Alfred nobel, the inventor of explosives and the founder of this award, has attracted more and more attention and admiration.
Alfred nobel was born in Stockholm, Sweden on June 2 1 833+1October 21.
Alfred, who was sickly, was old enough to go to school. His parents let him and his two brothers enter Jacobs Primary School, a first-class school in Stockholm. At that time, he was the best student in their grade. However, his short school life was soon terminated by the migration of his family.
Alfred nobel arrived in Russia with his mother and brother.
Alfred showed extraordinary talent in language and chemistry. Russian has made rapid progress. Besides, he likes literature very much and even writes his own poems.
1850, when Alfred 17 years old, the young man was sent out for his first study trip. The trip lasted two years. Besides his native Sweden, he also went to Germany, Italy and North America. During the trip, Alfred visited various laboratories and research institutes of universities to learn more about the scientific achievements of developed countries.
After two trips, Alfred returned to Sweden and started his own business.
Because of his father's influence, Nobel became interested in developing explosives from an early age. Later, I helped my father study torpedoes and explosives and accumulated a lot of practical knowledge and experience. During his travels in Europe and America, Nobel saw the heavy labor of workers in mining and road construction. He thought that if the power of blasting can be used, it will definitely reduce physical labor and improve work efficiency. So he decided to engage in the research and manufacture of explosives.
Nobel first saw nitroglycerin in Petersburg. A professor named Xining once did an experiment in front of Nobel. He dripped nitroglycerin on the anvil, then struck it with a hammer, and the struck part exploded immediately. This experiment left a deep impression on Nobel. From then on, he became interested in nitroglycerin. After long-term thinking and repeated experiments, he realized that the only way to make nitroglycerin explode is to heat it to a higher temperature, except for the heavy blow or violent vibration of gravity. This temperature is actually the explosion point of nitroglycerin. Therefore, Nobel decided on a research topic, trying to find a device to detonate nitroglycerin. This detonating device neither weakens the explosive force of nitroglycerin, but also ensures safety as much as possible. Only in this way can nitroglycerin be made into practical explosives.
In order to solve the problem of safe detonation of nitroglycerin, Nobel conducted many experiments in Petersburg. 1In the summer of 862, he successfully conducted an underwater explosion test. He first put nitroglycerin into a glass tube and sealed it. Then he put the glass tube into a tin tube filled with gunpowder and finally put a fuse on it. Nobel and his two brothers came to the river. When he lit the fuse and threw the tin tube with the glass tube into the water, it exploded immediately. The explosion is more powerful than ordinary gunpowder. Nobel was overjoyed. Through this experiment, he found that nitroglycerin can be detonated by gunpowder. However, the amount of gunpowder is much larger than nitroglycerin, so a large number of detonators are of no practical value. In order to make the amount of explosives less than nitroglycerin, he continued his research and experiment with tenacious perseverance.
After finding the method, Nobel made a new experiment. Nobel invented the method of detonating nitroglycerin with a small amount of gunpowder and obtained a patent certificate.
When Nobel studied explosives in Petersburg, his father, who had returned to Sweden, was also engaged in explosives research.
However, Nobel found that using gunpowder as detonator was not ideal, so he continued his research and hoped to replace it with a new detonator. However, during this period, a major accident happened. 1On September 3, 864, nitroglycerin exploded in the laboratory near Nobel's home in Stockholm, causing heavy losses. In addition to the explosion in the laboratory, five of Nobel's assistants were killed on the spot, one of whom was his little brother Osgar. Nobel himself was not in the laboratory at that time, so he survived. The accident dealt a great blow to Nobel. Because of the explosive force, the residents around thought there was a big earthquake. Afterwards, when they learned that Nobel's laboratory exploded, they thought Nobel was a "scientific madman" and asked the government to ban Nobel from conducting explosion experiments in the city.
However, the grieving Nobel did not shake his determination to develop explosives.
/kloc-in the autumn of 0/867, he discovered a detonator, mercuric chloride, to replace gunpowder. Mercury fulminate is a kind of brown crystalline powder with high sensitivity, which will explode in case of vibration. Nobel used it as a detonator, and after numerous experiments, he finally succeeded. Thus, a new type of detonator was born. The invention of detonator can be said to be a major breakthrough in the development of explosion science. 1868 In February, the Royal Swedish Scientific Society awarded the Nobel sons a gold medal to reward their achievements in developing explosives.
Nitroglycerin explosive has been applied in practice since Nobel invented the method of using gunpowder as detonator. The company established by Nobel in Hamburg, Germany, suddenly became the center of selling explosives.
However, nitroglycerin explosive will explode when it encounters strong vibration; In the process of use, major accidents continue to occur.
In order to solve the problem of safe use of explosives, Nobel conducted in-depth research and repeated experiments. After research, he decided to use a solid substance to absorb nitroglycerin to improve its chemical stability. Thus, a new type of explosive was born.
