[Book Sip] The Reinforced Concrete Developer Was a Gardener

Editor's NoteSome sentences encapsulate the entire content of a book, while others instantly resonate with readers, creating a connection with the book. We introduce such meaningful sentences excerpted from books.

The reinforced concrete method, which has become the mainstream of modern architecture, was first developed by none other than a gardener. French gardener Joseph Monier combined the advantages of steel and concrete to create 'reinforced concrete.' Nineteen years later, in 1885, German architect Gustav Weiss purchased the patent rights for a huge sum of 2 million marks, and now it is used in almost all large-scale constructions such as buildings, bridges, and concert halls. The book tells these chemical stories. It captivates readers with intriguing tales such as the British inventor Durand’s invention of 'canned food,' the ironic story of Britain’s 'rocket development failure' becoming the driving force behind the rise of the superpower United States, and the chilling fact that 'poison gas' was used as a refrigerant in the early days of refrigerators and freezers.

British businessmen Bryan Donkin and John Hall bought Durand’s patent, built a production factory, and started producing canned food. This happened in 1812. Afterward, canned food quickly became a huge success as preserved food for the navy, army, and exploration teams. However, at that time, canned food was too expensive to be widely distributed to the general public for a while. This was because a factory worker could only produce about 60 to 70 cans per day. Initially, people called these canned foods 'tin canisters.' Over time, this was shortened to 'can.' For reference, the Korean word for can, 'kkang,' originated from 'can.' ? From the text "British inventor Peter Durand, who completed humanity’s millennia-long challenge of long-term food preservation with the innovative technology of 'canned food'" (p.44)

The cement invented by Aspdin was called 'Portland cement.' The name was given because the solidified material resembled Portland stone quarried on the Isle of Portland in England. Portland cement is the very cement you can easily see or buy at construction sites or plaster material stores. Since then, various types of cement have been developed. Cement and concrete, made by mixing cement with gravel and water, have built infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels, and port facilities, supporting the transportation of goods by rail and ship. It is no exaggeration to say that the Industrial Revolution and capitalism would have been impossible without cement and concrete, given their immense roles. Skyscrapers, massive dams, and bridges symbolizing modern civilization are all creations made using concrete. Though invisible to our eyes, inside cement, ions such as calcium and oxygen bond with water molecules through electrostatic forces, and countless small forces combine to support massive structures. ? From the text "'Portland cement' developed by British bricklayer Joseph Aspdin, enabling the construction of skyscrapers symbolizing modern civilization" (pp.66?67)

Chemical Stories That Changed World History 2 | Written by Osamu Omiya | Translated by Kim Jeonghwan | Saranggwa Namusai | 409 pages | 19,500 KRW

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