IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF METALS AND METALLIC ALLOYS BY THE WET PROCESS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City
of Westminster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OR PRODUCTION OF METALS AND METALLIC ALLOYS BY THE WET PROCESS."
A communication from abroad by Lucien Guétat and Trénée Chavanne,
of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1881.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF METALS AND METALLIC
ALLOYS BY THE WET PROCESS." A communication from abroad by Lucien Guétat
and Trénée Chavanne, of Paris, France.
.
This Invention has for object improvements in the manufacture or production of
metals and metallic alloys by the wet process.
The processes ordinarily employed to extract metals from their ores involve long
and difficult operations when it is required to. obtain them in a high degree of
purity.
According to this Invention metals or metallic alloys may be obtained approxi-
mately pure in a more simple manner.
The improvements are applicable for obtaining the following bodies or products
among others--Pure iron, chrome iron (fer chromé), tungsten iron (fer au
tungstène), molybdenum iron, manganese iron (fer au manganese), etc., phosphuret
of copper (phosphure de cuivre), silicate of copper, tungsten copper (cuivre au
tungstène), chroine copper, manganese copper, etc.
The means employed vary according to the material operated on and the product
desired.
A metallic oxide may be precipitated by treating a solution of a soluble metallic
salt by a base capable of displacing the metallic oxide; for example, in treating a
solution of chloride of iron by lime, oxide of iron and chloride of calcium are

page_text: obtained, the latter of which is removed by washing. It then remains only to
reduce the oxide of iron to obtain pure iron. The soluble salt thus decomposed by
lime or other base is obtained by treating a carburet of iron. (carbure de fer) or
sufficiently pure iron ore by an acid.
An insoluble metallic salt may be obtained by the double decomposition of a
solution of a non-metallic salt and a soluble metallic salt; for example, tungstate
of iron may be manufactured by taking a soluble tungstate, of potash, of soda, or of
ammonia, and a soluble iron salt, the sulphate, for instance, equivalent for equivalent.
An insoluble tungstate of iron and a soluble sulphate corresponding to the base of
the tungstate employed is thus obtained.
Metals may be precipitated in a state of insoluble metallic salts from mixtures of
determined proportions of soluble metallic salts by a base or salt; for example, an
alloy of copper and manganese may be produced from a salt of copper, the sulphate,
for instance, containing a determined proportion of metal and a sulphate of
manganese containing the proportion of manganese to be alloyed with the copper.
The two are dissolved, and the solutions are mixed together, and on precipitation
by an alkaline carbonate, carbonate of soda, for example, a double sulphate of soda
and insoluble carbonates are produced. The alloy is obtained by washing and
reducing the mixture of the two carbonates.
If chlorides are acted upon precipitation is effected by lime or other base.
An insoluble metallic salt is obtained by a double decomposition brought about
by the contact of an insoluble non metallic salt with a solution of a soluble metallic.
salt. For example,―
By placing insoluble phosphate of lime in a solution of bi-chloride of copper
there is obtained chloride of calcium, which is soluble, and insoluble phosphate of
copper. This latter, washed and roasted, gives phosphuret of copper (du phosphure
de cuivre), the principal object of the reaction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd February 1882.
"
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster,
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF METALS AND METALLIC
ALLOYS BY THE WET PROCESS." (A communication from abroad by Lucien Guétat
and Trénée Chavanne, of Paris, France.)
According to this Invention insoluble salts which by their reduction furnish
metallic alloys are obtained in definite proportions by double decomposition in the
wet process.
Chromium iron applicable for the introduction of determined quantities of
chromium into iron or steel may be obtained according to this Invention as
follows:-
A neutral double chromate of potash and lime, or of soda and lime, is mixed in
equivalent proportions with a chloride of iron, and there results, by double
decomposition insoluble chromate of iron and soluble chloride of potassium and
calcium, or of sodium and calcium. The soluble salts are removed by washing.
The chromate may be conveniently reduced by being dried and roasted, and then
mixed with a sufficient quantity of charcoal powder to effect the reduction, the
whole being bound together with agglutinative or fatty matter, and placed in
plumbago crucibles which are carefully luted. These crucibles are afterwards put
in a furnace, where they are heated gradually from a dull red to white heat, the
temperature sufficient to reduce and melt the metals. It is important that the
chromate serving to obtain chromate of iron should always be a neutral chromate,
otherwise an acid chromate of iron, which is soluble, will be formed. Tungsten
iron applicable for the introduction of determined quantities of tungsten into iron
and steel may be obtained according to this Invention as follows:-
-
A soluble tungstate of potash, soda, or ammonia is mixed in equivalent propor-
tions with a chloride or a sulphate of iron, and there is obtained by double
decomposition insoluble tungstate of iron and soluble chloride of potassium, sodium,
or ammonia, or sulphate of potassium, soda, or ammonia. The insoluble tungstate
may be washed, dried, and roasted, and finally reduced by the method above
indicated for the chromate.
Phosphide of copper applicable for the introduction of determined quantities of
phosphorous into copper or alloys of copper may be prepared as follows:-
A bichloride of copper is mixed in equivalent proportions with artificial or
natural phosphate of lime, and there is obtained by double decomposition insoluble
phosphate of copper and chloride of calcium, which latter is separated by washing,
and reduced by any convenient method.
There should be added to the phosphate employed a quantity of lime sufficient,
and even more than sufficient, to ensure it being in the tribasic state of the form
POS 3 CaO.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which it is to be or may be performed or carried into effect as communicated to
me as aforesaid, I would have it understood that no claim is made to the exclusive
use of the chemical reactions bereinabove described, as such are well known to
chemists, and are only given in explanation of the manner in which the Invention
may be performed; but what is considered to be novel and original and is
therefore claimed as secured to me by the Letters Patent hereinbefore in part
recited is,
1. The production or manufacture of metallic alloys (including chromium iron,
tungsten iron, phosphide of copper, etc.), in definite proportions by the reduction of

page_text: a salt containing the required metallic or non metallic elements, the said salt being
obtained by double decomposition of two or more salts or oxides, substantially as
described.
2. In the production or manufacture of chromium iron from chromate of iron
obtained by double decomposition of a chromate salt and of a salt of iron, substan-
tially as hereinabove described, the employment of a neutral chromate.
3. In the production or manufacture of phosphide of copper from phosphate of
copper, obtained by the double decomposition of bichloride of copper and phosphato
of lime, substantially as hereinabove described, the employment of means to ensure
the phosphate of lime being in the tribasic state, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
W. LLOYD WISE. (L.S.)