50 Greatest Moments in Materials Sci. & Engr. -- Nos. 50-11

[kenvlach]

The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) held a poll on the greatest moments in materials science & engineering. Results for numbers 50-11 were published in the Feb 2007 issue of JOM and on-line:

http://www.materialmoments.org/vote.html

The top 10 won't be revealed until the TMS Annual Meeting Feb 25-March 1. As the 100 finalists are listed at

http://www.materialmoments.org/JOMFactSheet.pdf,

one can guess at the top 10. Seven probable ones IMHO:

"Anton van Leeuwenhoek develops optical microscopy capable of magnifications of 200 times and greater (1668) (estimated).Enables study of the natural world and its structures that are invisible to the unaided eye."

"Henry Bessemer patents a bottom-blown acid process for melting low-carbon iron (1856). Ushers in the era of cheap, large-tonnage steel, thereby enabling massive
progress in transportation, building construction, and general industrialization."

"Dmitri Mendeleev devises the Periodic Table of Elements (1864). Introduces the ubiquitous reference tool of materials scientists and engineers."

"Alfred Wilm discovers the precipitation hardening of aluminum alloys (1906). Yields the "hard aluminum" duraluminum, the first high-strength aluminum alloy."

"Max von Laue discovers the diffraction of x-rays by crystals (1912). Creates means to characterize crystal structures and inspires W.H. Bragg and W.L Bragg in developing the theory of diffraction by crystals, providing insight into the effects of crystal structure on material properties."

"André Guinier and G.D. Preston independently report the observation of diffuse streaking in age-hardened aluminum copper alloys (1937). Leads to the improved understanding of precipitation-hardening mechanisms."

"John Bardeen, Walter H. Brattain, and William Shockley invent the transistor (1948). Becomes the building block for all modern electronics and the foundation for microchip and computer technology."

Agree or disagree? How about 3 more to complete the top 10?

 

[metengr]

What about the discovery of Bainite in 1930 by Davenport and Bain?

Also, the discovery of Monel. I don't recall the recent article that was in the JOM.

 

[swall]

It would appear that the nominees are science and research based, rather than application based, with the exception of more exotic materials like titanium and single crystal turbine blade castings. Significant items like the discovery of ductile cast iron are conspicuous by their absence.

 

[arunmrao]

Swall a large question"Is engineering not applied science?"

It is really interesting to note belated efforts are made now to list the major milestones which influenced progress in metallurgy.

A few more from chemical metallurgy and process metallurgy would have been welcome. Hope they appear in top10!!

 

[kenvlach]

Re "discovery of Bainite in 1930." Rather evolutionary, not a big leap. Preceded by "Henry Clifton Sorby uses light microscopy to reveal the microstructure of steel (1863), Adolf Martens examines the microstructure of a hard steel alloy...(1890)" and "William Roberts-Austen develops the phase diagram for iron and carbon (1898)."

Re Monel: This was merely the refining of a natural Sudbury copper-nickel sulfide ore, w/o separation of the metals. The discoverers were merely trying to save money in the production of 'German silver' (nickel silver) produced by alloying Cu, Ni & Zn. See 'A Century of Monel Metal: 1906–2006,' Lewis E. Shoemaker and Gaylord D. Smith, [pp. 22-26] JOM Sept. 2006.

"The discovery of ductile iron was one of the greatest achievements in the engineering materials community in the twentieth century."
---

http://www.answers.com/topic/gray-and-ductile-iron-foundries

OK, but it was fortuitous, although it took the INCO metallurgists to figure out why.

Maybe the discovery of the CorningWare process?
"S. Donald Stookey discovers a heat-treatment process for transforming glass objects into fine-grained ceramics (1952). Leads to the introduction of Pyroceram and CorningWare."

Any others?

 

[metengr]

August Wöhler (June 22, 1819 - March 21, 1914) was a German engineer, best remembered for his systematic investigations of metal fatigue.

His work on fatigue marks the first systematic investigation of S-N curves, also known as Wöhler curves, to characterise the fatigue behaviour of materials2. The presentation of his work at the Paris Exposition in 1867 brought it to a wide international audience3,4. Wöhler was an advocate of state standardisation, testing and certification of iron and steel.

He has my vote (for what its worth)

 

[dik]

kenvlach... I'd agree with 1,2,3,5 and 7... so, we need 5 more.

Dik

 

[kenvlach]

dik, I guess you're into steel.
Although Willm's discovery of age hardening was accidental, he & his assistant had by systematic study prepared and solution quenched an Al-Cu-Mg-Mn alloy, and were the first to recognize and make use of the phenomenon, which lead him to create Duralumin (an early version of 2017), which led directly to all the 2000 series high strength aluminum alloys. It was immediately put to use in Germany by Count von Zeppelin for constructing rigid airships (almost 100 produced during WW I), Vickers in the UK & Alcoa in the US (both licensed in 1911). And, a Japanese naval attache in England sent home a piece of a Zeppelin downed on the outskirts of London, which led to the eventual development by Sumitomo (1936) of “extra super duralumin,” first widely used in the Mitsubishi Zero-Sen of WW II fame. The US Navy recovered a crashlanded Zero in the Aleutian Islands (Alaska) in 1942, sent it home, and gave samples to Alcoa. Alcoa modified it slightly for improved corrosion resistance and in 1943 called it 75S (now 7075), which they produced in large quantity for the B-29 bombers which delivered the final blows of WW II. And, of current significance, 7075 is commonly used in 81 mm rocket bodies, of which Saddam Hussein had the misfortune of attempting to procure. So, Willm's discovery is guaranteed a place in history, current events & among major metallurgical discoveries.

