Publications
Books
Fundamentals of Multicomponent High-Entropy Materials
Brian Cantor (OUP 2024)
A graduate textbook covering the history of alloying, the discovery of multicomponent materials, and their structure, properties and applications.
The Equations of Materials
Brian Cantor (OUP 2020)
An undergraduate textbook covering some of the fundamental equations of materials science together with biographies of the scientists who derived them.
The Stability of Metals and Alloys
J. W. Martin, R. D. Doherty & B. Cantor (CUP 1997)
A graduate textbook covering the causes of thermodynamic instability in metals and alloys, and the effects of instability on their structure and properties.
Aerospace Materials
B. Cantor, H. Assender & P. Grant (Taylor & Francis 2001)
An edited Oxford-Kobe Materials Textbook on the processing, structure, properties and applications of aerospace materials and components.
Solidification and Casting
B. Cantor & K. O'Reilly (Taylor & Francis 2002)
An edited Oxford-Kobe Materials Textbook on the theory and practice of solidification and casting techniques to manufacture materials and products.
Metal and Ceramic Matrix Composites
B. Cantor, F. P. E. Dunne & I. C. Stone (Taylor & Francis 2003)
An edited Oxford-Kobe Materials Textbook on the processing, structure, properties and applications of metal and ceramic matrix composite materials and products.
Novel Nanocrystalline Alloys and Magnetic Materials
B. Cantor (Taylor & Francis 2004)
An edited Oxford-Kobe Materials Textbook on the processing, structure, properties and applications of novel nanocrystalline and magnetic materials and products.
Automotive Engineering
B. Cantor, P. Grant & C. Johnston (Taylor & Francis 2008)
An edited Oxford-Kobe Materials Textbook on the processing, structure, properties and applications of automotive materials and components.
Rapidly Quenched Metals III (vols 1 & 2)
B. Cantor (The Metals Society 1978)
An edited proceedings of the 3rd international conference on rapidly quenched materials held at the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK in 1978.
Rapidly Quenched and Metastable Materials
K. O'Reilly, P. Warren, P. Schumacher & B. Cantor (Materials Science & Engineering A 375-377 2004)
An edited proceedings of the 11th international conference on rapidly quenched and metastable materials held at the University of Oxford in 2002.
70th Anniversary Volume of Progress in Materials Science
B. Cantor (Progress in Materials Science 2021)
A special edited volume of influential review papers celebrating 70 years of the prestigious review journal Progress in Materials Science.
Reviews
Multicomponent High-Entropy Materials: an Overview
B. Cantor: Faraday Discussions 264 (2026) 11-63
A Spiers Medal review of the state of understanding of the processing, structure, properties and applications of multicomponent high-entropy materials.
Multicomponent High-Entropy Cantor Alloys
B. Cantor: Prog Mat Sci 120 (2021) 100754
A comprehensive review of our state of understanding of the formation, processing, properties, structure and applications of multicomponent high-entropy single-phase fcc Cantor alloys.
Heterogeneous Nucleation and Absorption
B. Cantor: Proc Roy Soc 361 (2003) 409-417
A review of the mechanisms by which solidification is nucleated heterogeneously via adsorption on the surface of impurity particles.
Intermetallic Phase Selection in 1xxx Al Alloys
C. M. Allen, K. A. Q. O'Reilly, B. Cantor & P. V. Evans: Prog Mat Sci 43 (1998) 89-170
A review of the formation of different intermetallic particles during the solidification and manufacture of 1xxx Al alloys.
Development of Microstructure in Spray Formed Alloys
B. Cantor, K. S. Baik & P. S. Grant: Prog Mat Sci 42 (1997) 373-392
A comprehensive review of the mechanisms by which alloy microstructures are formed during manufacture by different spray forming technologies using different operating parameters.
The Nucleation of Solidification of Liquid Droplets Embedded in a Solid Matrix
Brian Cantor & Keyna A. Q. O'Reilly: Current Opinion in Solid State & Mat Sci 2 (1997) 318-323
A review of the mechanisms by which solidification is nucleated when liquid droplets embedded in a solid matrix are cooled below their melting point.
Development of Microstructure in Advanced Solidification Processing
B. Cantor: ch 1 of Advances in Physical Metallurgy, ed by S. Banerjee & R. V. Ramanujan (Taylor & Francis 1996)
A review of the mechanisms by which alloy microstructures are formed by advanced solidification processing techniques such as rapid solidification, squeeze casting and spray forming.
Fundamentals of Rapid Solidification
B. Cantor: ch 1 of Science & Technology of the Undercooled Melt, ed by P. R. Sahm, H. Jones & C. M. Adam (Springer 1986)
A review of the fundamentals of rapid solidification, covering solidification techniques, cooling rates, and the resulting microstructural effects.
