Walter Rosenhain facts for kids

Dr. Walter Rosenhain (born August 24, 1875 – died March 17, 1934) was a very important scientist. He was born in Germany but later became an Australian expert in metallurgy. Metallurgy is the science of how metals behave and how we can make them stronger or more useful.

Early Life and Moving to Australia

Walter Rosenhain was born on August 24, 1875, in Berlin, which was part of the German Empire back then. His father, Moritz Rosenhain, was a merchant, and his mother was Friederike. When Walter was just five years old, his family moved to Australia. They did this so Walter would not have to join the army when he grew up.

His School Days

Walter went to school at Wesley College, Melbourne. Then he studied at Queen's College at the University of Melbourne. He finished his studies in civil engineering there. He even won a special scholarship called an "1851 exhibition" for his excellent work. After that, Walter spent three years doing research with a professor named James Alfred Ewing at St John's College, Cambridge in England.

A Career in Metals

Walter's professor suggested he look at metals very closely using a microscope. This led him to work at the Royal Mint, where coins are made. There, he learned new ways to study metals.

Discoveries About Metals

While studying metals, Walter made some cool discoveries. He found "slip bands," which are tiny lines that appear on metals when they are stretched or bent. He also noticed that soft metals like lead could heal themselves over time, a process called "spontaneous annealing."

Working with Glass

In 1900, Walter became a science advisor for Chance Brothers in Birmingham. This company made glass and equipment for lighthouses. For the next six years, Walter mostly worked on making special glass for lenses and parts for lighthouses.

Leading a Science Lab

In 1906, Walter Rosenhain got a big job. He became the first leader of the metals department at the National Physical Laboratory, UK. He stayed in this role until 1931. His department started small, but it grew quickly. It became one of the most important places in the world for studying metals. In 1915, he hired the lab's first female scientists, Marie Laura Violet Gayler and Isabel Hadfield.

Writing Books and Giving Talks

Walter Rosenhain wrote many scientific papers and gave lots of speeches. His team also wrote a lot about all kinds of metal science.

• In 1908, he published a book called Glass Manufacture. A new version came out in 1919.
• In 1914, he published An Introduction to the Study of Physical Metallurgy. This book was very popular and was printed many times. A new version was published after he passed away.

In 1915, he gave special talks about optical glass to the Royal Society of Arts. These talks were later published as a small book. He also wrote an essay called "The Modern Science of Metals" in 1917.

International Recognition

Walter was very good at speaking different languages. This helped him give talks and lectures in many countries. In 1927, he was chosen to represent Britain on a special committee for testing materials. He even became the president of this group in 1931. In 1931, he left the National Physical Laboratory to become a consultant, helping companies in London with their metal problems.

Awards and Honors

Walter Rosenhain was also the president of the Optical Society and the Institute of Metals. He won several important awards for his work:

• He received the Carnegie silver medal in 1906.
• He won the Bessemer medal from the Iron and Steel Institute in 1930.
• He was chosen as a member of the Royal Society in 1913, which is a very high honor for scientists.

His Family and Later Life

In 1901, Walter married Louise. She was the sister of a famous Australian general, Sir John Monash. Walter Rosenhain passed away from cancer in Surrey, England, on March 17, 1934. His wife and two daughters survived him.

His Lasting Impact

Walter Rosenhain was a strong leader and very good at explaining complex ideas. He did amazing work with light metals, like aluminum. He also helped us understand how metals form crystals and how they change shape when pushed or pulled. His work greatly improved how metals are used in technology.

His many scientific papers were published in important journals like the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. He also wrote books with other scientists:

• In 1908, with P. A. Tucker, he published The Alloys of Lead and Tin.
• In 1911, with S. L. Archbutt, he published The Constitution of the Alloys of Aluminium and Zinc.

To honor his contributions, the Iron and Steel Institute created the Rosenhain award in 1984.