Improvements in the Manufacture of Copper Alloys.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1890-Accepted. 17th May. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Copper Alloys.
I, JOHANNES CATHARINUS BULL of The Yews Belvedere in the County of Kent
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
1 obtain alloys of copper with magnesium by admixing with granulated or divided
copper a quantity of magnesium carbonate and carbonaceous material. By sub-
sequently heating and melting the mass in crucibles the carbonate is (in presence
of the copper) partially reduced and I obtain copper alloyed with small quantities
of magnesium; by granulating or otherwise subdividing the resulting alloy and
smelting it again with a fresh charge of carbonate and carbonaceous matter I obtain
richer alloys.
Much better results are however obtained as follows:--I use chloride of magnesium
instead of the carbonate, admix about half the weight of common salt in order to
delay the decomposition when heated and also about the same weight of lime, preferably
unslaked. The double decomposition which takes place when the above mass is heated
as above described with carbonaceous matter and copper has a greatly beneficial effect
and I obtain comparatively rich alloys of magnesium. Copper which I either utilize
as such or dilute as it were-with further quantites of copper or other metals, thus
producing very valuable alloys.
Instead of the carbonate which during the process is first reduced to oxide of
magnesium I could use this latter material itself or any other salt of magnesium which
on application of heat leaves the oxide.
DICT. 1000
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Copper Alloys.
I, JOHANNES (ATHarinus Bull, of The Yews, Belvedere, in the County of Kent,
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 :—
I obtain alloys of copper with magnesium by admixing with granulated or divided
copper a quantity of magnesium carbonate and carbonaceous material, by preference
a mixture of 8 parts copper, 2 of charcoal or an equivalent of other carbonaceous matter,
and 4 of carbonate of magnesium or an equivalent of other materials containing
carbonate of magnesium. By subsequently heating and finally melting the mass in
suitable furnaces (for instance the ordinary brass crucible furnace) the carbonate is
(in the presence of the copper) partially reduced, and I obtain copper alloyed with
small quantities of magnesium, by granulating or otherwise subdividing the resulting
alloy and smelting it again with a fresh charge of carbonate and carbonaceous matter
I obtain richer alloys. The first smelting gives about 98% copper and 2% mag-
nesium which I can increase to upwards of 6% magnesium and 94% copper by
subsequent smeltings.
Much better results are however obtained as follows:-I use chloride of magnesium
instead of the carbonate, admix about half the weight of common salt in order to makǝ
the chloride of magnesium more stable at high temperatures and thus to delay
decomposition, in order that it should take place as near to the melting point of copper
as possible. I also admix about the same weight of lime preferably unslaked. By
heating the above mass with copper and carbonaceous matter a double decomposition

page_text: takes place during which chloride of calcium is formed whilst a comparatively large
portion of the magnesium is as it were intercepted and absorbed by the copper,
whilst another portion is oxidised, reduced by the carbonaceous material and also
absorbed.
The common salt plays no other part than as a retarding agent as regards decom-
position of chloride of magnesium during the first part of the process, and as a flux
during the latter part. I use by preference 8 parts of copper, 2 of carbon, and 4 parts
of the mixture containing 2 parts of chloride of magnesium, 1 part common sait,
and 1 part unslaked lime.
Instead of common salt I can also use other stable salts having a similar effect on
the chloride of magnesium of rendering it more stable when exposed to heat.
By a single melting I have obtained alloys containing 5% of magnesium, 95% of
copper, by granulating or otherwise subdividing and remelting with another charge I
can further raise this proportion to upwards of 8%.
During both processes I regulate the heat so as to be kept as closely as possible
below the melting point of the copper or remelted alloy for about one hour, after
which the charge is melted down, and poured at the end of about another half hour.
The magnesium copper alloys obtained I either utilize as such or dilute as it were
with further quantities of copper or other metals thus producing very valuable alloys.
Instead of the carbonate which during the process is first reduced to oxide of
magnesium I could use this latter material itself, or any other salt or salts of
magnesium which on application of heat leaves the oxide.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The manufacture of alloys of copper and magnesium by admixing granulated or
divided copper with magnesium carbonate or oxide of magnesium or other salt or
salts of magnesium which on application of heat leaves the oxide and with carbonaceous
material and subsequently heating and finally melting the mixture.
2. The manufacture of alloys of magnesium by admixing granulated or divided
copper with chloride of magnesium common salt or a salt having a similar effect
lime and carbonaceous material and subsequently heating and finally melting the
mixture.
Thi 17th Jn of Al 1800
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.