C 193 ] 



XXXVr. On the Tujion of Mnllcahle Iron with various Kiruts 

 of Glais ; being a Continuation of the Examination of 

 C. Clouet's Procefs for fnaking Cafl Steel. By David 

 MUSHET, Efq. of the Calder Iroji iVorks*, 



v>(. CLOUET, in his rcTnlts of experiments upon iron and 

 ftcel, flates, that a particular mocJification of iron is formed 

 by fufing malleable iron with alafs ; and infers, that this 

 change is eifefted by the combination of a fmall portion of 

 the glafs with the metal. 



In Miy laft communication I had occafion to remark, that 

 the mixtures there fufcd in contart with mallcalile iron en- 

 tered into fufion a contiderable time before the iron. It ap- 

 peared, therefore, fufiiciently obvious that a perfe6t glafs was 

 formed before any difpofition to fufion was indicated on the 

 part of the iron. Reafoning in this manner, I could dillin- 

 guifli no difierence of fitualion betwixt iron expofed in contaft 

 with a glafs formed bv an union of clay and lime, and be- 

 twixt the fame fubftance expofed to fufion in contaft with 

 window or bottle glafs. 



If an alteration of quality is effected, and this as being the 

 confequence of an affinity exerted upon the glafs by means 

 of the iron, then it appeared probable that the affinity would 

 exert itfelf in both cafes, and be produftive of fimilar effefts. 

 In (liort, fince the carbonate of lime had failed in forming 

 fteel, it was conceived that the refults of the fame iron fufcd 

 in contact with glafs, would be analogous to thofe obtained 

 with a mixture of iron, lime, and f'i.\-. 



The following experiment? arc feltt^.ted from a great variety 

 performed to aicertain this point. 



Kxp. I. Fragments of the fame Swedlfli iron for- Grains. 

 merly ufed - - - - 131^ 



Bottle glafs - 13^2 grains. 



From this mixture was obtained a very perfedt fufion, 

 -accompanied with a denfe, fmooth-ikinncd button of 

 iron, which weighed - _ _ is^'Z 



Lofi in fufion 20 



equal to -—^ part of the original wciijhl of the iron, riiu 



frafturc of this button poni'lTcd a fmall regular grain of a 

 light blue colour, more rcfembling the original IraCiure of 



♦ CommuniciitC'l bv riiy A'''', i. 



Vol. XII. N0.47. N 



April 1803. 



