New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-19

the workmen moved the vessel 20 as 70 pour out the
fluid malleable iron or steel into founders ladle
which attached to the arm Of hydraulic crane"
To every one conversant with the composition and
eites Of Steel these remarks cannot be regarded
otl erwise than simply absurd. Cast iron contains
from three and half to five per cent Of carbon-stee
from one ard half to two per cent II is Of the
most difficult chemical problems to determine what tho
proportion is in any iron. This statement assumes that
the exact quantity is known in the charge, and from
this the exact amount Of air required TO consume 1t is
determined. IL then assumes that all the oxygen IN
tie air introduced is applied to the combustion OF the
carbon, making account Of that which combines
with portions of the combination which to some
extent the author has already admitted takes place;
and also that none of the oxygen escapes un-
combined with carbon, which is very likely TO occur,
or it may combine in the form of carbonc oxide as well
az carbonic acid These uncertainties fatal to any
attempts at exact dosing of the quantity OF oxygen to
be admitted for the consumption Of given portions OF
carbon even if these could be given with accuracy,
when the effect is to be nicely adjusted to leaving un-
consumed in the mass Of metal an amount Of carbon
not varying onequarter one-half per cent from the
proportion required; for greater variation than this
would render it uncertain, when the founder poured
out the metal whether he had obtained maleable iron
or steel.
The oxidation of the iron is passed a matter
of very little consequence in this process though made
of 20 much account in the pudding Its affirmed that
the oxide of iron produced is small in quantity and
combines with the silica in the iron forming fnsi
Die sag, which is separated the liquid product is
drawn off. This assumes a nice adjustment of the
amount of oxide of iron Just sufficient for the silica
e. .. .x~ll, 30
not apparent how this is to be got rid Of why it
should not prove equally detrimental with that pro-
dueed in the pudding process. Metaurgists are gen.
orally convinced there is large production OF oxide OF
iron in this operation. The vivid combustion which
goes on, exhibiting the peculiar brilancy Of burning
iron, is evidence of it, and so il the intense heat
evolved, which is far greater than that which the
amount Of carbon present be considered capable OF
producing. According to the representations OF those
interested the combustion of three four pounds of
carbon should not merely keep in fusion, but throw
into most violent boiling action, about 100 pounds OF
meal-an effect which can hardly be regarded within
the calorifc power of the combustJe, however favor
able the circumstances under which the combustion
takes place. loss of 2l percent Of metal in the fur
mace increased lS per in the finishing rolls, is
admitted in one Of the original papers of Mr. Bessemer
in which be claims that by the pudding process the
oss is 90 per cent Beside the loss by oxidation, what
ever this may be- the effect of the intense heat upont the
iron is described by othersas detrimental to the tenacy
of the metal. The paper, however, read before the
Institution of Civil Engineers claims for the product
greater tenaciy than that of iron obtained by other
methods.
The given of the durability of the vessels
lined with road drift, in which the operation is con-
Quoted must be received with much increduity by
meallurgists II is difficult to believe that any vessel
subjected 10 the intense heat Of melted iron almost or
entirely decarbonzed and boiling with violence, can be
made to last through thirty forty charges, and then
be easily repaired OF renewed. In the production OF
cast steel by melting with carbonaceous fiux pieces
Of maeable iron, a process Of manufacture recently
established in this country, an account of which we
propose 10 give in succeeding article, it is the great
eos of the crucbles the best blue graphite pots,
which is serious obstacle in the of the opera
ton; and such we should expect would be the case
with the vessels employed in the Bessemer process.
The next paper upon this subject will contain de-
scrption of new method of obtaining steel from pig
iron, recently invented in this city which promises TO
accomplish by very economical and simple process,
publication Of the iron from sulphur and phosphorus
well the separation of any exact amount of ear
bon required, without application of excessive heat
not even sufficient TO melt the pig IRON