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Science, Submarines & Secrets: The Incredible Early Years of the Albany Research Center
An unbelievable series of events led to the establishment of the Northwest Electro-development Laboratory, later the U.S. Bureau of Mines Albany Research Center. Though the fledgling lab had difficulty securing staff due to World War II, world-renown metallurgist William J. Kroll was hired early on as a consultant after fleeing Nazi occupation. Kroll, who had pioneered a method for producing commercial titanium, worked with his core group of associates to develop malleable zirconium, just as a need arose for the little-known metal.
On the other side of the country, the petulant and abrasive Captain Rickover was working with his Naval Reactors Group to develop the world's first nuclear submarine, the USS Nautilus, under the cover of extreme secrecy. But as engineers worked night and day to create a suitable form of propulsion, one problem after another cropped up. New metals were needed for the hellish nuclear environment within a reactor—metals that had never been produced in vast quantities. Enter Kroll's zirconium, and its sister metal, hafnium. The two entwined metals, once freed from each other, were exactly what Rickover was looking for.
Would the little laboratory in rural Albany, Oregon, be able to produce enough zirconium and hafnium for Rickover's ambitious project? Delve into the establishment and early years of the U.S. Bureau of Mines in Albany, Oregon, and the incredible series of events during the period of 1940-1956.
On the other side of the country, the petulant and abrasive Captain Rickover was working with his Naval Reactors Group to develop the world's first nuclear submarine, the USS Nautilus, under the cover of extreme secrecy. But as engineers worked night and day to create a suitable form of propulsion, one problem after another cropped up. New metals were needed for the hellish nuclear environment within a reactor—metals that had never been produced in vast quantities. Enter Kroll's zirconium, and its sister metal, hafnium. The two entwined metals, once freed from each other, were exactly what Rickover was looking for.
Would the little laboratory in rural Albany, Oregon, be able to produce enough zirconium and hafnium for Rickover's ambitious project? Delve into the establishment and early years of the U.S. Bureau of Mines in Albany, Oregon, and the incredible series of events during the period of 1940-1956.
452 pages, Paperback
Published March 4, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 15, 2023
Not my cup of tea. But well researched and well written.
March 19, 2022
This was a fantastic read! I spent the first two decades of my life in Albany, Oregon. I always wondered what went on at the campus known simply as The Bureau Of Mines. I never knew any more than 'some kind of research'. I had no idea that my little old hometown played a major role in the advancement of nuclear science, and research that helped developed useful applications for many rare minerals, including zirconium and titanium, among many others. Many classified projects took place there (and still do)! Tai Stith has done a fantastic job of making a book with all kinds of scientific and technical information an interesting read. My interest was mainly to find out what went on at that secretive facility in my hometown back in the day. However, for those of you interested in geology, metallurgy or even the arms race, you will love this book!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews