SEPTEMBER 20, 1918] 
Such increase in equipment as was made in 
the Metallurgy Department arose chiefly in 
connection with the extension of foundry fa- 
cilities urgently needed for the work on light 
alloys and on optical glass. The investigation 
on aluminium and other light alloys was ener- 
getically pursued and was devoted to the im- 
mediate requirements of aircraft construction. 
A considerable amount of theoretical investi- 
gation was also carried on, leading to the 
establishment of a number of constitutional 
models of ternary alloys of aluminium with 
other metals. A number of important prac- 
tical questions were thus cleared up, among 
them being the explanation of the various 
forms in which silicon is found analytically in 
aluminium alloys and the bearing of these re- 
sults on the properties of the materials. 
Other researches had for their object the 
elucidation of apparently anomalous behavior 
in various groups of aluminium alloys. The 
nature and constitution of the more important 
ternary alloys and the influence of impurities 
on them were investigated, with the result 
_ that these relationships are now much better 
understood. 
A large amount of research and investi- 
gatory test work was carried out on steel. 
Some of the results obtained seem to be of 
wide importance in regard to the treatment 
to which particularly thick boiler plates can 
be safely subjected. Research on magnetic 
steels was actively continued. Investigation 
was begun of a set of specially made tungsten 
steels of graded composition, received from 
Messrs. Thomas Firth and Sons, but it was 
found necessary to adopt better methods of 
magnetic measurement than were used in the 
earlier stages of the work, and special arrange- 
ments were also made for carrying out thermal 
observations of these steels in a more satis- 
factory manner. A number of discrepancies 
were revealed, believed to arise from the in- 
fluence which antecedent thermal and mechan- 
ical treatment of the steel exercises on its sub- 
squent magnetic behavior. To clear up these 
questions, which are of vital importance in 
the production of satisfactory magnets, and 
which involve questions affecting steels other 
SCIENCE 
287 
than the particular tungsten alloys under in- 
vestigation, a special research was initiated 
for the study of the constitutional relations of 
iron-carbon-tungsten within the range of al- 
loys concerned. 
The work in connection with the proposed 
issue of standardized steel samples to serve as 
standards for the chemical analysis of steels 
was carried forward in conjunction with a 
committee of the Iron and Steel Institute, 
but was hampered by existing conditions. It 
is hoped however, that the issue of standard- 
ized samples may become possible shortly. 
As regards optical glass a large amount of 
work was done in preparing pots or crucibles 
of special refractory materials that do not 
lend themselves to treatment by ordinary 
methods. Methods of melting and stirring 
glass were further investigated by means of 
experimental meltings, some of which gave 
results of great promise. 
The testing of ship models for firms in the 
experimental tank was affected in two ways. 
First, the building of fast and intermediate 
liners being in temporary abeyance, there was 
no demand for model work with those types of 
vessel. Second, the introduction of standard 
vessels must result in the suppression of indi- 
viduality in the forms adopted by different 
builders, and the model results for one firm 
will apply to all vessels of the type, no matter 
where built. It is therefore the more impor- 
tant that steps should be taken to ensure that 
whatever forms are adopted as standard shall 
be good ones. Private firms have recognized 
this, and about half the vessels tested for firms 
during the year were in connection with stan- 
dardization. The best result obtained was a 
reduction of 13 per cent. in resistance without 
any variation of displacement or dimensions, 
or diminution of working qualities such as 
stability. Apart from tests for private firms 
a number of models of standard cargo vessels 
were made and tested for the Admiralty and 
others. There were a number of tests with 
straight line forms of fabricated ships, and 
the satisfactory results obtained must lead to 
an extension of the use of this type if it is 
found to be constructionally acceptable. 
