Newcastle University

Introduction

Trevor Page (FREng) holds the Cookson Group Chair of Materials Engineering.

His research activities centre upon measuring and understanding the mechanical properties of very small volumes of materials, especially thin-coated systems, by depth-sensing ‘nanoindentation’ and high-resolution microscopies. He has published extensively, is a regular conference invited speaker in Europe and the USA, was the first non-US Chairman of the Gordon Conference on Tribology (2004), has given many presentations to schools and has broadcast for BBC Radio 4 and the World service.

A former Head of Materials Engineering & Metallurgy, he has been the University Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and External Affairs), 2000-2008.

Background

Educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Lichfield, Staffs (1957-1964), Trevor Page graduated from the University of Cambridge (Jesus College) with a first class honours degree in Materials Science (1967) and completed his Ph D ("Field-Ion Microscopy of Dilute Binary Solid Solutions”) in the Department of Metallurgy & Materials Science, University of Cambridge, in 1970. Subsequently, he held a Science & Engineering Research Council Fellowship and then a University Lectureship in Materials Science at Cambridge, moving to the Cookson Group Chair of Materials Engineering at the University of Newcastle in 1987. Subsequent to being Head of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, he became University Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) in August 2000., later becoming the first Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Affairs and Research Liason. He has also been a Visiting Professor at Pennsylvania State University, Visiting Research Professor at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville), Visiting Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA and a Foundation fellow of Robinson College Cambridge. Author of over 200 papers (including the microstructural control of properties of ceramics, surface engineering, tribology of ceramics, and Nanoindentation testing ). He has also served on a wide range of National Committees, Professional Bodies and Editorial Advisory Boards and is currently involved ewith the University’s overseas links to Singapore and Australie, Newcastle Science City and the Northern Way (North of England) Science Initiative (the ‘N8’).

Roles and Responsibilities

Cookson Group Chair of Materials Engineerung (1987-)

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) (2000-2004)
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (External Affairs & Research Liaison)(2004-2008)

Qualifications

June 1967: First Class Honours (BA), Natural Sciences Tripos,Cambridge Univertsity(Pt II: Materials Science

1971:Ph.D: Cambridge University (Field-Ion Microscopy of Dilute Binary Solid Solutions - Department Metallurgy and Materials Science)
1971:Master of Arts, Cambridge University.

Fellow - Instiute of Ceramics (F Inst Ceram) (Now IoM) 1986
Fellow - Instiute of Matetrals (F I M) 1991
Fellow - Instiute of Physics (F I Phys) 2002

Chartered Engineer.

Previous Positions

1970-71: SERC Fellow, Department of Metallurgy & Materials Science, University of Cambridge;
1972-76: University Demonstrator (Asst Lecturer), University of Cambridge;
1976-86: University Lecturer in Metallurgy & Materials Science, University of Cambridge;
1976-1987: Foundation Fellow, College Lecturer & Fellows' Steward, Robinson College, Cambridge;
1987- Cookson Group Chair of Engineering Materials, Newcastle University
2000-4: Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), Newcastle University
2004-2008: Pro-Vice-Chancellor (External Affairs & Research Liaison), Newcastle University

Visiting Positions: Visiting Professor, Department of Materials Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, USA (1985); Visiting Research Professor, University of Tennessee (Knoxville), 1996, 1997 & 2000; Visiting Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA (1986, 1996, 1997 & 2000).

Memberships

The Institute of Materials (Fellow);
Materials Research Society, USA
Royal Microscopical Society; past Council Member & Chairman (Materials Section),
Tyne-Wear Metallurgical Society (past Chairman);
EPSRC (Structural Materials Colleges (1994-2006);
British Joint Committee on Electron Microscopy (past-Chairman);
Foresight (OST/DTI - 1995-6) - Materials at their limits;.
Defence Scientific Advisory Committee (MoD) Materials Technology Board, (Chairman 1994-98); other Boards and working parties 1998-2006.
Journal of Materials Science (Managing Editorial Board);
Current & past member of Editorial Advisory Boards for Journal of Microscopy, Scanning, Transactions & Journal (British Ceramic Society), Kluwer Materials Encylopaedia

Honours and Awards

Titular scholar, Jesus College, Cambridge (1967-);
Diploma: Royal Microscopical Society (1979);
Leslie Holliday Prize (Institute of Materials (1982) - Microstructure-Property Relationships in Ceramics);
MRS Outstanding Poster Presentation award 1998 - Nanoindentation of 6H-SiC : Slip vs Densification;
Gordon Research Conference on Tribology) - Donald C Flom Award, (first recipient) for the Outstanding Contribution (1998) Contact Damage to Ceramics & Ceramic Coatings - a plea to understand each other across the divides of spatial scales -

Languages

English.

