London has given the world many talented people who realised themselves in different spheres. Learn more at london1.one.
Science is represented by numerous Londoners too. Each of them made maximum efforts to reveal their potential and develop a specific scientific area.
Sir Frederick Augustus Abel is known and remembered in the scientific community as an outstanding English chemist. At one time, he was awarded the title of leading British expert on explosives.
The invention of cordite, as a substitute for gunpowder in firearms, brought him the greatest popularity.
His developments were admired and criticised. Still, the scientist was invited to high positions and entrusted with responsible tasks.
Despite all the ups and downs, Abel managed to stay true to himself, his principles and, of course, science, which became the sense of his whole life.
Beginning of the story
Frederick Abel was born in London. Having reached the appropriate age, he became a student of the chemical faculty at the Royal Polytechnic Institution. In 1845, he was among the students who were privileged to study with August Wilhelm von Hofmann himself.
In 1852, Abel became a lecturer at the Royal Military Academy.
Career development
From 1854 to 1888, Frederick was an ordnance chemist at the Chemical Establishment of the Royal Arsenal. There, he managed to establish himself as a leading expert on explosives. After that, Abel was appointed a chemist to the War Department and was also offered the position of chemical referee to the government.
Holding those positions, Frederick managed to conduct many studies in the field of explosives chemistry.
Especially valuable technology
All of Abel’s scientific activities are of great value and have become a valuable contribution to science. However, we would like to highlight the one related to pyroxylin or rather its production.
The scientist managed to develop a process that involved the conversion of nitrated cotton into fine cellulose. In fact, this work became the basis for the appearance of smokeless gunpowder, which was especially popular at the end of the 19th century.
Scandalous invention
Frederick worked with James Dewar on the invention of cordite. Later, Alfred Nobel sued both of them for infringing Nobel’s patent on a similar type of explosives. In 1895, the House of Lords resolved the conflict and found no violation in Dewar and Abel’s work.
Governmental request
Later, Frederick began a detailed study of the black powder behaviour during ignition. The Scottish physicist Andrew Noble helped him in the process.
Around this time, the British government asked Abel to develop a special test that could be used to determine the flash point of petroleum products. That was how the famous Abel test appeared.
Leadership and other interests
Under the leadership of Frederick Abel, Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills developed guncotton. Subsequently, it was patented in 1865. Propellant cordite, which was patented in 1889, was also developed at the same facility.
In addition, Abel was interested in the field of electricity, which was also a very important area of science.
Thus, he studied the construction of electric fuses and other applications of electricity for military purposes.
Photo source: wikipedia