266 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



retarding the melting the contents of the crucible were poured into the iron 

 mould, from which, when opened, an ingot of steel weighing twenty-five 

 pounds, being one pound more than the iron used, was exhibited, winch bore 

 every external evidence of being perfect in quality. It was intended to be 

 properly tilted into bar steel, for further tests as to its qualities and properties. v 

 The simplicity and rapidity of the new process, as well as the quality of steel 

 shown, elicited much admiration. The importance of the process in reducing the 

 cost of steel can scarcely be overrated, when the innumerable new uses to which 

 it will inevitably be turned in preference to iron are considered ; the expense of 

 steel tires, axles, piston rods, shafts, and other important working parts of ma- 

 chinery, being estimated as not exceeding the price now paid for first-class iron. 



New Cast Steel Process. Mr. R. A. Brooman, of London, has lately secured 

 a patent, as agent for a foreign inventor, for the following new method of 

 manufacturing cast steel: 



The basis of the invention consists hi the introduction into crucibles, along 

 with the pieces of wrought or malleable iron, of certain chemicals in which 

 cyanogen is contained. As for example, cyanide of potassium and ferrocy- 

 anide of potassium, are to be used in connexion with some form of sal-ammo- 

 niac. The usual furnaces and melting pots suitable for melting blister steel 

 may be employed. The maUeable iron (which may be of any description, 

 such as bar, scrap, blooms, &c.) is prepared by cutting or breaking it up into 

 small pieces. In a 501bs. charge of iron in a crucible are introduced ten 

 ounces of charcoal, six ounces of common table salt, half an ounce of brick 

 dust or oxyde of manganese, one ounce of sal-ammoniac, and half an ounce of 

 ferrocyanide of potassium. The pot is to be covered and introduced into 

 the furnace, and the contents thoroughly melted, the heat being maintained 

 for the space of three hours or thereabouts. The mass is then to be poured off 

 into iron moulds in the ordinary way of pouring cast steel, and with the usual 

 care required for producing a solid ingot. This may then be rolled into sheets, 

 or hammered or tilted into bars, after the common method. In this process the 

 employment of table salt, manganese, or brick dust, is for the formation of 

 scoria? upon the top of the melted mass, to keep out the air. The proportions 

 of ingredients given may bo varied, and some may be omitted altogether, or 

 others substituted. The essentials are the sal-ammoniac, some substance 

 affording cyanogen, and charcoal. Fine cast steel may be produced with fer- 

 rocyanide of potassium and charcoal, alsojwith sal-ammoniac and charcoal. 

 The hardness or brittleness, as well as firmness of grain and degree of mallea- 

 bility, may be varied by altering the proportions of the several ingredients, 

 especially of the charcoal, sal-ammoniac, and cyanogen. No particular cha- 

 racter or quality of iron is necessary. Steel, it is stated, can be produced by this 

 process from common English, iron equally as well as from the best Swedish. 



This process, which is undoubtedly a great improvement, has recently been 

 put in practical operation near New York. It is, however, questionable 

 whether any patent on such a process could be maintained, the operation 

 being substantially the same as that of case-hardening ; and it has also been 

 applied before to the manufacture of steel. EDITOR. 



Improved Method of Refining Iron. Charles Sanderson, of Sheffield, Eng., 



