Ledebour

Ledebour refers to several things, primarily related to individuals and their contributions to science and engineering.

• Carl Friedrich von Ledebour (1786-1851): A German-Estonian botanist. He is best known for his extensive work on the flora of Russia, especially his multi-volume Flora Rossica (published 1841-1853). This work was a comprehensive catalog of plants found in the Russian Empire. He traveled extensively throughout Russia, including Siberia and the Altai Mountains, collecting and documenting plant species. He held the chair of botany at the University of Dorpat (Tartu) in Estonia. Many plant species are named in his honor (e.g., Ledebouriella, Ledebouria).

• Adolf Ledebour (1837-1918): A German metallurgist. He is known for his work on the properties and behavior of iron and steel. He studied at the Bergakademie Freiberg (Freiberg University of Mining and Technology) and became a professor there. He made significant contributions to the understanding of the solidification process of iron and the development of alloys.

• Ledeburite: A eutectic mixture of austenite and cementite found in cast iron. It is named after Adolf Ledebour. It solidifies at around 1147 °C (2097 °F) and has a carbon content of approximately 4.3%. The presence of ledeburite affects the mechanical properties of the cast iron, making it harder and more brittle.