Leo Henricus " Modern Plastics "

Leo Henricus Arthur Baekeland (November 14, 1863 – February 23, 1944) was a Belgian-born American chemist. He invented Velox photographic paper in 1893 and Bakelite in 1907. His invention of Bakelite, an inexpensive, nonflammable, versatile, and popular plastic, marked the beginning of the modern plastics industry.

 

Career

Leo Baekeland was born in Ghent, Belgium, Baekeland was the son of a cobbler and a house maid. He told The Literary Digest: "The name is a Dutch word meaning 'Land of Beacons.'"^[3] He graduated with honours from the Ghent Municipal Technical School and was awarded a scholarship by the City of Ghent to study chemistry at the University of Ghent, where he acquired a PhD maxima cum laude at the age of 21. He was subsequently appointed associate professor of chemistry in 1889, and married Céline Swarts, the daughter of his head of department.



In 1889 Baekeland honeymooned in New York City, where he met Richard Anthony, of the E. and H.T. Anthony photographic company. Baekeland had already invented a process to develop photographic plates using water instead of other chemicals, and was interested in moving to America; Anthony saw potential in the young chemist and offered him a job.^[5] Baekeland became a naturalized American in 1897, and a professor by special appointment at Columbia University in 1917
Baekeland worked for the Anthony company for two years, and in 1891 set up in business for himself as a consulting chemist. However, a spell of illness and disappearing funds made him rethink his actions and he decided to return to his old interest of producing a photographic paper that would allow enlargements to be printed by artificial light. After two years of intensive effort he perfected the process to produce the paper, which he named Velox; it was the first commercially successful photographic paper. At the time the US was suffering a recession and there were no investors or buyers for his proposed new product, so Baekeland became partners with Leonardi Jacobi and established the Nepera Chemical Company in Nepera Park, Yonkers, New York.
In 1899 Jacobi, Baekeland, and Albert Hahn, a further associate, sold Nepera to George Eastman of the Eastman Kodak Co. for $750,000. Baekeland earned circa $215,000 net through the transaction. With a portion of the money he purchased "Snug Rock", a house in Yonkers, New York, and set up his own well-equipped laboratory.

He patented more than 55 inventions, including processes for the separation of copper and cadmium, and for the impregnation of wood.

Invention of Bakelite

Bakelite buttons, Chemical Heritage Foundation, Photograph by Gregory Tobias

Green Bakelite Dog Napkin Ring, Chemical 

Heritage Foundation

When asked why he entered the field of synthetic resins, Baekeland answered "to make money." His first objective was to find a replacement for shellac (made from the excretion of lac beetles). Chemists had begun to recognize that many of the natural resins and fibers were polymers. Baekeland began to investigate the reactions of phenol and formaldehyde. He first produced a soluble phenol-formaldehyde shellac called "Novolak" that never became a market success as a brand, but still exists as Novolac. He then turned to developing a binder for asbestos, which at that time was molded with rubber. By controlling the pressure and temperature applied to phenol and formaldehyde, he could produce his dreamed-of hard moldable plastic: Bakelite.^[1] The chemical name of Bakelite is polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride. Baekeland's process patent for making insoluble products of phenol and formaldehyde was filed in July 1907, and granted on December 7, 1909.

In February 1909 Baekeland officially announced his achievement at a meeting of the New York section of the American Chemical Society.
In 1922, after patent litigation favorable to Baekeland, the General Bakelite Co., which he had founded in 1910, along with the Condensite Co. founded by Aylesworth, and the Redmanol Chemical Products Co. founded by L.V. Redman, were merged into the Bakelite Corporation.
The invention of Bakelite marks the beginning of the age of plastics. Bakelite was made from phenol, then known as carbolic acid, and formaldehyde. These can be mixed, heated, and then either molded or extruded.
Although Adolf von Baeyer experimented with this material in 1872, he did not complete its development.
Bakelite was the first plastic invented that held its shape after being heated. Radios, telephones and electrical insulators were made of Bakelite because of its excellent electrical insulation and heat-resistance. Soon its applications spread to most branches of industry.
At Baekeland's death in 1944, the world production of Bakelite was ca. 175000tons, and it was used in over 15000 different products.
Baekeland was awarded the Franklin Medal in 1940.

