The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-09-12
Aluminium
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Aluminium. the metal Of the future, u
which 10 much ha- been said in the pas,
few days, was discovered By Prof. WonIer
IA l.2s, according 70 the st. Louis Globe.
While seeking 10 settle 10 his own mind
the questions as TO what were the com
ponent parts Of common clays, and while
fusing mass Of yellow mud at white
heat under the blow pipe, he accidently
obtained single minute globule or bead
OF what WAS 20 him, and the rest Of the
scientific world al that time, new metal.
Subsequently, by various chemical tests,
he proved the drop to be the precious
aluminium. He surely did not consider
his discovery Of grave importance, other
wise he would have given 1t more atlen-
zion than he did a. II WAS, 1t appears
that he did not experiment with the au-
miuum idea in view again for something
IKE eighteen years. In lsGl be rcdi--
covered 1t in mixture Of chloride Of
aluminium and common salt. This time
the metal was obtained in quantities suf-
ilclent for more extensive examinations.
IL was found to be Il white metal, be-
tween the color Of zinc and silver, but
with more blush tinge than that
found in The last named metal.
Its specific gravity is from % 10 2 e..
according To purity, that of the average
grade being about ~ times heavi Ter
than water. It is four times as light a.
silver; in other words. a coin the size
of silver dollar, made of aluminium.
would weigh about the same As 2O-cent
piece in silver. II has great rigidity and
tenacIty, is nearly as Lard as iron, but
can be wrought into wire as fine as
spiders web after being thoroughly an
nealed.
BY being subjected to the goldbeaters
art, "A piece of aluminium the size Of a
dime may be beaten into q sheet several
feet square, so great is its tenscty. On
ly two metals known can be rolled into a
sheet rs thin as it can, and they are gold
and silver. When it does at last come
INTO general use, and the advent of that
era Will not be retarded much by the man
whose death furnishes the text for this
article, IL will be used for everything
ana put to every purpose to which iron,
steel aud wood are now put Its alapta-
bility to shpbulding is very apparent.
Great steamships, the size OF. the arg-
est Cunardc, with the same tonnage and
tine same number Of exposed linear feet,
If constructed of aluminium from keel To
the top of the ma~ts, Instead Of drawing
from eighteen to twenty-s feet, would
not draw more than four or five. In the
days OF the future aluminitees deep water
conventions will he useless assemblages
1t holds polish the best of any metal
known, there being but few elements
that will cause it to tarnish or turn black
Rust, too, is quality unknown to this
wonderful white metal Boiling water
sill not affect its lustre, which is Retain
ed for an indefinite period in any atm
phere. 1t will Withstand far greater
number of acids than gold or silver will.
Strong nitric acid ravenously attacks
silver, but has no effect whatever upon
aluminium. Gold or platinum will be ruin
ed if plunged into hath of sulphuret of
potassium or melted nitre; aluminium
comes out of bright and shiny, as if from
a bath of pure cold water.-AHany
Irgus