( 36) 



The chemical examination of these components has been carried 

 out by Mr. Baucke, analytical chemist at Amsterdam, partly by 

 means of analytical, partly by means of synthetical methods, while 

 I have undertaken the microscopical and mechanical investigation 

 of the properties of Babbits metal. 



For separating the products of liquation I proposed pressing of 

 the alloys in a semi-liquid state. This suggestion has been adopted 

 by Mr. Baucke and the method, worked out and perfected by him, 

 has given very good results. When Babbits metal in a pasty con- 

 dition is pressed between hot slabs of iron, tin will flow out, con- 

 taining 3 "/o of antimony and copper and a hard, brittle cake will 

 be left, formed principally by the crystals described above. An alloy 

 composed of 90 % tin and 1 7o copper gave a hard residue, from 

 which a remnant of mother liquor was removed by treating it with 

 hydrochloric acid and subsequently with caustic soda ley. Powdery 

 copper was washed away in a stream of water, and then analysis 

 gave 35.1 "/o Cu, 64.8 7o Sn for the composition of the cristalline 

 alloy, while the formula Cu Sn would require 34.9 ö/q Cu and 65.1 Sn. 

 Repeated heating and pressing will drive out more tin, so that this 

 alloy may be said to comport itself in a similar manner as some 

 hydrated salts, e. g. crystallized sulfate of sodium. 



In alloys with antimony the tin was found to be more strongly 

 combined. From an alloy, containing 10 "/^ of antimony, after heating 

 and pressing thrice, a residue was obtained, resembling closely an 

 alloy of 70 o/q tin and 30 °/o antimony. Purified by extraction with 

 hydrochloric acid and washing in a stream of water it was found 

 to be composed of 33.7 % Sb and 66.3 7o Sn. Calculation from the 

 formula Sb Sua gave 33.8 «/„ Sb, 66.2% Sn. With 42 "/o Sb an alloy 

 was obtained, showing prismatic crystals of higher melting point 

 between the cuboïd ones of the compound Sb Suj. By hot pressing 

 and treatment with hydrochloric acid an alloy was isolated, answering 

 to the formula Sb Sn. Found: Sb 50.35, Sn 49.65 "/ol calculated: 

 Sb 50.37, Sn 49.63 "/q- Id aWojs, containing 80 7ü of antimony, 

 this element can be made to crystallize in a nearly pure state. Its 

 crystals are enveloped by a compound of prismatic form, probably 

 answering to the formula Sbj Sn. This point has hitherto not been 

 settled in a satisfactory manner. 



Microscopical examination of cushions, that had done duty under 

 railway cars led speedily to the conviction, that their behaviour 

 depends on the frequency and size of rectangular crystals. In cushions, 

 marked as having been unduly heated by running, the rectangular 

 crystals of the compound Sb Sn2 were found poorly developed or 



