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