330 Janoyer on the hifluence of Sulphur on Iron. 



tention to all of the external conditions ■vvliicli may influence 

 the results. This I propose to undertake during the next twelve 

 months. In the mean time it is hoped that these preliminary 

 researches may prepare the Avay for a clearer appreciation of the 

 difficulties which are to be encountered- Perhaps, however, in 

 the present stage., we may be warranted in deducing two conclu- 

 sions : 1st, that solar light does not seem to exercise any sensible 

 influence on the process of combustion ; and 2dly, that variations 

 in the density of the air do exert a striking effect in retarding or 

 -accelerating the rapidity of the process, the rate of burning aug- 

 menting with every increment of density and vice versa; but the 

 exact ratio between them remains to be determined, 



Columbia, S, C, June, 1857. 



Abt. XXIY. — Researches upon the Influence of Sulphur upon Iron 

 and that of Phosphorus in partially neutralizing the action of the 

 Sulphur ; by M. Jaxoyee. 



(Translated from tlie Ann. des Mines, 6th vol., for 1854, p. 149, for the Arner. Jour. 



of Science and Arts, by W, J. Tayloe.) 



The deleterious influence of sulphur upon the qualities of the 

 various kinds of iron is a fact known to all persons engaged in 

 metallurgy. Indeed, it is well understood that there is a very 

 great difference between the irons manufactured with charcoal 

 and those with mineral coal. These last are nearly all more or 

 less "hot-short," although made from the purest ores. This bad 

 quality of the iron is to be attributed generally to the presence 

 of the sulphur in the mineral coal. Traces of sulphur that can 

 scarcely be detected by analysis, are sufficient to. render the iron 

 "hot-short." Such irons, treated in the cold, are soft and tena- 

 cious ; they are generally wanting in lustre in the fracture, and 

 are welded with great difficulty; on the contrary, they are very 

 brittle when hot, especially at a cherry -red heat, from which fact 

 thev have received the name of "fers de couleur." 



According to Karstcn (Manuel de Metallurgie), 003375 per 

 cent of sulphur is sufficient to destroy the property of welding 

 m the iron and to render it completely " hot-short." The latest 

 analyses of the hot-short irons afford only one part of sulphur m 



' 1A AAA -^^-x- A • •/ i. 



10 



iron. 



The experiments made on this subject by this able metallurgist 

 were carried out with great, care. I will mention one operation 

 on a great scale, which sustains his statement, that the process 

 by which the iron receives the sulphur and which therefore_ is 

 especially to be avoided, is the fusion of the ore in contact witU 

 the combustible mineral in the high furnace. 



