Gruson’s chilled cast iron – a legendary wonder material of the 19th century
-
S. Dieck
studied at the Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg where he also earned his doctorate. Today, he is the managing director of DeltaSigma Analytics GmbH. His work focuses on materials testing and development and the impact of different heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical characteristics. Another key focus is the analysis of historical materials.
Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Chair of Metallic Materials at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. After completing his apprenticeship as a blacksmith, he studied materials science at Chemnitz University of Technology and earned his doctorate and habilitation in this field. In 2013, he accepted the call to Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and since 2021 has been the dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. His scientific focus is on the structure-property relationships in engineering materials such as steels, cast irons and light metals. His current scientific focus is on medically used metals and historical materials. materials.
Abstract
In the second half of the 19th century, a wonder material reached worldwide fame. The chilled cast iron developed by Magdeburgbased industrialist and inventor Hermann Gruson was characterized by its extraordinary wear resistance which was far superior to that of the traditional wrought steels. Chilled cast iron was in demand all over the globe as a protective material, for example. Many stories surround Gruson’s long forgotten chilled cast iron and for the first time, this material has now been examined for its mechanical and microstructural properties using modern analytical methods. The microstructure property correlations determined during the study provide interesting insights both into the material and its inventor, who was one of the most innovative engineers of his time.
Kurzfassung
In der zweiten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts gelangte ein Wunderwerkstoff zu weltweitem Ruhm. Der vom Magdeburger Industriellen und Erfinder Hermann Gruson entwickelte Hartguss zeichnete sich durch eine außergewöhnliche Verschleißbeständigkeit aus, die den herkömmlich verwendeten Schmiedestählen weit überlegen war. Der Hartguss war unter anderem als Schutzwerkstoff auf dem gesamten Globus gefragt. Um den lang vergessenen Gruson’schen Hartguss ranken sich viele Geschichten. Erstmals wurde dieses Material nun mit Hilfe moderner Analysemethoden hinsichtlich mechanischer und mikrostruktureller Eigenschaften hin untersucht. Die ermittelten Mikrostruktur-Eigenschafts-Beziehungen geben interessante Aufschlüsse über den Werkstoff, wie auch über seinen Erfinder, einen der innovativsten Ingenieure seiner Zeit.
About the authors
studied at the Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg where he also earned his doctorate. Today, he is the managing director of DeltaSigma Analytics GmbH. His work focuses on materials testing and development and the impact of different heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical characteristics. Another key focus is the analysis of historical materials.
Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Chair of Metallic Materials at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. After completing his apprenticeship as a blacksmith, he studied materials science at Chemnitz University of Technology and earned his doctorate and habilitation in this field. In 2013, he accepted the call to Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and since 2021 has been the dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. His scientific focus is on the structure-property relationships in engineering materials such as steels, cast irons and light metals. His current scientific focus is on medically used metals and historical materials. materials.
5 Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Prof. Rüdiger Bähr (Otto von Guericke University) for his in-depth research into Hermann Gruson, for his suggestions and open intellectual exchange. The authors also thank Mr. Henk Tol (Forteiland Ijmuiden) for the opportunity to sample the gun gallery and his personal commitment to the historical heritage of Hermann Gruson. The authors also express their thanks to Methodisch-Diagnostischem Zentrum Werkstoffprüfung e.V. for the support and funding of the research project and their special thanks to the company Nordmetall GmbH for carrying out mechanical testing of the material.
5 Danksagung
Ein herzliches Dankeschön geht an Herrn Prof. Rüdiger Bähr (Otto-von-Guericke-Universität), für seine umfangreichen Recherchen zu Hermann Gruson, die Anregungen und den offenen Gedankenaustausch. Die Autoren danken Herrn Henk Tol (Museumsinsel Ijmuiden) für die Möglichkeit der Beprobung der Geschützgallerie und für sein persönliche Engagement um das historische Erbe Hermann Grusons. Zudem wird dem Methodisch-Diagnostischem Zentrum Werkstoffprüfung e.V. für die Unterstützung und die Förderung des Vorhabens gedankt. Besonderer Dank gilt der Firma Nordmetall GmbH für die mechanische Prüfung des Materials.
