Ivan Nikitich Frantsevich is called the father of the Soviet powder metallurgy. His ideas made the scientific base in the creation of new materials with the set properties for a wide range of applications. The technologies of ceramic-metal products, offered by him, allowed introducing in equipment a wide number of special materials - antifrictional, resistant to wear, reinforced, electrotechnical and many others.
I.M. Frantsevich was born in Poltava on August 3, 1905, in the worker's family. In 1929 he graduated from chemical and physico-mathematical faculties of the Kharkov Institute of National Education (the Kharkov National University today) at the same time, he graduated with the degree of phisico-chemist and metallurgists.
In 1929-1941 he worked at the Ukrainian research institute of metals, Institute of ferrous metallurgy of the Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R.. Along with it since 1930 he taught at the Kharkov university.
The young scientist conducted researches in the field of the high-temperature strength and deformability of alloys in connection with studying of strength characteristics of carbonaceous alloyed steel in a wide interval of temperatures. He studied processes of recrystallization and structural transformations during the hardening and tempering of steel. These researches were generalized in the monograph "Deformation of steel at joint thermal and mechanical treatment and their physico-mechanical properties at high temperatures" which appeared in 1933.
The rank of professor of physical chemistry was given to the young scientist in 1934 for works, that had great scientific value, and he was elected as the corresponding member of the AS of USSR.
In 1939 I. N. Frantsevich was appointed as the deputy director of the Institute of From 1945 to 1957 Ivan Nikitich worked as the head of the department of the Kiev university. From 1952 to 1955 he was the head of the laboratory of special alloys of the AS of USSR, from 1955 to 1973 - the director of the Institute of Problems of Materials Science (IPMS) of the AS of USSR, and since 1973 – the deputy of the department of this institute.
Along with studying of materials with high rates of heat resistance, mechanisms of alloys creeping, corrosion of metals in the soil and their electrical protections, I.M. Frantsevich began to study methods and materials of powder metallurgy which became central in his further scientific activity.
Since 1961 I.M. Frantsevich was the academician of the AS of USSR, the honored worker of science and technology of USSR (1965), the Hero of socialist labour (1969). He was awarded with two Orders of Lenin, other awards and medals; winner of the State award of USSR (1950), State award of UkrSSR (1969), Awards of the Council of Ministers of USSR (1981).
The opening and production of ceramic-metal products and a number of special materials for introduction in the modern technology received world recognition.
The modern powder metallurgy, the foundation of which was laid by Ivan Nikitich, gives the chance to receive materials with different functions and with the set characteristics. They are resistant to electrocorrosion, characterized by high electro- and heat conductivity and technological effectiveness. In particular, the group of scientists of IPM of AN of Ukraine headed by professor I.D. Radomiselsky received the material for a running gear of a first-ever moon rover which worked well in the range of temperatures from -100 °C to + 150 °C.
With the help of developments of IPM two plants and more than hundred workshops and production sites were constructed in the USSR. In due time the plant of powder metallurgy in Brovary was the largest enterprise of powder metallurgy in the former Union.
The institute created by Ivan Nikitich Frantsevich and the street in Poltava have his name.