Atomic Diffusion in Amorphous Alloys
B. Cantor & R. W. Cahn: ch 25 of Amorphous Metallic Alloys, ed by F. E. Luborsky (Butterworths 1983)
A review of the mechanisms and measurements of self diffusion and impurity diffusion in amorphous metallic alloys.
Key papers
Tensile Deformation of Directionally Solidified Al-Al3Ni & Al-Al2Cu Eutectics
B. Cantor & G. A. Chadwick: J Mat Sci 10 (1975) 578-588
The first study of deformation and dislocation motion in directionally solidified two-phase eutectics, showing the controlling effect in composites of geometrically necessary dislocations generated by differential thermal contraction stresses at the internal interfaces.
Metastable Phases by Co-Sputtering
B. Cantor & R. W. Cahn: Acta Met 24 (1976) 845-852
The first manufacture of amorphous alloys and novel intermetallic compounds by co-sputtering, and theory of the formation of amorphous structures during vapour deposition.
Free Volume Theories of the Glass Transition & the Soecial Case of Metallic Glasses
P. Ramachandrarao, B. Cantor & R. W. Cahn J Mat Sci 12 (1977) 2488-2502
A theory of the glass transition in amorphous metallic alloys, based on the variation of free volume and viscosity with temperature.
Interface Stability of Spherical Particles Solidifying from a Stirred Melt; & Dendritic Solidification and Fluid Flow
B. Cantor & A. Vogel: J Cryst Growth 37 (1977) 319-306 & 41 (1977)109-123
The first theory and explanation of the effect of fluid flow on the initial formation and subsequent growth of dendrites during metal alloy solidification.
Interstitial Diffusion in DRP Metallic Glasses
M. Ahmadzadeh & B. Cantor: J Non-Cryst Solids 43 (1981) 189-219
A theory of amorphous alloy structure and diffusion based on the arrangement of interstitial spaces between the atoms.
Microstructure and Kinetics of Martensite Transformations in Splat-Quenched Fe and Fe-Ni Alloys: part I Pure Fe and part II Fe-Ni Alloys
F. Duflos & B. Cantor: Acta Met 30 (1982) 323-356
The first demonstration and explanation of the effect of rapid cooling and small grain size in suppressing the nucleation and growth of martensite transformations.
Photocalorimetric Cooling Rate Measurements on a Ni-5wt%Al Alloy Rapidly Solidified by Melt Spinning
A. G. Gillen & B. Cantor: Acta Met 33 (1985) 1813-1825
The first direct measurements of 106 K/s cooling rates during high-speed solidification.
Solidification of Pb Particles Embedded in Al
K. I. Moore, D. L. Zhang & B. Cantor: Acta Met Mat 38 (1990) 1327-1342
The first direct observation of heterogeneous nucleation of melting and solidification in embedded liquid droplets, and the measurement of corresponding contact angles and solid-liquid surface energies.
Modelling of Droplet Dynamic and Thermal Histories during Spray Forming: part I Individual Droplet Behaviour and part II Effect of Process Parameters
P. S. Grant, B. Cantor & L. Katgermann: Acta Met Mat 41 (1993) 3097-3118
The first full theory with experimental justification of the behaviour of droplets during atomisation, flight and deposition in the manufacture of thermally sprayed metal alloy billets.
An Adsorption Model of the Heterogeneos Nucleation of Solidification
W. T. Kim & B. Cantor: Acta Met Mat 42 (1994) 3115-3127
The first theory of heterogeneous nucleation of solidification as an adsorption process, disproving earlier spherical cap theory, and verified many times since.
Heterogeneous Nucleation of Solidification of Si in Al-Si and Al-Si-P Alloys
C. R. Ho & B. Cantor: Acta Met Mat 43 (1995) 3231-3246
The first demonstration and explanation of the nucleation-enhancing mechanism of the important industrial process of Na modification to control the microstructure of Al-Si alloys, and how it is poisoned by the presence of phosphorus.
The Kinetics and Mechanism of Interface Reaction in Sigma Fibre Reinforced Ti MMCs
Z. Fan, Z, X, Guo & B. Cantor: Composites A 28 (1997) 131-140
The manufacture of plasma-sprayed SiC fibre-reinforced Ti alloy composites, and demonstration of the critical role in determining the mechanical properties played by chemical reactions at the fibre/matrix interface.
Characterisation of Reinforcement Distribution in Cast Al Alloy/SiC Composites
P. A. Karnezis, G. Durrant & B. Cantor: Mat Characterization 40 (1998) 97-109
Demonstration of how to measure particle size distributions and their impact on the mechanical properties of cast particulate metal-matrix composites.
