Speakers

LPSO Mg-M-RE alloys, Non-flammable Mg-Al-Ca alloys, Innovative fabrication techniques

Professor Yoshihito Kawamura, Director of Kumamoto University’s Magnesium Research Center, is a world-leading pioneer in magnesium alloys. After earning his Ph.D. at Tohoku University and serving at its Institute for Materials Research, he joined Kumamoto University in 2000, where he has advanced lightweight, high-performance materials for aerospace, automotive, and biomedical industries. His groundbreaking achievements include discovering long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) structures and the “kink strengthening” mechanism, developing non-flammable Mg-Al-Ca alloys with superior thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, and innovating fabrication techniques such as rapid solidification. These breakthroughs have overcome historical limitations of magnesium, enabling real-world applications in collaboration with Boeing, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nissan, and other partners. Widely recognized with over 370 peer-reviewed publications, Kawamura has received Japan’s highest honors, including the Medal with Purple Ribbon (2017) and the Japan Institute of Light Metals Medal (2025). Beyond research, he plays a central role in international initiatives, chairs major symposia, and serves on editorial boards of leading journals. Under his direction, the MRC has become a global center for magnesium research, training the next generation of scientists and forging partnerships with institutions worldwide. His legacy lies not only in the development of advanced materials but also in cultivating future leaders to drive sustainable innovation in the 21st century.