THE CENTER IMPACT AND RESEARCH APPROACH
The potential research areas of the Center of Excellence can be divided into two broad categories; i) metallic materials, ii) composite materials. Within these two categories emphasis will be placed on materials and technologies that have appeared during the last few decades or materials and technologies that are now emerging and that hold great promise in fulfilling future requirements. The center will focus on the areas that are within its member’s expertise and areas that serve the Kingdom education goals and economy. We examine the status of each category with respect to its contribution to national needs and economic prosperity.
METALLIC MATERIALS
Metallic materials include all materials that have metallic properties (i.e metals and alloys). In general, metals and alloys represent a group of engineering materials that has been used extensively in many engineering applications such as transportation, power plants and implants in human body. Saudi Arabia is becoming a major contributer in the steel and aluminum industries. Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Company (SABIC) was a pioneer in steel making in the Kingdom and other companies are joining soon. In terms of aluminum, Saudi Arabia has a domestic, economically viable source of bauxite, the raw material required to produce aluminum. Global competition is growing and cutting edge technology and research producing metals (steel and aluminum) with lower costs and better performance is essential. The research areas in these fields are much diversified that span from simple heat treatments to very sophisticated nanostructural and intermetallic developments. Superalloys and intermetallic are fields that are currently subjected to extensive scientific research. In addition, heat treatment, high temperature deformation, superplasticity and characterization of texture of processed metallic materials have great deal of consideration. The center will focus on the characterization and processing of metallic materials. Corrosion is also of great importance for the center especially for the petrochemical industries where harsh environment is the norm.
CHARACTERIZATION OF METALLIC MATERIALS
Mechanical properties of metallic materials are affected by the internal structure of the materials. Determining these properties is essential to any industry and any applications. Mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties will be major part of the center focus and activities. Currently, the college 
of engineering is involved in research activities in the characterization of metals especially steel and aluminum. The current research activities include tensile, fatigue, fracture, and creep characterization of metals. The center future research plans are the characterization of nanostructure, intermetallic, and superalloys as well as texture analysis of metallic materials where the need for advanced characterization techniques and equipment (High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscope, SEM, and Tunneling Electron Microscope, TEM) arises. Such characterization is essential to understand the properties and also to tailor the required mechanical properties through processing and heat treatments. Research will be outlined by an insight of local metal making industries needs.
PROCESSING OF METALLIC MATERIALS
Processing methods have a great influence on the mechanical properties of metallic materials. In fact, mechanical properties can be designed or tailored to the required specification through processing technique. In the college of Engineering, heat treatment and extrusion equipments were used to produce metals with wide variety of properties. Recently, mechanical attrition machine was used to refine the grains of materials powders for the purpose of obtaining advanced properties. Advancing the processing technique is essential for the development of the center and that can be attained by investing in processing equipments (Hot Isostatic Press (HIP), rolling machine, extrusion machine, centrifugal casting for rapid solidification). The proposed equipments would expand the research activities in the area of grain refinement, texture orientation design, bulk metal production, and powder metallurgy. The grain refinement would improve the mechanical and physical properties of metal by reducing the grain size to a sub-mircon scale or a nano-scale. The drawability of sheet metal can be greatly improved by orienting the texture in a pre-designed direction through calculated rolling. Producing new metal alloy with advanced properties can be achieved using the HIP and centrifugal casting machines. Other applications and utilization of the proposed equipment is possible and is of the center main objectives.
CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIALS
Corrosion contributes to the economy as a major cost in the Kingdom. Such cost is relatively high due to the harsh environment in the Kingdom of high temperature and nature of aggressive industries of the petrochemicals. The college has been investigating and conducting several corrosion studies that were funded by the university and private companies. Corrosion studies and investigations will be a major area of interest of the center as well. The corrosion studies that are needed in the Kingdom will have the highest priorities 
at the center. These studies might include corrosion of different structures and best techniques for corrosion protection. Such structure can be bridges, pipelines, storage tanks, and platforms. One other area of great importance is the corrosion of reinforced bars in concrete structures under severe weather conditions. The center will act as the leading authority and source of information on the different techniques for corrosion protection and will encourage research to ensure better understanding of the preservation of the structures under the severe conditions of Saudi Arabia.