Materials Science and Technology Board

MATERIALS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BOARD

ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2014

1. Board membership

The current MSTD Board has 13 members, the Chairs of the MSTD technical committees, the Chairs of the Surface Engineering, Functional Materials and the Light Metals Divisions, the vice-chair of the Sustainable Development Group and a representative of the Younger Members Committee. Dr Mike Winstone was appointed Chair of MSTD from January 2012.

2 committee chairs resigned during 2014, Gordon McColvin from HTMC and Brad Wynne from SPMC. The Board wishes to record its thanks for the leadership and support they provided to their respective committees. The new chair of HTMC is Jonathan Wells (Siemens) and Mike Cox (AWE) chairs SPMC.

The MSTD technical committees in 2014 were as follows:

ASFC: Advanced Sheet Metal Forming Committee. (Chair: Rajab Said)

BMC: Bulk Metal Forming Committee Rolling Committee. (Chair: Mick Steeper)

DSSC: Defence, Safety and Security Materials Committee. (Chair: Eoin O’Keefe)

HTMC: High Temperature Materials Committee. (Chair: Jonathan Wells)

MCC: Materials Chemistry Committee. (Chair: Andrew Watson)

PEC: Particulate Engineering Committee. (Chair: Cem Selcuk)

SPMC: Structure and Properties of Materials Committee. (Chair: Mike Cox)

Details of scope and activities of each committee can be found on their websites. Committee terms of reference have been revised during 2014 and membership has changed significantly with many new ‘faces’. Each committee has about 15 to 20 members.

1. Board meetings

The MSTD Board met twice during 2014 with over 80% of board members attending. The January meeting was kindly hosted by Cem Selcuk at the Brunel Innovation Centre, Granta Park.

The technical committees held a total of 19 meetings, split between CHT and ‘guest’ locations. Attendance was typically 50% of the committee membership. Attendance at SPMC meetings had been poor during 2013 but improved in 2014.

1. Activities during 2013

3.1. Technical programme

MSTD supported 6 events in 2014. 4 of the events were led by IOM3, 2 co-sponsored by IOM3. The technical committees continue to generate new ideas and 7 IOM3 events are confirmed for 2015 with 3 others under consideration. An increasing proportion of the events involve collaboration between the MSTD Committees and collaboration with other organisation. Co-sponsorship provides benefits for IOM3 members without risk to IOM3. Appendix 1 lists recent and future activities.

3.2. Web-site developments

MSTD and the technical committees maintain microsites. Uncertainties over the new IOM3 website have hindered development of the sites and the number of site visits fell to ~3000 in 2014, compared with 4000 in 2013.

3.3. Engagement with technical community and/or local societies

MSTD continues to strengthen co-operation between its constituent committees and with other technical communities within IOM3. In addition the committees of the Division continue to benefit from strong national and international links. Examples include:

• ASFC works closely with the AFRC and WMG Catapult Centres. It also has a strong association with the European Superplasticity Group and helped to organise EuroSPF 2014. AFRC will contribute to the SheMet 2015 conference.
• BMC members are active in the Rolling Guild. Committee members are Council members of three local societies (SMEA, LISI, CIE)
• DSSC is intimately involved with Government work. This alignment is reflected in the make-up of the committee membership which includes representatives of MOD and the Home Office.
• MCC provides the UK representative on the Alloy Phase Diagram International Commission (APDIC). MCC work on thermodynamics and phase equilibria work is regarded by NPL as an integral part of the National Measurement System.
• HTMC has links with TMS and the High Temperature Materials Testing Committee, IMechE Fossil Power and the Institute of Physics. The chair of the Advanced Power Generation Task Force Materials Sub Group and the Mats UK Energy Materials Working Group is a member of the HTMC.
• PEC maintains an active link with the Powder Advisory Board and the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA).
• SPMC works with French SF2M and German DGM counter to organise the Eurosuperalloy Conferences. Collaboration with IOP Materials Characterisation Group which has a number of similar interests to the SPMC
• MSTDB chair represents IOM3 on the IMechE Structural Technology and Materials Group.

The committees and individual members are involved in industry / academia programmes, such as InnovateUK and the KTNs. This provides support for events of mutual interest.

3.4. Contributions to IoM3 house journals

MSTD contributed articles on its events to Materials World and produced a Divisional Brochure in April 2014.

3.5. Other

Sustainability - MSTDB has a representative from the Sustainability Group (Mark Jolly) and much of the technical committee work is focused on efficient use of materials, energy and natural resources.

1. Strategy and Objectives for 2014

4.1. Opportunities and constraints

MSTD works closely with many other divisions of IOM3 and other professional engineering institutes. Good relationships have been established to facilitate joint events which will be held during 2015.

The committees of MSTD continue to initiate new activities with about a dozen under consideration at any point in time. Approximately 50% of these mature into formal programmes. All this activity relies on volunteer effort and support from employers. That has been increasingly difficult during recent years. An under-utilised resource is the large number of younger members that are affiliated to MSTD. During 2014 about a quarter of all new IOM3 members identified MSTD as their lead division. 80% of those were students. In 2015 MSTD will enhance its interaction with younger members and work more closely with The Younger Members Committee.

4.2. Specific targets

The MSTD committees will organise a minimum of 5 technical events during 2014 and support one or more Materials KTN event.

MSTD will provide three or more articles for Materials World.

4.3Outline plans for the 4 years beyond 2015

All the MSTD committees have been carrying out a strategic review and re-drafting their terms of reference. MSTD has a long-term plan for event. Several conferences are now established as regular events. e.g. the Parsons Turbine Conferences, High Temperature Welds, OPTIMoM, all have built world class brands. These will be developed further.

The MSTD Board has recently appointed a representative from YMC to enhance its relevance to younger members.

Mike Winstone

Chair, MSTD Board

12/01/15

Appendix 1: Technical Programme December 2014