1823.] the Alloys of Steel. 201 



mens of meteoric iron by fusing together pure iron and nickel, in 

 proportions of 3 to 10 per cent, we attempted making an alloy of 

 steel with silver, but failed, owing to a superabundance of the 

 latter metal ; it was found, after very many trials, that only the 

 l-500th part of silver would combine with steel, and when more 

 was used, a part of the silver was found in the form of metallic 

 dew lining the top and sides of the crucible ; the fused button 

 itself was a mere mechanical mixture of the two metals, globules 

 of silver being pressed out of the mass by contraction in cooling, 

 and more of these globules being forced out by the hammer in 

 forging; and further, when the forged piece was examined, by 

 dissecting it with diluted sulphuric acid, threads or fibres of 

 silver were seen mixed with the steel, having something of the 

 appearance of steel and platina when united by welding ; but 

 when the proportion of silver was only l-500th part, neither dew, 

 globules, nor fibres, appeared, the metals being in a state of 

 perfect chemical combination, and the silver could only be 

 detected by a delicate chemical test. 



With platina and rhodium, steel combines in every proportion ; 

 and this appears also to be the case with iridium and osmium : 

 from 1 to 80 per cent, of platina was perfectly combined with 

 steel, in buttons of from 500 to 2000 grains. With rhodium, 

 from 1 to 50 per cent, was successfully used. Equal parts by 

 weight of steel and rhodium gave a button, which, when polished, 

 exhibited a surface of the most exquisite beauty: the colour of 

 this specimen is the finest imaginable for a metallic mirror, nor 

 does it tarnish by long exposure to the atmosphere : the specific 

 gravity of this beautiful compound is 9*176. The same propor- 

 tion of steel and platina gave a good button, but a surface highly 

 crystalline renders it altogether unfit for a mirror. In the labo- 

 ratory, we ascertained that, with the exception of silver, the best 

 proportion of the alloying metal, when the object in view was 

 the improvement of edge tools, was about l-100th part, and in 

 this proportion they have been used in the large way. It may 

 be right to notice, that in fusing the metals in the laboratory no 

 flux whatever was used, nor did the use of any ever appear to be 

 required. 



Silver being comparatively of little value with some of the alloy- 

 ing metals, we were disposed to make trial with it as the firstexpe- 

 riment in the large way: 8 lbs. of very good Indian steel was sent to 

 our agent, and with it l-500th part of pure silver : a part of this was 

 lost owing to a defect in the mould ; a sufficient quantity was, 

 however, saved, to satisfy us as to the success of the experiment. 

 This, when returned, had the most favourable appearance both 

 as to surface and fracture ; it was harder than the best cast steel, 

 or even than the Indian wootz, with no disposition whatever to 

 crack, either under the hammer, or in hardening. Some articles 

 for various uses have been made from this alloy ; they prove to 

 be of a very superior quality ; its application will probably be 



