Alfred Wilm
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Dr. Alfred Wilm, was a German metallurgist, who invented the alloy Al-3.5–5.5%Cu-Mg-Mn, now known as duraluminium, which is used extensively in aircraft.
Wilm discovered age hardening, in particular age hardening in aluminium alloys in 1901[1]. This discovery was made after hardness measurements on Al-Cu alloy specimens were serendipitously found to increase in hardness at room temperature. This increase in hardness was identified after his measurements were interrupted by a weekend, and when resumed on the Monday the hardness had increased.[2]
By 1906, Wilm had developed an alloy - Al-3.5–5.5%Cu-Mg-Mn, Mg and Mn were < 1%, for which a patent was filed[3] . Later this patent was purchased and the alloy marketed as duralinium. Somewhat unusually Wilm did not write his first article on age hardening until 1911.[1][4]
At the time Wilm was developing an aluminium alloy to replace brass in ammunition. He left research and later became a farmer in 1919, until his death in 1937.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Hornbogen, Erhard (May), “Hundred years of precipitation hardening”, Journal of Light Metals (Elsevier Science Ltd.) 1 (2): 127-132, DOI 10.1016/S1471-5317(01)00006-2
- ^ Polmear, Ian (2006). Light Alloys: From traditional Alloys to Nanocrystals, 4th edition. elsevier. ISBN 0750663715.
- ^ DRP 244554 (German patent) 1906.
- ^ Wilm, Alfred (1911), “Physikalisch-metallurgische Untersuchungen über magnesiumhaltige Aluminiumlegierungen”, Metallurgie: Zeitschrift für de gesamte Hüttenkunde 8 (8): 225-227, April 22, 1911
