Prof Robert Akid

Professor Robert Akid is an Emeritus Professor specializing in Corrosion and Materials, with over 30 years of experience as a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3). His primary research focuses on localized corrosion in metals and alloys, including early-stage corrosion phenomena such as corrosion fatigue, stress corrosion cracking, and hydrogen embrittlement. Since 1993, he has pioneered the use of electrochemical scanning probe (ESP) techniques to assess corrosion damage, establishing an EPSRC-funded UK-based ESP Network to facilitate University-Industry collaborations on localized corrosion in steels, aluminum alloys, and welded systems. His recent research endeavors have included Medical Research Council grants assessing the encapsulation of antibiotics and enzymes in sol-gel coatings, as well as developing functional sol-gel coating systems via microorganism encapsulation. As a Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng)/BP Professor, he has also led multi-million dollar projects addressing oilfield corrosion issues. Professor Akid has authored over 100 scientific papers, successfully patented innovations in sol-gel coatings, and produced more than 60 industrial research and expert witness reports. He has served as the Technical Editor for the Institute of Corrosion’s publication, Corrosion Management, is a member of the EPSRC college panel, and sits on the editorial boards of two international journals.