New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-17

the cast iron il mixed much as possible WI b tAe
metallic o1ides snd the application Of heat only ter
| inmates wba, the preparation has commenced.
Among other advantages which appear TO be de-
rived from this new method, is economy in mate
rial: fer. from numerous experiments made BY the
French Government, the loss is stated to be only
Alto : per cent upon the cast iron submitted to
the atomic treatment, and as the metallic oxides
will part With what they have taken. the loss will
even be less. The theory Of the operation Is OF
easy explanation, based as il Is upon weu-known
chemical facts On surrounding the cast iron with
o1ygenated bodies, and applying heat the grains
part with their carbon. and this element combines
with the oxygen Of the metallic oxides, and IL Id
Grated under the form of carbonc acid and carbonic
oxide. Another very important advantage attrlo'
uted to this invention, is that Mr.. Duchatrus Is
eusbed to regulate his proportion OF oxygen 10 SUCH
manner that, by adding certain quantity OF
forged iron be can produce ten different kinds oil
steel. Ii this is So, il is most essential Polnt'
for. 10 be able to under ske the manufacture OF
steel with certainty as to the quality 70 be pro-
duced. would be Of vast Importance. All persons
familiar with the business know that little depend
ence can. in this respect be placed upon the
usual methods Mr. Duchstrus's manner OF temper
ing is the same as that employed in making English
cast steel II is said that the expense fproducing
1000 kiloQrammes (about = Isl it) will not exceed
s92, whereas to make that quantity OF ordinary
steel costs in France 5000 and of the best quality
$500 These prices would be materially diminished
BY establishing the works in the vicinity OF coal
mines, where supply of fuel could be obtained
cheaply. If the price Of steel could thus be re-
duced il would undoubtedly replace iron in many
cases; great economy would also result from It's
employment in making pieces of artillery where
cast steel would have the immense advantage of
being lighter less costly and more solid than copper.
Experiments are now being made at the arsenal of
Vienna TO determine this point. A Committee ap-
pointed By the French Government to examine the
discovery OF Mr. Duchatrus, report that the cast
steel produced by his methods calculated to replace
iron with great advantage in the manufacture OF pis
tor rods sxle.trees and connecting rods; also that
the process is simple, and can be employed without
great outlay; and lastly, that cast steel of various
degrees of hardness can BE- obtained by modifying
the proportion of tho materials first employed.
lDese UhltIlels Dtlux Cdst Hou' nhu Vshci o""
stances Of no great cost, it follows that the cast
steel produced by this method will cost less than
any other These are some of the advantages set
forth as belonging to this invention; but until it has
been tested thoroughly upon large scale, 1t Is i'm
possible to assert anything concerning it with GER
tanty.
OfMr. Bessemers process We have already pub
lshed several accounts. He acts upon the SUPPOSE
ton that crude iron contains about FIVE per cent OF
carbon and that if this element at white heat be
brought in contact with oxygen, combination
must take place, and combustion b. the result;
and the rapidty of this combustion will be IN
exact proportion to the extent of surface exposed
He takes cylindrical vessel ofthree feet diameter,
and about FIVE feet in hight lined with fire bricks;
FIVE tuy res three-eigh.hs of an inch diameter the
nozzes of which are formed Of well-burncd fire.
clay, are inserted at about two inches from the
bottom, aud so adjusted to admit of their being
removed and replaced in few minutes when worn
cut A hole is made in the vessel, by which the
metal is let in, and one on the opposite side, BY
which il is allowed to escape when finished. The
capacity Of this vessel should be such not to hold
less than one nor more than five tuns of huld iron at
each charge.
A blast cylinder capable of COMPRISING air to
about five pounds or ten pounds to the square inch
is connected with the tuyeres. The converting
vessel requires to BE- heated for the first operation
by making fire inside After this is done and the
fire carefully raked out, no more FIRE will oe
necessary until new brick lining is required 10
| prevent the fluid metal from entering the tuyere
holes the blast should be turned on before it is al
| lowed to run in. After this is done the follow
ing results will take place within the converting
vessel: the fluid metal will boil with great noise,
being sshed agsinst its sides and flame will issue,
accompanied by bright sparks; this will last for
about twenty minutes, during which period an ele-
walton Of temperature has ensued from the c0mb-
nation Of the oxygen of the air with the carbon Of
the iron; the sulphur of the iron also combines with
the oxygen TO form sulpburous acid gas, and is
driven of in this state. The operation il known to
be terminaed by the dininution of fame; the crude
metal having been converted into pure maleable
| iron. free from cinder or other foreign matter
This result is attained with one-thlrd the blast at
present used in filming furnaces. Thus three to Eve
| tuns Of crude ron pass in the space of thirtyfVe
| II iuutes into several piles of malleebe iron.
Among other advantages stated to resul. from thi.
process are, tha. the manufacturer will be enabled
to produce bars which by the ordinary plan he
could not do, as he can employ larger masses; that
| the iron will be OF the quality known as charcoal
iron; and lastly, that various qualities OF metal may
be obtained by stopping the process at certain
points of the operation. In comparing this method