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V. Kxperiments an llie ^4lloys of Steel, made with a View to iti 

 Improvement. By J. Stojdart, Esq., and M. FaradaY, 

 Chem. Assistant at the Royal Institution. 



Xn proposing a series of experiments on the alloys of iron and 

 steel, with various otlier metals, the ol)ject in view was two-fold ; 

 first, to ascertain whether any allov could he artificially formed, 

 better for the purpose of making cutting-instruments than steel 

 in its purest state ; and, secondiv, whether any such alloys would, 

 mider similar circumstances, prove less susceptible of oxidation; 

 — new metallic combinations for reflecting mirrors vyere also a 

 collateral object of research. 



Such a series of experiments were not commenced without an- 

 ticipating considerable difliculties ; but the facilities afforded us 

 in the laboratory of the Royal Institution, where they were made, 

 have obviated m:.nv of them. The subject was new, and opeixed 

 into a large and interesting field. Almost an infinity of different 

 metallic combinations may be made according to the nature and 

 relative proportions of the metals capable of being alloyed. It 

 never has been shown by experiment, whether pure iron, when 

 combined with a minute portion of carbon, constitutes the very 

 best material for making edge tools; or whether any additional 

 ingredient, such as the earths, or their bases, or any other me- 

 tallic matter, may not be advantageously combined with the 

 steel ; and, if so, what the materials are, and what the propor- 

 tion required to form the best alloy for this much desired and 

 most important purpose. This is confessedly a subject of diffi- 

 culty, requiring both time and patient investigation, and it will 

 perhaps be admitted as some apology for the very limited pro- 

 gress as yet made. 



In analysing wootz, or Indian steel, only a minute portion 

 of the earths alumine and silex is detected, these earths (or their 

 bases) giving to the wootz its peculiar character. Being satis- 

 fied as to the constituent parts of this excellent steel, it was pro- 

 posed to attempt making such a combination, and, with this 

 view, various experiments were made. Many of them were fruit- 

 less: the successful method was the following. Pure steel in 

 small pieces, and in some instances good iron, being mixed with 

 charcoal powder were heated intensely for a long time; in this 

 way they formed carburets, which possessed a very dark metallic 

 grey colour, something in appearance like the black ore of tel- 

 lurium, and highly crystalline. When broken, the facets of small 

 buttons, not weighing more than .tOO grains, were frequently 

 at)Qv? the eighth of an inch in width. The results of several ex- 

 periments 



