Industrial processes

Industrial processes

1740: English crucible steel developed by Benjamin Huntsman (1704–1776).

1743: Sheffield plate, a layered combination of silver and copper, invented by Thomas Boulsover (1705–1788).

1746: The lead chamber process, for producing sulfuric acid in large quantities, invented by John Roebuck (1718–1794).

  1. c. 1760-c. 1840: Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution – Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806–1859); Abraham Darby I (1678–1717); Abraham Darby II (1711–1763); Abraham Darby III (1750–1789); Robert Forester Mushet (1811–1891).

1769: The water frame, a water-powered spinning frame, invented by Richard Arkwright (1732–1792).

  1. 1770: Coade stone, a high quality stoneware, created by Eleanor Coade (1733–1821).

1784–1789: Power loom developed by Edmund Cartwright (1743–1823).

1795: Hydraulic press invented by Joseph Bramah (1748–1814).

1820: The Rubber Masticator, a machine for recycling rubber, invented by Thomas Hancock (1786–1865).

1824: Portland cement patented by Joseph Aspdin (1778–1855).

1840: Electroplating process patented by George Elkington (1801–1865).

1843: Vulcanisation of rubber, a process for making natural rubber more durable, patented by Thomas Hancock (1786–1865).

1850: The Parkes process, for removing silver from lead during the production of bullion, invented by Alexander Parkes (1813–1890).

1850–1855: Steel production Bessemer process developed by Henry Bessemer (1813–1898).

1862: First man-made plastic – Nitrocellulose, branded Parkesine – invented by Alexander Parkes (1813–1890).

1912: Stainless steel invented by Harry Brearley (1871–1948).

1933: First industrially practical polythene discovered by accident in 1933 by Eric Fawcett and Reginald Gibson in Northwich.

1952: The float glass process, for the manufacture of high-quality flat glass, invented by Alastair Pilkington (1920–1995).

1950s: The Wilson Yarn Clearer developed by inventor Peter Wilson (dates not known).

2001: Self-cleaning glass is developed by Pilkington.