Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-10-17

duce this metal, but it is not un-
usually pure and it contains consid-
cradle quantity OF carbon. To obtain
it perfectly pure was difficult. and il
was once thought impossible to manu-.
facture on large scale. The task of
filling Krupp's order, fortunately, fell
to a skilled chemi.t-Dr. Hans Gold
schmidt. He saw the necessity for in.
venting process OF production to
fit this particular case.
"Now, it had been known for many
years that if an intimate (complete)
mixture of aluminium filings and the
oxide of chromium were heated in a
furnace, a violent explosion would fol.
low, owing to the great intensity Of
the chemical action brought about,
but precisely how no one knew, as the
explosion was so violent as to empty
the erucibles and scatter their con-
tents far and wide.
CDR. Goldschmidt was ingenious
and persisted. He argued that, in
such cases. metallic chromium must
be found; also that the explosion was
due to a too sudden heating of the
furnace. He was sure that if the re.
action could be made more regular
the chromium would be saved.
"Could he but start the chemical
reaction at one little point in the mass,
it would proceed more gently and it.
self produce heat sufficient for its COM
pletion. 1t was, in fact, the case of a
loaded railway car at rest ON an in.
cline. A little push would send it
down without the aid Of motive power.
"After a series of careful expert
ments, the problem was solved. When
the aluminium filings were thoroughly
mixed in q crucible with oxide OF
chromium q teaspoonful of ordinary
flashlight powder and peroxide Of sod.
ium was placed on the mass. This
acted as primer A match was
applied. There was . bright flash
followed by glow and gentle fame
from the crucible, and all was over.
When cold, the crucible was broken
open. At the bottom was found me.
tallic chromium at least 30 per cent.
pure. Above it and easily separated
was Stag OF aluminium oxide, artificial
corundum. Herr Krupp could have
his precious metal at reasonable cost
for hardening steel for guns and armor
plates.
"This was the open door to one OF
the greatest inventions OF the age. DR..
Goldschmidt resolved to experiment
further. He soon discovered that very
pure manganese, also valuable but
almost unknown product in CONNER
cial quantities, could be equally we'll
obtained in this way-merely subs.i-
tuting oxide Of manganese for oxide OF
chromium.
"Next came experiments with oxide
of iron and then the discovery OF
thermite.' DR.. Goldschmidt found
that if oxide of iron "a pure hacmatite
ore, such as is mined in Northern
Michigan) were substituted for oxide
Of chromium and touched off by the
flashlight primer, its action would be
far moro violent, though it could still
be controlled.
ain his remarkable experiments the
Stag Of the corundum spurted out
liquid and flaming. It was a binding
spectacle. Bubbhng like water, it ran
pure metallic iron and sank to the bot.
tom in dazzling molten mass, go
electrically brilliant, 80 intense. that
the operator was forced to arm himself
with blue glasses. As it was. he found
himself temporarily blinded. The heat
generated was enormous.
ut may be stated that this method
of producing iron in small quantities
could not, commercially speaking.
compete with the blast furnace; but as
. source of heat it contains vast posi-
bilities. and practical ways of using it
were at once sought. Experiments on
the welding OF rails at once demon
strated its possibilities. The clean cut
ends TO be welded are clamped togeth.
or by kind of portable wise. Around
the joint TO be welded is arranged the
mold, composed of highly refractory
material. A plugged pipe of the same
material, communicating from above
with the bottom OF the crucible, is ad.
justed. In the crucible is placed q
charge of thermite; on this . small
quantity of the priming material
(aashlight powder). The operator,
wearing blue spectacles. drops light.
ed match on the primer (thermite it.
self will not take fire from . match)
aud retires to q safe distance.
The Pelee in miniature goes off
The operator returns, opens the plug
and tho contents of the crucible flow
quickly into the mold and on the
tightly clamped rails. The liquid iron
sinks TO the bottom and fuses the low.
er fange, strengthening the joint
The hot Stag strikes the upper part ol
the rail and heats it to such a degree
that the union is instant and perfect
Later the mold is opened. A blow OF
two with hammer separates the slae
from the upper part Of the now solid
rail, and the operation is complete.
"Itis remarkable that, though the
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