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Published/Copyright: January 19, 2022
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International Journal of Materials Research
From the journal International Journal of Materials Research Volume 97 Issue 4

Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Sommer 65 years

At 28-4-2006 Prof. Dr. F. Sommer reaches the age of 65 years and, accordingly will have to retire from official duty. As a tribute to him, in recognition of a long, outstanding service in the field of physical metallurgy, this issue of Zeitschrift für Metallkunde (edited by C. Bos and E. J. Mittemeijer) is devoted to him.

The corner stones of his career can be summarized as follows. After primary school and gymnasium in Osnabrück, where he was born, Sommer studied physics at the WestfälischeWilhelms-University inMünster, where, as one could say, the academic education was completed in 1973 with a Ph.D. dissertation on calorimetric measurements and modelling of enthalpies of mixing of some liquids, with Prof. B. Predel as his promoter. Herewith the field of science, from now on laboured by Sommer, has already been indicated: the thermodynamics of materials. In the same year Prof. Predel moved to the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research in Stuttgart and was followed by, also, Sommer. After his habilitation in 1983, Sommer was granted the title extraordinary Professor in 1989. The only major change happening thereafter was the retirement of Prof. Predel in 1996 and my arrival in Stuttgart in 1998 as Sommer’s new “boss”.

Sommer has published more than 250 papers in the international literature through the years. Since before 1998 most of his best known work has been devoted to the thermodynamics of amorphous and liquid alloys, which, not surprisingly, well fitted to the research field “constitution of alloys” representing the core interest of Prof. Predel. Sommer is a gifted experimentalist, but also has contributed significantly to the thermodynamic modelling of these materials. Here in particular his “association” model of liquids should be mentioned. Thus he became an often cited scientist.

Prof. Sommer has a pleasant personality and a flexible attitude. Thus he was capable to adapt himself to the new research field introduced by me, where the driving forces and the kinetics of phase transformations have become a focal point of interest. On the basis of ample experience I can state that it is does not go without saying that a mature scientist is willing to change course upon arrival of a new research leader. The cooperation with Prof. Sommer that I experienced since 1998 was very successful. The success in our research on particularly the kinetics of phase transformations was especially possible because of the shared joy in scientific work. The Ph.D. students, post-docs and guest scientists that have worked with us have profited enormously of this atmosphere and cooperation.

I regret that Prof. Sommer has to leave my department. We all wish him a long retirement in good health and hope to see him now and then in the institute.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Eric J. Mittemeijer

