FALLER, Karol
* 21. 2. 1857, Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia
† 30. 5. 1913, Budapest, Hungary
Mountain science
F. studied metallurgy at the Academy of Mining and Forestry in Banská Štiavnica until 1878. He specialized in non-ferrous metals. After graduating he worked at the lixiviation plant in Cavnic (Romania), at the hallmarking office in Budapest, at the Central metallurgical Office in Banská Štiavnica and other metallurgical plants (silver metallurgical plant in Štiavnica, amalgamation plan in Zlata Idka). From 1894 on he worked at the Academy of Mining in Banská Štiavnica. He was promoted to rank of full professor at this academy in 1896. Between 1904 and 1913 he taught at the Department of Non-metals (Fémkohászattani tanszék). F. visited several metallurgical plants in Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Norway, England and other countries and wrote reports on the experience he gained there.
He made breakthroughs in several areas and studied the structure of metals, alloys, stones and slag, and published a few reports on that subject. He recognized the importance of metallographic examination of structures of these materials for technical procedures. F. was one of the first to have dealt with metallography. He is the author of technical-economic study on the processing of bauxite with the analysis of investment and operating costs for the production of aluminium oxide. He was also involved in technical conditions for the production of bauxite in Jádvölgy (deposit in Romania) and the extraction of aluminum by electrolysis in Hungary. His most important work is the four volume manual dealing with non-ferrous metallurgy, which was published between 1896 and 1904. In addition to the known metals (copper, lead, gold, silver, zinc, etc.) he was also concerned with the new metals, such as aluminium, uranium and tungsten. In his works, in addition to metals and techniques for their extraction alone, he also dealt with raw materials (ore), production facilities, the fire resistant materials, additives, intermediate products and pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical and electrometallurgical processes.
