Curt Netto
Encyclopedia
Curt Netto was a German metallurgist and educator. He is regarded as a precursor for the industrial utilization of aluminium. He was active in early Meiji period
Japan
.
, where his father, Gustav Adolph Netto was a mining official. As a youth, he relocated with his family to Schneeberg, Saxony
, but returned to Freiberg by 1860. He enrolled in the Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg
in 1864. He left school in 1869, and volunteered for the military, joining the mountain troops corps. He saw combat in the Franco-Prussian War
of 1870-1871, and was decorated with the Iron Cross
(second class). After the war, in 1871, he obtained a job as a chemist working with enamels at the workshop of Ernst August Geitner. In 1873, he was recruited by the Japanese government as a foreign advisor and was placed in charge of modernizing the Kosaka Mines, a lead, copper and zinc mine at Kosaka, Akita
in northern Honshu. He was one of the co-founders of the German Society of Natural History and Ethnology of Asia (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Natur- und Völkerkunde Ostasiens).
The mines were privatized in 1877, and Netto travelled to Tokyo
, where he obtained a job as a lecturer on metallurgy at Tokyo Imperial University in 1878. He took a one year sabbatical leave from 1882-1883 for research in Europe, Mexico and the United States. In June 1885, Emperor Meiji
conferred upon him the Order of the Rising Sun
. Netto's contract with Tokyo Imperial University expired in November 1885, and he returned to Germany in 1886. However, soon after his return, he was forced to sell much of his large collection of Japanese woodblock prints as he lost all of his savings in a bank failure
.
After briefly working in Paris
, Netto obtained a job with Krupp
from 1887–1889, where he invented a new patented process to produce aluminium
by the sodium reduction of cryolite
. The revolutionary new process promised to drastically reduce production costs for aluminium, which until that point had been valued more highly than gold
due to its scarcity and difficulty to produce. However, Netto's process was quickly rendered obsolete by the development of electrolysis
smelting
. In 1889, on the recommendation of noted chemist Clemens Winkler
, Netto accepted a post as head of the technical department of Metallgesellschaft
in Frankfurt am Main.
Netto married in 1899 and had three children. He retired in 1902 due to health reasons and from 1906 resided at the spa resort of Bad Nauheim
in Hesse
. He died February 7, 1909 in Frankfurt.
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Biography
Netto was born in Freiberg, SaxonyFreiberg, Saxony
Freiberg is a city in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, administrative center of the Mittelsachsen district.-History:The city was founded in 1186, and has been a center of the mining industry in the Ore Mountains for centuries...
, where his father, Gustav Adolph Netto was a mining official. As a youth, he relocated with his family to Schneeberg, Saxony
Schneeberg, Saxony
Schneeberg is a town in Saxony’s district of Erzgebirgskreis. It has roughly 16,400 inhabitants and belongs to the Town League of Silberberg . It lies 4 km west of Aue, and southeast of Zwickau.- Location :...
, but returned to Freiberg by 1860. He enrolled in the Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg
Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg
The Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg is a small German University of Technology with about 5000 students in the city of Freiberg, Saxony...
in 1864. He left school in 1869, and volunteered for the military, joining the mountain troops corps. He saw combat in the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of 1870-1871, and was decorated with the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(second class). After the war, in 1871, he obtained a job as a chemist working with enamels at the workshop of Ernst August Geitner. In 1873, he was recruited by the Japanese government as a foreign advisor and was placed in charge of modernizing the Kosaka Mines, a lead, copper and zinc mine at Kosaka, Akita
Kosaka, Akita
is a town located in Kazuno District, Akita, Japan.As of 2011, the town has an estimated population of 6,046 and a density of 29.9 persons per km². The total area is 178.00 km²....
in northern Honshu. He was one of the co-founders of the German Society of Natural History and Ethnology of Asia (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Natur- und Völkerkunde Ostasiens).
The mines were privatized in 1877, and Netto travelled to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, where he obtained a job as a lecturer on metallurgy at Tokyo Imperial University in 1878. He took a one year sabbatical leave from 1882-1883 for research in Europe, Mexico and the United States. In June 1885, Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
conferred upon him the Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
. Netto's contract with Tokyo Imperial University expired in November 1885, and he returned to Germany in 1886. However, soon after his return, he was forced to sell much of his large collection of Japanese woodblock prints as he lost all of his savings in a bank failure
Bank failure
A bank failure occurs when a bank is unable to meet its obligations to its depositors or other creditors because it has become insolvent or too illiquid to meet its liabilities. More specifically, a bank usually fails economically when the market value of its assets declines to a value that is...
.
After briefly working in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Netto obtained a job with Krupp
Krupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
from 1887–1889, where he invented a new patented process to produce aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
by the sodium reduction of cryolite
Cryolite
Cryolite is an uncommon mineral identified with the once large deposit at Ivigtût on the west coast of Greenland, depleted by 1987....
. The revolutionary new process promised to drastically reduce production costs for aluminium, which until that point had been valued more highly than gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
due to its scarcity and difficulty to produce. However, Netto's process was quickly rendered obsolete by the development of electrolysis
Electrolysis
In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a method of using a direct electric current to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction...
smelting
Smelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
. In 1889, on the recommendation of noted chemist Clemens Winkler
Clemens Winkler
Clemens Alexander Winkler was a German chemist who discovered the element germanium in 1886, solidifying Dmitri Mendeleev's theory of periodicity.- Life :...
, Netto accepted a post as head of the technical department of Metallgesellschaft
GEA Group
GEA Group AG , headquartered in Bochum, Germany, is one of the largest system providers for food and energy processes with about €4.4 billion in 2009 revenue. The company focuses on process technology and components for demanding production processes in various end markets...
in Frankfurt am Main.
Netto married in 1899 and had three children. He retired in 1902 due to health reasons and from 1906 resided at the spa resort of Bad Nauheim
Bad Nauheim
Bad Nauheim is a town in the Wetteraukreis district of Hesse state of Germany. , Bad Nauheim has a population of 30,365. The town is located approximately 35 kilometers north of Frankfurt am Main, on the east edge of the Taunus mountain range. It is a world-famous resort, noted for its salt...
in Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
. He died February 7, 1909 in Frankfurt.
Publications
Netto published two books from his experiences in Japan:- Papierschmetterlinge aus Japan (Paper Butterflies from Japan) 1888.
- Japanischer Humor, 1901