10 Moments

PROMOTING THE GLOBAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROFESSIONS CONCERNED WITH MINERALS, METALS AND MATERIALS
184 THORN HILL ROAD WARRENDALE, PA 15086-7514 USA

TELEPHONE: (724) 776-9000 FAX: (724) 776-3770 WEB: www.tms.org
FOR RELEASE: March 8, 2007
Top 10 Materials Moments in History Announced Record-Breaking Attendance at TMS Annual Meeting
(March 8, 2007, WARRENDALE, PA, USA)More than 4,200 materials science and engineering professionals from 68 countries attended the TMS 2007 Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, Feb. 25-March 1, as the results of voting among the scientific community and the public at large revealed the Greatest Materials Moments in History. The Periodic Table of Elements devised by Dmitri Mendeleev in 1864 was voted the number one materials moment, the indispensable reference tool for those in the field. (See below for remaining top 10.)
The record number of attendees, 4,253, at the 136th annual meeting, took part in 2,354 technical presentations in light metals; extraction, processing, structure and properties; and emerging materials; as well as the plenary sessions presenting the Greatest Materials Moments. Leaders in industry, academia and government spoke at the plenary sessions, recapping 50 years of technological progress in materials. In his presentation regarding the future of materials science, Dr. Diran Apelian, a professor and director at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts,
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER EXTENSION: 218 E-MAIL: NCOMMELLA@TMS.ORG
NANCY COMMELLA
stated, The driving force for R&D in the United States has been primarily provided by the Department of DefenseDefense is a critical societal need; however, it is not the only need and a balance is needed to ensure that basic human needs are being -more-
addressed. Those needs include energy, transportation, housing, food, recycling and health, according to Dr. Apelian.
The needs of past generations were reflected in materials developed and are evidenced in the remaining top 10 moments: No. 2 Fe Smelting Around 3500 B.C., Egyptians smelt iron for the first time, using tiny amounts, mostly for ornamental or ceremonial purposes. This is the first processing secret of what will become the worlds dominant metallurgical material. No. 3 Transistor In 1948, John Bardeen, Walter H. Brattain and William Shockley invent the transistor. This becomes the building block for all modern electronics and the foundation for microchip and computer technology. No. 4 Invention of Glass Approximately 2200 B.C., northwestern Iranians invent glass. This becomes the second greatest nonmetallic engineering material (following ceramics). No. 5 Optical Microscopy In 1668, Anton van Leeuwenhoek develops optical microscopy, capable of magnifications of 200 times and greater. This enables study of the natural world invisible to the human eye. No. 6 Modern Concrete In 1755, John Smeaton invents modern concrete (hydraulic cement), which introduces the dominant construction material of the modern age. No. 7 Crucible Steel Making Around 300 B.C., metal workers in south India develop crucible steel making, which produces wootz steel. This becomes famous as Damascus sword steel hundreds of years later, inspiring artisans, blacksmiths and metallurgists for many generations. No. 8 Cu Extraction and Casting Approximately 5000 B.C., people in the region of modern Turkey discover that liquid copper can be extracted from malachite and azurite, and that the molten metal can be cast into different shapes. Extractive metallurgy is introduced. No. 9 X-ray Diffraction In 1912, Max von Laue discovers the diffraction of x-rays by crystals. This creates the means to characterize crystal structures and inspires the development of the theory of diffraction by crystals. No. 10 Bessemer Process In 1856, Henry Bessemer patents a bottom-blown acid process for melting lowcarbon iron. This leads to the era of cheap, large tonnage steel, enabling massive progress in transportation, building construction and general industrialization. More information about the Greatest Materials Moments can be found online at www.materialmoments.org.
TMS will hold its 2008 meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the Ernest Morial Convention Center, March 913. TMS is the professional organization encompassing the entire range of materials science and engineering, from minerals processing and primary metals production to basic research and the advanced applications of materials. Included among its professional and student members are metallurgical and materials engineers, scientists, researchers, educators and administrators from more than 70 countries on six continents. For more information, contact Nancy Commella, communications manager; telephone (800) 759-4TMS, ext. 218; e-mail ncommella@tms.org.
Sponsors of the Top 10 Moments include: EDAX, sponsor of moment #9, and Thermo-Calc Software, sponsor of moment #1. -30-

10 Moments

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

10 Moments

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

10 Moments

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PROMOTING THE GLOBAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROFESSIONS CONCERNED WITH MINERALS, METALS AND MATERIALS

184 THORN HILL ROAD WARRENDALE, PA 15086-7514 USA

FOR RELEASE: March 8, 2007

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.