Bruce J. Pletka

Bruce graduated with a bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Cleveland State University in 1970 and an MS and PhD in Ceramic Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 1973 and 1975, respectively. He then spent time as a National Research Council Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Standards (now the National Institute for Science and Technology) until the fall of 1977 when he joined the Department of Metallurgical Engineering at Michigan Technological University. Bruce retired from Michigan Tech in 2016 after 39 years of service to the university and the MSE department.

Bruce's research activities spanned the deformation of ceramics at high temperature, slow-crack growth in a variety of ceramic materials, and the deformation of tantalum-containing nickel-base superalloys. He also became involved in the simulation of the lunar regolith for the purpose of using in-situ raw materials to produce construction materials for future lunar bases. He studied the processing of powdered materials, including the production of aluminum matrix ceramic particulate reinforced composites, plasma spraying of aluminum oxide and hydroxyl apatite as coatings on implant materials, and the production of high strength, pure aluminum oxide.

For the students of MSE, Bruce was well-regarded as a very versatile, amazingly knowledgeable, and effective instructor. He taught courses in scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and designed and taught the laboratory sections for those courses. He taught the introductory course, courses examining the mechanical properties and characterization of materials, material selection and design, and a senior elective in technical ceramics, a course that he has continued to teach every year since his retirement.

In addition to all he has done for MSE, Bruce was notably active in coaching local youth athletic programs in the Copper Country for many years–including youth baseball and cycling clubs. He served as an advisor and coach for Michigan Tech students competing in division II mountain bike races in the National Collegiate Cycling Association. He has personally participated in over 125 mountain, road, gravel and cyclecross bike races in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.