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Introduction

This is the story of an outstanding teaching and research centre for materials science and metallurgy in the United Kingdom, its growth from small beginnings in a college chemistry laboratory, to a sub-department in the University Chemical Laboratory, through to its present major national presence and international significance. It is a story told by metallurgists continuously associated with the Department for more than 40 years, throughout the main period of growth, and to some extent it is seen from their perspective and interpretation, for which they take responsibility. It is hoped, however, that this is a reasonable account overall.

To present a full record of the scientific achievements of the Department over the 70+ years of its existence, to its present size of about 100 research fellows, post-doctoral scientists and visiting scientists and more than 120 research students, would have been an enormous task with an inevitably ponderous and indigestible result. Rather, this account remembers the main areas of effort, some individual characters and their unique contributions to all aspects of Departmental life. Division of content is largely by the periods covered by successive Heads of Department, interspersed with consideration of specific areas of research.

Sadly, the archives of the Department have not been systematically treated over the years. The early contributions of C.T. Heycock are, however, well represented, strengthened by important recent contributions from his family, for which we are very grateful. Thus, much of the content of the text has arisen from personal recollections of ex-staff and students, and important contributions from some of the 30 present members of staff, and we thank them all.

The work can therefore be considered to be a collaborative effort by many, and it is appropriate that all royalties from its sale are to go to a student-assistance fund for the Department.

Edited by: J.A. Charles, A.L. Greer