Institute for Physical Research and Technology

Contact Us

Institute for Physical
Research and Technology

Iowa State University
2156 Gilman Hall
Ames, IA 50011-3110

Rick Lopez

Metallurgical Engineer, Materials Group

Rick Lopez has been an ISU staff member since May of 2000, and a metallurgical engineer for the Materials Group since September 2008. Before joining the Materials Group, he worked for the NDE Group of Company Assistance and participated in nondestructive evaluation research that was funded by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Prior to his time with Iowa State University, Lopez worked with Mercury Marine's Outboard Division as a Manufacturing Quality Engineer in the connecting rod and crankshaft machining lines. He interned at Boeing's Materials Technology Group, performing failure analysis and research on aluminum and titanium. Lopez was also an ASME-certified welder and radiographic quality control technician at Vessel Systems Inc.

Lopez is currently working toward a master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Iowa State University. He received a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering (1998) from ISU, and an A.A.S. in Nondestructive Testing (1995) from Northeast Iowa Community College.

Professional Interests

Lopez's technical interests include metallurgy, corrosion, coatings, nondestructive evaluation (with special focus on fluorescent penetrant and magnetic particle inspection methods), failure analysis, machining, electrical-discharge machining, mechanical testing (MTS), metrology, optical microscopy, fluorescence imaging, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and radiometry. Research interests have included participation in two large fluorescent penetrant studies, and validation efforts for a magnetic particle inspection computer simulation program.

Awards & Recognitions

Lopez worked with a large team of university and industrial representatives to study a variety of fluorescent penetrant inspection aspects with the goal of improving the reliability of fluorescent penetrant inspection in the aerospace industry. This research group received the 2004 "Better Way Award" from the Air Transport Association and the FAA for the effort. He has been an author on 14 technical papers, presented at 7 research symposia, and offered 13 seminars or talks to Iowa company attendees; and looks forward to working with your organization to address your needs.

Rick Lopez
Metallurgical Engineer
omicron@iastate.edu
515-294-5903

Toll Free: 800-884-8548

Institute for Physical
Research and Technology
Materials Group
111 Metals Development
Ames, IA 50011