Material world

Portland cement

Early civilizations relied on natural minerals to bond building materials together. By the 19th century, factories made basic cement from local limestone and clay. In 1824, British bricklayer JosepH aspdin ground cooked limestone and clay into powder and added water. He named the strong concrete “Portland cement” after quality

Portland stone. affordaBle and Hard-wearing, cement is used to lay bricks, plaster walls, and construct roads.

Strong steel girders are used in construction to form the supporting structures of buildings.

M a terial world people have been crafting objects since ancient times, but these marvelous materials have transformed the way we live.

Steel

Steel is an alloy (mixture) of iron and other substances. It has been used for thousands of years, but it really took off in 1858 when Englishman Henry Bessemer invented a process to produce large amounts of it very cheaply. In 1913, English laboratory researcher Harry Brearley was in pursuit of a long-lasting steel for gun barrels, when he discovered a type that resisted damage from acids. Today, his stainless steel is everywhere, from items such as saucepans and sinks to tiny nuts and bolts holding household goods together.

Did you know? The ancient Romans used volcano ash to make their concrete. Today, about 1.3 billion tons of cement is produced every year.

The materials that BUILT the modern world

Glass

Heating the mineral sodium carbonate and sand produces glass, but it is unclear who discovered the process. The Egyptians were glazing jewelry beads in 2500 bce, while the ancient Romans were the first to use transparent glass. Around 1000 ce, the glass industry took off in Europe, with the venetianS of italy producing the finest glass for centuries afterward. By the 17th century, most Europeans had glass windowpanes at home. Eyeglasses, mirrors, and light bulbs are among the many inventions that make use of glass.

S t a in less steel is oft en u s e d f or hand t ool s .

Did you know? The windows of protected vehicles, such as tanks and military aircraft, have such thick layers of glass that they could stop a bullet.

Kevlar

This synthetic fiber is a relatively young invention in the material world. Created by American chemist Stephanie KwoleK and patented in 1966, Kevlar is five times stronger than steel. In addition to its super strength, it is lightweight and does not rust. This makes the tightly woven fibers ideal for the bulletproof veStS worn by police officers. When it’s not saving lives, Kevlar is used to make parachutes, skis, cell phones, construction clothing, bicycle tires, and underwater cables. Kevlar makes these work gloves cut-proof.

Titanium

In 1791, English clergyman william Gregor discovered titanium in its mineral form, but it wasn’t until 1932 that Luxembourg metal expert William Kroll produced the metallic titanium used today. Removing impurities results in a material as strong as steel but half as heavy. Named after the Titans of Greek mythology, titanium is used in aircraft, spacecraft, boats, bicycles, and machine parts like these cogs.