Informal Interests

Listening to music; guitar playing; opera, theatre & cinema; collecting (and reading) detective fiction; food & wine; gardening.

Research Interests

My research has ranged over linked themes from my earliest Ph D studies developing the technique of field ion microscopy for the elucidation of atomic-level order and defect structures in binary alloys, through technique developments in transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy and nanoindentation as applied to studying the underlying fundamental structure-property-process path relationships in metals, ceramics, ion-implanted and coated systems. In all cases, emphasis has been on using a wide range of new and existing techniques, and developing some new approaches, to investigate critical microstructural features governing properties, engineering applications and lifetimes of both structural engineering materials and functional materials(e.g. grain boundary structures in metals and ceramics, the adhesion and integrity of coating, the sequencing of thin film multi-layercoating ‘stacks’ for optical coatings). Another theme has been to establish how ‘forefront scientific techniques’ – e.g. scanning electron acoustic microscopy and nanoindentation - can provide key information for those using and applying materials.

General areas of research:

• materials engineering;
• engineering ceramics;
• surface engineering;
• indentation & nanoindentation techniques;
• tribology & nanotribology;
• SEM & SPM technique development and applications.

Research themes:

Other Expertise

• understanding microstructure-mechanical property relationships in engineering ceramics, ceramic coatings and ceramic matrix composites including the role of fabrication history;
• developing techniques for the detailed microstructural characterisation of ceramics and coated systems : e.g. special scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques (cathodoluminescence(CL), Scanning Electron Acoustic Microscopy etc), high resolution electron microscopy (HREM) for directly identifying stacking sequences in SiC polytypes and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) Fresnel techniques for interfacial studies);
• determining the range of materials information accessible by hardness testing (surface plasticity, indentation fracture, the effects of scale, temperature and environment, residual stresses etc);
• exploring wear mechanisms in ceramics;
• determining the liquid metal compatibility of ceramics relevant to cutting tool wear and joining techniques;
• determining the structural, mechanical and chemical effects of ion implantation into ceramics;
• characterising the structure and behaviour of grain boundaries and interfaces in ceramic materials;
• understanding polytypism in silicon carbide.

Current Work

• Developing and applying nanoindentation and SPM-based indentation methods for assessing materials properties at small spatial scales - thus exploring the roles of scale effects in determining materials properties;
• characterising the properties of very thin (
• exploring and understanding the properties of CNx coatings (EEC-TMR);
• applying scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques atomic force microscopy(AFM) etc) as a means of characterising ceramic surfaces and near-surface defects;
• the use of mechanistic property modelling as a basis for the selection of ceramic materials and coatings.

Future Research

continuing the original strands of work, many unique to Newcastle, developing instrumented indentation (‘nanoindentation’) techniques for investigating and assessing materials properties either at small spatial scales or in materials of limited spatial dimensions (e.g. very thin coatings and multilayer coating) – Newcastle (Professor Steve Bull), ORNL (USA) and various other collaborators worldwide;
• using and developing Scanning Probe Microscopy techniques (AFM, LFM, stiffness mapping, force spectroscopy etc and ultra low load indentation testing) with both NanoIndenter and Hysitron state-of-the-art equipment as a means of characterising ceramic and other surfaces relevant to controlling friction and wear in both existing and emergent technologies;
• to further my original work into compaction-vs-slip in silicon (etc) so as to understand ‘super-finishing’ and surface damage in semi-conductors and to explore applications of ‘instantly transforming minute volumes of semiconductors into the metallic state’ (e.g. manufacturing novel micro-wave guides on devices. This involves a continued international liaison with Professor David Joy and Professor George Pharr at ORNL, USA.
• To continue to fully exploit, and build on, the unique range of facilities assembled (over an 18 year span) at Newcastle to address the ‘high spatial scale mechanical property challenges’.

