Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-08
Has Qualities for Steel Making
That Are Unsurpassed
NOTABLE TRIP BY Mr.. SHOOK
Two Northern Plants to Investigate the Man
ufacture of Steel and the Virtues of Bir-
mingham's Low Silicon Iron.


turned from a trip to the various steel
producing centers where basic pig iron
made at the Alice furnace in this city
has ben sold in large amounts.
Upon being questioned as to the re-
suits obtained by northern steel makers
in using this iron Mr.. Shook said:
Not an unfavorable criticism was made
of our Alice basic iron, and in physical
qualities it far surpasses any of the
northern chill iron, and by its clean,
bright appearance may be easily dis
tinguished on any of the stock yards.
As to it's composition, it possesses all of
the qualities of an ideal basic pig, be-
ing exceptionally low in silicon and sui
phur and low enough in phosphorus
To admit of quick and economical work
ing in the basic open hearth furnace
Upon being asked what limits We're
put upon these elements by users of this
iron Mr.. Shook replied that the usual
specifications were l per cent silicon,
5-100 of per cent sulphur, and per cent
phosphorus, In the outset some doubt
existed as to the ability of southern iron
producers TO make an iron of this COM
position, and the stiPulations were look
ed upon as being rather rigid.
1t is a fact, however, that iron is be-
ing made in Birmingham today lower
in silicon and sulphur than even the most
sanguine hoped for, and it is being ship
ped to every large basic open hearth
steel works in this country, with two or
three exceptions, for conversion into
steel. 1t is understood that when treat
ed by this process the percentage of
phosphorus in the pig metal is imma-
terial, as it may be reduced to any point
desired or practically eliminated by adj
ditions of ore and lime to the charge
while in molten state.
In Pittsburg, where the large MAORI
Of. Ice how hna ada Ol1~h a eli
iron is used in identically the same man
ner and in about the same proportion
as that of their own manufacture, many
expressing preference for it on account
of it's excellent physical qualities in being
free from sand and other foreign mate
rial on the outside of the pig, as well as
by reason of it's superior composition.
I'm being exceptionally low In silicon
it performs an excellent office in that 1t
ena bles them to use to advantage their
off basic or off Bessemer irons con-
tanning a percentage of silicon too high
to admit of their being economically
worked alone.
A large majority of the basic open
hearth plants visited use dolomite as
lining for their furnaces, and with
them it is quite an important item of
expense. AS a rule its quality is much
inferior to that found in ineXhaustible
quantities in this immediate district and
the cost delivered at the furnaces nearly
four times as great.
The situation at present in the steel
| trade is one of great Importance and in
terest to the south, and / was much inn
|. pressed by the rapidity with which the
basic open-hearth process, which is the
| one best adapted to our conditions and
| the one least well adapted to other sec
| lions, Is forcing its way to the front by
reason of the great superiority Of its
| product over that of the Bessemer. It's
rapid strides are evident on every hand.
A11 = not
| that consumers of steel desiring a metal
of the greatest strength and durability
are specifying basic open-hearth. Great
| tensile strength is obtained by low phos-
phorus, along with proper percentage
| of carbon, and this cannot be obtained
| by the Bessemer process, which does not
| in any way deal with the phosphorus
What goes into the converter with the
| pig metal comes out in the steel, the car
| bon and silicon being the only metals
dealt with, and in making steel rails by
| this process it is well to remember that
| high carbon, which is essential, is OBJ
tanned in exactly the same manner as
would be adopted in the basic open
| hearth-that is, by first eliminating sill
| con and carbon and then recarbonizing
by the addition to the metal while in a
molten state of pulverized coke, charcoal
| or other carbonaceous material; or per-
| haps spiegeleisen would serve the pur-
pose better-the only difference and the
| great advantage DelflB lIdt, III the Cast
| of the basic open-hearth, we would also
dephosphorize. Question no longer exists
as to the entire feasibility and practical
| bility of making steel rails by the basic
open-hearth process,>-
An erroneous Impression exists in the
minds of many people as to the necessity
of a large percentage of scrap in the
mixture to the successful working of the
basic open hearth process. Steel by this
process of quality equal to the best
might be produced without the addition
of one pound of scrap iron, but we are
free to admit that practice of this char
acter- would be on doubtful economy. The
necessity, however, for adopting this
method does not exist, as the rolling mills
of plant of the extent and capacity con-
templated in the Birmingham district
would supply 10 or IL per cent scrap, and
fully that amount could doubtless be Sc
cured from outside sources for long
time to come. Admitting that the con-
sumption at this rate would probably be
greater than the markets tributary to our
district would currently afford, the fact
must not be lost sight of that by the adj
vent of many Industries following in the
path of large steel plant in this district
as consumers of its product, the scrap
market would be replenished and the
supply materially increased.
An important feature in the develop
ment of the steel industry in the south
will probably be the installation of BIZ
product coke ovens in connection with
the steel works, in which case the gas
will be utilized for fuel In the Siemens
furnace, the coal tar used to render our
basic lining material, or dolomite, adj
hesive and plastic, and the ammonia as
sulphate of ammonia Is an essential ma
teral in the manufacture of fertilizers
from phosphate rock. The cost of coke
to our blast furnaces will probably be
materially reduced by reason of the in
creased yield claimed for the bi-product
oven and by crediting the profits of the
bi-products, and this will of course re-
duce the cost of our pig iron as well as
the cost of our steel. s..
haaltl In.