1820.] On the Alloys of Steel. 63 



We attempted to make imitations of the meteoric irons with 

 perfect success. To some good iron (horseshoe nails) were 

 added 3 per cent, of pure nickel; these were enclosed in 

 a crucible and exposed to a high temperature in the air- 

 furnace for some hours. The metals were fused, and on 

 examining the button, the nickel was found in combination 

 with the iron. The alloy was taken to the forge, and proved 

 under the hammer to be quite as malleable and pleasant to 

 work as pure iron; the colour, when polished, rather whiter. 

 This specimen, together with a small bar of meteoric iron, 

 have been exposed to a moist atmosphere ; they are both a 

 little rusted. In this case it was omitted to expose a piece of 

 pure iron with them ; it is probable that> under these circum- 

 stances, the pure iron would have been more acted upon. 



The same success attended in making the alloy to imitate 

 the Siberian meteoric iron agreeably to Mr. Children's analysis. 

 We fused some of the same good iron with 10 per cent, nickel ; 

 the metals were found perfectly combined, but less malleable, 

 being disposed to crack under the hammer. The colour when 

 polished had a yellow tinge. A piece of this alloy has been 

 exposed to moist air for a considerable time, together with a 

 piece of pure iron ; they are both a little rusted, not, however, 

 to the same extent; that with the nickel being but slightly 

 acted upon, comparatively to the action on the pure iron : 

 it thus appears that nickel, when combined with iron, has some 

 effect in preventing oxidation, though certainly not to the ex- 

 tent that has at times been attributed to it. It is a curious 

 fact, that the same quantity of the nickel alloyed with steel, 

 instead of preventing its rusting, appeared to accelerate it very 

 rapidly. 



Platinum and rhodium have, in the course of these experi- 

 ments, been alloyed with iron, but these compounds do not 

 appear to possess any very interesting properties. With gold 

 we have not made the experiment. The alloys of other metals 

 with iron, as far as our experience goes, do not promise much 

 usefulness. The results are very different when steel is used ; 

 it is only, however, of a few of its compounds that we are pre- 

 pared to give any account. 



Together with some others of the metals, the following have 

 been alloyed with both English and Indian steel, and in various 



