Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-17
NEW METALS MADE.
A Process Discovered for Manufac-
turing a Manganese Bronze
Which Defies Acids and
is STRONGER THAN ALL OTHERS.
A Pittsburger Develops Material Which
AstoniSheS Those Who Made
Tests of It.
,NICKEL-sTEEI, QUITE HOMOGENEOUS,
is STRONGER THAN ALL OTHERS.
NICKEL-sTEEL, QUITE HOMOGENEOUS,
Also Being Made in an Experimental Plant at
Bawreneeville.

tonishing results. A new bronze of Sex-
traordinary durability is given to the world,
and more light is thrown upon the "nickel-
steel" question than at any time previous.
Much has been printed in the newspapers
about nickel-steel, and the probabilities OF
| its ever becoming of practical use. Even
metallurgists have had no definite opinion
to express regarding it, and the Govern
ment has been experimenting for over a
year with this alloy without obtaining
much insight into it. 1t remained for a
Pittsburger, Thomas Harrington, to show
what valuable material can be made by
ALLOWING nickel and steel. He has, after
many experiments, succeeded in discover
ing process for manufacturing the mater
ial which is now perfect. His claims are
limited, but they cover what metallists and
practical steel workers have been so far un-
able to obtain, viz: perfect homegeneity,
and a reduction in piping of from so to 60
per cent.
THE WORKSHOP IN LAwRENCEvILLE.
The researches were carried on in an ex-
perimental plant in Lawrenceville, where a
number of specimens of the metals were
made and tested. Other experiments with
metals are being made, but Mr. Harrington
refuses to disclose their nature at present.
A company has been formed for manufac-
turing the bronze, crucible and open-hearth
nickel-steel and an improved carbon bronze,
and a charter will be applied for within the
next few days.
Mr.. Harrington is well known as the
aofo !
years of study to the compounds possible
through the assimilation of various metals,
and after much patient labor has at length
developed metal which is entirely new in
metallurgF. To this he has given the name
of the Harrington manganese bronze
The metal is of bright reddish gold color.
Mr.. Harrington says that its constituents
include copper, zinc, tin, ETC., but he re-
fuses of course, to say what the "etcetera''
stands for. The chief characteristics of the
new metal are that it obtains very high
tensile strength, is indestructible by corro-
sion, being imrervious to acids, and that it
can be wrought into spikes, nails, ETC. while
either hot or cold. Mr.. Harrington yester-
day showed DIsPATCH reporter some fine
shavings of the metal immersed in pure sui
phuric acid. They had been in the acid for
five weeks without losing bulk or chaecing
color Ordinary bronze will dissolve in
eight hours if subjected to such a tess.
A MOST CRUCIAL TEST.
James l.. Morgan 6 Son, manufacturers
of caustic soda in New York, placed a
sample Of the metal in boiling oil of vitriol
for six weeks without its losing weight or
changing structure.
r. II. Thurston, professor of metaTlurpy
at Cornell University, and the Government
expert in testing metals, examined a speci-
men of this metal He found the tensile
strength to be $4,000 pounds to the square
inch; the breaking load, 81, 900; transverse
test, 98, 900, and the crushing strain 12S. 600
pounds to the square inch. Heretofore the
bronze ever made under mauipula-
tion, which Harrlngton's was not, was found
by Prof Thurston to have tensile strength
OF GO, 1856 pounds.
The piece of metal used in the transverse
test was tried by DR.. c. H. Dudley, the
Pennsylvania railroad chemist at Altoona.
H broke the piece into two and tested each as
follows: No. Tensile strength $4,000
elongation 10 per cent No. .
Tensile strength "a, 900 pounds; elongation
16 per cent. DIR. Dudley, in referring to
the metal, said: Chemically, the metal
is an alloy of copper, tin, zinc and iron.
There is little doubt as to whether all the
metal put down as tin is tin, but We have
not succeeded in finding anything else. 1t
will be noted by comparing the analysis
with the principal test that the metal is a
very wonderful one"
THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY TEST
The most interesting, and at the same
time, most extraordinary physical test to
which the metal has been subjected, oe-
Cured at the Etna Tube Works. The piece |
Of metal had been fused, cast in sand, and |
bored into a pipe IL inches long, |
one-eighth of an inch thick, and one five |
sixteenth of an inch in diameter This was |
the manipulation it received. 1t was |
placed IN the hydraulic testing machine |
used for testing the tubes made by the firm |
Here it may be stated that steel |
tubes for oil-well purposes are tested up
TO ], 900 pounds pressure to the square inch, |
and iron pipes up to 1000 pounds. When |
the power was applied the gauge showed a
pressure of 800, 1,600, LOO, and up to |
900 pounds, to the astonishment of the
operator, who betrayed fear at proceeding
farther, as the machine began to leak. |
Foreman John kerns then took hold of it.
and the test proceeded. The press spouted |
water and locks were employed to keep it |
from drenching the bystanders The gauge
,rept up to 200 pounds pressure, and at /
his point the test was discontinued, as the |
machine began to discharge water in all |
directions Mr. Kerns stated he felt |
confident that if the machine could have
it, the pipe would have with
stood pressure of 5000 pounds to the |
square inch.
A very severe test of the addressing
properties of this extraordinary metal was
made at the Standard Oil Company's re-
inery at Lawrenceville. The oil of Wit
-iol' used in the process of refining cuts
lway the best bronze to be had in a few
weeks. Three weeks is the longest service
which an agitator cock has vet given. A
,ock made by Mr.. Harrington from his
metal was fixed in place July 10, and it was
working on Saturday last and as intact as
vhen put in. Superintendent Williams
aid yesterday be saw no reason why it
hould not work three months longer
RESULTS OF FURTHER TESTS.
Further tests of metal which had under
zone manipulation showed tensile strength
# 69, 900 pounds; percentage of elongation,
-; reduction in area, IA per cent. These
we're made by Messrs. Hunt g. Clapp. Cast
ngs of the metal exhibited tensile strength
# $500 pounds, which is nearly 5000
,ounds more than the greatest strength of
ther bronzes after manipulation.
The discoverer of this metal said yester-
ay in connection with it: ''The metal is
luch stronger when hot than cold-in this
espect following steel. Bronzes, or the
of bronze, the best of them,
ose their cohesion in from 40Oo to
900 Fahrenheit, while the new metal, up
o 1,000o or ], 1000 becomes stronger, max
ng it a very valuable metal. 1t will work
y rolling or forging, either hot or cold;
7ill roll into sheets or draw into wire,
eamless tubes, etc. 1t is easily worked
nder iile showing q fine finish and snh- |