13* Utjiory and Experiments on Steel-making. " 



iron nails, and 245 grammes (about 8 j oz. avoirdupois) of a mixture of carbonate of lime and 

 baked clay, were expofcd to ftrong heat for an hour, when the fufion was judged to be complete ; 

 and after removing the vitreous matter the ingot was poured out. From the efFeiSt produced 

 on two pyrometric pieces, it was judged that the fteel had undergone an heat of 150 degrees. 

 This fteel had all the properties of caft-fteel, and was made into razors by Citizen Lepetitwalle, 

 who found it of a good quality, eafy to be worked, and capable of bearing a comparifon 

 with the caft-fteel marked Marjhal and B. Huntfman. 



Upon thefe fa£ls,'the reporter obferves, that fince iron does not become fteel but by taking 

 Up about 0,2013 *^^ ''* weight of carbone*, and in the prefent procefs it exifts only in the 

 form of carbonic acid, this acid' muft confequently be decompofed ; which happens, as the 

 reporter obferves, by means of a combination between its prir.ciplcs refpeiStively and certain 

 adequate portions of the iron, that is to fay, the oxygen of the acid combines with part of 

 the iron, and forms an oxyde^ with which the vitreous flux becomes charged, and the carbone 

 combines with the reft of the iron, and forms fteel. Hence it may be inferred, that this nev7 

 procefs muft be attended with a lofs of fo much more confequence, as it is neceffary to ufe iroa 

 of the beft quality for makmg fteel. But, on this head, the reporter takes notice that the lofs 

 in the experiment with the wind-furnace was not quite one-twelfth part ; and, in another experi- 

 ment, by Vauquelin, the lofs was lefs than one twenty-fecond part ; a lofs, which he obferves, 

 will be weU repaid by the increafcd value of the produft, and may reafonably be expected to 

 be ftill lefs in operations on a large fcale. He thinks, moreover, that this new method may 

 probably turn out of high value for producing fteel of uniform quality with regard to the dofe 

 of carbone. For he thinks that this quantity, or proportion, is likely to be determined by the 

 equilibrium of the forces of affinity which caufe the decompofition of the carbonic acid. Or, 

 in other words, if we fuppofe an indefinite quantity of carbonic acid to be prefentcd at an 

 elevated temperature to a mafs of iron not greater than could be converted by the dofe of 

 carbone contained in that acid, the iron will form two combinations, the oxyde and the fteel ; 

 and it is conceived that the equilibrium between the attraction which tends to preferve the 

 union of principles in carbonic acid, and thofe which are exerted between the iron and thofe 

 principles will prove to be fuch that the carburet of iron will be formed precifely in thofe 

 proportions which conftitute good caft-fteel. This fubje£t, which certainly Qiews the acutenefe 

 of Citizen Guyton with regard to the doctrines of cheaiical attnuSlioix, muft be decided by 

 the teft of experiment. 



The report is concluded with a fummary of the h&% and obfervatJons it contains, together 

 with an inference, that the immediate converfion of iron into fteel, without ufing charcoal, is a , 

 great and valuable difcovery with regard to the increafe of national induftry ; that there is no 

 doubt but the procefs will fucceed in the large way, and that Citizen Clouct is entitled to a 

 public reeompence for his liberal, and unreferved communications. 



That all the fadts are of high value to fcience, and that the obfervation refpeSting the combi- 



• This, quauiity (upwards of one-fifth) fo much exceeds any addition which iron is ftated to gain bjr 



converfion 'nto fleel, that I fuppofe it to be 0.2013 in the centenary or hundred parts of iron. Iron is reckoned 



to gain about a little more than, half a pound ii* the hundred, weight by cementation, — N . 



nation 



