Scaling up: the evolution of intellectual apparatus associated with the manufacture of heavy chemicals in Britain, 1900-1939

Divall, C. and Johnston, S.F. (1998) Scaling up: the evolution of intellectual apparatus associated with the manufacture of heavy chemicals in Britain, 1900-1939. In: Travis, A.S., Schröter, H.G., Homburg, E. and Morris, P.J.T. (eds.) Determinants in the Evolution of the European Chemical Industry, 1900-1939: New Technologies, Political Frameworks, Markets and Companies. Series: Chemists and chemistry (16). Kluwer Academic: Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp. 199-214. ISBN 9780792348900

Abstract

At the turn of the 20th century, men trained in chemistry but not in any of the engineering disciplines held sway over the technical side of much of the business of chemical manufacturing in Britain. However, the growing economic importance of bulk chemicals after around 1880 had been accompanied by the emergence of new specialists in the design and operation of chemical plants. By the end of the First World War, chemists were under some pressure to cede certain of their responsibilities to a new breed of technical worker, the chemical engineer.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Keywords: Chemistry, chemical engineering, engineering, profession, discipline, concepts, history of technology, history of science, sociology of the professions
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Johnston, Professor Sean
• Authors: Divall, C., and Johnston, S.F.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions; T Technology > TP Chemical technology; Q Science > QD Chemistry; H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor; T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General); D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain; Q Science > QC Physics
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic
• ISBN: 9780792348900