[ 355* } 



LXXV. Exjycriments on the Alloys of Steel, made 'with a view 

 to its Improvement. By J. Stodart, Esq. F.R.S. and 

 M. Faraday, Chemical Assistant at the Royal Institution* . 



An pi'oposuig a sei'ies of expeinments on the alloys of iron and 

 steel, with various other metals, the object in view was two- 

 fold : first, to ascertain whether any alloy could be artificially 

 formed, better for the pui-pose of making cutting- instruments 

 than steel in its purest state ; and, secondly, whether any such 

 alloys would, under similar circumstances, prove less suscepti- 

 ble of oxidation; new metallic combinations for reflecting 

 mirrors was also a collateral object of research. 



Such a series of experiments were not commenced without 

 anticipating considerable difficulties, but the facilities afforded 

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

 made, have obviated many of them. The subject was new, 

 and opened into a large and interesting field. Almost an in- 

 finity of different metallic combinations may be made, accord- 

 ing to the nature and relative proportions of the metals capa- 

 ble of being alloyed. It never has been shown, by experiment, 

 whether pine 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 metallic matter, may not be ad- 

 vantageously combined with the steel; and, if so, what the 

 materials are, and what the proportion required to form the 

 best alloy for this nmcli-desired and most important purpose. 

 This is confessedly a subject of difficulty, requiring both time 

 and patient investigation, and it will perhaps be admitted as 

 some apologj' for the very limited pi'ogress as yet made. 



By referring to the analysis of wootz, or Indian steel f, it 

 will be observed, that only a minute portion of the earths 

 alumine and silex, could be detected, these earths (or their 

 bases) giving to the wootz its j^eculiar character. Being satis- 

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

 proposed to attemj)t making such a combination, and, with 

 this view, various experiments were made. Many of them 

 were fruitless : the successful mediod was the foUowmg. Pure 

 steel in small jjieccs, and in some instances good iron, being 

 mixed with charcoal powder, were lieated 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 tellurium, and highly crystalline. When 

 broken, the iiicets of sn)all buttons, not weighing more than 

 .500 grains, were i'requently above the eightli of an inch in 



• From the Journal of Sciences and liie Arts. f Ibid. vol. vii. p. 288. 

 Vol. 60. No. 295. yov. 1822. Z z * which 



