David Melford

David Melford, OBE (born 16 October 1927) is a British metallurgist and materials scientist, and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He co-developed the Scanning Electron MicroAnalyser, along with Peter Duncumb, and served as director of research at Tube Investments Group, the British Engineering Conglomerate. investigating new methods for determining the surface tension of molten metals, including the first measurement of the surface tension of molten Indium, in 1956. In this role, Melford designed (with P. Duncumb) the first scanning electron probe microanalyser for metallurgical applications. The mircoanalyser, first presented at the Symposium on X-ray Microscopy and Microanalysis, in Stockholm, 1959, found wide application in metallurgy. Melford and Duncumb immediately applied it to study hot shortness in mild steel solidification of ingots, non-metallic inclusion distribution and other problems.

Senior Vice president, Institute of Metals 1987-8.

Assessor for the Fellowship of Engineering on the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC).