On the Alloys of Steel. 359 " 



these, with whatever else may be worth communicating, will be 

 given in a future number of this Journal. The proportions we 

 have used are from 1 to 2 per cent. The valuable properties 

 of the rhodium alloys are hardness, with sufficient tenacity to 

 prevent cracking either in forging or in hardening. This su- 

 perior hardness is so remarkable, that in tempering a few cutting 

 articles made from the alloy, they required to be heated full 

 30° F. higher than the best wootz, wootz itself requiring to 

 be heated full 40° above the best English cast steel. Ther- 

 mometrical degrees are named, that being the only accurate 

 method of tempering steel. 



Gold forms a good alloy with steel. Experience does not 

 yet enable us to speak of its properties. It certainly does not 

 promise to be of the same value as the alloys of silver, pla- 

 tinum, and rhodium. 



Steel with two per cent, of copper, forms an alloy. Steel also 

 alloys with tin. Of the value of these we have doubts. If, 

 on further trial, they, together with other combinations re- 

 quiring more time than we have been able to bestow on them, 

 should prove at all likely to be interesting and useful, the 

 results will be frankly communicated. 



Our experiments have hitherto been confined to small quan- 

 tities of the metals, seldom exceeding 2,000 grains in weight; 

 and we are aware that the operations of the laboratory are not 

 always successful when practised on a large scale. There does 

 not, however, appear to be any good reason why equal success 

 may not attend the working on larger masses of the metals, 

 provided the same diligence and means are employed. 



From the facility of obtaining silver, it is probable that its 

 alloy with steel is the most valuable of those we have made. To 

 enumerate its applications, would be to name almost every edge- 

 tool. It is also probable that it will prove valuable for making 

 dies, especially when combined with the best Indian steel. Trial 

 will soon be made with the silver in the large way, and the 

 result, whatever it may be, will be candidly stated. 