Albatenius " Astronomical Tables "

Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Jābir ibn Sinān al-Raqqī al-Ḥarrānī al-Ṣābiʾ al-Battānī (Arabic: محمد بن جابر بن سنان البتاني) (Latinized as Albategnius, Albategni or Albatenius) (c. 858, Harran – 929, Qasr al-Jiss, near Samarra) was an Arab astronomer, astrologer, and mathematician. He elaborated to a specified degree a number of trigonometric relations which were transmitted from India and Greco-Rome, and his Kitāb az-Zīj was frequently quoted by many medieval European astronomers; including by Copernicus.

Life

Little is known about al-Battānī's life beside that he was born in Harran near Urfa, in Upper Mesopotamia, which is now in Turkey, and his father was a famous maker of scientific instruments. His family were members of the Sabian sect; however, his full name indicates that he might have been a Muslim. Some Western historians state that he is of poor origin, like an Arab slave, but traditional Arabic biographers make no mention of this. He lived and worked in Ar-Raqqah, a city in north central Syria.

Astronomy

One of Al-Battani's best-known achievements in astronomy was the refinement of existing values for the length of the year. Ptolemy calculated the solar year values for the length of the year as being 365 days, 5 hours, 55 minutes and 12 seconds. Al-Battani recalculated the solar year values for the length of the year as being 365 days, 5 hours, 46 minutes and 24 seconds. Researchers have ascribed this phenomenon to Al-Battani as being in a geographical location that is closer to the southern latitude (although not as southernly as Ptolemy) than later observers such as Copernicus, which might have been more favorable for such observations.


He was able to correct some of Ptolemy's results and compiled new tables of the Sun and Moon, long accepted as authoritative.
Al-Battānī rediscovered that the direction of the Sun's apogee, as recorded by Ptolemy, was changing. (In modern heliocentric terms this is due to the changing direction eccentricity vector of the Earth's orbit). He also elaborated to a specified degree a number of trigonometric relations, the use of sines in calculation, and partially that of tangents. He elaborated to a specified degree the work of an Indian astronomer Aryabhata(476–550 CE) and a Greek astronomer Pythagoras (570 BC – c. 495 BC). He also recalculated the values for the precession of the equinoxes (54.5" per year, or 1° in 66 years) and the obliquity of the ecliptic (23° 35'), which was an elaboration of Hipparchus' work. He used a uniform rate for precession in his tables, choosing not to adopt the theory of trepidation attributed to his colleague Thabit ibn Qurra.

Al-Battānī's work is considered instrumental in the elaboration to a specified degree of science and astronomy. Copernicus also quoted him in the book that initiated the Copernican Revolution, the De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium. Al-Battānī was frequently quoted by Tycho Brahe, Riccioli, among others. Kepler and Galileo showed interest in some of his observations. And his elaborations to a specified degree continue to be used in geophysics.

Works

Al-Battānī's major work is Kitāb az-Zīj, or the book of astronomical tables, also known as az-Zīj aṣ-Ṣābi’. It was largely based on Ptolemy's theory, and other Greco-Syriac sources, while showing little Indian or Persian influence. In his zij, he provided descriptions of a quadrant instrument.
This book went through many translations to Latin and Spanish, including a Latin translation as De Motu Stellarum by Plato of Tivoli in 1116, which was later reprinted with annotations by Regiomontanus.A reprint appeared at Bologna in 1645. The original MS. is preserved at the Vatican; and the Escorial library possesses in MS. a treatise of some value by him on astronomical chronology.

Berydw " Into a dream "

Akbar de Wighar also known as Berydw, (born June 20, 1988) is an  Indonesian designer, director and entrepreneur. He is known as one of three co-founder and current CEO of the motion picture production, Kartenz. He came to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of virtual band Chuckill.

