Nikolai Kachalov

Born June 20, 1883, in Dresden, Germany; died June 19, 1961, in Leningrad. Soviet scientist, expert in silicate technology, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1933).

Kachalov graduated from the St. Petersburg Mining Institute in 1911. Between 1930 and 1961 he was head of the subdepart-ment of glass technology at the Leningrad Institute of Technology. Beginning in 1948 he also worked at the Institute of Silicate Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Kachalov’s works were devoted to the processes of making optical glass and to glass grinding and polishing. Kachalov gave the first detailed account of the physical and chemical principles behind the most important technological processes in making glass. He also worked on refractory materials, porcelain technology, and the production of decorative glass. He was awarded the State Prize of the USSR (1947), the Order of Lenin, three other orders, and various medals.