Auer-von-Welsbach

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Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach, born on September 1, 1858 in Vienna, was an Austrian chemist and entrepreneur.

He discovered four elements and invented the gas-incandescent light, the metal filament lightbulb and the Cereisen flint for lighters.
His main scientific work was the rare earth elements and radioactive substances.
Companies such as AUERGESELLSCHAFT Berlin, Treibacher Industrie AG, OSRAM and others. were founded by him.

He made the first sound recordings with a phonograph in Austria (1900), was Austria's first color photographer (1908) and left us unique documents of his time. 

One of the numerous tributes is the portrait of Freiherr dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach on a 25-Schilling silver coin, a 20-Schilling note, a 25 € bimetallic coin (silver niobium). Stamp issues with his portrait were made in 1936, 1954, 2008 and 2013. The most impressive memorial dedicated to a chemist was built in front of the Chemical Institute of the University of Vienna. Several monuments are located at locations in Vienna and Althofen.

20 Schilling note Carl Auer von Welsbach  

 
Curriculum vitae of the universal genius Carl Auer von Welsbach
 
September 1, 1958
Birth in Vienna as the son of the company director of K.u.K. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei Alois Ritter Auer von Welsbach and his wife Therese.
 
1877
Passing the matriculation examination at the Josefstädter Realschule.
 
1877-1878
Military service as a one-year volunteer, receiving the lieutenant patent.
 
1878-1880
Inscription at the Technical University in Vienna, study of the subjects of mathematics, general organic and inorganic chemistry, general and technical physics and heat theory.
 
April 1880
Change to the University of Heidelberg, lectures and laboratory exercises with Professor Robert Wilhelm Bunsen, the first and famous teacher of physical chemistry.
 
May 2, 1882
Doctorate of Philosophy at the Ruperta Carola University in Heidelberg with very good results.
 
1882
Works as a private scholar at the Institute of Chemistry at the University of Vienna with Prof. Adolf Lieben.
 
1885
First disassembly of the supposed element "Didym" with the help of a new separation method developed by him and thus the discovery of the new elements praseodymium and neodymium.
Preparation of the first gaseous glow bodies of lanthanum oxide, with which it wraps the gas flame reticulated.
 
1887
Acquisition of the chemical-pharmaceutical factory Würth & Co in Atzgersdorf near Vienna for the industrial production of incandescent mantles.
 
1889
Beginning sales problems due to the shortcomings of the early incandescent mantles, closing the factory in Atzgersdorf. Beginning of the improvement of mantles by his further research.
 
1890
Development of the paste process for the production of filaments of refractory metals.
 
1891
Patenting of a new, improved incandescent body of 99% thorium oxide and 1% cerium oxide, resumption of production in Atzgersdorf and rapid spread of the incandescent body due to the increased luminosity and improved durability.
 
1892
Foundation of the company Auergesellschaft Berlin.
 
1898
Foundation of Dr. Ing. Carl Auer von Welsbach'schen Factory Treibach.
Patenting the first metal filament lamp using the invented powder metallurgy for refractory metals.
 
1900
Carl Auer von Welsbach succeed for the first time sound recordings, which have received until now.
 
1902
Market launch of the first industrially manufactured metal filament lamps (Osmiumglühfaden) with the name "Auer-Oslampe".
 
1903
Patenting of its pyrophoric flint alloy for lighters. The optimum composition is given in the patent as a proportion of 70% cerium and 30% iron (Auermetall).
 
1905
Publication of the spectra and atomic weights of the two new ytterbium-separated elements Aldebaranium and Cassiopeium (Ytterbium and Lutetium - current name).
 
1906
Founding of OSRAM in Berlin and registration of the OSRAM brand.
 
1907
Conversion of the Auer from Welsbach's Treibach plant into Treibacher Chemische Werke G.m.b.H. to produce the Cereisen flares and filaments for metal filament lamps.
 
1908
Production of the first color slide in Austria, foundation of the elementary school in Meiselding.
 
1910-1924
Research in the field of rare earth elements and radioactive substances for use in research and radiotherapy (separation of radioactive elements from uranium ores and description as a pioneer of nuclear physics, the phenomenon of "artificial radioactivity".
 
1916
Construction of the power plant Förolach
 
1920
Construction of the factory in Seebach for melting metals with electric arc furnaces.
 
1922
Construction of Mühldorfer Wasserkraftwerke AG (hydroelectric power station, part of the storage power plant group Malta-Reißeck)
 
August 4, 1929
Carl Auer von Welsbach dies in his 71st year and is laid to rest in Vienna at the Hietzing Cemetery in the family grave.
 
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