And, age hardening isn't limited to aluminum alloys, although Guinier and Preston both studied Al-4%Cu (a simple version of Willm's alloy). As they were the first to correctly determine the pre-precipitation processes occurring from supersaturated solid solution in age-hardening alloys (well prior to high resolution microscopy), and as there was considerable controversy on the subject, and since Guinier-Preston zones are named for them, perhaps also a top 10 selection.

Where are your picks???

 

[dik]

OK... maybe add Willm... still need four after my addition...

I'd nominate Leonhard Euler, a Swiss mathematician of the 1700's who is responsible for Euler buckling as well as the study of Topology...

Electrical dudes might consider Maxwell...

Galileo might also be included... not sure because I'm not aware of the criteria...

Dik

 

[kenvlach]

The criterion is selecting the 10 best nominees from the 100 finalists list, excluding numbers 50-11 already selected.

Galileo can be included since a finalist:
"Galileo publishes Della Scienza Mechanica ("on mechanical knowledge"), which he writes after he has been consulted regarding shipbuilding problems (1593). Deals scientifically with the strength of materials."
-- I wouldn't bet on this pick, though.

Euler was a mathematician, Newton too, as well as a physicist & alchemist, but neither among the finalists. Nearly all nominees dealt hands-on with materials (leaves out Copernicus!), mostly leading to advanced materials. Now if Sir Isaac had invented the apple that lead to his formulation of the laws of gravity...

 

[dik]

Still need 5 then...

Dik

 

[RPstress]

Robert Hooke doesn't seem to be in that top 11 to 50, which seems a little odd...unless he's in the top ten, which may be a little ambitious.

Galileo did do some fundamental work on beams when he was under house arrest, but while he contributed to the thinking on such things his approach was basically wrong.

 

[Maui]

Metengr, as an aside there is evidence that the austempering process patented by Davenport and Bain in the early 1930s was actually discovered in the 1920s by Frank Richtig, a knifemaker from Clarkson Nebraska.

Maui

 

[kenvlach]

The Top 10 Moments in Materials History as announced at the TMS 2007 Annual Meeting:

"10. Henry Bessemer patents a bottom-blown acid process for melting low-carbon iron. (1856)

9. Max von Laue discovers the diffraction of x-rays by crystals. (1912)

8. In and around modern Turkey, people discover that liquid copper can be extracted from malachite and azurite and that the molten metal can be cast into different shapes. (estimated 5000 B.C.)

7. Metal workers in south India develop crucible steel making. (estimated 300 B.C.)

6. John Smeaton invents modern concrete (hydraulic cement). (1755)

5. Anton van Leeuwenhoek develops optical microscopy capable of magnifications of 200 times and greater. (estimated 1668)

4. The peoples of northwestern Iran invent glass. (estimated 2200 B.C.)

3. John Bardeen, Walter H. Brattain, and William Shockley invent the transistor. (1948)

2. Egyptians smelt iron (perhaps as a by-product of copper refining) for the first time, using tiny amounts mostly for ornamental or ceremonial purposes. (estimated 3500 B.C.)

1. Dmitri Mendeleev devises the Periodic Table of Elements. (1864)"

http://www.tms.org/newsletter/archive/0703.asp#TopTen

 

[arunmrao]

Thanks kenvlach for the eagerly awaited update. India and metals have a long and old association(iron pillar in Delhi). It would have been good to see a few more recent developments like single crystal growth,.

 

[kenvlach]

Good job dik for picking the correct 5 of the 7 choices in my OP.

Quite a few prehistoric discoveries. Important, yes, but perhaps uncertain heritage? Surely, there's missing archeological evidence -- either lost to the ravages of time and or yet to be discovered. Note recent discoveries at Stonehenge, new understanding of a 2400 year old solar observatory in Peru (which is predated by a 4,200-year-old solstice site just north of Lima), a current exploration of submerged coastal plains off Texas (100 mile width submerged since the last Ice Age)...

For recent archeological discoveries, see Archaeo News

http://www.stonepages.com/news/

 

[SMF1964]

As a former graduate student and member of Lehigh University's Von Laue Society, perhaps number 9 should read: 9. Von Laue AND HIS STUDENTS/RESEARCH ASSISTANTS discover the diffraction of x-rays by crystals. Von Laue's fame continues while those who did the actual lab work continue to get anonymity (and a pint). ;-)