T. David Burleigh

Dr. T. David Burleigh is a Professor and Department Chair in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering at New Mexico Tech. He holds a PhD from MIT (1985) and has extensive industry experience including roles at Alcoa Technical Center and as Principal Investigator at Burleigh Corrosion Consultants. His research focuses on corrosion mechanisms of metals, metallurgical failure analysis, and electrochemical processes. Notable contributions include advancements in steel anodization, microbial-induced corrosion studies, and corrosion-resistant magnesium alloys. He has advised over 20 graduate students since 1997 and maintains active collaborations with institutions like Los Alamos National Labs. His work bridges academic research with industrial applications, emphasizing corrosion prevention and alloy development.

Education:

• Ph.D., Metallurgy, MIT (1981–1985)
• M.Sc., Metallurgy, MIT (1978–1980)
• B.Sc., Mineral Engineering-Physics, Colorado School of Mines (1974–1978)

Research Interests: Corrosion prevention strategies, electrochemical characterization of oxides, anodization processes for steel, microbial corrosion of copper alloys, and corrosion-resistant alloy design. His lab develops innovative methods like self-assembled monolayers for tarnish protection and nanostructured coatings for enhanced durability.

Publications & Grants: Over 70 peer-reviewed articles, including landmark studies on steel anodization and microbial corrosion. Active in securing grants for corrosion research, such as funding from Modern Light Metals for aluminum corrosion education. His work has been featured in Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Corrosion, and Materials.

Consulting & Outreach: Founder of Burleigh Corrosion Consultants (1993), providing expert analysis to industries. Engages in educational outreach through tuning fork demonstrations and public lectures on materials science.