Contact Dr Jeff Rao
- Email: J.Rao@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Background
Jeff is a Senior Research Officer specializing in Coating Technology at Cranfield University's Surface Engineering and Precision Centre. With over a decade of experience in the field, Jeff is an expert in physical vapour deposition coatings, with particular expertise in coatings relevant to diverse commercial sectors, including automotive, aerospace, and white-goods industries.
Jeff serves as the course director for the Manufacturing Technology & Management MSc programme at Cranfield University. In this role, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the academic curriculum, mentoring students, and fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
Research opportunities
Jeff's research interest lie in smart and functional coatings. He aims to deliver strategic advantages for businesses and clients. Key aspects of interest is the innovative application of coatings to optimise product performance to enhance the functionality and reliability of various products. Whether it's improving the durability of automotive components, enhancing the corrosion resistance of aerospace materials, or increasing the scratch resistance of surfaces, thereby supporting diverse industries.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Ng C-H, Rao J & Nicholls J. (2020). The role of PVD sputtered PTFE and Al2O3 thin films in the development of damage tolerant coating systems. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 9(1)
- Brzezinka TL, Rao J, Paiva JM, Azkona I, Kohlscheen J, .... (2020). Facilitating TiB2 for Filtered Vacuum Cathodic Arc Evaporation. Coatings, 10(3)
- Brzezinka T, Rao J, Paiva J, Kohlscheen J, Fox-Rabinovich G, .... (2019). DLC and DLC-WS2 Coatings for Machining of Aluminium Alloys. Coatings, 9(3)
- Rao J, Anjum SS, Craig M & Nicholls JR. (2018). Bioinspired metal–polymer thin films with varying hydrophobic properties. Journal of Coatings Technology and Research, 15(1)
- Rao J, Sharma A & Rose T. (2018). Titanium Aluminium Nitride and Titanium Boride Multilayer Coatings Designed to Combat Tool Wear. Coatings, 8(1)
- Brzezinka T, Rao J, Chowdhury M, Kohlscheen J, Fox Rabinovich G, .... (2017). Hybrid Ti-MoS2 Coatings for Dry Machining of Aluminium Alloys. Coatings, 7(9)
- Rao J, Roberts T, Lawson K & Nicholls J. (2010). Nickel titanium and nickel titanium hafnium shape memory alloy thin films. Surface and Coatings Technology, 204(15)
- Rao J, Lawson KJ & Nicholls JR. (2005). The characterisation of e-beam evaporated and magnetron sputtered carbon films fabricated for atomic oxygen sensors. Surface and Coatings Technology, 197(2-3)
Conference Papers
- Rao J, Rose T, Craig M & Nicholls JR. (2014). Wear Coatings For High Load Applications
- Anjum SS, Rao J & Nicholls JR. (2012). Polymer (PTFE) and shape memory alloy (NiTi) intercalated nano-biocomposites
- Cruz R, Rao J, Rose T, Lawson K & Nicholls JR. (2006). DLC–ceramic multilayers for automotive applications
- Rao J, Cruz R, Lawson KJ & Nicholls JR. (2005). Sputtered DLC-TiB2 multilayer films for tribological applications
- Rao J, Cruz R, Lawson KJ & Nicholls JR. (2004). Carbon and titanium diboride multilayer coatings
- White CB, Rao J, Roberts GT, Chambers AR, Lawson KJ, .... (2003). The development of carbon-based sensors for the measurement of atomic oxygen