Year: 1888

page_text: 1 LÉON QUENTIN BRIN of 6 Rue Wilhem, Auteuil, Paris, France, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a process of obtaining aluminium bronze and other alloys
of aluminum which is based upon the property which netals, when raised to
a high temperature possess of reducing the salts or oxides of aluminium to
metallic aluminium, and at same time of absorbing or becoming alloyed with the
aluminium.
Copper, iron, steel, cast iron, and cast steel possess this property in the highest
degree, and in the present process I employ iron and copper in any of their various
forms, it being, however, understood that other metals may be employed in lieu
thereof.
The following is the process of my invention. I take aluminium hydrate whether
silicious or not, or clay rich in alumina, and add thereto a certain quantity of borax
in dry powder, which when the whole is perfectly nixed serves both as a decomposing
and reducing agent.
The cast iron or pieces of iron are first moistened with water and mixed with a
variable quantity of the powder and placed in a highly refractory crucible which is
then placed in a suitable furnace and the temperature raised until the metal is brought
to a state of fusion whereupon the alumina is immediately decomposed and it is only
necessary to mix the whole together by means of an iron or fireclay stirrer. The
metal which is then run into moulds is admirably adapted for castings.
The product is aluminium-steel or aluminium-iron of exceeding richness and
of a very white color. When hardened this steel or iron possesses a strength hitherto
unattainable.
Should the argillaceous earth contain bodies difficult to melt, I add a suitable flux,
such as sodium chloride for example in order to better distribute the aluminium
throughout the mass of metal.

page_text: It is evident this process of manufacture can be applied with complete success to
molten iron or steel as it leaves the blast furnace. The process is exactly similar as
applied to copper.
L. Q. BRIN.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process of Producing Aluminium Bronze and other
Alloys of Aluminium.
I, LÉON QUENTIN BRIN, of 6 Rue Wilhem, Auteuil, Paris, France, Engineer, 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:-
This Invention relates to a process of obtaining aluminium bronze and other alloys
of aluminium, which is based upon the property which metals, when raised to a high
temperature possess of reducing the salts or oxides of aluminium to metallic
aluminium and at same time of absorbing or becoming alloyed with the aluminium.
Copper, iron, steel, cast-iron, and cast steel, possess this property in the highest
degree and in the present process I employ iron and copper in any of their
various forms, it being however understood that other metals may be employed in
lieu thereof.
The following is the process of my invention:-I take aluminium hydrate whether
silicious or not, or clay rich in alumina and add thereto a certain quantity of borax
in dry powder which, when the whole is perfectly mixed, serves both as a decom-
posing and reducing agent. The quantity of borax used would be about half the
weight of the clay, or less may be used if chloride of sodium is employed to distribute
the aluminium, as hereafter described.
The pieces of metal are first moistened with water and mixed with a variable
quantity of the powder (proportionate to the richness of the alloy required) and
placed in a highly refractory crucible which is then placed in a suitable furnace and
the temperature raised until the metal is brought to a state of fusion whereupon the
alumina is immediately decomposed and it is only necessary to mix the whole together
by means of an iron or fireclay stirrer.

page_text: The mixture of clay and borax applied to the metal in the crucible preserves the
same, whilst being melted, from the impurities generated by the fuel of the furnace.
In order to hasten the operation, I find it advantageous to pass into the crucible,
deoxidizing or reducing gases in the nascent state, such as ammonia, nitrogen,
cyanogen or carbon monoxide.
The metal which is then run into moulds is admirably adapted for castings.
The product is aluminium-bronze, aluminium-steel or aluminium-iron, as the
case may be. When tempered, the aluminium steel or iron possesses a strength
hitherto unattainable.
Should the argillaceous earth contain bodies difficult to fuse, I add a sufficient
quantity of sodium chloride, for example, in order to better distribute the aluminium
throughout the mass of metal.
The process of manufacture can be applied to molten copper, iron, or steel, as it
is tapped off from the furnace. In this case the metal is run directly into crucibles
or ladles containing the above described flux in a powdered or molten state, whereby
aluminium is at once alloyed with the metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The production of aluminium alloys in a crucible in the presence of a reducing
or deoxidizing atmosphere, as herein described.
2. The production of aluminium alloys in a crucible or ladle containing the flux in
a powdered or molten state, by running directly therein from the furnace the metal
to be alloyed, as specified.
Dated this 12th dow of Anvil 1900
L. Q. BRIN.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.