Library Bessemer

Bessemer Team Space bears the name of the British inventor Sir Henry Bessemer (1813-1898). He invented a technique for making cast steel that was miles ahead of its time, and this process, when finally implemented, was named in his honour.

The 19th century was marked by booming development of the industries, especially mechanical engineering and shipbuilding, as well as the ubiquitous extension of the rail roads. The need for higher-quality steel was more than evident to scientists and industrialists.
Bessemer invented an elongated artillery munition that rotated by virtue of explosion gas. However, the prospective customers representing France reported that their cast iron guns would not be strong enough to shoot such shells. This drove the inventor to work on a stronger iron grade. Bessemer’s experiments revealed that excessive oxygen in furnace gas were, apparently, removing carbon from preheated pigs and forming a surface of pure iron, an effect similar to that aimed at in tinning furnaces. He further discovered that blowing air through liquid metal not only purified it but also heated it more, which facilitated more efficient casting. The heating effect is caused by the reaction of oxygen with the carbon and silicon in iron. This is what came to be known as the Bessemer process.

This technology enabled the production of larger slag-free ingots, as easy to work with as any forged blank but much larger. Sir Henry Bessemer also designed the tilt furnace that could receive liquid iron before blowing. Then, using the manganese iron alloy invented by Robert Forester Mushet, he was able to find a way to remove excessive oxygen from decarbonized iron.

About the space:

Bessemer Team Space on the 4th floor of the NLMK Corporate University campus offers a scenic view of the cityscape. It creates the perfect environment for reading, reflection, meditation, and creative work. It can accommodate a small lecture, training or presentation. Next to the Martin and Bessemer team spaces is a quiet and comfortable co-working area for university staff and visitors.