224 



REPORTS ON INVESTIGATIONS AND PROJECTS. 



to increase s5nichronously with the decrement of the barometer. But as 

 the amount of adiabati ccoohng, /. e., the efficiency of the apparatus (caet. 

 par.) follows the same conditions, it is extremely difficult to disentangle the 

 two effects. 



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

 No. 330. Invest! gatio7i of the properties of electrolytic iron and alloys made 

 from it. (For previous report see Year Book No. 4, pp. 247-249.) 



$2,500. 



Abstract of Report. — The work has progressed without interruption during 

 the past 3'ear, being under the charge of Dr. O. P. Watts, who has devoted 

 his entire time to it. Acknowledgment is made of assistance received from 

 Profs. G. C. Shaad and A. Hoyt Taylor, of the University of Wisconsin ; 

 from Mr. Andrew A. Blair, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Prof. R. E. 

 Lyons, of the University of Indiana. 



About 1,500 pounds of electrolytic iron have been taken from the tanks 

 during the past year, being used in large part for the preparation of alloys. 

 A stock is being accumulated for second refining. 



Some disappointment has been encountered in not being able to turn out 

 an iron by single refining of as high a degree of purity as the analyses a 

 year ago led us to believe might be readily attained. Difficulty has been 

 experienced in securing concordant analyses, due largely to the very small 

 percentages of the various impurities. Much remains ye.t to be done on the 

 chemical analysis of electrolytic iron, especially in reference to gaseous ele- 

 ments. The following figures are typical of what is being accomplished in. 

 the matter of purity under present conditions of operation : 



It is shown that a second refining improves the purity. The above figures 

 indicate the necessity of further study to explain the apparent increase in 

 silicon by a second refining, to confirm the apparently demonstrated fact 

 that the hydrogen may still be retained in the metal after being melted, and 

 to determine what factors govern the addition of impurities during the 

 melting process. 



Much attention has been given to the matter of melting the electrolytic 

 iron, and this involved a study of refractory materials. The method of 



