382 



NATURE 



[November .18, 1920 



on a commercial scale, with the aid of an electric 

 crucible furnace, which proved to be the most 

 satisfactory method of melting for investigation 

 purposes. 



The growing importance of aluminium as a com- 

 mercial metal has led to the formation of a com- 

 mittee, on which the association is represented, to 

 deal with the corrosion of aluminium and its alloys, 

 and research will be started shortly. 



The atmospheric corrosion of non-ferrous metals 

 is also receiving attention, the association having 

 recently taken over this research, which was 

 initiated by the Institute of Metals as one of the 

 researches into the general question of corrosion 

 of non-ferrous metals and alloys. The prominence 

 now being given to aluminium alloys for aero- 

 engines and motor-car construction opens up a 

 wide field for research to gain more exact know- 

 ledge on alloys now in use and the introduction of 

 new alloys. Particularly do the problems of ageing 

 and disintegration need further research. The 

 modern requirements of engineering practice call 

 for more extensive information on the non-ferrous 

 industrial alloys which are now produced in such 

 large quantities. Modern research has considerably 

 extended our knowledge of the constitution of the 

 brasses and bronzes, but there is still scope for 

 research into the factors which govern the machin- 

 ing and engineering properties of these alloys. 

 More complete investigation is necessary into the 

 composition of engineering alloys to withstand 

 comparatively high temperatures, and chemical 

 engineers are diligentlv seeking for non-ferrous 

 alloys that will resist the action of acid solutions 

 and vapours. 



In this connection the use of chromium as a con- 

 stituent metal appears to offer a promising field of 

 investigation ; its addition to nickel has produced 

 some valuable industrial alloys, especially for elec- 

 trical and for acid resistance purposes, but re- 

 search in this direction is by no means exhausted. 



The class of white alloys, including bearing 

 metals and type metals, has so far received little 

 attention at the hands of scientific investigators. 

 Little is known respecting the exact consti- 

 tution of the various series of allovs of which 

 bearing and type metals are usually composed. 

 There seems to be little doubt that a thorough in- 

 vestigation of this important class of alloys would 

 result in many compositions now in use being dis- 

 carded. The whole subject of bearing metals 

 requires investigation in the light of modern scien- 

 tific knowledge, as much information, based on 

 practice, is contradictory. 



Rapid advances in steel metallurgy have been 

 made in recent years by the 'introduction of new 

 alloys of remarkable properties, many of which 

 include in their composition non-ferrous metals 

 such as chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, tita- 

 nium, tungsten, etc., which only a few years ago 

 were regarded as rare metals. The success which 

 has attended the use of these rarer metals in steel 

 should stimulate investigation with a view to their 



NO. 2664, VOL. 106] 



wider use in the non-ferrous industry. At present 

 practically nothing is known of the influence of 

 these metals on the industrial non-ferrous alloys, 

 with the exception, perhaps, of a few special 

 alloys known as high-tenacity bras.ses and bronzes, 

 which are very varied in composition and complex 

 in character. 



Research is also necessary in connection with 

 the industrial alloys of the precious metals. Little 

 work has yet been done on the mechanical pro- 

 perties of the various gold alloys of g-carat 

 standard, which constitute 50 per cent, of the 

 jewelry manufactured at the present time. 

 Further work is also required in connection with 

 standard silver, especially on the exact cause and 

 prevention of so-called fire-marks. Alloys to act 

 as satisfactory substitutes for platinum are also 

 required. 



Such, in brief, are some of the problems that 

 confront the non-ferrous metal industry, and 

 will doubtless claim the early attention of its par- 

 ticular r.esearch association. 



Research in connection with metal extraction 

 processes will not, however, be neglected. The 

 association is taking over the work of the Copper 

 and Zinc Inquiry Committee which was especially 

 appointed by the Research Department to review 

 the field of research in relation to the production 

 of these two important industrial metals. Other 

 committees will doubtless be formed to deal with 

 research in relation to the extraction processes of 

 other non-ferrous metals of industrial importance. 



The council of the association fully realises that 

 the value of research work is often lost to the 

 manufacturers because of its want of application ; 

 in the conduct of its research, therefore, every 

 effort will be made to carry on the work in such 

 a way as to enable the full value of its research 

 investigations to be infused into works practice. 



Another important matter which is claiming the 

 attention of the association is the standardisation 

 of non-ferrous alloys, a question which has 

 been brought into some considerable prominence 

 as the result of war conditions, and presents 

 great possibilities of considerable import to the 

 industry. 



For the present the research work of the asso- 

 ciation will be carried out in the metallurgical 

 laboratories of existing institutions and in the tem- 

 porary laboratory of the association established at 

 Birmingham. It is hoped, however, that when 

 funds become available, permanent premises will 

 be equipped for experimental work and research, 

 and for the bureau and administrative purposes. 



Each research decided upon by the council will 

 probably be placed in charge of an expert in the 

 particular subject chosen for investigation, whilst 

 the general supervision of all the researches will be 

 undertaken by the technical officer of the associa- 

 tion, as required by the articles. This course 

 appears to be the most satisfactory in view of the 

 diversity of non-ferrous processes, metals, and 

 alloys that require investigation. 



