Converfion of Iron into Steel. 407 



evident that it is produced chiefly by an accidental fcorifica- 

 tion, and always more in proportion to the furface than to 

 the mafs. 



It now remains that we mould It ill make, in regard to the 

 procefs itfelf, a remark, which Teems proper to fhew the fu- 

 periority of it to all thofe hitherto ufed for the converfion or 

 iron into fteel. It is well known that the great difficulty is 

 to make it take up the proper dole of carbon ; below that 

 you have foft fteel ; and above it, fteel fuperfaturated almoft 

 to the (late of caft iron, and as refractory. Ought not the 

 quantity to be determined here by the concurrence of the 

 forces of the affinity which operate the decompofition of the 

 carbonic acid ? The degree of faturation would be then con- 

 ftant, and the product always uniform ; and it may be 

 readily comprehended how much value this condition, which 

 we mention only as probable, would add to the new method. 



From thefe reflections, and the fails mentioned in this 

 report, we conclude, that the obfervations of C. Clouet on 

 the different ftates of iron diffufe a new light over the man- 

 ner of treating this metal ; that the immediate converfion of 

 foft iron into caft ftccl, without employing carbon, and by 

 the decompofition of the carbonic acid, is a difcovery as im- 

 portant for the advancement of the theory of chemical affi- 

 nities, as it is valuable for increafing national induftry; 

 that, by the labours of C. Clouet, the proceffes of this new 

 art are already determined, in fuch a manner as to leave no 

 doubt of their fucceeding in a large manufactory; that the 

 fteel arifing from them, when forged in bars, has all the ex- 

 ternal characters and intrinfic qualities of the Englifli call 

 iieel of the manufactories of Hunt/man and Marfchall: that 

 it may be ufed tor the fame purpofes, and be introduced in 

 competition with it into commerce, without fear of any dif- 

 tinction being made to its prejudice; that it is to be wifhed, 

 in order to haften the benefits of this difcovery, that go\ em- 

 inent would order from 1 5 to ZO mvriagranmics to be 

 manufactured of this fteel, the value of which, at the prefent 

 D d 4 price, 



