34 Experiments oh the Alloys of Steel. 



Valuable information relative to fuel, ciuciljles, &c. : this libera- 

 lity enables us to continue our experiments on this alloy: these, 

 with whatever else may be worth communicating, will he given 

 in a future of number of this Journal. The proportions we 

 have used are from 1 to 2 per cent. The valuable properties of 

 the rhodium alloys are hardness, with sufficient teinu-ity to pre- 

 vent cracking either in forging or in hardening. This superior 

 hardness is so remarkable, that in tempering a few cutting arti- 

 cles made from the alloy, they required to be heated full 30"^ F. 

 higher than the best wootz, wootz itself requiring to be heated 

 full 40' above the best English cast steel. Thermometrical de- 

 grees are named^ that being the only accurate method of tem- 

 pering steel. 



Gold forms a good alloy with steel. Experience does not yet 

 enable us to speak of its properties. It certainly does not pro- 

 mise to be of the same value as the alloys of silver, platinum, and 

 rhodium. 



Steel with two per cent, of copper forms an alloy. Steel also 

 alloys with tin. Of the value of these we have doubts. If, on 

 further trial, they, together with other combinations requiring 

 more time than we have been able to bestow on them, should 

 prove at all likely to be interesting and useful, the results will 

 be frankly communicated. 



Our experiments have hitherto been confined to small quan- 

 tities of the metals, seldom exceeding 2000 grains in weight ; 

 and we are aware that the operations of the laboratory are not 

 always successful when practised on a large scale. There does 

 not, however, appear to be any good- reason why equal success 

 may not attend the working on larger masses of the metals, pro- 

 vided the same diligence and means are employed. 



From the facility of obtaining silver, it is probable that its 

 alloy with steel is the most valuable of those we have made. To 

 enumerate its applications, would be to name almost every edge- 

 tool. It is also probable that it will prove valuable for making 

 dies, especially when combined with the best Indian steel. Trial 

 will soon be made with the silver in the large way, and the re- 

 sult, whatever it may be, will be candidly stated. 



Table of Specific Gravities of Alloys, &c. mentioned in the 

 preceding Paper. 



Iron, unhammered 7'847 



Wootz, unhammered, (Bombay) 7'G6.5 



Wootz, tilted, (Bombay) 7-fJ707 



Wootz, in cake, (Bengal) 7'730 



Wootz, fusjed and hammered, (Bengal) ,, 7 '787 



Meteoric 



