American Iron

传统上，钢铁制造是工业的支柱。 工业实力。 早在1770年，美国人就建立了 钢铁工业是世界第三大工业。 他们生产 在整个世纪，铁的含量不断增加。 到了20 世纪美国人在钢铁生产方面领先于世界。 博士 戈登正在追踪美国钢铁工业的发展。 三个研究问题塑造了他的研究。 第一个问题涉及 创新和技术转让。 戈登博士正在寻找 来证明虽然美国人拥有的大多数技术 用于制造铁和铁合金， 在欧洲，这些技术很少有用，直到当地工匠 并将其提升到更高的水平， 比欧洲以往任何时候都要先进。 的 第二个问题涉及美国人的竞争力的增长， 工匠。 第三，他正在探索人们对 在发展中利用自然资源和环境 在这个能源密集型行业的技术。 为了进行这项研究，戈登博士正在使用 考古数据和考古测量方法，以补充 历史记录。 实验室数据对于以下方面尤为重要： 这项研究在处理有关产品质量的问题 过去的冶金工艺 记录。 炉渣的金相研究和微探针分析 和金属制品让戈登博士和他的助手 确定流程如何运作以及技术原因 成功或失败 他通过实地观察 实验室研究的文物来源，并检查长期- 长期炼铁的环境后果。

Iron and steel making have traditionally formed the backbone of industrial strength. As early as 1770, Americans built up their iron industry to the third largest in the world. They produced increasing amounts of iron through the 19th century. By the 20th century Americans led the world in iron and steel production. Dr. Gordon is tracing the development of the American iron industry. Three research questions shape his study. The first concerns innovation and the transfer of technology. Dr. Gordon is seeking to demonstrate that while most of the techniques that Americans had used for making and shaping iron and its alloys originated in Europe, few of these techniques were useful until local artisans substantially modified them and raised them to higher levels of technological development than were ever attained in Europe. The second question concerns the growth of competence among American artisans. Third, he is exploring the changing attitudes towards the use of natural resources and the environment in the development of techniques in this energy-intensive industry. In order to carry out this study, Dr. Gordon is using archaeological data and archaeometric methods to supplement the historical records. Laboratory data are particularly important for this study in dealing with questions about the quality of products made in the past and metallurgical processes that were poorly recorded. Metallographic studies and microprobe analyses of slags and metal artifacts allow Dr. Gordon and his assistants to determine how processes worked and the reasons for technological success or failure. He is using field observations to locate sources of artifacts for laboratory study and to examine the long- term environmental consequences of ironmaking.