Academician of the National Academy of UkrSSR K.K. Khrenov: A Scientist in the Field of Electric Welding and Science and Technology History (dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the birthday)

Abstract

The main events of life and work of Kostiantyn K. Khrenov are discussed. He was a prominent scientist and organizer of science in the field of metallurgy and welding production, as well as the history of science and technology, academician of the Academy of Sciences of the UkrSSR (1945), a member of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the UkrSSR (1953‑1961), chairman of the Department of the UkrSSR Academy of Sciences (1954‑1964), Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1953), the author of more than two hundred scientific works and twenty inventions. February 25, 2019 is the 125 years anniversary since his birth. The scientific work of K.K. Khrenov, who has developed a number of technologies and means of electric welding, in particular arc welding and cutting of metals under water, applicable for bridge restoration and repair of ships, cold pressure welding, gas welding, plasma cutting, welding of iron and flaw welding of electric welding joints and contact welding, ceramic fluxes, electrode coatings. Scientist known for developing innovative technologies ‑ cold, magnetic, microcapacitor welding, gas and plasma cutting of metals. Of particular importance for scientific and technological progress is the creation of underwater welding. Underwater electric welding during the war and in the post-war period thousands of ships, bridges, and port structures were repaired. In 1945 E.O. Paton invited K.K. Hrenov at the Institute of Electric Welding for the post of his Deputy on Science. In 1945‑1948 and 1963‑1975 he was the head of the department of the Institute of Electric Welding of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1948‑1952 ‑ Institute of Structural Mechanics of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, 1952‑1963 ‑ Professor of the Kiev Polytechnic Institute. K.K. Khrenov was also one of the founders of welding education, an educator of engineering and scientific personnel, among his pupils there are 50 doctors and candidates of sciences. Discovered archival documents are used to show the role of academician K.K. Khrenov in the formation and development of science and technology history studies in Ukraine and the USSR, and in creation of professional associations of science and technology historians, the Ukrainian branch of the Soviet National Association of historians of science and technology in particular, of which he became the chairman.