360* Experimgnli on the Alloys of Steel. 



At other times, when silver and steel have been very l6ng in 

 a state of perfect fusion, tiie sides of the crucible, and frequently 

 the top also, are covered with a fine and beautiful dew of mmute 

 globules of silver : — this effect can be produced at pleasure. 

 At first we were not successful in detecting silver by chemical 

 tests in these buttons; and finding the steel uniforndy im- 

 proved, were disposed to attribute its excellence to an effect of 

 the silver, or to a quantity too small to be tested. By subse- 

 quent experiments we were, however, able to detect the silver, 

 even to less than 1 in 500. 



In making the silver alloys, the proportion first tried was 

 1 silver to 160 steel; the resulting buttons were uniformly steel 

 and silver in fibres, the silver being likewise given out in glo- 

 bules during solidifying, and adhering to the surface of the fused 

 button; some of these when forged gave out more globules of 

 silver. In this state of mechanical mixture the little liars, when 

 exposed to a moist atmosphei'e, evidently produced voltaic 

 action]; and to this we are disposed to attribute the rapid de- 

 struction of the metal by oxidation, no such destructive action 

 taking place when the two metals are chemically combined. 

 These results indicated the necessity of diminishing the (juan- 

 tity of silver, and 1 silver to 200 steel was tried. Here, again, 

 were fibres and globules in abundance ; with 1 to 300 the fibres 

 diminished, but still were present; they were detected even 

 when the proportion of 1 to 400 was used. The successful 

 experiment remains to be named. When 1 of silver to 500 

 steel were properly fused, a very perfect button was produced ; 

 no silver appeared on its surface ; when forged and dissected 

 by an acid, no fibres were seen, although examined by a high 

 magnifying power. The specimen forged remarkably well, 

 although very hard ; it had in every respect the most favour- 

 able appearance. By a delicate test every part of the bar gave 

 silver. This alloy is decidedly superior to the veiy best steel, 

 and this excellence is unquestionably owing to combination 

 with a minute portion of silver. It has been repeatedly made, 

 and always with equal success. Various cutting-tools have been 

 made from it of the best quality. This alloy is perhaps only 

 inferior to that o+" steel with rhodium, and it may be procured 

 at a small expense; the value of silver, where the propor- 

 tion is so small, is not worth naming ; it will probably be 

 applied to many important purposes in the arts. An attempt 

 was made to procure the alloy of steel with silver by cementa- 

 tion ; a small piece of steel wrapjied in silver leaf, being 1 to 

 160, was put into a crucible, which being filled up with pounded 

 green glass, was submitted to a heat sufficient to fuse the silver; 

 it was kept at a white heat for three hours. On examining it, 

 the silver was found fused, and adhering to the steel ; no part 

 had combined. The steel had suffered by being so long kept 



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