| Citation | Cantor’s most important and widely cited scientific contribution is his original development of multicomponent alloys and the associated discovery of Cantor alloys, the first one consisting of a solid solution of five equiatomic elements. This led to the opening of a large new field of novel materials, some with outstanding mechanical and other properties for engineering applications, currently employing hundreds of scientists worldwide. Cantor has made other influential contributions, inter alia in solidification, spray forming, metal matrix composites, and amorphous alloys. He has collaborated extensively with industry, and promoted science by helping to set up and run scientific organisations, research centres and science parks. The IoM3 awarded him the Rosenhain Medal in 1993 for “Outstanding Contributions to Academic–Industrial Collaboration”, and in 2002 the Platinum Medal for “Lifetime Contributions to Materials Science”. In 1998 he was elected FREng. as a “World Authority on Materials Manufacturing”, and in 2013 was made CBE for “Services to Higher Education”. |