The Beilby Layer

Jewelry Discussion
21

Wayne,

plastic deformation does not cause changes in crystalline structure
which can be observed on the surface of polished objects. It will
cause contraction or expansion of crystal interstices, but it will
not cause break-down of the structure.

G. T. Beilby may not got it exactly on point when he described the
mechanism of polishing, nevertheless he was the first to observe the
phenomena and I have no problem in calling the upper layer on
polished objects by his name.

When Einstein published his Theory of Relativity, the original
equations did not worked out correctly, so he introduced a fudge
factor ( the name escapes me now ). Later on he removed it because he
could not explain it. There were attacks similar to attacks on Beilby
Theory. But now this fudge factor is accepted by everybody and it is
called “Dark Matter”. There is also “Dark Energy”.

As far as I am concerned, the jury is still out on validity of
Beilby Theory of Polishing.

Leonid Surpin

22

Hi Leonid,

You can doubt plastic deformation of crystalline surfaces all you
want, but it has been demonstrated many times. When I get some time,
I will pull up the abstracts and post them for you.

On a purely scientific basis, I would strongly reject the idea of
calling the resultant polished layer a Beilby layer as you suggest.
His theory was incorrect, period. No laminar flow from local heat
occurs, and that was central to his theory.

Wayne Emery

23 
G. T. Beilby may not got it exactly on point when he described the
mechanism of polishing, nevertheless he was the first to observe
the phenomena

Actually, he wasn’t. He may have been the first to publish a theory
attempting to explain it, but I’m not even sure of that.

Al Balmer
Sun City, AZ