Nobel tried all kinds of things, such as charcoal powder, sawdust, cement, brick ash and so on. At that time, he chose solid substances to absorb nitroglycerin. However, after explosion test, these things are not ideal. Finally, he found diatomite. Diatomite is not only chemically stable, but also has strong adsorption, so it is very suitable to be used as powder of explosives. Nobel mixed nitroglycerin and diatomite in the ratio of 3∶ 1 to make a new explosive. Known as "diatomite violent safety explosive" or "violent explosive". This is also called yellow safe explosive.
By 1873, Nobel had opened 15 factories producing safe explosives in three countries in Europe. At this time, 40-year-old Nobel has become the world-famous "king of explosives".
Nobel didn't stop there. He found that although diatomite violent explosive solved the safety problem, it still had the disadvantage that its explosive power was not as good as nitroglycerin explosive. 1873, Nobel established a well-equipped laboratory in Paris and continued to develop new explosives.
/kloc-one day in 0/875, Nobel cut his finger in the experiment and bandaged the wound with collodion. Collodion, also known as collodion, is made of nitrocellulose with low nitrogen content, which can be dissolved in ether or alcohol and become colloid. Suddenly, it occurred to him that collodion could be mixed with nitroglycerin to make a new type of explosive. So gel explosives came out. Colloidal explosives are not only more explosive than nitroglycerin explosives, but also safer, insoluble in water and easy to be processed into various shapes. After the invention of colloidal explosive, it was widely used in blasting engineering in many countries.
Then, Nobel began to develop smokeless gunpowder. The development work was not finally completed until 1887. This powder is granular and is made by changing the formula of celluloid and replacing camphor with nitroglycerin. It burns very fast, does not smoke when it explodes, and has no residue, so it is often used to make shells.
1890, Nobel once said in a letter: "I hope I can make a thing or machine with extremely terrible destructive power, making all wars completely impossible."
Nobel's main scientific activity is engaged in the development of explosives, but in addition, he has a very wide range of research interests. Many of his research work is carried out alternately, so he has made many scientific achievements.
Nobel has a soft spot for chemical research, which is of course related to his interest in developing explosives. His research in chemistry involves polymer chemistry, electrochemistry and other fields. Especially for electrochemistry, Nobel devoted more energy until his later years. 1895, he helped others to set up a salt electrolysis plant to produce caustic soda and chlorine.
Nobel attaches great importance to applied chemistry. He believes that scientific achievements are meaningful only if they meet the actual needs of people's production and life. It is from this point that he studied and invented many practical technologies and products. For example, he conducted research on making rayon, artificial rubber and artificial coatings from nitrocellulose.
Nobel's invention created many things. According to incomplete statistics, he obtained as many as 255 invention patents in his life. Among them, there are 129 patents involving explosives. Among the invention patents of non-explosives, there are gas meters, sulfuric acid concentrators, explosion-proof boilers, silent withdrawal of shells, improvement of batteries, improvement of telephones, improvement of engines, rayon spinnerets, and so on.
Nobel is a member of the Royal Swedish Science Society, the Royal London Society and the Paris Society of Civil Engineers. At the initiative of the King of Sweden, he was awarded the Medal of Science and the Grand Medal of France.
Nobel not only devoted himself to scientific and technological inventions, but also loved literature and wrote many poems, novels and plays.
Nobel was very modest all his life and kept the greatest silence on his achievements. He once said, "I don't know if I deserve fame." I don't like that flattery. "
Nobel has great wealth, but he doesn't care about money. In the suicide note written one year before his death, namely 1895,165438+1October 27th, Nobel said that part of his property would be given to relatives and friends, and most of the rest would be used as a fund. The interest of these funds "will be awarded to those who have made the greatest contribution to mankind in the past year in the form of bonuses every year". He also specifically arranged the distribution method of the bonus, and divided the bonus into five parts: "One prize is given to the person who made the most important discovery or invention in the field of physics; One prize is awarded to the person who has made the most important discovery or improvement in the field of chemistry; One prize is given to those who have made the most important discoveries in the fields of physiology and medicine; A prize is awarded to those who have created the best masterpiece with idealistic tendency in the field of literature; One award is awarded to those who have made the greatest and best contribution to the friendship between ethnic groups, the abolition and reduction of the standing army, and the maintenance and promotion of peace. " Judging from the contents of the suicide note, he was well thought out; Including five aspects, that is, the field he once set foot in and the cause he fought for. It can also be said that this decision made by Nobel in his later years is his long-cherished wish.
From 65438 to 0896, Nobel's condition deteriorated. 12 10 morning, Nobel suffered a heart attack and died in San Remo, Italy, at the age of 63.
Starting from 190 1, the Nobel Foundation awards the Nobel Prize every year. In memory of Nobel, the prize will be awarded on the day of his death, that is, 65438+February 10. Winners have no nationality; The bonus can be given to one person or divided among two or three people. Later, in addition to the above five awards, starting from 1968, an economics award was added, which was assessed by the Royal Swedish Academy of Science. The amount of the Nobel Prize is also adjusted appropriately with the expansion of the Nobel Fund.
The world-famous Nobel Prize, as the symbol of the highest honor in the scientific community, has always inspired people to climb the peak of science. The establishment and award of the Nobel Prize not only reflects the care and love of this famous inventor for science, art and peace, but also expresses people's deep memory of him. Nobel's name will remain in people's hearts forever.