References / Literatur
[1] Bähr, R.: Gießen – Vom antiken Kunsthandwerk zur modernen Fertigungstechnologie, Ottovon-Guericke-Universität, Magdeburg, 2016.Search in Google Scholar
[2] Beck, L.: Die Geschichte des Eisens – Fünfte Abteilung, 1. Auflage, Vieweg, Braunschweig, 1903.Search in Google Scholar
[3] Ullrich, S.: Industriearchitektur in Magdeburg, Landeshauptstadt Magdeburg, 1996.Search in Google Scholar
[4] www.festungen.info, Abrufdatum: 31.01.2023.Search in Google Scholar
[5] Geitel, M.: Westermanns illustrierte deutsche Monatshefte 55 (1891) 415, pp. 110–132.Search in Google Scholar
[6] von Schütz, J.: Neue Militärische Blätter 28 (1886), pp. 449–462.Search in Google Scholar
[7] Tol, H.: Grusons Kustforten, Ijmuiden.Search in Google Scholar
[8] Tol, H.: Fort bij Ijmuiden, Ijmuiden.Search in Google Scholar
[9] www.stellingvanamsterdam.nl, Abrufdatum: 30.01.2023.Search in Google Scholar
[10] Petzow, G., Carle, V.: Metallographisches, keramographisches, plastographisches Ätzen, 6. Auflage, Borntraeger, Berlin, 2006.Search in Google Scholar
[11] Hornbogen, E., Warlimont, H.: Metalle, 5. Auflage, Springer, Berlin, 2006.Search in Google Scholar
[12] Weck, E.; Leistner, E.: Die schweißtechnische Praxis 5, 2. Auflage, Dt. Verl. für Schweisstechnik, Düsseldorf, 1983.Search in Google Scholar
[13] Spieß, L., Teichert, G., Schwarzer, R., Behnken, H., Genzel, C.: Moderne Röntgenbeugung, 2. Auflage, Vieweg+Teubner Verlag, Wiesbaden, 2009. DOI:10.1007/978-3-8349-9434-910.1007/978-3-8349-9434-9Search in Google Scholar
[14] Borchardt-Ott, W., Sowa, H.: Kristallographie, 8. Auflage, Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 2013. DOI:10.1007/978-3-642-34811-210.1007/978-3-642-34811-2Search in Google Scholar
[15] Yao, N., Wang, Z.: Handbook for Microscopy and Nanotechnology, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, 2005. DOI:10.1007/1-4020-8006-910.1007/1-4020-8006-9Search in Google Scholar
[16] Schwartz, A. Kumar, M., Adams, B.: Electron Backscatter Diffraction in Materials Science, 2. Auflage, Springer, 2009. DOI:10.1007/978-0-387-88136-210.1007/978-0-387-88136-2Search in Google Scholar
[17] Kretschmann, C.: Vom Grusonwerk zum SKET: 150 Jahre Industriegeschichte, Delta-D, Magdeburg, 2005.Search in Google Scholar
[18] Recherche H. Tol, Gedenkbuch zum Grusonwerk, Stadtarchiv Magdeburg.Search in Google Scholar
© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston, Germany
Articles in the same Issue
- Inhalt
- Editorial
- Editorial
- Gruson’s chilled cast iron – a legendary wonder material of the 19th century
- Automated quantitative microstructural analysis using the open-source server-client platform OMERO
- Tip Rubbing as a Rare Metallurgical Root Cause of Gas Turbine Compressor Blade Failure
- Picture of the Month
- Picture of the Month
- News
- News
- Meeting Diary
- Meeting Diary
Articles in the same Issue
- Inhalt
- Editorial
- Editorial
- Gruson’s chilled cast iron – a legendary wonder material of the 19th century
- Automated quantitative microstructural analysis using the open-source server-client platform OMERO
- Tip Rubbing as a Rare Metallurgical Root Cause of Gas Turbine Compressor Blade Failure
- Picture of the Month
- Picture of the Month
- News
- News
- Meeting Diary
- Meeting Diary