Early Life & Education

Berydw was born June 20, 1988 in Salatiga, small town in Central Java, Indonesia. His father, Enggar Suwargadi was a camera operator. Berydw's mother, Endang Sadewighar, had a talent for making Cake & Cookies, whose father was also The Indonesian National Armed Forces (Indonesian: Tentara Nasional Indonesia,TNI; formerly Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia, ABRI). Berydw creative abilities come from his parents influence and the spirit of hard work exemplified by his grandfather.

In 1992, Berydw's parents left Salatiga and living in Jakarta. Berydw continue studying in college, 2006 at Jakarta Institute of The Art (Indonesian: Institut Kesenian Jakarta, IKJ), with his education background he pursue a dreams to build an Animation Studios and then develop his own Animated Character.

Early 2010, after his father died with diabetes disease, Berydw focus to work more than study in college, so he didn't finish his studies until founded Kartenz.

 

Career

 
Berydw is known for his calm personality but not fully like that, actually He is a dynamic person, study at college and work for company in the same time. It hasn't held him back from pursuing his dreams. He began his career as an employee in 2008, first job is drawing instructor at Global Jaya International School. In 2010 working as motion graphics designer for Antv, Indonesian television network based in  Jakarta, He felt that he would be helpful if running his own business than working as an employee.

Kartenz's Journey



Although it was not easy to achieve what Kartenz has done so far, Berydw found that doing business in Indonesia was not easy, He wish a Goverment more transparent for anything, especially Business integrity and the ability to read market trends played a crucial role. 

Kartenz wishes to offer creative concept for future Theme parks, resorts, movies, tv programs, characters, games, videos, music, shopping, and more! The company is planning to launch Kartenz Park a new Themepark with Kartenz's Animation Character for whole design. This Project designed by Kartenz Studios directed by Berydw and His brother, Halilintar WP. The project has already generated a lot interest, despite the fact that its advertising campaign is yet to launch. This is just a testament to the company’s reputation for delivering future life.

Nikola Tesla " Electric Light "

Nikola Tesla was born on 10 July (O.S. 28 June) 1856 to Serbian parents in the village of Smiljan, then part of the Croatian Military Frontier of the Austrian Empire (modern-day Croatia).His father, Milutin Tesla, was a Serbian Orthodox priest. Tesla's mother, Đuka Tesla (née Mandić), whose father was also a Serbian Orthodox priest,had a talent for making home craft tools, mechanical appliances, and the ability to memorize Serbian epic poems. Đuka had never received a formal education. Nikola credited his eidetic memory and creative abilities to his mother's genetics and influence. Tesla's progenitors were from western Serbia, near Montenegro.




Tesla was the fourth of five children. He had an older brother named Dane and three sisters, Milka, Angelina and Marica. Dane was killed in a horse-riding accident when Nikola was five. However, according to another account, Dane died after falling down the cellar stairs, but when he was unconscious and in delirium, he claimed that Nikola pushed him down. In 1861, Tesla attended the "Lower" or "Primary" School in Smiljan where he studied German, arithmetic, and religion. In 1862, the Tesla family moved to Gospić, Austrian Empire, where Tesla's father worked as a pastor. Nikola completed "Lower" or "Primary" School, followed by the "Lower Real Gymnasium" or "Normal School."



In 1870, Tesla moved to Karlovac to attend school at Higher Real Gymnasium, where he was profoundly influenced by a math teacher Martin Sekulić. Tesla was able to perform integral calculus in his head, which prompted his teachers to believe that he was cheating. He finished a four-year term in three years, graduating in 1873.




In 1873, Tesla returned to his birthtown, Smiljan. Shortly after he arrived, Tesla contracted cholera; he was bedridden for nine months and was near death multiple times. Tesla's father, in a moment of despair, promised to send him to the best engineering school if he recovered from the illness (his father had originally wanted him to enter the priesthood).


In 1874, Tesla evaded being drafted into the Austro-Hungarian Army in Smiljan by running away to Tomingaj, near Gračac. There, he explored the mountains in hunter's garb. Tesla claimed that this contact with nature made him stronger, both physically and mentally. He read many books while in Tomingaj, and later claimed that Mark Twain's works had helped him to miraculously recover from his earlier illness.

Tesla wearing a folk costume, c. 1880.