Stuttgart, January 2006

Published Online: 2022-01-19

© 2006 Carl Hanser Verlag, München

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Editorial
  3. Evolution of the mixed-mode character of solid-state phase transformations in metals involving solute partitioning
  4. Liquid–liquid interfacial tension in themonotectic alloy (Al34.5Bi65.5)95Si5 (wt.%)
  5. Influence of Sb additions on surface tension and density of Sn–Sb, Sn–Ag–Sb and Sn–Ag–Cu–Sb alloys: Experiment vs. modeling
  6. Liquid–liquid transition in elemental liquids investigated by sound velocity measurements: trends in the periodic table
  7. Bulk and surface properties of liquid Ga–Tl and Zn–Cd alloys
  8. Structure-induced order – disorder transformation in Cd – Na liquid alloys
  9. An indirect approach to measure glass transition temperature in metallic glasses
  10. Fragility, kinetic stability and phase separations in the undercooled state of bulk glass formers – a case study on metallic model systems
  11. Development of long-period ordered structures during crystallisation of amorphous Mg80Cu10Y10 and Mg83Ni9Y8
  12. Isothermal crystallization behavior of undercooled liquid Pd40Cu30Ni10P20 in terms of crystal growth, overall volume crystallization kinetics and their relation to the viscosity temperature dependence
  13. The magnesium-ytterbium system: A contribution to the thermodynamics of solid alloys
  14. Experimental investigation and thermodynamic modelling of the Mg–Al-rich region of the Mg–Al–Sr System
  15. Thermodynamic properties and phase relations of Zn-rich alloys in the system Pt–Zn
  16. Comparison of thermodynamic data of the ternary Cu–Sn–Zn system, measured with the EMF and with the calorimetric method
  17. Analysis of phase formation in Ni-rich alloys of the Ni–Ta–W system by calorimetry, DTA, SEM, and TEM
  18. Site preference, thermodynamic, and magnetic properties of the ternary Laves phase Ti(Fe1 – xAlx)2 with the crystal structure of the MgZn2-type
  19. Activity measurements on the Al-rich region of the Ni–Al system – A high temperature mass spectrometric study
  20. Metastable phases and nanocrystalline-forming ability (NFA) of melt-quenched Ni-rich (Zr, Hf)–Ni alloys
  21. Low temperature deposition with inductively coupled plasma
  22. Instructions for Authors
  23. Personal/Personelles
  24. Press/Presse
  25. Conferences/Konferenzen
  26. Frontmatter
  27. Editorial
  28. Editorial
  29. BBasic
  30. Evolution of the mixed-mode character of solid-state phase transformations in metals involving solute partitioning
  31. Liquid–liquid interfacial tension in themonotectic alloy (Al34.5Bi65.5)95Si5 (wt.%)
  32. Influence of Sb additions on surface tension and density of Sn–Sb, Sn–Ag–Sb and Sn–Ag–Cu–Sb alloys: Experiment vs. modeling
  33. Liquid–liquid transition in elemental liquids investigated by sound velocity measurements: trends in the periodic table
  34. Bulk and surface properties of liquid Ga–Tl and Zn–Cd alloys
  35. Structure-induced order – disorder transformation in Cd – Na liquid alloys
  36. An indirect approach to measure glass transition temperature in metallic glasses
  37. Fragility, kinetic stability and phase separations in the undercooled state of bulk glass formers – a case study on metallic model systems
  38. Development of long-period ordered structures during crystallisation of amorphous Mg80Cu10Y10 and Mg83Ni9Y8
  39. Isothermal crystallization behavior of undercooled liquid Pd40Cu30Ni10P20 in terms of crystal growth, overall volume crystallization kinetics and their relation to the viscosity temperature dependence
  40. The magnesium-ytterbium system: A contribution to the thermodynamics of solid alloys
  41. Experimental investigation and thermodynamic modelling of the Mg–Al-rich region of the Mg–Al–Sr System
  42. Thermodynamic properties and phase relations of Zn-rich alloys in the system Pt–Zn
  43. Comparison of thermodynamic data of the ternary Cu–Sn–Zn system, measured with the EMF and with the calorimetric method
  44. Analysis of phase formation in Ni-rich alloys of the Ni–Ta–W system by calorimetry, DTA, SEM, and TEM
  45. Site preference, thermodynamic, and magnetic properties of the ternary Laves phase Ti(Fe1 – xAlx)2 with the crystal structure of the MgZn2-type
  46. Activity measurements on the Al-rich region of the Ni–Al system – A high temperature mass spectrometric study
  47. Metastable phases and nanocrystalline-forming ability (NFA) of melt-quenched Ni-rich (Zr, Hf)–Ni alloys
  48. AApplied
  49. Low temperature deposition with inductively coupled plasma
  50. Notifications/Mitteilungen
  51. Instructions for Authors
  52. Personal/Personelles
  53. Press/Presse
  54. Conferences/Konferenzen
https://doi.org/10.1515/ijmr-2006-0058