Intermetallic Phase Selection in 1xxx Al Alloys
C. M. Allen, K. A. Q. O'Reilly & B. Cantor: Prog Mat Sci 43 (1998) 89-170
Use of droplets to determine solidification sequence of intermetallic particles in Al alloys, determining their final properties.
Novel Multicomponent Amorphous Alloys
B. Cantor, K. B. Kim & P. J. Warren: Mat Sci Forum 386-388 (2002) 27-32
The first report of multicomponent alloys and first use of equiatomic substitution technique to generate multicomponent materials.
Isothermal Grain Coarsening of Spray Formed Alloys in the Semi-Solid State
E. D. Manson-Whitton et. al.: Acta Mat 50 (2002) 2517-2535
The theory and experimental verification of grain size control in semi-solid casting.
Microstructural Development in Equiatomic Multicomponent Alloys
B. Cantor, I. T. H. Chang, P. Knoght ¶ A. J. B. Vincent: Mat Sci Eng A 375-377 (2004) 213-218
The first ever studies of multicomponent materials, and discovery of the original Cantor alloy CrMnFeCoNi, the first-known entropy-stabilised multicomponent single-phase solid solution.
Nanoquasicrystalline Al-Fe-Cr Based Alloys part I Phase Transformations and part II Mechanical Properties
M. Galano et. al.: Acta Mat 57 (2009) 5107-5130
Discovery and detailed investigation of novel nanoquasicrystalline alloys with outstanding mechanical properties.
Multicomponent and High-Entropy Alloys
B. Cantor: Entropy 6 (2014) 4749-4768
The first calculations showing the enormity of multicomponent phase space.
Multicomponent High-Entropy Cantor Alloys
B. Cantor: Prog Mat Sci 120 (2021) 100754
The first detailed exploration of the structure and properties of a large fcc single-phase field of multicomponent Cantor alloys with many different compositions.
Recent papers
Discovery & Significance of Multicomponent High-Entropy Alloys
B. Cantor: ch 1 of High Entropy Materials: Theory, Experiments & Applications: eds J. Brechtl & P. K. Liaw (Springer 2021) 1-36
A personal perspective on the discovery, structure and properties of multicomponent high-entropy materials.
Multicomponent High-Entropy Cantor Alloys
B. Cantor: Prog Mat Sci 120 (2021) 100754
A comprehensive review of our state of understanding of the formation, processing, properties, structure and applications of multicomponent high-entropy single-phase fcc Cantor alloys.
Microstructure & Mechanical Properties of Ultrafine Quaternary Al-Cu-Si-Mg Eutectic Alloy
Q. Cai et. al.: Metals 12 (2022) 7-22
The structure & properties of a novel eutectic Al-Cu-Si-Mg alloy.
A Novel Al-Si-Ni-Fe Near-Eutectic Alloy for Elevated Temperature Applications
Q. Cai et. al.: Scripta Mat 237 (2023) 115707.
The structure & properties of a novel near-eutectic Al-Si-Ni-Fe alloy.
Local Nanostructure in Multicomponent High-Entropy Materials
B. Cantor: High Entropy Alloys & Materials 2 (2024) 277-306
Discussion of the enormous number (trillions) and wide spatial spread (microns) of different local atomic nanostructures in multicomponent high-entropy single-phase solid solutions; the corresponding variations in the structure of defects such as vacancies, dislocations, grain boundaries and surfaces; the associated effects on mechanical, electrical and other material properties; and the resulting difficulties in using thermodynamic, atomistic and machine-learning modelling methods.
Exploring Multicomponent Phase Space to Find New Materials
B. Cantor: J. Phase Equilib. Diff. 45 (2024) 188-218
Discussion of merits and demerits of trial & error, controlled substitution, parameterisation (extended Hume-Rothery rules), thermodynamic modelling, atomistic modelling and machine learning methods for exploring multicomponent phase space for new materials
The Thermodynamics of Multicomponent High-Entropy Materials
B. Cantor: J. Mater. Sci. 60 (2025) 1750-1764
Description of the structure of multicomponent high-entropy materials based on regular solution thermodynamics, explaining the preference for forming single-phase solid solutions rather than complex compounds, and the difficulties of using thermodynamic Calphad modelling methods.
Multicomponent High-Entropy Materials: an Overview
B. Cantor: Faraday Discussions 264 (2026) 11-63
An up-to-date assessment of our current understanding of the thermodynamics, structure, properties and applications of multicomponent high-entropy materials.
Ab Initio Molecular Dynamic Study of a 20-Element High-Entropy Amorphous Alloy
Changming Fang & Brian Cantor: High Entropy Alloys & Materials 3 (2026)
MD modelling of the structure and properties of a 20-element high-entropy amorphous alloy.