[From the name of the inventor, Sir H. Bessemer, in 1856.] Bessemer process: a process for decarbonizing and desiliconizing pig-iron so as to convert it into steel or malleable iron, by passing currents of air through the molten metal. Hence Bessemer iron, steel, briefly Bessemer; and attrib., as in Bessemer converter, flame, maker, method, slag, etc.
[1855. Birmingh. Jrnl., 25 Aug., Suppl. 3/2. Iron and Steel.—Mr. H. Bessemer, C.E., has patented some improvements in manufacturing iron and steel.
1856. Encycl. Brit., XII. 574/2. The ingots derived from Mr. Bessemer’s process.]
1864. Percy, Metall., 819. Analyses … of the pig-irons and Bessemer irons made therefrom.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 905. The enormously high temperature developed by the action of cold air on molten cast iron in the Bessemer process. Ibid., 907. The exact chemical character of the spectrum of the Bessemer flame. Ibid., 909. Good pig iron, such as that employed for Bessemer steel-making.
1881. N. Y. Nation, XXXII. 404. The generic term Bessemer steel denotes a steel made essentially by blowing air through molten iron, in a vessel called a converter.
1883. Daily News, 3 Sept., 2/7. Bessemer makers are very busy.
