In this issue we feature an interesting paper by K. T. Laitinen and colleagues from the University of Eastern Finland on the development of a novel electroplating tank layout by computer simulations and verification tests. A second contribution using statistical input is a study of Zn–Ni alloy coatings using non-cyanide alkaline baths containing polyethyleneimine complexing agents, by K. Ramazan and Y. Uğur (ASR Electrochemical Energy Systems Co. and UK Ugur Metal Coating Co., Istanbul).
A comparative study on the electrochemical behaviour of amorphous and nanocrystalline cobalt–tungsten electrodeposited coatings, is reported by N. Fathollahzade and K. Raeissi from the Isfahan University of Technology. The corrosion inhibition performance of polymer–alloy bilayer coatings is discussed in a study of electropolymerised polyaniline and electrodeposited ZnNi with different layer orders, by I. H. Karahan and A. Tozar (Mustafa Kemal University).
C. J. Stuttle and colleagues from Loughborough University report on the characterisation of tin–copper intermetallic growth in electrodeposited tin coatings using electrochemical oxidation techniques, and the electrodeposition of copper from mixed sulphate–chloride acidic electrolytes at a rotating disc electrode has been studied by C. T. J. Low, C. Ponce de Leon and F. C. Walsh (Southampton University). In addition, P. Nikonczuk (West Pomeranian University of Technology) gives a preliminary analysis of heat recovery efficiency decrease in paint spray booths.
Journal metrics
Most readers from academia will be well aware of the growing influence of bibliometrics, of which the most widely used metric for journals is probably the impact factor, in the world of scientific publishing and research. The relevance of such indicators to the ‘value’ of journal, author and paper content and the ‘impact’ of the research reported, is the subject of intense, ongoing debate in publishing and academic circles. Among the issues are the practice of using the average of a highly skewed citation distribution of individual papers to represent the aggregate status of a journal and the choice of a two year citation window as a key indicator of ‘impact’ in fields where typical citation periods are much longer, a citation half-life of 8 years in the case of Transactions. Moreover, these metrics now reach into the fields of academic recruitment and promotion, research funding and other environments not intended by their originator, Eugene Garfield, in the 1960s. This journal has over the past year been in dispute with the organisation which issues a number of these indicators, resulting in its impact factor being suspended for the year 2012. This has been reinstated for the 2013 citation year and in the reports issued at the end of July stands at 0·75.
We are confident that as our policy of broadening the subject areas of quality papers published in Transactions is consolidated, citations of these papers in reputable journals will continue to increase. Our mission remains to be at the forefront of disseminating new advances in the science and technology of our vitally important industrial field to academia and industry.
Institute’s AGM
IMF members are reminded that the AGM of the institute will be held on 3rd December, starting at 10h30, in the Birmingham Medical Institute. Please let Helen Wood at the IMF know of your intention to attend.