William Nix has been engaged in the study of mechanical properties of materials in both bulk and thin film form for over six decades. He is especially well-known for his later work showing that size matters in strength and plasticity of metals and that 'smaller is stronger'. His development of experimental techniques and theoretical concepts to understand size effects has been influential in multiple fields of science and engineering, from microelectronics and mechanics to mechanical engineering, and materials science.
For his early work on high temperature mechanical properties of metals and alloys he was elected to the US National Academy of Engineering and for his work on size effects on strength and plasticity he was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the US National Academy of Sciences.
For these works Nix has also been recognized with the Von Hippel Award of the Materials Research Society and the Gold Medal of ASM International. The William D. Nix Lecture and Award was established by TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society) and named in his honour.
Professional position
- Lee Otterson Professor of Engineering (Emeritus), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University
Subject groups
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Engineering and Materials Science
Materials science (incl materials engineering), Engineering, mechanical, Engineering, semiconductors
