Mr. Pierre Chevenard

Abstract

THE “Societe d'Encouragement pour I'Industrie Nationale” awards annually a special medal with the effigy of an eminent person in science or arts to a French or foreign author whose work has had the most effect on the progress of French industry. The medal for 1932 bears the effigy of Prony and has been awarded by the Committee of the Society dealing with mechanical arts to M. Pierre Chevenard, a mining engineer of the Mining School at Saint Etienne. Born in 1888, M. Chevenard has, since 1910, worked in the research laboratory at Imphy of the metallurgical works of Commentry, Fourchambault et Decazeville. One of his most important papers deals with an experimental research on iron, nickel and chromium alloys, but he is especially known for elaborating devices for the examination of very small quantities of alloys. With small samples a homogeneous temperature is secured throughout the piece, this being important for quick and reliable measurements, and M. Chevenard was able to examine the physical properties of alloys over a wide range of temperature. His differential dilatometer, galvanopyrometer, and apparatus for the examination of the mechanical properties of alloys, are widely used all over the world. Besides purely scientific research, M. Chevenard has contributed a great deal to the production of special alloys at Imphy, such as M. Ch. Guillaume's invar, elinvar and the A.T.V. ferro-nickel alloy.