ABOUT ME
E-Mail: cornek@itu.edu.tr | Phone: +90 212 285 68 64
Cem Örnek conducts comprehensive research on material degradation and deterioration mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on localized corrosion and crack formation. His work focuses on developing advanced materials and surface engineering solutions for the automotive, steel manufacturing, energy, and biomedical industries.
His expertise includes next-generation microstructure modelling and characterization, integrating corrosion considerations into material design, innovative microstructures, and functional coatings. He employs computational and experimental approaches to investigate and enhance the hydrogen-trapping capabilities of nanoparticles and intermetallic compounds with the aim to combat hydrogen embrittlement, as well as their influence on corrosion resistance.
Dr. Örnek also specializes in tribology (friction, wear, and lubrication science) and tribocorrosion (the interplay of wear and corrosion mechanisms), focusing on the development of surface engineering solutions for high-temperature and extreme environments. His research includes advanced surface technologies, such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) coatings, aimed at improving mechanical wear resistance and corrosion protection.
In the biomedical sector, he designs biocompatible, high-corrosion-resistant, and multifunctional coatings, while also exploring the applicability of high-entropy alloys and other advanced materials. His work extends to hydrogen permeation barriers, cathodic protection strategies, and smart material systems, contributing to cutting-edge innovations in these fields.
His experimental research leverages real-time, time- and spatially-resolved operando synchrotron techniques to investigate corrosion and material degradation mechanisms under real-world conditions. Additionally, he utilizes density functional theory (DFT) modeling and computational materials science methods to analyze the role of corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement in material design.
At The Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, he teaches Corrosion and Corrosion Protection, Surface Treatments, Materials Science, Statistics and Probability, and MATLAB Programming. Through his interdisciplinary research, he continues to advance innovative material solutions for the automotive, steel manufacturing, energy, and nanotechnology sectors.
He also serves as the Director of ITUnano - Nanotechnology Research Center.