50 MODERN SCIENCE OF METALS 



Metallurgy is, further, of particular interest 

 from the present point of view because, while in 

 itself one of the oldest if not the oldest of the 

 technical arts, the science associated with it is of 

 extremely modern growth. The older metallurgical 

 inventions, among which in this age of rapid 

 technological development those of Bessemer, 

 Siemens and Thomas-Gilchrist can already be 

 reckoned, are based upon the fundamental principles 

 of Chemistry and Physics. The working of the 

 Bessemer Converter involves a chemical pheno- 

 menon, viz. the combustion of the carbon contained 

 in molten iron by means of air which is blown 

 through the molten mass. The Siemens regenera- 

 tive furnace, again, is a brilliant application of the 

 laws of heat discovered by investigators in pure 

 Physics. The science upon which these things are 

 based, however, is general Chemistry and Physics 

 rather than a specific science of "Metals." The 

 older "Metallurgy" was, so far as its purely 

 scientific aspect was concerned, simply the direct 

 application of the known laws of Chemistry and 

 Physics to the processes employed in the production 

 of metals from their ores. During the past fifty 

 years, however, and principally during the past 

 thirty years, a New Metallurgy has grown up 

 with amazing rapidity. This new science has 

 sprung from purely scientific investigations and 

 has been largely pursued for its own sake, and for 

 the sake of general conclusions which should 



