Dr Bob Moon, Powder Metallurgy expert, has died
June 26, 2019
Dr Bob Moon at the EPMA’s PM Summer School with Joan Hallward (centre) and Karen Powell (left) (Courtesy EPMA)
John Robert (Bob) Moon, PhD C Eng CPhys FInstP FIMMM, a well-respected Powder Metallurgy industry expert, passed away earlier this year. Born in Cardiff, Wales, UK, in 1936, he received his BSc and PhD in physics from the University of Wales and began his career in the South Wales steel industry. He subsequently moved to the Birmingham, UK, area where he worked on advanced titanium and zirconium alloys at Imperial Metals Industries. His final industrial position was at CA Parsons, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, covering the design and construction of large steam turbines.
He was a member of the academic staff at the University of Nottingham from 1967–2008, acting for periods as Director of Studies in the school of Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing Engineering and Management, and as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. While his research interests encompassed a variety of topics, Powder Metallurgy was predominant in recent times and he had more than fifty published papers on PM and related topics.
Moon had close ties to the PM communities in Eastern Europe. He was a regular speaker and attendee at the International Conference on Deformation and Fracture in Structural PM Materials held at Stará Lesná in the Slovak Republic, as well as the RoPM congresses held at various locations in Romania. He was instrumental in the establishment of the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA)’s PM Summer School and, from 1998–2008, was its scientific leader and coordinator. He continued to teach at the Summer School through 2018, conducting popular sessions on the Analysis of Problems related to PM.
While at Nottingham University, he helped develop equipment for the ‘skeleton’ bobsled discipline and visited the United States to attend the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, to support the UK team. He was also very active in local politics, serving as a member of Codnor Parish Council from 1995–2019. He was a former Mayor and Leader of the Heanor and Loscoe Town Council, Chair of Codnor Parish Council, and Leader of the Labour Group on Amber Valley Borough Council.
Our thanks to W Brian James, Dr Moon’s friend and colleague, for his significant contribution to this obituary.
