Professor David N Brown B.Eng.(Hons), Ph.D.

Professor David N Brown

School of Metallurgy and Materials
Professor of Magnetic Materials

Contact details

Address
Metallurgy and Materials
Elms Road
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

David Brown is an Industrial Professor of Magnetic Materials and their manufacturing processes. He has spent over 20 years working in the industry and has a wealth of experience in applying materials science to real manufacturing scenarios and products.

David is actively researching novel compositions and fabrication techniques with the aim of advancing the technology and providing new solutions to material science challenges.

He is enthusiastic about teaching and is keen to help train the next generation of scientists and engineers.  

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham, UK, 2000
  • M.Phil. in Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham, UK, 1996
  • B.Eng. in Materials Science, University of Bath, UK, 1994

Teaching

  • Magnetic Materials
  • Manufacturing of Magnetic components
  • Casting technologies
    • Melt-spinning, planar flow and strip casting
    • Clean melting and alloy refinement
    • Investment casting, directional and single-crystal casting
  • Characterization of functional materials

Postgraduate supervision

Looking for Post Docs now.

Research

Experience in magnetic materials and their manufacture 

Publications

Recent publications

Book

Smith, B & Brown, D 2011, Quantitative Researchers' Views on Qualitative Research: An Opportunity for Dialogue. Routledge.

Article

Dickinson-Lomas, AM, Jenkins, MJ, Brown, DN, Leeke, GA & Keith, MJ 2025, 'Efficient solvent-based removal of epoxy polymer coatings for the recycling of neodymium-iron-boron magnets', Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 534, 147053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147053

Kozak, V, Pickering, L, Awais, M, Mahendran, A, Farthing, J, Arnold, R, Mann, N, Brown, D & Walton, A 2025, 'Improving short-loop recycling of sintered NdFeB magnets by grain boundary phase separation following hydrogen processing', Sustainable Materials and Technologies, vol. 46, e01744. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2025.e01744

Griffiths, J, Brooks, OP, Obulan Subramanian, G, Kozak, V, Brown, D, Campell, A, Lambourne, A & Sheridan, RS 2025, 'The Effects of Temperature and Pressure on the Hydrogen Decrepitation and Hydrogen Desorption of Sm2TM17 Sintered Magnets', Intermetallics, vol. 184, 108831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intermet.2025.108831

Sahin, U, Campbell, J, Brown, DN & Griffiths, WD 2024, 'Precipitation of Sr-rich and Fe-rich intermetallic compounds in Al alloys', Materials Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1177/02670836241302686

Liogas, K, Lau, KB, Wang, Z, Brown, D, Polatidis, E, Wang, P & Korsunski, A 2023, 'Effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and magnetic properties of laser powder bed fusion processed equiatomic Co-Fe', Additive Manufacturing, vol. 67, 103499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2023.103499

Brown, DN 2016, 'Fabrication, Processing Technologies, and New Advances for RE-Fe-B Magnets', IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, vol. 52, no. 7, 7426850, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1109/TMAG.2016.2535482

Yi, G, Chapman, JN, Brown, D & Harris, I 2001, 'Intermediate phases in the hydrogen disproportionated state of NdFeB-type powders', Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 90, no. 4, pp. 1924-1927. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1388166

Cannesan, N, Brown, D, Williams, A & Harris, I 2001, 'The production and characterisation of highly anisotropic PrFeCoB-type HDDR powders', Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, vol. 233, no. 3, pp. 209-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-8853(01)00212-8

Conference contribution

Brown, D 2024, Ramblings through the Rare Earth Magnetics Industry and a Look into the Challenges Ahead. in UK Magnetics Society.

Hurter, C, Riche, NH, Pahud, M, Ofek, E, Drucker, S, Lee, B, Brown, D & Wong, C 2017, Into the mixed reality data sphere: Mapping user’s movements to data exploration tools. in Proc. Immersive Analytics Workshop. pp. 1-4.

Paper

Kubis, M, Brown, D, Gutfleisch, O, Gebel, B, Muller, KH, Schultz, L & Harris, I 2000, 'Effect of small Zr additions on the microstructure of Sm2Fe17', Paper presented at International Magnetics Conference (INTERMAG 2000), Apr 09-12, 2000. TORONTO, Canada, 1/09/00 pp. 3303-3305.

Poster

Mahendran, A, Farthing, J, Awais, M, Arnold, R, Kozak, V, Moule, D, Smith, H, Caden, AJ, Brown, D & Walton, A 2025, 'Short loop recycling of sintered NdFeB magnets from auxiliary automotive motors utilising HPMS', The 28th International Workshop on Rare Earth and Future Permanent Magnets and Their Applications, Tsukuba, Japan, 27/07/25 - 31/08/25.

Review article

Dickinson-Lomas, A, Keith, M, Brown, D & Jenkins, M 2025, 'The Removal of Epoxy Resins from NdFeB Magnets for Recycling – A Review', Resources, Conservation and Recycling, vol. 215, 108113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.108113

Special issue

Smith, B, Gilbourne, D & Brown, D (eds) 2010, 'Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise', Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, vol. 2, no. 3.

View all publications in research portal