On this date in 1913, a relative newcomer to the materials science world, stainless steel, was invented by Harry Brearley of Sheffield, England. Brearley stumbled upon this discovery while trying to solve the problem of erosion of the internal surfaces of gun barrels for the British army during the onset of the First World War. The secret to the success of stainless steel is its incredible physical and chemical properties. Stainless steel has high corrosion resistance, heat resistance up to 2,192°F, formability and weldability, durability, and rustproof. It is also inexpensive compared to specialist, non-corrosive alloys. Between the years 1919 and 1923, the use of stainless steel was adapted to manufacture surgical scalpels, tools, and cutlery in Sheffield. In the 1930s, the first stainless steel train was built in the USA and by 1935, stainless steel kitchen sinks were widely used. In the 1980s, stainless steel was used to build the longest movable flood barrier in the world on the river Thames.
No comments:
Post a Comment