•obtain anew NanoIndenter™ XP facility which embodies many of the developments made at Newcastle (EPSRC)
•further develop the links between nano-scale behaviour and macroscopic performance with suitable industrial support
•to build further on the liaisons formed with Nanotechnology activities - both within Newcastle and elsewhere – e.g. the Angstrom Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden; ORNL (USA) etc
•When I end my current PVC (EARL) period of commitment – i.e. after RAE 2008 – I have invitations to spend significant sabbatical periods at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Sandia National Labs (San Fransisco) and the University of Minnesota to further my nanoindentation approaches to studying high spatial scale mechanical properties.

Research Roles

Research Group Founder & Leader (Newcastle & Cambridge)
Resarch Training and training courses (techniques - TEM, AFM, SEM etc)

University research leadership and Strategy (PVC role)

Postgraduate Supervision

Mr ERIC HERBERT 2005-08
Innovative Nanomechanics Studies of materials Systems
University of Tennessee (Knoxville), in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and NanoInstruments.

Esteem Indicators

Insitute of Materials (UK) Annual Ceramics Convention - invited lecture, "NanoIndentation of Ceramics and Hard-Coated Systems" Cirencester April 2001

DTI/NPL UK coatingsForum -invited lecture "Probing Ceramics" London 3/2001

7th International Conference on Plasma Surface Engineering, Garmish, Germany, Sept 2000 Nanoindentation - A Scale-Variable Probe For Characterising The Mechanical Properties Of Thin Film Coated Systems [Plenary]

2002 Gordon Research Conference on Tribology: Elected Vice-chair (& Poster Chair)

2004 Gordon Research Conference on Tribology: Elected Chair (first non-US Chair of this particular Gordon Conference)

2006 Gordon Research Conference on Tribology - Poster Chair (invited)

2002 Gordon Research Conference on Thin Film Mechanical Behaviour - Poster Chair & Discussion Leader (invited)

2004 Gordon Research Conference on Thin Film Mechanical Behaviour - Poster Chair (invited)

2006 Gordon Research Conferenceon Thin Film Mechanical Behaviour - Poster Chair & Discussion Leader (invited)

International Conference on Thin Films & Metallurgical Coatings, San Diego, April 2003: Invited Session Chair - Optical Thin Films session

Materials Research Society (USA) - Fall Meeting, Boston, December, 2004 : Invited Chair - Workshop on Instrumented Indentation of Soft Materials.

National Science Foundation (NSF) Workshop on High Pressure Phase Transformations (HTTP) - (University of Tennessee & Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, August 2005)
Distinguished Guest Speaker (invited) – High pressure Phase Transformations in Silicon & Related Materials - the Role of Instrumented Indentation

Engineering Conferences International meeting on Instrumented Indentation Testing in Materials Research & Development (Crete, October 2005) - invited speaker and session chair - Instrumented Indentation Characterisation of Coated Systems

University of Surrey Annual Materials lecture (October 2005)
MATERIALS ENGINEERING MAY SUCCEED - BUT SCIENCE MAY FAIL!

Invited to become a Fellow of the Institute of Physics in recognition of my contributions to the ‘teaching of Physics and research in physics-related subjects’ (Feb 2003).

Funding

Since coming to Newcastle, my major research grants (EPSRC, EEC & Industry) total ~£2M and have included developed research liaisons with over 20 UK and multinational companies. EPSRC funding has included the establishment of major instrumental facilities in Newcastle for Scanning Electron Microscopy, Nanoindentation and Scanning Probe Microscopy.

Industrial Relevance

With collaborative research awards and other funding, I have worked with the following Companies

BP Research Laboratories; British Gas; Courtaulds; ICI (Fibres); ICI (Wilton); Joseph Lucas; Morgan Matroc; Multi-Arc Coatings; NEI/IRD; NCT; Pilkington Technology Centre; Plessey (Caswell); Sandvic Hard Materials; Schlumberger (Cambridge); Shell TRC; Rolls-Royce; Tecvac Limited; Turner and Newall; UKAEA (Harwell); UKAEA (Springfields).

