Robert Baker (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Baker was a British
metallurgist
and steelmaker
.
Baker attended Woodhouse Grammar School and graduated with an honours degree in metallurgy
from the University of Sheffield
in 1960. He stayed on to conduct research on the use of a stabilised zirconia solid electrolyte
for the measurement of oxygen activity in molten steel
, for which he was awarded a PhD
in 1964.
Baker worked for British Steel
for many years, and was appointed Director of Research and Development
in 1986 following the retirement of Dr KJ Irvine. Together with colleagues at the company, he was granted patents relating to steel production
.
Baker was a elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
(IMMM). The IMMM also awarded him the Sir Robert Hadfield
medal with his colleague GD Spenceley in 1987, and the Bessemer Gold Medal in 1998 for services to the industry.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
metallurgist
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
and steelmaker
Steelmaking
Steelmaking is the second step in producing steel from iron ore. In this stage, impurities such as sulfur, phosphorus, and excess carbon are removed from the raw iron, and alloying elements such as manganese, nickel, chromium and vanadium are added to produce the exact steel required.-Older...
.
Baker attended Woodhouse Grammar School and graduated with an honours degree in metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
from the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
in 1960. He stayed on to conduct research on the use of a stabilised zirconia solid electrolyte
Electrolyte
In chemistry, an electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that make the substance electrically conductive. The most typical electrolyte is an ionic solution, but molten electrolytes and solid electrolytes are also possible....
for the measurement of oxygen activity in molten steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, for which he was awarded a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1964.
Baker worked for British Steel
British Steel
British Steel was a major British steel producer. It originated as a nationalised industry, the British Steel Corporation , formed in 1967. This was converted to a public limited company, British Steel PLC, and privatised in 1988. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
for many years, and was appointed Director of Research and Development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
in 1986 following the retirement of Dr KJ Irvine. Together with colleagues at the company, he was granted patents relating to steel production
Steelmaking
Steelmaking is the second step in producing steel from iron ore. In this stage, impurities such as sulfur, phosphorus, and excess carbon are removed from the raw iron, and alloying elements such as manganese, nickel, chromium and vanadium are added to produce the exact steel required.-Older...
.
Baker was a elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining is a major UK engineering institution whose activities encompass the whole materials cycle, from exploration and extraction, through characterisation, processing, forming, finishing and application, to product recycling and land reuse...
(IMMM). The IMMM also awarded him the Sir Robert Hadfield
Robert Hadfield
Sir Robert Abbott Hadfield, 1st Baronet FRS was an English metallurgist, noted for his 1882 discovery of manganese steel, one of the first steel alloys...
medal with his colleague GD Spenceley in 1987, and the Bessemer Gold Medal in 1998 for services to the industry.