cxxxii GENERAL SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND 



that the density and toughness of ordmary bronze is notably 

 increased by the addition to its composition of phosphorus 

 (in the form of phosphor-copi^er). Since the first announce- 

 ment of its claims, the material has been subjected to very 

 thorough tests both under governmental and private direc- 

 tion and Avith the most flattering results. 



It is claimed that by judiciously varying the proportion 

 of phosphorus in the manufacture, an alloy of almost any 

 desired quality can be produced, thus opening for it a field 

 of great utility from the variety of its possible applications. 

 Unlike other alloys, it can be remelted without serious de- 

 terioration of quality, while heavy steel castings, when worn 

 or broken, are comparatively worthless. A great variety of 

 objects made of the material, on exhibition at the above- 

 named cities and elsewhere, have been enumerated, of which 

 we will only present some of the more interesting. It has 

 been employed with advantage for the great bearings of the 

 plates in general rolling-mills, and for conical gearing in uni- 

 versal rolling-mills for which it is much superior to both 

 cast iron and ordinary bronze. A just idea of its value may 

 be formed from the fact that at the Vienna Exposition it ob- 

 tained the following awards: In group 1 for cog-wheels, tuy- 

 eres, and bearings the diploma of merit ; in group 7 for re- 

 volvers and parts of harness the medal of progress ; and in 

 group 12 for its application to guns, etc. the medal of merit. 



A great variety of objects hitherto made of iron or steel 

 may with advantage be cast of phosphor-bronze, and in many 

 cases only require to be polished to be ready for use ; in ad- 

 dition to which they will not corrode. 



Its great fluidity, compactness, fine grain, and beautiful col- 

 or, adapt it admirably for decorative work ; and the perfec- 

 tion of the castings materially lessens the expense of subse- 

 quent chasing and finishing. 



The Belgian government has adopted the phosphor-bronze 

 for small arms, and for the harness-metal of its cavalry. From 

 the brief space of time during which it has been before the 

 mechanical world, no less than from the modifications of 

 which its physical properties are susceptible by slight varia- 

 tions in its constitution, it is fair to presume that the uses to 

 which it may be advantageously applied have as yet by no 

 means been fully recognized. 



