New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-15
NEW USES FOR ALUMINIUM.

When aluminium first became cheap IL was
employed for scarcely anything besides the
manufacture OF few household utensils and
class Of ornamental and useful articles OF which
the pocket matchbox is a type. Its next impor-
tant service was to compete with copper as an
electrical conductor. Between Niagara and
Buffalo and In several other parts Of the coun-
try IL has demonstrated its technical and eco
nomic value In this kind of work beyond
doubt A third field of usefulness has more re-
Gently been opened up. To this the attention Of
Americans is just now directed by the second
visit of DR.. Hans Goldschnidt TO the United
States His lecture at Columbia University last
Friday revealed new possibilities for the metal,
which, according TO chemists, is more abundant
than any other in the earth's crust
The key to the function which aluSinum per
forms in metallurgy and engineering is found
in the remarkable heat that is suddenly de-
veloped when it is burned. Combustion, it will
be remembered. is simply the union of given
element with oxygen. When wood or coal is set
on fire the carbon combines with that gas and
produces carbonic oxide. Aluminium will not
unite with atmospheric oxygen, though. 1t is
necessary to supply the element in solid form.
The oxide of some other metal furnishes this.
If equal parts of aluminium and the oxide OF
iron, both pulverized and cold, are placed in
crucible, and tiny fuse Of the right kind is ap-
piled, marvellous effect is produced. The re-
ceptacle becomes a furnace. BY purely chemi-
cal means temperature is induced which rivals
that of the electric arc. Within a minute or
two the aluminium steals the oxygen from the
iron and the latter is melted. If, in advance
and with a view to further operations, the iron
is charged with the proper amount Of carbon or
some other element the product is steel pos
hat 70
services.
One highly practical operation made feasible
by the process here described is the welding of
rails on trolley roads. In order to employ both
the main track and the third rail df there be
one) as electrical conductors IL is customary to
do one OF two things. Either a copper bond is
attached 10 the ends Of adjacent rails at each
Joint or n little molten iron is poured around
the cold steel there. The latter operation as
formerly conducted. involved the use OF cum
brous and expensive apparatus. In Europe
aluminium is now used to some extent instead
small portable crucible, tapering TO a point is
adjusted over the right spot. mould is formed
around the Joint 10 be welded, the proper MKT.
IRE IS ignited, and almost Immediately a supply
of liquid steel is ready 10 be run into place. So
Intense is the heat Of the latter that it dssoves
part OF the metal OF which the RAN is COM
PSSSO' ~-@ gO4At Va surprising strength is
created Here, again. aluminium figures as a
rival OF copper, and it promises to make the old
style OF bond unnecessary.
When one has once grasped the simplicity and
effectiveness OF the new process, as applied to
electric railways. he will be quick TO see how
helpful it can be in repairing great castings or
forgings like the sternpost or crankshaft OF an
ocean steamship. II will often happen that
work Of this kind can be performed at sea; but