Patents

Ion Implantation of SiC - UK Patent No 8119281 (1980)
with Dr S G Roberts and AERE Harwell.

Ceramic Surface Softening By Ion Implantation - UK Patent No 8310298
with Dr P J Burnett and AERE Harwell.

Low Friction Ceramic Surfaces – Preliminary UK Patent Applied for (Newcastle – but allowed to lapse)with Dr H W Chandler and Dr S V Hainsworth

Undergraduate Teaching

Tribology - a full module for Mechanical and Other Stage 3 Engineers

• Page TF, Bull SJ. Measuring and modelling the instrumented indentation (nanoindentation) response of coated systems. In: Conference on Instrumented Indentation Testing in Materials Research and Development. 2006, Iraklion, Greece: Philosophical Magazine, Taylor & Francis Ltd..
• Page TF, Bull SJ. Comments on-mechanical modelling of multilayer optical coatings: authors' reply. Thin Solid Films 2005. Switzerland: Elsevier S.A., 484(1-2), 439-442.
• Bull SJ, Arce-Garcia I, Berasetegui EG, Page TF. Indentation fracture, acoustic emission and modelling of the mechanical properties of thin ceramic coatings. In: Active Materials, Nanoscale Materials, Composites, Glass and Fundamentals. 2005, Houston, Texas, USA: Springer.
• Bull SJ, Berasetegui EG, Page TF. Modelling of the indentation response of coatings and surface treatments. Wear 2004, 256(9-10), 857-866.
• Page TF, Shaw BA. Scanning electron acoustic microscopy (SEAM): A technique for the detection of contact-induced surface & sub-surface cracks. Journal of Materials Science 2004, 39(22), 6791-6805.
• G-Berasategui E, Bull SJ, Page TF. Mechanical modelling of multilayer optical coatings. In: 30th International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films. 2003, San Diego, California: Thin Solid Films: Elsevier.
• Berasategui EG, Page TF. The contact response of thin Si-C-coated silicon systems-characterisation by nanoindentation. Surface and Coatings Technology 2003, 163-164, 491-498.
• Garcia IA, G-Berasategui E, Bull SJ, Page TF, Neidhardt J, Hultman L, Hellgren N. How hard is fullerene-like CNx? Some observations from the nanoindentation response of a magnetron-sputtered coating. Philosophical Magazine A: Physics of Condensed Matter, Structure, Defects and Mechanical Properties 2002, 82(10), 2133-2147.
• Page TF, Barrett R. Cathodoluminescence Analysis of Ceramics. In: Buschow KHJ, Cahn RW, Flemings MC, Ilschner B, Kramer EJ, Mahajan S, ed. Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology (EMSAT). Oxford: Elsevier Science, 2001, pp. 1097-1102.
• Hainsworth SV, Page TF. Evaluation Of The Mechanical Properties Of Ceramics Using Nanoindentation. Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation 2001, 17(4-5), 275-298.
• Page TF, Bull SJ. Ion Implantation into Ceramics. In: Buschow KHJ, Cahn RW, Flemings MC, Ilschner B, Kramer E J, Mahajan S, ed. Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology (EMSAT). Oxford: Elsevier Science, 2001, pp. 4286-4292.
• Malkow T, Arce-Garcia I, Kolitsch A, Schneider D, Bull SJ, Page TF. Mechanical properties and characterisation of very thin CNx films synthesised by IBAD. Diamond and Related Materials 2001, 10(12), 2199-2211.
• Hainsworth SV, Page TF. The Characterisation Of Ceramic Materials By SEM And SPM Techniques. Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation 2001, 17(4&5), 235-261.
• Tymiak NI, Daugela A, Page TF, Gerberich WW. Nanoindentation Evaluation of Brittle Films on Metals. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings 2000, 649, Q7.6.
• Page TF, McGurk MR. Using the P-delta-squared analysis to deconvolute the nanoindentation response of hard-coated systems. Journal of Materials Research 1999, 14(6), 2283-2295.