232 REPORTS ON INVESTIGATIONS AND PROJECTS. 



Burgess, Charles F., University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. Grant 

 No. 560. Investigation on electrolytic iron and iron alloys. (For pre- 

 vious reports see Year Books Nos. 4-8.) $2,500 



During the past year the work has been carried on under the direction of 

 C. F. Burgess and James Aston, with the assistance of G. A. Roush and 

 A. C. Sladky. 



The electrolytic iron-refining tanks have been in operation and several 

 hundred pounds of single-refined and double-refined iron have been pro- 

 duced. Practically all of this has been used in experimental work here, though 

 some has been shipped to others investigating the properties of this material. 



Continuing the work of the past, this electrolytic iron has been used as a 

 basis for the preparation of alloys, its value lying in its comparative freedom 

 from impurities and in its marked uniformity. 



The work on alloys during the past year has been confined largely to three 

 channels: the combined influence of copper and nickel on the strength of 

 iron ; the hardness tests of numerous alloy samples accumulated during the 

 past few years ; and the utility of electrolytic iron as a base material for the 

 manufacture of tool steels. Among the results noted are the following: 1.5 

 per cent of copper addition gives a similar increase of strength as does 4 per 

 cent of nickel. It has been found that the presence of copper is not detri- 

 mental in making nickel-iron alloys, and therefore Monel metal, a cheap 

 source of nickel, may be used for making high-grade alloys. This conclu- 

 sion has been confirmed by Mr. Clamer, who reported before the American 

 Society for Testing Materials, in July, 1910. 



Most of the results of the past year's work have been published, although 

 some data and information still remain to be prepared for publication. A 

 list of publications of the past year bearing upon this work will be found in 

 the Bibliography (page 47). 



Howe, H. M., Columbia University, New York, N. Y. Grant No. 618. To 

 determine whether the sealing of gas in blozuholes of steel ingots is or is 

 not hermetical. (For previous reports see Year Books Nos. 6-8.) $300 



In the solidification of molten or liquid substances, especially those of high 

 melting-point, two classes of cavities are likely to form — gas-bubbles called 

 "blowholes," and a central contraction cavity called a "pipe." The blow- 

 holes represent (a) the progressive concentration in the molten or liquid 

 mother-mass of the gases initially present, a concentration carried on to 

 supersaturation and to the liberation of part of this gas from the supersatu- 

 rated layers; perhaps (b) and in some cases, such as that of the solidifica- 

 tion of steel ingots, the formation of a gas from chemical reaction brought 

 about by fall of temperature or by passage from the liquid to the solid state. 

 In the case of steel ingots there are indications that carbonic oxide is thus 

 formed during solidification by the union of carbon and oxygen present side 

 by side in the molten metal. 



