She joined the MSE faculty at Georgia Tech in 1992. She was promoted to Associate Professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering in 1999. Dr. Hampikian's research thrusts include the examination of oxidation resistant materials, and the provision of oxidation-resistant layers via combustion CVD and ion implantation.
Ion implantation is a method of alloying which allows non-equilibrium phases to be formed.
It involves bombarding a substrate with high-energy ions which do not simply coat the surface of the alloy, but become embedded in the top few hundred nanometers of the material. Materials which are to be used at high temperatures must have resistance to oxidation. Many high temperature alloys contain alloying additions which enhance their ability to grow a protective oxide layer which will slow subsequent oxidation. Additionally, it is possible to place a coating on materials to provide or to enhance oxidation protection to the underlying material. For example, turbine blades in advanced engines have coating systems which are engineered to provide substrate protection during high temperature use.