Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-12
THE MODERN METAL.
An Expert Expects to See Aluminium
Freely Used in Place of Tin.
HE SAYS IT Is REALLY CHEAPER,
And as 1t Doesn't 0xidize, It Is Bound to
Be Great Favorite.
A SUPERB COATING FOR BLACK PLATES

gists than aluminium. Within very shor
time it has become so popular, principally
for purposes of ornament and tableware
that the demand for it far exceeds the ca
pacitv of the establishments making it. Of
these there are but two in this country, the
Pittsburg Reduction Company and the
Cowles Electric Smelling and Aluminium
Company, with total capacity, when IN
full operation, of 1000 pounds day.
One reason for the increasing employ
ment of aluminium for the purposes men,
toned is that short while ago aluminium
was permanently classified and placed in
the same rank as copper, zinc and tin. 1t
is only within the last two years that alum
inum began to attract attention outside OF
the laboratory, and when it was at length
put upon the market strong effort was
made to place it in the small class, with
gold and silver and precious metals. At
this time its selling price was 81 30 pound.
Latterly, however, the companies making
it have recognized that it cannot be held in
this class and have agreed to place it in the
category where it really belongs Hence it
is selling at so cents pound, and the de-
mand for it at that figure is altogether IN
excess of the production.
MAY TAKE THE PLACE OF TIN.
1t is now asserted, however, by Alfred
H. Bucherer, an expert metallurgist resid-
ing in this city, that aluminium will have
more general and extended use than hereto
fore had been supposed. He says that from
recent experiments it has been demonstrated
that aluminium can be used for coating steel
wire and small articles, and that he sees no
reason why it should not be used for coating
black plates in lieu of tin and lead, especl-
allv as, he SAYS, the material can be pro-
duced at lower cost than tin.
ssNow that aluminium has been brought
down to its proper level" said Mr.. Bucher-
er, Yesterday, sit is difficult to find where
its uses will terminate. 1t is properly
classed with copper, zinc and tin, and L
shall not be surprised if it displaces some
of these for many purposes. In liking the
value of aluminium relative
with copper, zinc and tin its little weight
with the bulk must be considered.
Aluminium is 81 times lighter than "copper"
therefore its price should be 81 times less
Aluminium can be sold at 80 cents a pound
and 1 expect to see it at that price in the
near ftlture-so that, bulk for bulk, its
price, as compared with copper, should be
as 81 is to IA.
''Tin costs about 90 cents pound, and
aluminium, at its present price, taking
into consideration the difference in the
specific gravity of the two metals, should
only cost a little over Is cents pound.
Thus aluminium, if used for coating iron and
steel, is a cheaper material than tim"
'sBut can aluminium be used for coating
black plates, as tin is now?"
NEW USE FOR ALUMINIUM.
'T have no doubt it can. Experiments
lately made demonstrate that wire and
small objects of iron and steel can be coated,
and although no effort has so far been made
to coat sheets, can see no reason why it
should not be accomplished. The result of
this attainment will be widely felt, and
by reason of its superior prop
critics, must displace other metals used for
coating. Aluminium does not oxidize, as
other metals thus used do; it is light, its
specific gravity being &c; it has tensile
strength of 81, 900 pounds to the square inch,
and it will not volatilize at blast furnace
1t is not so soft as tin, and
It can be hardened by various means-for
Instance, by adding small percentage of
silicon.
''Titanium added in small quantities i'm
parts to aluminium great elasticity; in fact,
itanium is to aluminium what carbon is to
ron, and adds very much to its value.
Aluminium is also extremely malleable, and
an be hammered, rolled and drawn into a
wire L of millimeter. 1t can be rolled into
heets nearly as fine as gold leaf. But its
,hief value for coating purposes consists in
hat it will not oxidize, and in its high
Melting point, as compared with tin, since
t is impervious to heat that will melt tin.
aluminium is also good conductor of
electricity, and lightning rods coated with
t would be better and cheaper than those
# copper, aluminium at % cents pound
,eing as cheap as copper. In short, alumni
lum is in every way more desirable metal
or roofing and coating purposes than those
low used, being harder, stronger, less por-
,us, lighter and non-corrosive."
WHY THE METAL IS so RARE.
''But, Mr.. Bucherer," interposed the re-
,orter, eff aluminium has all these good
qualities, why is it not in more general use;
ghy is it not being manufactured more ex-
ensively?"
"Ah, that cannot say, excepting that it
S only now that people are really becoming
cquainted with Its properties and uses. /
lave the greatest faith in its future and be- |
ieve that it is the coming metal. There is
10 doubt it can be manufactured at a cost |
which will place it on a par with the other |
common metals. Captain Hunt, of the |
Reduction Company, mentioned |
ONE time ago that aluminium would be |
made in the future at 20 cents pound. 1t |
ow costs about 25 cents, and believe it |
an be made for less The only expense in |
making aluminium is the ore and the cleo |
rical energy required, and the cost Of both |
S constantly being reduced
"Will you state how aluminium is made |
nd how the ore is obtained?''
aluminium is reduced by an electrolith-
C process. The ore is introduced into
vessels containing cryolite in
usion. A current of electricity is passed |
trough this mass. and by its action the
letal is reduced and gathers at the bottom.
he ore, which is called alumina, is pre-
ared from mineral called beauxite The
ulk of the ore is made in Germany and
hipped here ready to be reduced, but lately
concern at Syracuse, n. Y, has commenced
D make an excellent ore from American
eauxite. There are fine deposits of this
lineral in Arkansas. Georgia and North
nd South Carolina, and l am looking to
be time when the manufacture of alumina
,om American beauxite will become an
nportant industry.
WHAT ALUMINA LOOKS LIKE.
''Beauxite, may mention, is mineral
of alumina impurifed by iron
nd silica The treatment rids the mineral
these impurities, and you have pure alu-
ina, which is like nothing SO much as pull
erized lime.
"Some people are under the impression
nat aluminium is made from CLAW, but this
not so. 1t would be too expensive to pre-
are the ore from clay. Further. alumina
contained in clay in too small Quantities
not more than % per cent, 1 think-while
eanxite has alumina in about &C to 20 per
INT