Acheson, 1907-1944

Edward Goodrich Acheson, 1856-1931

"Early in 1891, Edward Goodrich Acheson, a young scientist and inventor in Monogahela City, Pennsylvania, was attempting to create artificial diamonds using electricity. As a byproduct, his experiments produced small crystals that could cut glass, and even diamonds. On the assumption that the new crystals were formed from a combination of carbon and cornundum (that is, natural aluminum oxide), Acheson called his product Carborundum; it was not until a year later that chemical analysis of the crystals showed them in fact to be silicon carbide- the world's first artficially produced mineral. Acheson's first sale of his new product, to a New York diamond cutter, brought him $60, at about 40 cents per carat, or $880/pound."

The above from: encyclopedia.com, _International Directory of Company Histories_. Carborundum Company. 1996.

"In 1884 Acheson left Edison's employ to become an independent inventor; he was soon successful. In 1891 he obtained the use of an electric generating plant of considerable power and tried to use electric heat to impregnate clay with carbon. The resultant mass exhibited some small shiny specks, and he determined that this crystalline substance had value as an abrasive. It was actually silicon carbide, which he called "carborundum."

In 1894 he established the Carborundum Company in Monongahela City, Pennsylvania, to produce grinding wheels, whet stones, knife sharpeners, and powdered abrasives. In 1895 Acheson's electrochemical company was among the first to come to Niagara Falls. In its electric furnace he subsequently produced artificial graphite, another product that he commercialized, and he discovered that various organic substances allowed colloidal suspension of particles of graphite mixed in oil or water. His inventive genius knew no bounds; neither did his entrepreneurial optimism. Like many inventors, he was not a good manager, and his companies were constantly being taken out of his hands by concerned investors. Many of Acheson's original companies live on today, often as subsidiaries of various corporations, including Saint-Gobain Corporation, GrafTech International, and Acheson Industries."

The above from Chemical Heritage Foundation's website. Page on Acheson: http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/online-resources/chemistry-in-history/themes/electrochemistry/acheson.aspx