In 1875, Tesla enrolled at Austrian Polytechnic in Graz, Austria, on a Military Border scholarship. During his first year, Tesla never missed a lecture, earned the highest grades possible, passed nine exams (nearly twice as many required), started a Serbian culture club, and even received a letter of commendation from the dean of the technical faculty to his father, which stated, "Your son is a star of first rank." Tesla claimed that he worked from 3 a.m. to 11 p.m., no Sundays or holidays excepted. He was "mortified when [his] father made light of [those] hard won honors." After his father's death in 1879, Tesla found a package of letters from his professors to his father, warning that unless he were removed from the school, Tesla would be killed through overwork. During his second year, Tesla came into conflict with Professor Poeschl over the Gramme dynamo, when Tesla suggested that commutators weren't necessary. At the end of his second year, Tesla lost his scholarship and became addicted to gambling. During his third year, Tesla gambled away his allowance and his tuition money, later gambling back his initial losses and returning the balance to his family. Tesla claimed that he "conquered [his] passion then and there," but later he was known to play billiards in the US. When exam time came, Tesla was unprepared and asked for an extension to study, but was denied. He never graduated from the university and did not receive grades for the last semester
.


In December 1878, Tesla left Graz and severed all relations with his family to hide the fact that he dropped out of school. His friends thought that he had drowned in the Mur River. Tesla went to Maribor (now in Slovenia), where he worked as a draftsman for 60 florins a month. He spent his spare time playing cards with local men on the streets. In March 1879, Milutin Tesla went to Maribor to beg his son to return home, but Nikola refused. Nikola suffered a nervous breakdown at around the same time.

Tesla aged 23, c. 1879

On 24 March 1879, Tesla was returned to Gospić under police guard for not having a residence permit. On 17 April 1879, Milutin Tesla died at the age of 60 after contracting an unspecified illness (although some sources claim that he died of a stroke ). During that year, Tesla taught a large class of students in his old school, Higher Real Gymnasium, in Gospić.
In January 1880, two of Tesla's uncles put together enough money to help him leave Gospić for Prague where he was to study. Unfortunately, he arrived too late to enroll at Charles-Ferdinand University; he never studied Greek, a required subject; and he was illiterate in Czech, another required subject. Tesla did, however, attend lectures at the university, although, as an auditor, he did not receive grades for the courses.


In 1881, Tesla moved to Budapest to work under Ferenc Puskas at a telegraph company, the Budapest Telephone Exchange. Upon arrival, Tesla realized that the company, then under construction, was not functional, so he worked as a draftsman in the Central Telegraph Office instead. Within a few months, the Budapest Telephone Exchange became functional and Tesla was allocated the chief electrician position. During his employment, Tesla made many improvements to the Central Station equipment and claimed to have perfected a telephone repeater or amplifier, which was never patented nor publicly described.

Working for Edison

In 1882, Tesla began working for the Continental Edison Company in France, designing and making improvements to electrical equipment.
In June 1884, Tesla relocated to New York City. According to Tesla his trip to America was fraught with problems. On his train journey to the ship his ticket, money, and some of his luggage were stolen, and he was mixed up in a fight on the ship between the officers and the crew over working conditions. He claimed he arrived with only four cents in his pocket, a letter of recommendation, a few poems, and the remainder of his belongings.


Tesla was hired by Edison to work for his Edison Machine Works. Tesla's work for Edison began with simple electrical engineering and quickly progressed to solving more difficult problems. Tesla was even offered the task of completely redesigning the Edison Company's direct current generators.



In 1885, Tesla claimed that he could redesign Edison's inefficient motor and generators, making an improvement in both service and economy. According to Tesla, Edison remarked, "There's fifty thousand dollars in it for you—if you can do it"—this has been noted as an odd statement from an Edison whose company was stingy with pay and who did not have that sort of cash on hand. After months of work, Tesla fulfilled the task and inquired about payment. Edison, claiming that he was only joking, replied, "Tesla, you don't understand our American humor." Instead, Edison offered a US$10 a week raise over Tesla's US$18 per week salary; Tesla refused the offer and immediately resigned.