New-York tribune., 1891-05-25
A DEFENCE OF ALUMINIUM.
NOT AFFECTED BY SALT AIR OR SALT WATER
ITS VARIED USES ENUMERATED.


ITS VARIED USES ENUMERATED.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue OF May o, under the caption
aContempt for Aluminium pessimistlc wiseacre,
writing over the initials &C. NJ claiming to be
chemist Of extensive practice" attempts to enlghten
the public regarding the properties uses ana present
status Of aluminium, in series OF dogmauc STATE
ments which erroneous and misleading as they
are devoid Of scientific knowledge. That there have
been errors promises and prophecies regarding the
Immediate cheap production of aluminium promulgated
In the public press is doubt true but none that has
fallen under my observation is more wide OF the TRUTH
as TO the literature chemical and metallurgcal prop
erties and uses OF aluminium than the article above
referred to. While aluminium is one Of the most
abundant elements found In the earths crust, even
more so than iron, yet its true function in the arts
and mechanics will not be to displsce iron for heavy
machinery but rather to take rank as royal metal
along with gold, silver, platinum and iridium.
Aluminium like other elemental metals, such as gold,
silver and iron, will not find Its chief use as pure
and unalloyed element but rather an alloy In COM
bination with other metals. Gold and silver when
pure are too soft and too subject to atrton as well
as devoid of other necessary properties, that require
them to be aloyed for In the arts as we'll as for
wear In coin. Iron, at present the most useful TO
man Of all metals is entirely worthless pure and
simple element, finding no place In nature or applied
mechanics In its pure and unalloyed FORM and IL Is
known only curiosity In the chemical laboratory.
II is only when alloyed with carbon, silicon or
aluminium .hat iron becomes Of such universal use to
man, by taking such properties according to combina-
ton and manipulation that enable us to employ IL,
at a small cost OF few cents per pound as the
foundation on which the iron locomotive pursues lts
swift course across continents dragging In its long
train vast of life and property while In other
forms and combinations, as with aluminium, In the
Damascus blade, its value represents many dollars
,lonf, ,ro1f nfnA An accfeuu a
hair springs of the watch, many hundred dollars per
pound.
So ii is with aluminium to-day, now that we have
learned as the result of longcontinued research OF
inventive chemists and metalurgists, some OF lts
hitherto hidden secrets, and cast weld and sooer
IL perfectly &C. NJ" to the contrary Notwithstanding
giving IT according TO Its quality and combination
commercial value in the fine arts, mechanics ana pro
fessions ranging from rs cents TO $50 pound
II 10 be inferred from &C. MS" article that were
his acquaintance with the chemical and physical prop
critics OF aluminium with the current literature OF
the subject, comparable with his familiarity WIN
Jules Verne's writings, he would not have maze uie
erroneous and dsparagng statement that ALUMINIUM
rusts in the air." and furnishes readily in salt ar,
that salt water acts upon IL far more tan IL ooes
ON iron and a ship built of aluminium would be fuli
of holes after one trip around the GLOBE The we'll
known chemical and physical properties OF aluminium,
az proven and fully atesed BY such recognized author
ties as Wohler Deville and Tssier, who have stood
unchallenged for forty years or more. and whom We
shall now briefly quote-to say nothing OF the more
recent research and the introduction OF this wonderful
metal in the applied arts and professions which con-
firm and establish by daily and long-contnued DEM
onstraton all the claims OF the authorities quoted
heren-that aluminium, by virtue OF It's lightness.
strength conductvity, tenacity, maleablty, ductity
and nonoxidzabiity, at ordinary temperature in the
atmosphere has a rank and standing with wonderfully
Increased possibilities in the hands OF man 10 iurcr
his interests In the arts and sciences Relating 10
the action OF air. NJ. Deville says Air wet or dry
has absolutely no action on aluminium. have known
OF beams OF balances, weights, plaques, polished
leaf reaectors etc. OF the metal exposed for months
to moist air and sulphur vapors and showing no trace
of alteration 1t resisted oxidation in the air at the
highest heat could produce in Cupel fnrnance, a
heat much higher than that required TO melt gold
~ wohler has also observed this property on trying
TO melt the metal aluminium with a blow-pipe NJ
Peligot has prohted by 1t to Cupel aluminium Re-
lating TO the action OF common salt Sodium chloride)
Richards says in substance, that sodium chloride Is
used as fux for aluminium without any apparent
corrodng effect upon the metal. But instead Of
deterorating when pure it has wthstood the closest
scrunity and observation, while in actual wear in the
months of many OF the most eminent in both the
medical and dental professions alike faithful con-
servators o, the pablo health OF this and other cities
have exposed pure aluminium and It's alloys. which
I have made, for long periods to salt air and salt
water without any sign OF taTnish oxidation OF
surface II is because Of the purity and resistance to
change of aluminium that the medical profession com
mend It's use 10 the dentists instead OF rubber mat Is
ben9 worn in the mouth with such frequent Injurious
and sometimes fatal effect; well do they commend
aluminium, and IL is now being used here In New.
York for cooking utensils instead Of iron, copper and
brass having the advantage of taking heat rapidly
and retaining II longer than any other metal, at the
same time being pure clean and healthy, entirely
free from the poisoning effect Of copper and brass
when oxldzed. they 80 readily are. to the annoy
ance Of the good housewife and jeopardy OF life from
verdgris poison.
Aluminium, when pure. and especially in Its alloys,
has great tensile strength. some that have n my
C.u,,s I'm o., cro C. Flint Co.'S. 10i West 14th-st..
will enae Won t ace elegant furniture endless designs