3 Developments That Make Daily Living Easier

Going about your day-to-day life, you may not think much about how everything around you came to be. How is your house kept cool or warm, for example, or what went into deriving materials for your house and the village, town, or city where it is located? Throughout history, important inventions you may not often consider have changed how humans live.

Compass

If you are like many people today, you probably rely on GPS (Global Positioning System) to get from here to there. However, before there were satellites circling the planet, explorers depended upon compasses. Most likely developed around 1050 B.C. by the Chinese, the first compasses were developed for spiritual growth as well as for navigational assistance. They were constructed of magnetic iron ore called lodestone.

In 1825, the electromagnet ushered in the creation of the current style of compass. For countless intrepid sea captains as well as overland adventurers, compasses combined with celestial objects have pointed the way for millennia.

Coke

Coke is a porous, carbon-rich fuel that burns cleanly. Often coke is derived from heating coal in specialized ovens, but petroleum coke,or pet coke, is created from crude oil. Coke has many uses.

  • Iron ore smelting
  • Fuel for house stoves to prevent heavy air pollution
  • Blacksmithing
  • Roasting malt barley for single-malt Scotch whisky (Orkney’s Highland Park distillery)
  • Heating industrial furnaces

Coke ovens require specialized parts such as coke oven door plugs because the process for creating coke requires high heat.

Concrete

Though concrete may not sound … Read More

Understanding the Benefits of Commercial Glass For Your Business

The outer aesthetics of any commercial building or storefront are important for a number of reasons. At first glance, a potential customer may subconsciously judge the quality of your business based on the building’s appearance. Furthermore, quality glass installation has a number of benefits that can help control costs and save your company money. As such, it is important to ensure you work with a reliable commercial glass company washington dc if you are a business located in and around our nation’s capital.

Storefront Glass

Retail businesses looking to compete in a crowded market often rely on an eye-catching storefront to help them stand out from their neighbors. But beyond simply looking attractive, installing high-quality storefront glass can also be considered a powerful marketing tool. Even in the age of online shopping, consumers still enjoy browsing around in stores as they stroll through town. There is a reason the term “window shopping” still exists, so it is important for any retail business to highlight their best merchandise right at the front of the store. Doing so gets potential customers into your store, making them more likely to make actual purchases.

Curtain Wall Glass

Generally more appropriate for taller commercial and office buildings, curtain walls are both an attractive and functional addition to such structures. There is no denying that a tall building consisting of mostly windows is attractive and stands out from its neighbors, but property owners should consider the energy-saving benefits as well. Such windows allow high levels of … Read More

The Best Pipes for Gas

After natural gas lines are installed, no fumes should escape. In order to ensure the highest level of protection, contractors and gas line technicians always use specific types of pipes during installation jobs in residential and commercial locations.

Steel

A steel pipe has a long base that’s hollow. Besides gas, this pipe can also be used for other applications. Major manufacturers make steel piping material using two manufacturing techniques in order to produce a seamless pipe or a welded variety.

Brass

Brass pipes are made of 15 percent zinc and 85 percent copper. When compared to copper piping, a brass pipe has similar characteristics. Most brass pieces for residential and commercial use have components that are soldered or screwed.

Copper

Copper is one of the most common piping materials for gas lines and plumbing systems. Many suppliers stock rigid copper and soft copper for homes and business locations. The soft copper piping option transfers gas very efficiently because it has a strong flexible housing.

Black Steel

Black steel and regular steel have different characteristics. When black steel is manufactured, workers don’t implement procedures to galvanize the material. As a result, the final products have a scaly texture and a deep black coating, which is made of iron oxide. Contractors only use black steel piping with applications that can operate effectively and efficiently without galvanized steel.

Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing

This stainless steel material is constructed out of galvanized steel with mild characteristics. It’s a strong material as multiple sheets of … Read More