Cajl Steel from Bar Iron. 31 



nearly fimilar refults as to lofs of iron. The qnalifv of the 

 metal was found invariably the fame, I therefore deemed 

 myfelf warranted to draw the following conclufion, that with 

 the quantities of mixture prefcribed by the French cheinifts 

 for converting iron into Heel, I had not been able to obtain a 

 product: which, under the various teds, exhibited the proper- 

 tied of ca(i itcel. But, from the refuit of the foregoing expe- 

 riments, I did not think myfelf at liberty to infer, tliat al- 

 though the ufual marks of Iteel had not been perceptible, 

 liecl could not be formed in this way. Aware that carbonates 

 of lime differ much in their refpeftive quantities of carbonic 

 acid, and proceeding upon the fuppofition that the carbonate 

 ufed by C. Clouet might afford a greater quantity of carbon- 

 aceous matter, I refolved to make up in quantity of earth 

 what prpbable deficiency might have arifen from an inferior 

 quantity of carbonic acid. — To afcertain this point, I made 

 the following experiment: Grains. 



Exp. Ill, I uled of fmall pieces of iron - J342'- 



To which were added 4- of carbonate of limCj or 671 1 

 grains; ^ of Stourbridge clay pot, 671^ grains. 

 The (juantity of carbonate here ufed exceeded that em- 

 ployed by Ciouet in the proportion of 9 to 6, and oujrht 

 to have given.out to theiron, every thing elfe being alike, 



a portion of carbonaceous matter equal to — ^ths the 



weight of the iron employed. This mixture was 

 fufed in 38 minutes, and, as ufual, a metallic button 

 found under the fufed earths which weighed - 13255- 



Lofs equal to /^th part of the weight of the iron fufed 1 7 

 The ^afs appeared to be a minute Ihade lighter than No. 2. 

 The upper furface poflefled a few imperfeil radii, a com- 

 mencement of the ufual cryltallization. The under fur- 

 face was finiilarly pitted with No. i and 2 ; and no altera- 

 tion of quality could be inferred from the external cha- 

 rafterofthis buttori. The frafture of it when broken was 

 entirely fibrous, and tore afunder fomewhat like lead. Under 

 the hammer it cracked lefs than did the former two. It was 

 next double-welded, and drawn a fecondtime; cracking a 

 little, and throwing off a few fparks. In hardening, and^in 

 every ftagc of the lubfe(]uent examination, I could tletcA no 

 circumllance that would warrant the fuppofition of one addi- 

 tional atom of carbon being in combination with this iron 

 beyond that poficffed by Nos. 1 and 2. The properly of its 

 (tancling a higher heat, and exhibiting a tougher trart ure, are 

 cifcuaiiiaarci rather the rc-vcrfc, but which a more attenu- 

 ated 



