The Washington herald., 1909-07-04
USES OF ALUMINIUM
This Malleable Metal Enters
Many Industries.
IT RETAINS A HIGH POLISH
Wall Covering, Ceiling Panels, Ham
mered Plates and NumberIess Ar
ticies for Kitchen Among Most
Frequent Uses - EIectricfass and
Automobile Makers Consume II.

A recent event OF Importance in the aIu-
minum industry was the expiration Of the
Bradley patent
AS IS well known. the business IN the
/ United States is IN the hands OF a single
/ company - the Aluminium Company OF
I America-which controls extensive wO-Ks
az Niagara Falls and Aiassena. n Y:
/ Shawenegan Falls. Quebec. Canada, and
( al East s.. Louis. H.
1 The new plant Of the company. built
/ recently az Niagara Falls. is known as
I 40 g This is one OF the largest plants
/ OF its kind In the world II IS furnished
with power from the power-house OF the
/ Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and
I Manufacturing Company through ten gen
orators. each OF 500 horsepower capacity.
which are the largest direct current gen
/ orators IN point Of capacity that have
ever been built.
J The current - carried 20 the company :
reduction plant and rolling min by means
/ OF conductors consisting OF aluminium
/ bus-bars. one OF The heaviest bus-bar
/ lines in the world
Most MaHeabIe of Metals.
Aluminium Is one OF the most maueable
/ o. metals Moreover, Il takes and retains
a high polish. For these reasons Il S
/ used in connection with the manufacture
I Of articles OF everyday use almost with
out limit Some OF these new uses are as
wall paper" ceiling panels. stamped or
4 hammered trays, and finger plates. in the
I form OF thin sheets; as a substitute Cor
lithographic stones and zinc plates. and
l IN the panels Of car and carriage bodies
I The advantages OF aluminium in the
manufacture OF cooking utensils Is well
} known. Among these advantages are
[ long life. noncorrosion from acids. and
[ lghtness.
[ In the form OF powder aluminium is used
{ 70 an increased extent IN the manufacture
OF metallic paints and varnishes. its prop
erty Of not furnishing making II partlcu-
z larly suitable for this purpose The paint
I is valuable IN protecting iron and IN rem
/ 6ering woodwork party firepro0f when
applied IN thick coats.
In the form OF tubes II Is used BY acid
and rubber manufacturers. 4 new prod
uct is bimetallic tubing, which is made
OF aluminium and steel. with the outer
shell OF aluminium and the inner OF steel.
o. vice versa. The same combination may
be made with aluminium and copper.
Used 20 Transmit Electricity.
In America II IS used 70 an increased
extent IN the transmission OF electric
power on large scale. The Aluminium
Company OF America secured during 1905
the important contract for furnishing the
transmission wires 10 be used IN the eIe,-
trihcation OF the Southern Pacific Rail-
road Company's terminals in San Fran
cisco. Copper IS mere replaced BY alu-
uinum. Another contract raported as
having been received by the same com
peny is that for the cable for a trolley
road 70 Lake WinOna. Wis.
Aluminium IS used IN iron ard steel
works for removing oxygen from the
oxides OF Iron and other substances. the
heat generated being so great as TO raise
tie temperature OF large bodies OF iron
II also has the power OF combining chem
ically with those gases imprisoned dur
ing the cooling OF the metal, thus pre-
venting porcsity. For these purposes the
metal is either used IN the form OF an
alloy known as "ferroaluminUm" or as
the pure metal. either In the granulated
or bar form or IN small pieces weirbtin9
uniformly one-eighth ounce or one-fourth
ounce each.
Used I'm Thermit Welding.
Ihis property OF keeping molten metal
hot or Of raising the temperature OF
molten metallic bath has been utilized IN
the therrnit welding process. invented by
Goldsehmidt IN this process aluminium
and iron oxide are intimately mixed IN
finely divided state and ignited by means
o. a fuse. The heat OF combustion IN the
ensuing reaction raises the temperature
OF the casting 70 the welding point The
reaction takes place IN a rUnuel-shaped
crucible. from which the fluid metal re-
sulting from the reaction is run into a
suitably shaped mold formed around the
area OF the joint 70 be made, which is
preheated by means OF q blow lamp to
avoid chilling the first lot OF metal com
ing through
Aluminium Is used IN constantly increas-
Ing quantities in the motOr-car industry
combining as il does both lightness and
stiffness. II is used IN making crank
cases, gear boxes. carbureters. radiators.
cashboards. &C, besides IN smaller ways
In castings IL has been found advantage
Gus 10 alloy the metal with copper, zinc,
or nickel, which Increases its strength
and makes It easier 70 work
The Geological Survey has issued for
the use Of colleges and schools a profuse-
ly Illustrated book giving thorough in