Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-06-18
New Copper Alloy
Attracts Attention
OF Industrial World
Montana School of Mines Develops
Hardening Process for Copper
Receiving Scores of Letters.

BUTTE. June 13.-From great man
ufacturing and Woodworking firms,
leading consulting engineers and pri-
vate individuals over the entire coun-
try have come flood of inquiries TO
DR.. Curtis T. Wilson, head Of the metal
lurgy department at the Montana
School Of Mines, since the announce
ment, through United Press and Asso-
ciated Press dispatches, of the new
age hardened copper recently discov-
cred at the Butte institution.
DR.. Wilson said yesterday that his
department intends to continue studies
Of the new hard alloys OF copper, as
well as to investigate the toughening
of other metals. Although Horace I.
SiIliman, who did much of the labora-
tory work in hardening copper, has
returned to the American Brass COM
pany at Waterbury, Conn, the appoint
ment of Eugene C. Little, graduate OF
the School Of Mines with the class OF
1881, to the position of research fellow
OF metallurgy insures the further study
of the age hardening processes.
The metal investigated at the School
Of Mines, copper with two per cent
nickel silicide, has 70 per cent the con-
ductivity of pure copper, SAID Dr. VII
son. and its resistance may be lowered
in further experiments. An example
Of its strength is that rod OF it the
size of an ordinary lead pencil will
support about two and half TONS
which is about one and a quarter times
the load that can be borne by struc-
tural steel of the same size. The new
metal can be cast into intricate molds,
and by simple heat treatment the cast
ing can be made hard and strong. How
ever, the hardened copper, believes
DR.. Wilson. will not replace structural
steel but will find its own particular
uses, such as trolley wires and en-
craving plates.
Extracts from some representative
inquiries follow:
Ecker & Co, noted engravers, 81
Louis-"It might be interesting Tor you
to know that should it ever be possible
for us to harden copper our business
would be virtually revolutionized.
Burns Bottling Machine Works, Bal
timore, Md.-"We are needing hard
metal here for some Of the parts OF our
machines, and as far as you can we
would like to have some information
from YOU about your new alloy"
George F. Kunz. world-famous gem
expert, Fifth avenue, New York CITY,
who was sent sample OF the aiioy
in answer to an earlier inquiry
wish to thank you very much indeed
for your courtesy in having sent me
the specimens of hardened copper
should like to know more about the
hardening of gold and silver. The
hardening of duraluminum interests
me very much as well. If you have
anything further on these lines
would appreciate any information you
may give me-
William ]. Harris, laboratory en-
pineer Studebaker corporation, South
Bend, Ind.--'I would appreciate very
much If you could have copy OF the
report sent me-"
A. c. Spark Plug company, Flint,
Mich.-"We would very much appre-
late it il you could forward us some
information regarding this alloy
Foxboro company, instrument makers
Foxboro, Mass" MAY we have some
information on this alloy?'
Ward E. White, consulting engineer,
Philadelphia, PA feel in this case
that you have researched the vital
points and that at last the world will
have the long-lost article that has
withstood the attacks of scientists for
many, many hundreds of years
Philip Berman, engineer, Bronx, N. \.
Il am looking for heat-resisting metal
to stand up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit
However, DR.. Wilson believes the
prize letter of all is one from small
town in Kentucky. The writer begins
"Mr. DR.. Curtis Wilson: ! read about
your peace in the paper Of temperen
copper Deer sir / done that 4 years
ago but never could get any money
out of II