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John Howard Kyan (27 November 1774 – 5 January 1850) was the inventor of the ‘kyanising’ process for preserving wood, was born on November 27, 1774, in Dublin, Ireland.
He was the son of John Howard Kyan of Mount Howard and Ballymurtagh, County Wexford, and was born in Dublin on 27 November 1774. His father owned valuable copper mines in Wicklow (now worked by the Wicklow Copper Mines Company) and, for some time worked them himself. The son was educated to take part in the management of the mines, but soon after he entered the company its fortunes declined, and in 1804 his father died almost penniless.
Kyanizing process.
The Kyanizing process, developed in the early 19th century, involved treating wood with corrosive sublimate of mercury (mercuric chloride) to protect it from decay and insect damage. This process became widely used for preserving timber, especially for outdoor applications such as railway sleepers and marine construction.
John Kyan’s work in wood preservation had a significant impact on industries that relied on durable and long-lasting timber products. His contributions to the field of chemistry and industrial applications are recognized as part of the history of materials science and wood preservation.