Improvements in the Manufacture of Alloys of Aluminium with other Metals.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1887
Complete Left, 9th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Jan.. 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Alloys of Aluminium with
other Metals.
I ANDREW MANN of No. 3 Melrose Villas Richmond Road Twickenham in the
County of Middlesex, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists in the first place in obtaining a chloride of aluminium by
mixing the sulphate of alumina with any inetallic chloride which will undergo double
decomposition when mixed with such sulphate (such as the chloride of sodium or the
chloride of potassium) and subjecting such mixture to a regulated heat in a suitablo
furnace whereby an interchange of elements is brought about, so that if (for example)
a mixture of sulphate of aluminium and chloride of sodium be used, a chloride of
aluminium with a sulphate of sodium will be produced. The chloride of aluminium
so obtained is afterwards mixed with any reagent having a stronger affinity for
chlorine than aluminium and the powder so produced is mixed with pieces of any
metal such as copper, and melted in ordinary crucibles or in a reverberatory furnace
whercupon the required alloy with aluminium is obtained.
It is found in practice that alloys of copper and aluminium are often too hard and
brittle to roll and work up, and in order to render such alloys more malleable and
ductile I mix therewith a portion of brass or zinc, whereby such defects are diminished
or altogether avoided.
A. MANN.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lare, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Alloys of Aluminium with
other Metals.
I, ANDREW MANN of No. 3 Melrose Villas Richmond Road Twickenham, in the
County of Middlesex, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:—
My Invention has for its object the production of alloys of aluminium with other
metals.
According to my invention I, in the first place, obtain a chloride of aluminium by
mixing the sulphate of alumina with a metallic chloride (preferably the chloride of
sodium, or of potassium, or of ammonium) which will undergo double decomposition
when mixed with such sulphate and subjected to heat. The mixture is then subjected
to heat in a suitable furnace or retort, the heat being so regulated as to decompose
the sulphate of alumina, and at same time to form with it a chloride of aluminium by
an interchange of elements between the chloride and the sulphate of alumina, so that
if (for example) a mixture of sulphate of alumina and chloride of sodium be used.
a chloride of aluminium with a sulphate of sodium will be produced. I then mix the
mass with hydrate of lime and lay it aside for some weeks to mature, during which
time a chloride of line in whole or part is formed. The matured compound when
dried, constitutes my prepared flux in the first place, to be used as herein after
described in obtaining alloys of aluminium with other metals.
In the second place, I take a similar quantity of sulphate of alumina and mix it
with a deoxidizing agent preferably (for the sake of cheapness) charcoal, coke, coal,
graphite, or metallic iron, or zinc, reduced to powder or small pieces, in any
convenient manner. This mixture of sulphate of alumina and a deoxidizing agent
constitutes my prepared flux in the second place, and is to be mixed in equal
proportions or otherwise, with the flux above described in the first place.
The combined flux may then be used in the following manner, for obtaining alloys
of aluminium with other metals. I take any quantity of the compound flux above
described (according to the size of crucible used) and mix it with double the quantity
(more or less, according to the intended proportions of the resulting alloy) of small
pieces of the metal or metals it is intended to alloy with aluminium and I submit the
mixture of flux with the said metal or metals, to a melting heat in a crucible or in any
suitable furnace, whereupon the desired alloy of aluminium with the other metal or
metals will be formed, which completes the process.
1 wish it to be understood that the preparation of such compound flux from sulphate
of alumina is of the essence of my process; for I do not attach the same importance
to the mode of mixing it with pieces of metal and melting the same, as I am aware
that a method is described in the specification of a previous Patent granted to
John Clark, dated August 18th 1886, No. 10,594, of mixing pieces of metal with

page_text: powder prepared by acids from clay etc.; and I therefore make no claim thereto as
regards the general details of such mixing and melting therein described.
It is found in practice that alloys of copper and aluminium are often too hard and
brittle to roll and work up, and in order to render such alloys more malleable and
ductile, I mix therewith a proportion of brass or zinc, whereby such defects are
diminished or altogether avoided..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is ;-
1st. In the production of alloys of aluminium with other metals, the employment
of sulphate of alumina for the purpose of forming a flux therewith.
2nd. The herein described process of preparing a flux for the purpose specified
from the sulphate of alumina by mixing it with the chloride of sodium, or of
potassium, or of ammonium, then subjecting such mixture to a regulated heat
sufficient to effect double decomposition, and then mixing the mass with hydrate of
lime; the flux thus produced being suitable for use in the process of alloying
aluminium with other metals, as herein specified.
3rd. The preparation for, and use in, the process of alloying aluminium with
another metal or metals, of a flux consisting of a mixture of sulphate of alumina and
a deoxidising agent, and the admixture thereof with the flux prepared as specified in
claim No. 2 to form a compound flux for use as and for the purpose herein
specified.
4th. The admixture with aluminium alloys of a proportion of brass or zinc for the
purpose of rendering such alloys more malleable and ductile.
Dated this 9th day of December 1887.
A. MANN.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.