IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF STEEL AND IRON, AND IN THE DEPHOSPHORIZATION THEREOF
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Calley Manico, of (for obtaining Letters Patent)
The London and Provincial Patent Office, 15, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF STEEL AND IRON, AND IN THE DEPHOSPHORIZATION THEREOF."
A communication from abroad by Monsieur Ld. Boblique, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
Sealed the 11th May 1880, and dated the 13th November 1879.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Calley Manico at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1879.
EDWARD CALLEY MANICO, of (for obtaining Letters Patent) The London and
Provincial Patent Office, 15, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL AND IRON, AND IN
DEPHOSPHORIZATION THEREOF." A communication from abroad by Monsieur Ld.
Boblique, of Paris, in the Rupublic of France.
THE
This Invention relates to the manufacture of steel and iron and to the dephospho-
rization thereof. Many methods have been proposed for removing the phosphorns
in pig iron, but the principal ones have a common character and consist in the
oxidization of the phosphorus, its conversion into phosphoric acid, and afterwards
into phosphate (chiefly into phosphate of iron), but the phosphate of iron when
melted with the iron becomes decomposed and leaves some phosphorus in the iron.
Lime and magnesia have also been used, but the phosphates of lime and of magnesin
are wholly or nearly infusible, and not easily separated from the metal.
It has also been proposed to line iron and steel making furnaces or apparatus
with lime, magnesia, or dolomite conglomerated, but these linings are quickly
destroyed.
The essential features of my Invention are the use in the puddling furnace or in
any ordinary iron or steel making furnace or apparatus of alumina, either free or
combined with soda, lime, barytes, magnesia, or with the oxides of iron, to produce
fusible aluminates, the same being either prepared in advance or produced directly
in the furnaces, or produced in any suitable apparatus and added to the metal in
the furnace for the purpose of dephosphorizing it.

page_text: I propose therefore to use in the puddling furnace, or in the furnaces of Martin-
Siemens, Siemens, or in the Bessemer converters, and in any other apparatus used
for the same purpose, a certain quantity of alumina, either pure or combined
with lime, magnesia, soda, potash, or with the oxides of iron, to render it more
fusible.
The alumina plays in the chemical reaction the part of a base or of an acid,
whence it results that in the case of dephosphorization far from displacing the
phosphoric acid as the silicion does it combines itself with it to form a very firm
phosphate of alumina, which can be melted by contact with iron and steel without
ceeding or imparting to them traces of phosphorus.
The phosphate of alumina resists the decomposing action of the silicon, so that
the use of this alumina permits of less importance being attached to the presence
of a small quantity of silicon. I can use either the hydrate of alumina or free
alumina, but I prefer to employ the ferruginous alumina called bauxite.
This mineral (bauxite) is added to the metal in the puddling furnace (or in the
furnaces of Martin-Siemens, the Bessemer converters, or in any other apparatus)
with a certain quantity of oxide of iron, and if necessary of lime, or magnesia,
pure or combined with carbonic acid; that is to say, carbonate of lime, or carbonate
of magnesia, or dolomite.
If it is desirable to have the dross or slag more fusible it is necessary to add in
the furnaces or in the apparatus used some chlorides or fluorides of calcium or
sodium, but it is better to use some cryolite, which is a fluoride of alumina and
sodium.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Calley Manico in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
May 1880.
EDWARD CALLEY MANICO, of (for obtaining Letters Patent) The London and
Provincial Patent Office, 15, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL AND IRON, AND IN THE
DEPHOSPHORIZATION THEREOF." A communication from abroad by Monsienr Ld.
Boblique, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to improvements in the process of manufacture of iron
and steel, and has for its object the dephosphorization of the iron and steel during
the process of manufacture.
Many method have been proposed for removing the phosphorus in pig iron, but
the principal ones have a common character, and consist in the oxidization of the
phosphorus, its conversion into phosphoric acid, and afterwards into phosphates
(chiefly into phosphates of iron), but the phosphate of iron when melted with the
iron becomes decomposed and leaves some phosphorus in the iron.
Lime and magnesia have also been used, but the phosphates of lime and of
magnesia are wholly or nearly infusible and not easily separated from the metal.
It has also been proposed to line iron and steel making furnaces or apparatus
with lime, magnesia, or dolomite conglomerated, but these linings are quickly
destroyed.
The essential features of my Invention are the use in the puddling furnace or in
any ordinary iron or steel making furnace or apparatus of alumina, either free or
combined with soda, lime, barytes, magnesia, or with the oxides of iron, to produce
fusible aluminates, the same being either prepared in advance or produced directly
in the furnaces, or produced in any suitable apparatus and added to the metal in
the furnace for the purpose of dephosphorizing it.
I use in the puddling furnaces or in the furnaces of Martin-Siemens, Siemens, or
in the Bessemer converters, and in any other apparatus used for the same purpose,
a certain quantity of alumina, either pure or combined with lime, magnesia, soda,
potash, or with the oxides of iron, to render it more fusible.
The alumina plays in the chemical reaction the part of a base or of an acid,
whence it results that in the case of dephosphorization far from displacing the
phosphoric acid as the silicon does it combines itself with it to form a very firm
phosphate of alumina, which can be melted by contact with iron and steel without
ceeding or imparting to them traces of phosphorus.
The phosphate of alumina resists the decomposing action of the silicon, so that
the use of this alumina permits of less importance being attached to the presence
of a small quantity of silicon. I can use either the hydrate of alumina or free
alumina, but I prefer the ferrugenous alumina called bauxite.
This mineral is added in the puddling furnace (or in the furnace of Martin-
Siemens, the Bessemer converter, or in any other apparatus) with a certain quantity
of oxide of iron, and if necessary of lime or magnesia, pure or combined with
carbonic acid; that is to say, carbonate of lime, or carbonate of magnesia, or
dolomite.
If it is desirable to have the dross or slab more fusible it is necessary to add in
the furnaces or in the apparatus used some chlorides or fluorides of calcium or
sodium, but it is better to use some cryolite (which is a fluoride of alumina and

page_text: The ferrugenous alumina (bauxite) above described I place in the puddling
furnace in the proportion of from five to eight per cent. (according to the quality
of the iron) of the iron which is being operated upon, and I melt the ferrugenous
alumina with the iron and mix it therewith, and I puddle the iron in the ordinary
manner, during which operation the iron is dephosphorised by the said ferrugenous
alumina.
The ferruginous alumina above described is used in the same manner and for the
same purpose in steel making furnaces.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
Improvements in the manufacture of steel and iron, and in the dephosphorization
thereof, by the employment of ferrugenous alumina (bauxite) in ordinary furnaces
or apparatus, the said ferrugenous alumina being used in the proportion and in the
manner herein before specified and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Calley Manico, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
מחיI
ATT BY
ANTICO
ATTENTIO
EDWARD CALLEY MANIC0. (L.S.)