Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1906-02-14
MODERN FENCE WIRE.
An Opinion az to why 1t Goes to
Pieces So Rapidly.

An OpiniOn to why 1t Goes to
Pieces So Rapidly.
The bessemer process is the great
modern method for converting iron into
steel. Manganese plays an important
part in the bessemer process. II. M.
Howe, an experienced metallurgist,
says:
I'm order to make this steel very soft
so that it will draw easily it is likely
to contain a quantity of blowholes,
which form centers from which rusting
begins.
''The steel contains much more man.
ganese than wrought iron does, and
this manganese may not always be
distributed with absolute uniformity.
Wherever there is the least lack of uni
forlnity there is a difference of poten-
tial, which may lead to rusting"
Electro Iysis.
Wire that is hung in the field is in
Just the condition to suffer from cleo
trolysis if the metal is not perfectly
homogeneous in structure-that is to
say, if the manganese and other inn
puritics are not perfectly distributed
throughout the metal. All rain water
contains small amounts Of salts dis
solved from the dust in the air and is
therefore a conductor of electricity.
Water collected during a thunder
shower is particularly rich in sub
stances that conduct electricity, as the
sparkling of the lightning through moist
air forms small quantities of nitric
acid, and acids conduct electrical cur
rents even better than salt solutions.
A moments thought will show that I'M
der the conditions cited we have all the
elements present to cause electrolysis
to take place. Differences of potential
will occur in the wire, local circuits
will be established through the wires or
through the wires and ground, and cur
rents will flow. These currents ca
something and in this case it is the
iron or steel if it is not tie zinc of the
galvanized covering.
Ground Connection a Remedy.
Among the wire fences that have
been under the careful observation of
the writer for long time is one woven
wire fence, five years old, that contains
among its twelve horizontal wires, all
of one roll, seven wires that are per
fectly good from beginning to end, -four
that are partially rusted, and one that
is badly rusted, without a particle OF
zinc remaining on it. OF the seven per
fectly good wires six are ON the bot
tom. Now, if the theory of electrolysis
is left out of the question it would
seem that the good wires had received
a better coating of zinc than the baC
wires. This explanation is not support
ed either by observation or experiment
| Two wires are made in the same mill
pass through the same zinc bath; ar,
wiped off in precisely the same way
chemical analysis shows them to hay,
practically the same weight of Yin,
covering per pound of metal, and We
one wire will outlast the other five t,
one on the fence. If, however, electrol
ysis takes place and If the action cal
be diminished by keeping the wire
electrically neutral through frequen
connections to the earth, we shoul,
then expect that wires which were KEEP
along their whole length in constan
contact with the earth would shov
greater lasting quality. Experiment
are at present being made to test tn
effect of earthing the fence by FIRE
Quent connection to the ground.-A.
Cushman. Department of Agriculture.