The Preston of the Guinier-Preston Zones. Guinier

Almost all materials scientists know about the Guinier–Preston (GP) zones, which were discovered in age-hardened aluminum-copper alloys in 1938. One of the discoverers, the French André Guinier, is rightly well known. The other discoverer, the British G.D. Preston, is totally ignored, even in English scientific biographies. I wish here to partly make up for this “oblivion” by giving elements about George Preston’s life (August 8, 1896 to June 22, 1972) and scientific work. Born in Ireland to the physicist Thomas Preston and deceased in Scotland, G. Preston carried out his scientific achievements in England, mainly studying the crystallographic structure of metals, metallic alloys, and thin films of metal oxides in a pioneering way. He also discussed the atomistic structure of twins in 1927. He mastered many kinds of X-ray and electron diffraction techniques up to diffuse scattering, which allowed him to detect the GP zones. Although he was involved in several controversies, including one about diamonds, he always remained a forthright person until his final professorship in Dundee. André Guinier’s career is briefly recalled in a parallel way.