Comparative analysis of the impact in societies of silicon technology against that of steel

Abstract

This paper will first introduce silicon and steel then deeply discuss the impact to the society. Furthermore, I will also estimate the effect to the future about these two materials. Silicon is one of the most significant and useful elements which have been used in huge amounts of fields. For instant, silicon is the primary material to make semiconductor and optical fiber even to synthesize metal-cermet, which is a core material for the spacecraft. The central processing unit (CPU) is also made by silicon, so it is a common and important element now a day. Although silicon is discovered in early 18 centuries even earlier than steel, it doesnt have a big effect in the second industrial revolution. Difference with silicon, steel is the fundamental material of cars, rail and most of the machine invented in industrial revolution because the durability and plasticity. However, this valuable material cant be efficiently produced until Bessemer converter comes out. This machine developed the first process for manufacturing steel inexpensively.