Alloy Phase Equilibria by Alan Prince On-Line Version Phase diagrams for multicomponent alloy systems are fundamental to metallurgy and materials science in terms of the extraction of metals, their processing to marketable products and their end usage. The study of phase equilibria requires a thorough knowledge of the subject, and of thermodynamic relationships. For these reasons, pedagogic tools of high quality are necessary. Amongst all of the existing documents there is one which is really outstanding; it is the book Alloy Phase Equilibria written by Alan Prince and published in 1966 by Elsevier. This book has long been out of print. Here, it is made available on-line in its original form without re-editing, to provide the scientific community and students access to this precious document. This has been done with the kind permission of both Mrs Sheila Prince and of the publisher Elsevier.
It is fitting to have a brief summary of Alan Prince's main achievements, to say who was Alan Prince and what he has done for the scientific community: Alan was a metallurgist of the highest quality and of the "old school", perhaps not quite understood by many these days, graduating from Sheffield University with first class honours in 1948. He joined ICI, working at plants in Widnes and Billingham, then became a Lecturer in Metallurgy at the University of Southampton in 1953. Three years later he joined the General Electric Company, initially in the GEC-Simon Carves Atomic Energy Group, and was appointed Chief Metallurgist GEC, Hirst Research Centre, Wembley, in 1961. Alan became Manager of the Materials Science and Engineering Research Laboratory and Assistant Director of Research (Materials) in 1980. Following retirement from GEC in 1987, he was Professor Associate in the Department of Materials Technology at Brunel University. Alan was elected Fellow of the (then) Institution of Metallurgists in 1965. He was President for the year 1972-73, and was the first recipient of the Institute's Hume-Rothery Prize in 1979. Alan had a particularly fruitful career. His prime professional interest was concerned with phase equilibria for multicomponent alloy systems. He was one of a rare breed of scientists who not only new in detail the theoretical basis of phase equilibria, but also of their practical importance, and had a much wider vision concerning their practical use to meet the requirements of industry and commerce. He was particularly concerned with the experimental determination and critical assessment of phase diagrams and for many years he decried the use of calculated phase equilibria, until this technique was of proven accuracy. Alan's publications include three related volumes of immense practical value to researchers in the field before the availability of computerised bibliographic databases - The Constitutional Diagrams of Alloys: A Bibliography (1956), Multicomponent Alloy Constitution Bibliography 1955-1973 (1978) and Multicomponent Alloy Constitution Bibliography 1974-1977 (1981), all published by The Metals Society. Most importantly of all, this classic textbook Alloy Phase Equilibria (1966) describing in a particularly erudite fashion the importance of thermodynamic principles and topological relationships to an understanding of phase diagrams and reactions. Alan played a leading role in establishing the Alloy Phase Diagram International Commission (APDIC) and from its inception was "Editor-in-Chief, Higher Order Alloys, and later Technical Advisor to the commission, having responsibility for establishing the standards for multi-component system assessments. During this period he made innumerable contributions to publications produced under the auspices of APDIC, co-authoring, eg, Phase Diagrams of Ternary Gold Alloys published by the Institute of Metals (1990) and the ten volume set Ternary Alloy Phase Diagrams (1995) published by ASM International, all as part of this international effort. Alan made immense contributions to the important phase diagram series Ternary Alloys published by VCH and produced by the team led by Günter Effenberg at Stuttgart, including critical assessments of aluminium, gold and silver ternary systems, and co-editing some volumes, eg, volumes 12 and 13 for gold ternary systems. Quite apart from his own work, which was very prolific, Alan painstakingly assisted and oversaw the quality of assessments produced by colleagues, and was always ready to advise on constitutional problems. An example is for the five volume series Phase Diagrams of Ternary Iron Alloys an integrated sub-set of a Monograph Series on Ternary Phase Diagrams resulting from the International Programme, published by The Indian Institute of Metals and The Institute of Metals. Alan was a doyen of phase diagram determination and assessment, and set standards which serve as ideals for others to achieve. He shared his professional life between industry and academe, carried out much original research. All the people who had the pleasure to work with him learned a great deal, especially in resolving inconsistencies in phase diagram data. One of his remarks must be recalled in courses on phase diagram assessment: "As an industrialist I am usually only concerned with a small corner of a ternary (or a quaternary) phase diagram, but it is necessary to study the complete diagram if we want to understand what actually happens". He was emphatic about phase diagram studies not being only for academic research but also as a wonderful tool for engineers. Another typical comment was to liken phase diagrams for the people involved in materials science, with a map for a sailor, no one could imagine sailing without a map or with a wrong one. Alan was a man - those that knew him well would understand this statement. He would go to extremes in order to help his colleagues and friends, and would unstintingly greatly assist and train students, conveying his great enthusiasm for their work. He had the most delightful sense of humour - if a little wicked - and was regarded (initially) by some at Wembley as a terrifying ogre who appeared in a cloud of smoke in the heat treatment lab early in the morning, demanding matches to light his pipe, then disappearing in a swirl of blue vapour to his office - but they quickly learned to appreciate his encouragement and guidance. Alan Prince was born in 1927 and passed away on Monday 19^th October, 1998, nearly 10 years ago. He was aged 71. Alan was a particularly dedicated family person, delighting in everyday life and holiday travels with his wife Sheila, daughter Christine, four sons Neil, Ian, Simon and Howard, and his ten grandchildren. On this very personal theme herewith a few comments, especially for Alan's close friends and acquaintances, bringing things up-to-date after his passing away. There are now 12 grandchildren. Sheila Prince lives in the family home, surrounded by her family, continues with holiday travels, and remains a regular fortnightly theatre goer, a practice Sheila has maintained for some 17 or more years, and is happy attending keep-fit classes - maybe an activity that some of the younger generations of this world should participate in! Alan is still sadly missed by his family and many friends and colleagues, but over the time the sadness is slowly being replaced by many fond memories.
March 2008 Ashford, Middlesex, UK Tim G. Chart Secretary Alloy Phase Diagram International Commission		Châtenay-Malabry, Fr B. Legendre Président d'Honneur du Groupe Thermodynamique et Diagramme de Phases