The Scottish Association for Metals (SAM) is delighted to be able to honour the contribution made to materials engineering by Professor Thomas Neville Baker (B Met, PhD, D Met, D Sc, D Eng, F Inst P, FIMMM), Emeritus Professor of Metallurgy and Honorary Research Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, through the award of the Riley Medal
Neville was educated at the University of Sheffield and was employed by Tube investments prior to moving to the University of Strathclyde. He began his career by studying the use of vanadium in microalloyed steels, and over the 40 years that followed he extended his work into the use of niobium, titanium and zirconium. His expertise in thin foil transmission electron microscopy was a particular feature of his research. His work has also covered the properties of heat affected zones of welded products as well as upstream research into microalloyed thin slab steels. Employing this knowledge he has helped plant operators better understand the direct charging process, which has led to energy and yield savings. Other areas researched have been metal matrix composites, surface treatments and stainless steel welding.
He has a vast number of publications – in excess of 200 – and has edited two books. Throughout his career, he has been a highly instructive teacher and a most engaging post graduate supervisor.
In recognition of his learned contribution to understanding microstructure, mechanical properties, fabricability or in-service performance, production or engineering connected with the iron and steel industry, Professor Baker has been the recipient of several awards and prizes such as the Williams Award in 2017 for best paper published in the journal “Ironmaking and Steelmaking”, the Vanadium Medal in 2009 for the most outstanding paper in the metallurgy and technology of vanadium and its alloys and the Tom Colclough Medal and Prize in 2010 in recognition of distinguished achievements in the production of or engineering connected with the iron and steel associated industries. Neville served as President of the Scottish Association for Metals from 2001 to 2003.