Research Interests of Dr. Martin Pugh

I have an interest in the relationship between processing and properties of Engineering Materials in general and more specifically in the following areas:

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• Ceramic Matrix Composites:  The formation of ceramic composites having increase fracture toughness through the incorporation of fibres such as in whisker reinforced silicon nitride ceramics by reaction bonding and also by sintering.
• Metal Matrix Composites: I have done some work in steel - steel composites and am now moving into the area of light metal comosites such as aluminum and magnesium-based materials. Again, looking at the processing - property relationships.
• Polymer Matrix Composites: I am looking at the development of damage in fibres during the fabrication stage of PMC composites, initially by the pultrusion process.
• Metal-Ceramic Joining: I am collaborating with workers at McGill in the Dept. of Metallurgical Engineering on metal-ceramic joining in the silicon nitride system.
• Wood: I have an interest in the Mechanical behaviour of wood and the correlation of this behaviour with the microstructure and macrostructure of the wood.