Dyckerhoff, Rudolf Philipp Wilhelm

Physicist, Chemist

Born: 25.03.1842 in Mannheim

Died: 23.02.1917 in Biebrich

After completing secondary school in Mannheim, Dyckerhoff studied chemistry and physics at the University of Heidelberg and was an assistant to Prof. Emil Erlenmeyer (1825-1909).

In 1864, his father, Wilhelm Gustav Dyckerhoff, took him on as a partner in the newly founded Portland cement factory in Amöneburg, together with his older brother Gustav Wilhelm Wernhard Dyckerhoff. There, Dyckerhoff was responsible for technical management and product research in the factory's own laboratory. It was thanks to him that the cement developed by Dyckerhoff & Söhne was quickly superior to the leading English product of the time and soon gained a worldwide reputation. The cement was fired in the "Hoffmann ring kiln", which was located on the factory premises near Dyckerhoff's home and had to be monitored day and night.

Throughout his life, Dyckerhoff devoted himself to scientific work on cement. His research into the production of white cement was put on the back burner in favor of the development of a waterproof grey cement that could be used in port facilities worldwide. It was not until 1931 that he succeeded in producing and marketing "Dyckerhoff Weiss" at the Amöneburg plant. His pioneering findings in the field of cement testing and mortar technology gave the up-and-coming German cement industry its good reputation.

In 1889, Dyckerhoff acquired the Villa Annika in Biebrich, known as the "Wagner Villa", which he had carefully renovated by the Wiesbaden architect Ludwig Euler and in which he lived until his death. Dyckerhoff was honored many times. He was an honorary citizen of Mainz-Kastel, Biebrich and Flörsheim, an honorary doctor of the TH Dresden and was awarded the title of professor by the Grand Duke of Hesse.