Experts in the fields of metallurgy and microbiology say that copper can be a powerful weapon in the current fight against COVID-19. They believe it can also help curtail future pandemics if utilized properly. In this digital-first article from Advanced Materials & Processes, ASM International’s flagship magazine, the authors recommend the expanded use of copper alloys in public spaces to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Read the full digital-first article, which will also be published in the May/June 2020 issue of Advanced Materials & Processes (AM&P) magazine.
This article—the first in an AM&P series on materials science and the coronavirus—is written by Harold T. Michels, consultant and retired senior vice president, Copper Development Association, Manhasset, N.Y., and Corinne A. Michels, distinguished professor emerita, Queens College – CUNY, Flushing, N.Y.
Dr. Harold Michels is an independent consultant with expertise in physical metallurgy and corrosion of copper alloys, nickel alloys, stainless steels, as well as other alloys systems. He has a special focus on the antimicrobial properties of copper alloys. Prior to his executive role at the Copper Development Association, he held a variety of positions with Inco Limited, including concurrently serving as director of strategic planning, and president of the La Que Center for Corrosion Technology. He has a Ph.D. in materials science from New York University. He is a lifetime member of ASM International and member of the ASM Long Island Chapter.
Dr. Corinne Michels, a molecular geneticist, earned her doctorate at Columbia University and did post-doctoral research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx before joining the faculty of the Biology Department at Queens College – CUNY, where she rose to the position of distinguished professor. Her research focused on genetic model organisms, particularly Saccharomyces yeast, and was funded for over 30 years by awards from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Most recently, she studied the mechanism of how copper kills bacteria.
Image – The interior of a Ronald McDonald House in Charleston, South Carolina, retrofitted with copper alloy components.
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About the Copper Development Association
Copper Development Association Inc. (CDA) is a U.S-based, not-for-profit association of the global copper industry, influencing the use of copper and copper alloys through research, development, and education, as well as technical and end-user support. CDA is committed to promoting the proper use of copper materials in sustainable, efficient applications for business, industry, and the home.
About ASM International
ASM International is a member-driven organization that serves the information needs of scientists, engineers, and technicians who develop, test, select, and apply advanced materials, including metals, composites, polymers, and ceramics. As the world’s largest and most established materials information society, ASM engages and connects members to a global network of peers and provides access to trusted materials information through reference content and data, education courses, international events, and applied research.
To learn more about ASM International, visit asminternational.org or call 440.671.3800 to speak with an ASM International representative.
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For more information:
Harold Michels
[email protected]
amcopper.com
