Allan Matthews facts for kids

Allan Matthews, born in 1952, is a professor at the University of Manchester. He is an expert in "surface engineering" and "tribology." These are special fields that focus on making surfaces stronger and understanding how things rub together. He also leads a network that uses digital tools to create new surfaces.

Education

Allan Matthews went to Upholland Grammar School. He later earned his PhD degree from Salford University. For his PhD, he studied special "plasma" processes. These processes use hot, charged gases to put strong coatings on tools. This helps make tools last longer and work better.

Career

Early Work in Aerospace

Allan Matthews started his career in the UK's aerospace industry. He worked for companies like Hawker Siddeley Dynamics and British Aerospace Dynamics Group. This means he helped design and build parts for airplanes and spacecraft.

Pioneering Surface Engineering

In 1982, Professor Matthews became a leader in "surface engineering." This field is all about changing the surface of materials to improve them. He started a special lab at Hull University to research this. His team made big discoveries using plasma to treat surfaces. They found ways to make steel and titanium stronger. They also created coatings that protect tools and airplane parts from wear and heat.

Work at Sheffield University

In 2002, Professor Matthews joined the University of Sheffield. He continued his research on plasma-based surface engineering. He also helped create the Leonardo Centre for Tribology and Surface Technology. This center studies how surfaces interact when they slide or rub against each other. In 2007, he became the head of the materials science and engineering department there.

Joining the University of Manchester

Professor Matthews moved to The University of Manchester in 2016. Later that year, he became the Director of the International Centre for Advanced Materials (bp-ICAM). This is a huge project with BP and several top universities. It brings together experts to develop new materials. During his time as Director, he worked closely with Vernon Gibson.

Ambassador for Advanced Materials

At The University of Manchester, Professor Matthews has been a strong supporter of advanced materials. He helps connect university researchers with companies. His main focus is on Tribology, which is important for making things like engines and machines work smoothly.

Publications

Professor Matthews has written many scientific papers. He also co-authored an important book called "Coatings Tribology." This book explains how coatings work to reduce friction and wear on surfaces.

Awards and Honours

Professor Matthews has been part of many important scientific groups. These include the British Vacuum Council and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

Major Awards

• In 2012, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng). This is a high honour for engineers.
• In 2023, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is one of the oldest and most respected scientific awards.
• In 2011, he received the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) Gold Medal. This was for his important work in applying materials science to industry.
• In 2018, he received the IOM3 Tom Bell Surface Engineering Medal. He also won the AVS-ASED R. F. Bunshah Award. These awards recognized his pioneering work in surface engineering.
• He also received the Donald Julius Groen Prize in 2005 and the IMechE Bronze Tribology Award in 1981.

Journal Editor

Since 1987, Professor Matthews has been an editor for the "Surface and Coatings Technology" journal. He became the main editor in 2013. This journal publishes new research on surface engineering.

Research Funding

His research has received funding from many important organizations. These include the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the European Union (EU), and the European Research Council (ERC). He also gets support from other government and industry sources.