HOW ALUMINUM CHANGED ENGINEERING FOREVER - In the late 1800s, aluminum was the most expensive metal in the world. A few decades later, it was being used to build everything. Aluminum has been around for thousands of years, but until fairly recently, it was very expensive and a poor building material. The discovery of cheaper manufacturing processes and strong aluminum alloys that were lighter than steel completely changed entire industries in the early 20th century. Aluminum was very rare until almost the end of the 19th century, when two men, Charles Martin Hall and Paul Héroult — working independently—discovered a new technique for making aluminum that turned aluminum from one of the most expensive metals in the world into one of the cheapest. About 20 years later, a German scientist named Alfred Wilm discovered a technique to produce an alloy of aluminum that was stronger than the pure metal. This technique, called age hardening, produced the alloy duraluminum, which saw widespread use as a building material. Duraluminum was used in countless applications, and completely changed early 20th century industry. It allowed airplanes to be built stronger and larger, it allowed buildings to be built higher, and it allowed power lines to be built further apart. Much of the world in the early 20th century was built from aluminum.

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How Aluminum Changed Engineering Forever

In the late 1800s, aluminum was the most expensive metal in the world. A few decades later, it was being used to build everything.

BY AVERY THOMPSON

Aluminum has been around for thousands of years, but until fairly recently, it was very expensive and a poor building material.

The discovery of cheaper manufacturing processes and strong aluminum alloys that were lighter than steel completely changed entire industries in the early 20th century.

Real Engineering gives a detailed history of the early uses of this wonder material:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn9qhQSMCRk[/youtube]

Aluminum was very rare until almost the end of the 19th century, when two men, Charles Martin Hall and Paul Héroult — working independently—discovered a new technique for making aluminum that turned aluminum from one of the most expensive metals in the world into one of the cheapest.

About 20 years later, a German scientist named Alfred Wilm discovered a technique to produce an alloy of aluminum that was stronger than the pure metal.

This technique, called age hardening, produced the alloy duraluminum, which saw widespread use as a building material.

Duraluminum was used in countless applications, and completely changed early 20th century industry.

It allowed airplanes to be built stronger and larger, it allowed buildings to be built higher, and it allowed power lines to be built further apart.

Much of the world in the early 20th century was built from aluminum.

Avery Thompson

twitter.com/physicallyavery

https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a22553/how-aluminum-changed-the-world/

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