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XXVII. Method of giving the Grain mid Hardness of Steel 

 to Cupper. ^ By B. G. Sage*. 



jyiAnGRAFF and Pelletier have published their researches 

 on the union of" phosphorus with different metaUic sub- 

 stances : the French chemist has improved this process, and 

 it was by repeating and varying his experiments that I dis- 

 covered that the surest and speediest means of phosphoriz- 

 ing copper was to take the metal under the metallic form, 

 to fuse it with two parts of animal glass, and a twelfth of 

 charcoal powder; but it is essential that the copper should 

 present a great deal of surface, — an advantage obtained bv 

 taking shavings of that metal, which are placed in strata 

 with animal glass mixed with charcoal powder. I expose 

 the crucible to a fire sufficiently strong to fuse the animal 

 glass. There is then formed phosphorus, the greater part 

 of which burns, while another combines with the copper, 

 in which it remains incarcerated till no more is disengaged, 

 though kept in fusion for twenty minutes under the animal 

 glass which has not been decomposed. 



When the crucible has cooled, and is broken, the phos- 

 phorated copper is found in the form of a gray brillitfnt 

 button under the glas<, which has passed to the state of red 

 enamel. On being weighed, it is found that by this opera- 

 tion its weight has l)een increased a twelfth. 



If the phosphorized copper, when fused, falls on a plate 

 of polished iron, it extends itself over it in the form of plates 

 differently figured, which exhibit the play of colours of a 

 pigeon's neck. 



'i he phosphorized copper is much more fusible than 

 common copper : it may often be fused under charcoal 

 powder without losino; any of its properties. 



The same phosphorized copper, when exposed a long 

 time under the muffle, separates only with great difficulty 

 from the phosphorus. 



The copper thus combined with phosphorus acquires th© 

 hardness of steel, of which it has the grain and the co- 

 lour : like it, it is susceptible of the finest poIi~,h ; it can be 

 easily turned ; it does not become altered in the air. 1 have; 

 kept buttons of polished phosphorized copper in my labo- 

 ratory for fifteen years, without their experiencing any al- 

 teration. The copper emits no smell when rubbed. Were 

 it ductile, it would be of the greatest utility, since no fat 

 bodies seem to have any hold of it. 



* From rliE 'J'jurnal Jg Pbnipe, Mfssidor, an ii. 



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