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Editorial
  3. Evolution of the mixed-mode character of solid-state phase transformations in metals involving solute partitioning
  4. Liquid–liquid interfacial tension in themonotectic alloy (Al34.5Bi65.5)95Si5 (wt.%)
  5. Influence of Sb additions on surface tension and density of Sn–Sb, Sn–Ag–Sb and Sn–Ag–Cu–Sb alloys: Experiment vs. modeling
  6. Liquid–liquid transition in elemental liquids investigated by sound velocity measurements: trends in the periodic table
  7. Bulk and surface properties of liquid Ga–Tl and Zn–Cd alloys
  8. Structure-induced order – disorder transformation in Cd – Na liquid alloys
  9. An indirect approach to measure glass transition temperature in metallic glasses
  10. Fragility, kinetic stability and phase separations in the undercooled state of bulk glass formers – a case study on metallic model systems
  11. Development of long-period ordered structures during crystallisation of amorphous Mg80Cu10Y10 and Mg83Ni9Y8
  12. Isothermal crystallization behavior of undercooled liquid Pd40Cu30Ni10P20 in terms of crystal growth, overall volume crystallization kinetics and their relation to the viscosity temperature dependence
  13. The magnesium-ytterbium system: A contribution to the thermodynamics of solid alloys
  14. Experimental investigation and thermodynamic modelling of the Mg–Al-rich region of the Mg–Al–Sr System
  15. Thermodynamic properties and phase relations of Zn-rich alloys in the system Pt–Zn
  16. Comparison of thermodynamic data of the ternary Cu–Sn–Zn system, measured with the EMF and with the calorimetric method
  17. Analysis of phase formation in Ni-rich alloys of the Ni–Ta–W system by calorimetry, DTA, SEM, and TEM
  18. Site preference, thermodynamic, and magnetic properties of the ternary Laves phase Ti(Fe1 – xAlx)2 with the crystal structure of the MgZn2-type
  19. Activity measurements on the Al-rich region of the Ni–Al system – A high temperature mass spectrometric study
  20. Metastable phases and nanocrystalline-forming ability (NFA) of melt-quenched Ni-rich (Zr, Hf)–Ni alloys
  21. Low temperature deposition with inductively coupled plasma
  22. Instructions for Authors
  23. Personal/Personelles
  24. Press/Presse
  25. Conferences/Konferenzen
  26. Frontmatter
  27. Editorial
  28. Editorial
  29. BBasic
  30. Evolution of the mixed-mode character of solid-state phase transformations in metals involving solute partitioning
  31. Liquid–liquid interfacial tension in themonotectic alloy (Al34.5Bi65.5)95Si5 (wt.%)
  32. Influence of Sb additions on surface tension and density of Sn–Sb, Sn–Ag–Sb and Sn–Ag–Cu–Sb alloys: Experiment vs. modeling
  33. Liquid–liquid transition in elemental liquids investigated by sound velocity measurements: trends in the periodic table
  34. Bulk and surface properties of liquid Ga–Tl and Zn–Cd alloys
  35. Structure-induced order – disorder transformation in Cd – Na liquid alloys
  36. An indirect approach to measure glass transition temperature in metallic glasses
  37. Fragility, kinetic stability and phase separations in the undercooled state of bulk glass formers – a case study on metallic model systems
  38. Development of long-period ordered structures during crystallisation of amorphous Mg80Cu10Y10 and Mg83Ni9Y8
  39. Isothermal crystallization behavior of undercooled liquid Pd40Cu30Ni10P20 in terms of crystal growth, overall volume crystallization kinetics and their relation to the viscosity temperature dependence
  40. The magnesium-ytterbium system: A contribution to the thermodynamics of solid alloys
  41. Experimental investigation and thermodynamic modelling of the Mg–Al-rich region of the Mg–Al–Sr System
  42. Thermodynamic properties and phase relations of Zn-rich alloys in the system Pt–Zn
  43. Comparison of thermodynamic data of the ternary Cu–Sn–Zn system, measured with the EMF and with the calorimetric method
  44. Analysis of phase formation in Ni-rich alloys of the Ni–Ta–W system by calorimetry, DTA, SEM, and TEM
  45. Site preference, thermodynamic, and magnetic properties of the ternary Laves phase Ti(Fe1 – xAlx)2 with the crystal structure of the MgZn2-type
  46. Activity measurements on the Al-rich region of the Ni–Al system – A high temperature mass spectrometric study
  47. Metastable phases and nanocrystalline-forming ability (NFA) of melt-quenched Ni-rich (Zr, Hf)–Ni alloys
  48. AApplied
  49. Low temperature deposition with inductively coupled plasma
  50. Notifications/Mitteilungen
  51. Instructions for Authors
  52. Personal/Personelles
  53. Press/Presse
  54. Conferences/Konferenzen
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