35 
Ordinary Meeting, March 9th, 1858. 
E. W. Binney, F.R.S., &c., in the Chair. 
ft 
A paper was read by W. Fairbairn, F.R.S., &c., Pre- 
sident, on ■ “ Experiments to determine the strength of some 
alloys of Nickel and Iron, similar in composition to Meteoric 
Iron.” 
The object of the experiments in this paper was to ascertain 
whether an infusion of 2 ^ per cent, of nickel, the proportion 
found by analysis in meteoric iron, would increase the tenacity 
of cast iron. Contrary to expectation it was found that cast 
iron when mixed with the precise quantity of nickel, indicated 
by the analysis of meteoric iron, lost considerably in point of 
strength instead of gaining by it. Hopes were entertained 
that increased toughness and ductility would be the result of 
this mixture ; but the experiments which follow clearly show 
that there is a diminution in place of an increase of strength. 
In the first class of experiments recorded in the paper, it 
will be seen that the nickel was prepared from the ore, by 
melting the following proportions in the crucible : — 
30lbs. of roasted ore. 
5lbs. of pure sand. 
2lbs. of charcoal. 
21bs. of lime. 
The mixture was kept six hours in the furnace, and after 
being separated from the slag was cooled and re-melted with 
^ lb. of roasted ore, and ^ lb. of bottle glass ; and from these 
about 25 per cent, of nickel was obtained. Two and a-half 
per cent, of this was fused with Blaenavon No. 3 pig iron, 
Proceedings No. 11. 
