Ian Macmillan Ward FRS FInstP (9 April 1928 – 5 November 2018)[3] was a British physicist specialising in polymer science.
Following a secondment to the Division of Applied Mathematics of Brown University (1961–1962), he became the head of the Basic Physics Section at the company.
He established the comprehensive methodology for characterising such systems, involving a wide range of mechanical, spectroscopic and other structure techniques.
In the latter respect his work has led to the attainment of ultraoriented fibrous material of greatly enhanced stiffness and strength.
[9][10] In 2013, the Department of Materials of ETH Zurich awarded him the Staudinger–Durrer Prize in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the field of mechanical properties of solid polymers and polymer-based composites.