T. David Burleigh, PhD, PE

Professor, Department Chair

Materials and Metallurgical Engineering

thomas.burleigh@sanmingzhi.net
575 - 835 - 5831
Jones 114

Video: 10 min Research Talk

Research Areas

Corrosion and prevention
Electrochemistry
Anodizing of steel
Corrosion resistant magnesium alloys
Corrosion of roll bonded aluminum
Microbial influenced corrosion of copper alloys

Education

Ph.D. in Metallurgy Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1981-1985

M.Sc. in Metallurgy Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1978-1980

B.Sc. in Mineral Engineering-Physics Colorado School of Mines, 1974-1978

Plain Language Summaries of Recent Research

Rapid Anodizing of Steel for Corrosion Resistance

Dr. Burleigh’s research lab has developed the process for anodizing steel in hot caustic solutions. The anodic oxide is a thin layer of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and protects the steel from rusting in humid atmospheres and in water. Additional protection can be achieved by filling the pores with oils such as WD40. The current process works on 1010 steel and takes 5 minutes to grow the oxide film. Current research effort is shortening the time to 10-30 seconds and also developing the process to work on different types of steel.

Recent Publications

T.D. Burleigh, P. Schmuki and S. Virtanen, Properties of the Nanoporous Anodic Oxide Electrochemically Grown on Steel in Hot 50% NaOH. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, (Jan 2009), 156, 1, C45-C53.

T.D. Burleigh, T.C. Dotson, K.T. Dotson, S.J. Gabay, T. Sloan, S.G. Ferrell, Anodizing Steel in KOH and NaOH Solutions, Journal of the Electrochemical Society (Oct. 2007), 154, 10, 579-586.

Youtube Video

How to Anodize Steel, published Oct. 8, 2015, >58k views

Bioabsorbable Magnesium Alloys for Medical Implants

Dr. Burleigh’s research lab has been developing magnesium alloys and coatings for medical implants. The objective is to control the dissolution rate of orthopedic screws and staples so that there is no need for a second surgery to retrieve the painful implant.

Papers submitted

S. Khalifeh, T.D. Burleigh, Effect of Anodizing Parameters on Corrosion Resistance of Coated Purified Magnesium, (submitted 2017).

S. Khalifeh, T.D. Burleigh, Super-Hydrophobic Stearic Acid Layer Formed on Anodized High Purified Magnesium for Improving Corrosion Resistance of Biodegradable Implants, (submitted 2017).

S. Khalifeh, T.D. Burleigh, Influence of Heat Treatment on the Corrosion Behavior of Purified Mg and AZ31 Alloy, (submitted 2016).

PhD Dissertation

Sohrab Khalifeh, Ph.D. Sept. 2017, Slowing the Corrosion Rate of Bioabsorbable Magnesium Implants.