Antal Kerpely

* February 5, 1837, Kurticsról  † July 22, 1907, Selmecbánya / creator of Hungarian ferrous metallurgy literature and education, internationally recognized expert ; ; The Kerpelys also occupy a prominent place among the distinguished teachers of the Selmecbánya Academy. The name of Antal Kerpely the Elder is a world-famous scholar and researcher of ferrous metallurgy, an outstanding figure among the institute's teachers, and the creator of Hungarian-language metallurgy literature is recorded in our lexicons, encyclopedias, as well as Hungarian, Slovak and foreign textbooks on ferrous metallurgy. ; According to the Academic Mini-Dictionary, he was "the creator of Hungarian ferrous metallurgy literature and education" and an internationally recognized expert. (Beck M. ed., 1989. p. 936) The Hungarian Biography Lexicon highlights that he is credited with the modernization of abandoned Hungarian ironworks and ironworks. It also emphasizes that Kerpely did pioneering work in the field of metallurgical literature information. (Kenyeres Á. ed., 1967) The Encyclopedia of Slovakia highlights his pedagogical work and points out that, thanks to his scientific creative work, he was one of the prominent representatives of iron metallurgy in a global context. (Hajko, V. et al., 1979. p. 65) The Slovak Biographical Dictionary considers him to be one of the most energetic scientific researchers and technical inventors of the Selmec Academy, who greatly contributed to raising the institute to a European level. (SBS. III., 1989. p. 73) ; Antal Kerpely comes from Kurtics in Arad County, where he was born on February 5, 1837. From 1859 he studied mining and metallurgy in Selmecbánya. He learned several languages early on: in addition to Hungarian, German, Romanian and Slovak, he also knew English and French. ; As a novice engineer, he worked on solving practical problems, and with his first experiments he aroused the interest of the profession, which is why he was entrusted with the design of ironworks and blast furnaces. ; From 1862 he worked as an ironworks engineer, in 1864 he was a chemist at the paraffin factory in Oravic, and in 1865 he led the construction of the ironworks in Ruszkabánya of the Brasov mining and smelting company he had designed. In the same year, he patented his “process for purifying pig iron from sulfur, phosphorus and copper”. In 1866, he presented his patent in Saxony and worked as an expert in major metallurgical plants. However, Kerpely always envisioned his long-term activities in his homeland: he wanted to contribute to the revival of domestic industry and to the teaching of the profession in Hungarian. ; Upon returning home, he was appointed assistant director of the Kisgaram ironworks. In 1868, he returned to Selmecbánya. According to experts, his teaching activities raised the professional recognition of iron metallurgy to such a high level that in 1872, when the academy was reorganized, a separate department was formed under his leadership. ; First, he became a teacher and head of the academy's metallurgy-exploration department (1868–1872), and then of the iron metallurgy-iron production department he organized (1872–1881). In the publication introducing the teachers of the academy we read: “Kerpely was not only the creator of domestic iron and steel education, but also the initiator of the revival of the Hungarian iron and steel industry, the reorganizer of several iron and steel plants”, and in addition “a highly influential figure in international iron and steel literature: the first developer and college lecturer of iron and steel plant layout theory, the initiator of international iron and steel plant documentation.” (L. Zsámboki ed., 1983. p. 209) ; He introduced the theory of firing and iron and steel plant layout as new subjects at the academy. He also held the position of academy director for a while. As we read in one of his biographies: “He developed the laboratories of the academy to international standards, where – ahead of the technical university – domestic metallographic research (the first microscopic metal