Keith D. Millis (1915-1992) Metallurgical Engineer, Inventor of ductile iron.

Early in the second World War, Chromium (Cr) was considered critical to the war effort and experimentation was conducted by Mr. Millis to find a substitute. He made his discovery while experimenting with molten iron and magnesium. The original intent was to find another element that would cause all the carbon in the cast iron alloy would be combined as carbide. Magnesium (Mg) was a known carbide former. Instead, the graphite in the iron formed into spheroidal (also called nodular) shapes, and the cast iron had high tensile strength plus it exhibited ductility. Thus was born ductile iron.

--Mfields1 17:52, 12 Feb 2005 (UTC)