معرفی
Gerald Frankel is Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University, where he has been a faculty member since 1995. He serves as Director of the Fontana Corrosion Center and leads a DOE-funded Engineering Frontier Research Center focused on nuclear waste forms and containers. His work bridges fundamental corrosion mechanisms with critical applications in nuclear waste management and aerospace safety.
His research interests center on passivation and localized corrosion of metals and alloys, corrosion inhibition, protective coatings, and atmospheric corrosion. He is a world leader in understanding pitting and localized corrosion mechanisms, particularly through his development of a framework for pit growth stability. His work has profound implications for material durability in extreme environments, including nuclear waste storage and aircraft integrity.
The available publications highlight a strong focus on nuclear waste form degradation and fundamental corrosion modeling, reflecting a career-long commitment to solving real-world materials challenges through rigorous scientific investigation. His research often intersects with environmental sustainability and long-term material performance.
Scientific Awards and Honors:
- Olin Palladium Award (2021)
- Grande Médaille du CEFRACOR (2019)
- Clara M. and Peter L. Scott Faculty Award (2018)
- Ohio State Mentor of the Year (2017)
- W.R. Whitney Award (2015)
- U.R. Evans Award (2011)
- ECS H.H. Uhlig Award (2010)
- Alexander von Humboldt Research Award (2004)
- Fellow of NACE, ECS, and ASM International
Advising, Grants, and Leadership: Dr. Frankel has mentored numerous students and researchers, earning the Mentor of the Year award. He served on the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (appointed by President Obama, 2012–2016) and directed a major DOE Engineering Research Center. He is actively involved in education and outreach, notably organizing CorroZoom, a global webinar series in corrosion science, enhancing scientific dissemination and collaboration.
Labs and Teams: He leads the Fontana Corrosion Center at Ohio State, a leading hub for corrosion research, and coordinates multi-institutional efforts on nuclear waste materials performance. His team conducts cutting-edge research on corrosion mechanisms and develops predictive models for material failure.