examinations) began.” ; His professional work earned him world fame. In 1880 he patented “the lime and magnesia-bonded brick-making process” and in 1884 “his new system of double regenerative stirring kiln”. (Kenyeres Á. Főszerk., 1967. p. 908) One of his admirers, Pál Vajda, mentions: “He developed a literary work that was deservedly noticed by the specialized literature of the whole world; in Germany he was entrusted with praising the annual development of iron metallurgical technology. These books published annually in Leipzig (Berichte über die Fortschritte der Eisenhüttentechnik) earned Kerpely world fame and great authority.” (Dr. Vajda P., 1958. p. 273) ; Among his independent works published in Hungarian, we mention the following: A vaskoházatástélétéri és příkladíky készészés I–II. (Selmecbánya, 1873–74), Magyarország varskóvei és vasterményei (Budapest, 1877), A magyar vasipar jövuje (Budapest, 1884). He edited the Mining and Metallurgical Journals for nearly a decade. From 1877 he was a corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He made several study trips, in addition to Germany, to England, Belgium and France. He was a regular member of the English Iron and Steel Institute. ; Antal Kerpely died on July 22, 1907 in Selmecbánya. His family tomb is in the Lutheran cemetery behind the Kopogtató. (No. 603-605) The central piece of the dark marble triple grave marker, surrounded by a wrought iron fence, bears the following inscription: Krassai / Antal Kerpely / 1837-1907. On both sides of it are the gravestones of the deceased wives, with this inscription: Mrs. Kerpely Antalné / Bányász Sarolta / 1838-1872 /, and: Mrs. Kerpely Antalné / Kerl Paula / 1852-1880. The well-kept tomb of this distinguished personality is a pilgrimage site for iron and steel experts in Selmecbánya. ; ; His main works: ; ; - Blast furnace equipped for the use of raw coal and dried wood. 1868. ; - Iron and steel installations. 1870. ; - The present and future of iron and steel in Hungary. 1871. ; - Silica compounds of iron and steel. 1872. ; - Gömör iron ore exploration. 1873. ; - Practical and theoretical handbook of iron and steel. 1-2.. ; - Ironstones and iron products of Hungary. 1877. ; - Relationships between the chemical composition and hardness of iron. 1878. ; - Liquid cyanide from an iron blast furnace. 1878. ; - Distinguishing signs of steel: fired lump state, hot breaking test. 1879. ; - Data for describing the properties of Martinac steel. 1880. ; - The future of the Hungarian iron industry. 1884. ; - The iron ropeways. 1884. ; - Reports on the progress of ironworks technology. Leipzig. in 29 volumes. ; - The production of drawn and rolled wrought iron pipes. 1885. ; - Die Anlage und Einrichtung der Eisenhütten. In booklets, Leipzig, 1873–1884. Atlas ; - Description of Hungarian ironworks, hammers and ironworks. 1885. ; ; Honors: ; ; - Order of the Iron Crown, 1874. ; - Knighthood, 1875. ; - Knight's Cross of the Order of Leopold, 1895. ; - Full member of the English Iron and Steel Institute. ; - Honorary member of the Medical and Natural Sciences Society of Selmecbánya. ; - Honorary citizen of the city of Vajdahunyad. ; ; Memory: ; ; - Bronze bust in the auditorium of the University of Miskolc. (created by Béla Markup, 1914.) ; - Antal Kerpely Dormitory. Dunaújváros. ; - Antal Kerpely Doctoral School of Materials Science and Technology. University of Miskolc. ; - Antal Kerpely Memorial Medal, 1967. ; Obverse, circular inscription: 1837˙KERPELY ANTAL˙1907. In the field, a bust of Antal Kerpely looking left. ; Reverse, inscription: NATIONAL HUNGARIAN MINING AND METALWORKING ASSOCIATION. MCMLXVII ; 70 mm diameter cast bronze medal. Creator: István Martsa. ; - Jubilee commemorative medal of the Department of Ferrous Metallurgy. 1972. ; Obverse circular inscription: ˙THE DEPARTMENT OF FERRURAL METALLURGY OF THE NME˙/1872-1972. In the center, a laurel wreath inscription: 100 YEARS ; Reverse circular inscription. ID. KERPELY ANTAL/1837-1907. ; In the field, a bust of Antal Kerpely looking left. ; 50 mm diameter struck bronze medal. Creator: Viktória Csúcs.