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Most museums in Britain contain collections of archaeological and heritage iron objects that are rapidly rusting away due to an absence of evidence-based management strategies for their display and storage. Research at Cardiff University has identified the corrosion mechanisms driving the destruction of this iron and, through experiment, has quantified the effectiveness of desiccation and chloride desalination treatments either to prevent or slow its corrosion. The research has led to the development of clear guidance for devising, implementing and managing preservation strategies for iron. These have been adopted by English Heritage, the British Museum and other institutions. The guidelines underpin an imaginative use of desiccation to preserve Brunel's iron ship ss Great Britain as an international heritage attraction, centre for research and academic study of Brunel and a significant contributor to local and national economies.
X-ray scanners are a staple of the security industry: their use at ports and airports is a key component of national security. In order to function effectively, these scanners require state-of-the- art scintillator materials and, given the size of the global market and importance of the industry, there is a drive to make these materials work more effectively to achieve better clarity in object identification and faster scanning times.
This case study describes the development of a new scintillator product for Hilger Crystals Ltd which was based on a long-term collaboration with materials researchers at the University of Kent. This represents a substantial contribution to: improving security at country entry/exit points; the commercial success of Hilger and the company's ability to enter new markets (for example medical diagnostic uses). In addition to the downstream security and diagnostic impact arising from this work there have been a number of concomitant benefits to the country, the company and the University.