1820.] On the Alloys of Steel. 65 



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 quan- 

 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 experi- 

 ment 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 very 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 of steel with rhodium, and it may be procured 

 at a small expense ; the value of silver, where the proportion 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 cementation : a small 

 piece of steel wrapped 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 com- 

 bined. The steel had suffered by being kept so long at a high 

 temperature. Although this experiment failed in effecting the 

 alloy of steel with silver, there is reason to believe that with 

 some other metals alloys may be obtained by this process ; the 

 following circumstance favours this suggestion. Wires of pla- 

 tinum and steel, of about equal diameter, were packed together, 

 and, by an expert workman, were perfectly united by welding. 

 This was effected with the same facility as could have been 

 done with steel and iron. On being forged, the surface po- 

 lished, and the steel slightly acted on by an acid, a very novel 



