Alfred Wilm
Encyclopedia
Alfred Wilm , was a German metallurgist
, who invented the alloy Al-3.5–5.5%Cu-Mg-Mn, now known as duralumin
ium, which is used extensively in aircraft.
Whilst working in military research centre in Neubabelsberg in 1901, Wilm discovered age hardening, in particular age hardening of aluminium alloys. 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.
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. 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.
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.
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
, who invented the alloy Al-3.5–5.5%Cu-Mg-Mn, now known as duralumin
Duralumin
Duralumin is the trade name of one of the earliest types of age-hardenable aluminium alloys. The main alloying constituents are copper, manganese, and magnesium. A commonly used modern equivalent of this alloy type is AA2024, which contains 4.4% copper, 1.5% magnesium, 0.6% manganese and 93.5%...
ium, which is used extensively in aircraft.
Whilst working in military research centre in Neubabelsberg in 1901, Wilm discovered age hardening, in particular age hardening of aluminium alloys. This discovery was made after hardness measurements on Al
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
-Cu
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
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.
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. 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.
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.