigations on alumina-carbon and zirconia-carbon refractories at steelmaking temperatures. The wettability between refractory substrates and molten iron/slags was investigated at 1550°C using the sessile drop approach in a horizontal tube furnace equipped with a CCD camera. Detailed experimental results were obtained on alumina-carbon/molten iron system at high temperatures. Alumina is known to be non-wetting to molten iron while carbon can be easily wetted. Observed contact angles were found to depend strongly on the substrate composition and contact time. While the refractory substrates containing 50 and 60% carbon were found to be non-wetting to molten iron, the substrates containing higher amounts of C (≥ 70%) were found to become increasingly wetting. Molten iron droplets were seen to spread on these substrates.

Part of the book: Wetting and Wettability

Wettability of Carbonaceous Materials with Molten Iron at 1550°C

By R. Khanna, I. Mansuri and V. Sahajwalla

In the direct iron smelting process, interfacial reactions of carbonaceous materials with molten iron are among some of the key factors that dictate the rate of carbon transfer into molten iron and establish a carbon concentrated melt to reduce iron oxide in the slag phase. Detailed wettability investigations on a range of carbonaceous materials, e.g. synthetic graphite, natural graphite, coke, coal-chars, coke-polymer blends, waste plastics in contact with molten iron at 1550°C were carried out using the sessile drop method. Experimental results on dynamic contact angles are presented in this chapter and are discussed in terms of the basic characteristics of carbons and the changing composition of the interfacial region as a function of time.

Part of the book: Wetting and Wettability

Environmental Impact of Processing Electronic Waste – Key Issues and Challenges

By R. Cayumil, R. Khanna, R. Rajarao, M. Ikram-ul-Haq, P.S. Mukherjee and V. Sahajwalla

Extensive utilization of electric and electronic equipment in a wide range of applications has resulted in the generation of huge volumes of electronic waste (e-waste) globally. Highly complex e-waste can contain metals, polymers and ceramics along with several hazardous and toxic constituents. There are presently no standard approaches for handling, dismantling, and the processing of e-waste to recover valuable resources. Inappropriate and unsafe practices produce additional hazardous compounds and highly toxic emissions as well. This chapter presents an overview of the environmental impact of processing e-waste with specific focus on toxic elements present initially in a variety of e-waste as well as hazardous compounds generated during e-waste processing. Hazardous constituents/ and contaminants were classified in three categories: primary contaminants, secondary contaminants, and tertiary contaminants. Primary contaminants represent hazardous substances present initially within various types of e-waste; these include heavy metals such as lead, mercury, nickel and cadmium, flame retardants presents in polymers etc. Secondary contaminants such as spent acids, volatile/toxic compounds, PAHs are the by-products or waste residues produced after inappropriate processing of e-waste and the tertiary contaminants include leftover reagents or compounds used during processing. A detailed report is presented on the environmental impact of processing e-waste and the detrimental impact on soil contamination, vegetation degradation, water and air quality along with implications for human health. Challenges and opportunities associated with appropriate e-waste management are also discussed.

Part of the book: E-Waste in Transition

Introductory Chapter: Recycling and Reuse of End-of-Life Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers

By Rita Khanna

Part of the book: Recent Developments in the Field of Carbon Fibers

Introductory Chapter: Factors Influencing the Wettability of Nanomaterials

By Rita Khanna

Part of the book: Wettability and Interfacial Phenomena

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