Chapter 04 of 5
Duralumin and the Age of Flight
The accidental discovery of age-hardening and high-strength alloys.
- The Weight Crisis
Light but Limp
Pure aluminium was a dream for transport due to its low density, but it was too soft to support structural loads. Early attempts at building frames resulted in metal that bent like lead.
- The Alchemist
Alfred Wilm's Quest
In 1906, German metallurgist Alfred Wilm sought to harden aluminium by adding small amounts of copper and magnesium. His early tests were disappointing failures.
- The Accident
A Lucky Weekend
After heat-treating a sample, Wilm left it in the lab over a weekend. When he returned on Monday, the metal was significantly harder than when he left it.
17 more cards in this chapter
Could you answer this?
How did Alfred Wilm discover the high-strength properties of Duralumin?
🥈 Aluminium: The Clay That Became Silver
- 01The Elusive Earth of AlumUnderstanding the stubborn chemical bond of 'the silver from clay.'
- 02More Precious Than GoldWhen aluminium was the world's most expensive luxury material.
- 03The Hall-Héroult RevolutionHow 'frozen electricity' finally liberated the metal from its ore.
- 04Duralumin and the Age of FlightThe accidental discovery of age-hardening and high-strength alloys.
- 05The Infinite LoopThe physics of recycling and the metal's modern ubiquitous life.