Challenge of Materials

Visor in polycarbonate, 1975

• Visor made of polycarbonate, 1975.

These are samples of experimental steel alloys made by Michael Faraday (1791-1867) between 1820 and 1824. Faraday is generally considered the greatest of all experimental physicists and discovered electromagnetic induction, the laws of electrolysis a

• Experimental steel alloys made by Michael Faraday (1820-1824)

Hadfield's manganese steel contains 11-14% of manganese. The metallurgy of this material is complicated but such steel has a very high resistance to wear because of its high rate of work hardening.This special grade of steel is made in electric arc f

• Soldier's helmet made in manganese steel, 1882-1884

About 5% of the Earth's crust consists of iron and in its many forms it is the metal most used by mankind. Meteoric iron was first used as early as the first millenium BC, but iron objects first began to be made in Asia Minor around 2000BC. Sponge ir

• Quer (maloda) used by the Jur Tribe for hoeing, c 1930.

Around 1000BC it was discovered that iron with a small amount of carbon could be hardened by quenching in water after heating.This was followed by a reheating process called tempering.However it was not until Henry Sorby (1826-1908) developed the me

• Sudanese iron spear, 1930s, made and used by the Jur tribe of Sudan

Meteors are solid bodies from outer space. They become incandescent on entering the Earth's atmosphere producing "shooting stars", owing to frictional forces. Small meteors burn up completely but some of the larger ones survive and fall to Earth as m

• A slice taken from a meteorite

Tin is extracted mainly from cassiterite, or tin oxide, which is found in Malaya, the East Indies, Bolivia and to a small extent in Cornwall. About one-half of the tin produced is used in tinplate, whilst the tin's low melting point and ready abilit

• Lamb and Flag' Cornish tin.

Tantalum was first isolated pure in 1903 by the German scientist Werner von Bolton. From its initial limited use as lamp filaments, tantalum is now an important metal. It has a high melting point, excellent corrosion resistance and is easy to work. A

• Shot green/purple tantalum bangle, 1976.

From its initial limited use as lamp filaments, tantalum is now an important metal. It has a high melting point, excellent corrosion resistance and is easy to work. As a result tantalum is used in chemical equipment where heat has to be transferred u

• Opal and green/purple tantalum earrings, 1976.

Bakelite pin tray with hinged lid in the company's trefoil shape, c. 1950

• Bakelite pin tray, 1950.