STS 3700 – Lecture 10 - Science and Technology in the 19th Century

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STS 3700 – Lecture 8 - Science Joins Industry : Galileo's Bargain

Iron, rail and steam, 1 st Industrial revolution

“Second Industrial Revolution”, internal combustion engine, electrical technology and chemicals

Industries of 1 st revolution contributed to 2nd

Scientific input was important to Second Revolution, biology, chemistry, electromagnetism and thermodynamics

Industrial developments were interdependent

Electricity

Faraday’s electromagnetic induction and Volta’s battery, telecommunications

Electromagnetic theory, improvements in magnets and electricity generation

Lightbulb research and innovation, Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

AC versus DC power and long distance transmission

1888 Nikolai Tesla develops motor to translate AC power to mechanical motion

First AC plant at Niagara Falls in 1895, streetcars in 1880’s

Chemical Developments

Chemical theory contributions: bonding theory, organic chemistry, ionic theory

Electrolysis, process chemicals (chlorine) and substances (graphite)

Gas chemistry for nitrogen and hydrogen

The Internal Combustion Engine

Christiaan Huygens in 17 th century, first example of IC engine

Nikolaus Otto first commercially viable IC engine, compressed gas

IC engines: less labor intensive, smaller, flexible, cheap fuel (coal gas, kerosene and gasoline)

1885 Gottlieb Daimler, high speed IC engine, carburetor, Karl Benz

IC motor car

A Shift of Power

Britain lost technological lead of first Industrial Revolution to

Germany and US

Industry regulation, American capture of German patents after WWI

British did not develop their scientific education

US: Industrial research labs at turn of century, mass production, large domestic market and raw materials in abundance

The Merger of Science and Engineering

Scientific R+D was appropriated by industrial interests

Scientific research: o Increased productivity o New methods of production o Required innovation and capital access

Scientific R+D was long, and expensive, this required excess capital from: o Traditional manufacturing profits o Financial speculation o Industrial consolidation (vertical integration)

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1920’s: over 500 corporate mergers

Union Carbide, Dupont o Union Carbide (carbon, alloys, oxyacetylene, liquid gas, bakelite and plastics) o Dupont (explosives, gasoline, and automobile applications)

Science, variety and industrial laboratories

Petroleum, metallurgy, paper, cement, photography, fertilizers, steel

The Chemical Industry in the US

Industrial revolution: batch production, artificial substances

US industry: Acids, alkalis, inorganic salts

Industries that used chemicals: textiles, paper, leather, glass, soap, paint, petroleum, rubber, electrical equipment, fertilizers, insecticides, automobile

Before WWI, German chemical companies: o Initial lead o Low cost chemicals o Advanced university scientific research o Ownership of patents

After WWI, German patents redistributed, tariff barriers

US industry: catalytic, electrochemical, organic synthesis and liquifaction processes

Electrolytic process used to produce salts, soda, chlorine and bromine

Industrial Momentum and the Electrical Industry

Turn of century electrical industry dominated by a few large companies, electrical power generation, lighting, transportation and communications

Engineers and scientists determined industrial model: o Patents o Research laboratories o Technical training programs

GE, Westinghouse and ATT

1876, Alexander Graham Bell, voice transfer over wires

Reliable current, efficiency, standardization and reliability

In 1885 Westinghouse, alternating current

Patents and Innovation

Patents lasted for 17 years

Securing of patents and mergers to gain control over patents

Thomas Edison: Menlo Park, New Jersey, market guide to innovation, diffuse patents

Complexity, technological systems and a network of innovations , mergers

Patent maintenance and patent pooling

Patent protection became more important as industry adopted more science and complexity

Vertical Integration

Vertical integration: When a supplier of a product merges with a user

Vertical integration used to reduce transaction costs and to guarantee supply and fixed prices in expensive R+D intensive industries

Suppliers of raw materials and users of manufactured products

Vertical integration: internal demand for purity, volume and variety

Dupont, war, explosives, dynamite, nitroglycerine and black powder

The Reciprocal Relationship between Science and Industry

Science, new processes, monopolies, and patent control

Science directed by industrial interests, curriculum

Science/engineering skills brought to mining, petroleum, steel, rubber, automotive industries

Conclusion: The “Scientific Revolution” in Industry

Science in industry at end of 19 th century required: o Control and purchase of patents o Scientific training for employees o Large scale industrial scientific R+D

“Scientific revolution” in industry, corporate and scientific advancement

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