Dr Oliver Brooks graduated with a 1st Class MPhys degree in Physics from Loughborough University in 2012. He later pursued a PhD at the University of Birmingham, where he developed the Hydrogen Ductilisation Process (HyDP) for rare earth permanent magnets under the supervision of Professor Allan Walton and Professor Rex Harris. This innovative process allows for room temperature deformation of the normally brittle Nd-Fe-B material, whilst avoiding any powder processing and improving the magnetic behaviour. During this time, Oliver and his supervisors patented HyDP and he has published several papers in this area.
During his post-doctoral career, Oliver has collaborated with several magnetic manufacturers and magnet end-users on advanced magnet characterisation and processing. Recently, he has worked with Rolls-Royce Electrical, alongside Dr Richard Sheridan (UoB) and Dr Al Lambourne (RR), on characterisation and recycling of Sm-Co high temperature permanent magnets. He has also played a key role in the development of a pilot scale facility for the recycling of Nd-Fe-B magnets using the HPMS process at Birmingham.
Oliver has collaborated with various research groups on magnetics characterisation of materials for green technologies, including magnetocalorics, magnetic shape memory alloys, soft ferromagnets, and battery materials.
Oliver currently works as a post-doctoral research fellow in the Magnetic Materials Group, where he focuses on the optimisation of HyDP and its potential for commercialisation, as well as further development of the HPMS process. His research also includes the high temperature Hydrogenation-Disproportionation-Desorption-Recombination (HDDR) reaction, which transforms the microstructure and magnetic properties of Nd-Fe-B materials. Outside of this, he is passionate about developing novel characterisation and processing techniques for difficult to manufacture green energy materials.