The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-13

plex and expensive experiments only three
succeeded Violent explosions were ire
ouent: furnaces were blown 10 pieces
steel tubes burst, scattering their frag
lmcnts around. On other occasions TUBES
which bad been carefully prepared, filed,
welded, and nestcd 10 a revcrberstory FUR
mace for many hours, were found TO have
leaked and spoiled the experiment. The
continued strain on the nerves." writes Mr.
Hannay. watching the temperature oil the
furnace, and In a state Of tension IN case oil
an explosion. induces nervous state which
lis extremely weakening, and when the ex'
ploson occurs II sometimes shakes one 50
severely that sickness supefycnes."
The demonstrating experiments were
started IN September, 1879, when Mr.. Han
may made many attempts 10 HID solvent
for The akali metal. sodium, potassium,
and lithium. But In no instance could
such solvent be found, which did not, in
the gaseous STATE, and under pressure.
unite with the alkaIi. Even In The case oil
hy drocarbons, such ~ psraffine spirit con-
tanning only hydrogen and carbon, The al
kali combined with the hydrogen setting
free the carbon. Now, as we know, dia-
moud is pure carbon; hence, when this
element was set free from pure substance,
and temperature might eliminate ii in the
hard, Crystalline. adamantne form-ylz,
as diamond. Glass tubes were first en-
ployed, but although Of great thickness in
comparison with their bore, they were
found to be insufficiently strong, and they
were replaced by wrought.iron tubes 20
inches long by inch diameter, and having
the diameter Of the bore half an inch.
In these lithium was heated for many
hours 10 q high temperature in pa
raftine spirit. and on subsequently open
ing the tube carbon in hard form
was found within it. Great difficulty
was experienced in getting the tubes per-
/ iectly air-iight, and eventually the open
end was welded at white beat, and by
that means alone did it resist leakage. Some
times tubes would burst with an explosion
like a gun. A tube 20 inches long by y
diameter and half an inch bore, was filled
with bydrccarbon made from bone-Oil. 10
which some charcoaIp0wder was added in
OF der to keep an excess Of carbon in the
tube. Its open end was welded. ard 1t was
heated for fourteen hours with llthlum.
On opening it a quantity OF gas appeared,
and some minute pieces OF hard carbon
which had evidently separated out from So
luton. Another similar tube burst at the
eud OF eight hours heating. A tube OF cast
iron, no less than 81 inches diameter, and
with a bore Of only three. quarters OF an
inch, exploded at the end OF an hour with
fearful report, wrecking the furnace.
Several tubes OF steel also burst I'M
der the enormous pressure, at last shat
rerng the top OF the furnace. The author
remarks that in nature the temperature
must at one time have been much higher
than anything we can now produce artih-
ciaIy, while the pressure Obtained at depth
of 200 miles below the earth's surface is
greater than that which any OF the materials
from which we can form vessels can resist.
We come now to the great experiment
which resulted in the artificial production
OF veriIable diamonds. A tube 30 inches
long by inches diameter, OF cOiled Low
moor iron, was bored so rs to have an in
ternal diameter Of>half an inch. Thus the
central bore was surrounded by walls OF
iron II inches thick, and, Of course, capa-
bic OF resisting an enormous pressure.
In the tube was placed mixture OF 80
per cent. OF bone-oll and 10 per cent.
OF paratline spirit, together with 4
grammes about g. grains) of the metal
Ithum. The open end OF the tube was
welded air-tight. and the whole was then
heated 10 redness for fourteen hours, and
allowed 10 cool slowly. On opening it a
great volume OF Gas rushed from the tube,
and within YVES found bard, smooth mass
adherino to the sides OF the tube. cit was
quite black, and was removed with cbisel,
and as it appeared to be composed princs
paly Of iron and lituium it was laid aside
for analysis. | was pulyerizngi il in NOR
tar when felt that some parts Of the ma
terial wee extremely hard-nOt resisting a
blow, but hard otherwise. On looking
closer saw that these were most tranSpa-
rent pieces imbedded in the hard matrlX,
and on uiturating them | Obtained some
free from the black matter. They turned
ont to te crystalline carbon, exactly Ike
Such is Mr.. Hannay's account
OF his discovery. Subsequent chemical and
optical analysis has proved that these hard,
shining crystals are In every respect true
The cost is obviously great; so,
$50. is the danger to life and property; and |
the great difficulties to be overcome render |
disappOiutmen,s common. What we now
want is 10 get vessels OF material Suth- |
GENTLY strong and non-p0rouS to resist the
high pressures and temperatures upon
which the success OF the experiment de- |
pends. What we have learned, among other |
things. from the brilliant researches OF MN. !
Cailelet and Pictet, which led to the lique-
faction of the sO-caIled permanent gases,
and from Mr. Hannav's experiments, de-
scribtd above, Is that we must push the |
forces OF nature TO their utmost strain by |
using our most powerful mechanical de-
vices for producing pressure, our strongest |
mater ials for resisting ii, and our intensest |
means CT producing both heat and cold.