Today in history On August 13, 1913 – First production in the UK of stainless steel by Harry Brearley

In 1913, British metallurgist Harry Brearley of Sheffield made a groundbreaking discovery that would revolutionize engineering, manufacturing, and everyday life,  the production of stainless steel. While working at the Brown-Firth Research Laboratory, Brearley was tasked with developing a more erosion-resistant steel for gun barrels.

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During his experiments, he created an alloy containing about 12.8% chromium and 0.24% carbon. To his surprise, he noticed that samples of this steel did not rust or corrode like ordinary steel, even after being exposed to the elements. This resistance was due to the formation of a thin, invisible layer of chromium oxide on the surface, which protected the metal from further oxidation. Brearley’s discovery was initially called “rustless steel” before it became widely known as “stainless steel.”

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Although his invention was initially aimed at solving military problems, Brearley quickly realized its broader potential, especially for cutlery. Sheffield, already famous for its cutlery industry, became the perfect place for this innovation to flourish. By introducing stainless steel knives that maintained their sharpness and resisted staining, Brearley transformed the kitchenware market. 

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Over time, the applications of stainless steel expanded far beyond cutlery, becoming essential in architecture, transportation, medical instruments, and industrial equipment. Brearley’s 1913 breakthrough not only strengthened Sheffield’s global reputation as a center of metallurgy but also marked the beginning of a material that remains vital in modern life.