A NEW OR IMPROVED REFRACTORY MATERIAL OR COMPOSITION FOR LINING PUDDLING AND OTHER FURNACES, AND FOR OTHER USES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "A NEW OR
IMPROVED REFRACTORY MATERIAL OR COMPOSITION FOR LINING PUDDLING AND
OTHER FURNACES, AND FOR OTHER USES." A communication from abroad by
Marie Eugène Paul Audouin, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st March 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "A NEW OR IMPROVED REFRACTORY MATERIAL OR COMPOSITION FOR
LINING PUDDLING AND OTHER FURNACES, AND FOR OTHER USES."
This Invention relates to the application and use for lining puddling and other
furnaces (and for other purposes as will be hereafter described), of a composition
or substance calculated to more effectually resist the action of oxide of iron than
any other material heretofore employed for the purpose. This material is oxide of
chromium which is capable of resisting the very highest temperatures employed in
furnaces and laboratories (such as the Siemens furnace and furnaces heated by dead
oils), and is also proof against the action of oxide of iron at the highest degrees of
heat. There is no danger of the oxide being reduced under the ordinary conditions
of working, and moreover the presence of a small quantity of chromium would not
affect the quality of the iron. This oxide may also be utilized in the manufacture
of fire-proof blocks to be exposed to the action of furnace cinder and scoria, but
with less advantage as by the action of certain principles, more especially potash,
soda, and lime, chromates are eventually formed.
Although oxide of chromium is a rare substance and of high price, yet the raw
material rich in chromium (viz., chrome ore) is found in abundance, and in a great
number of cases I may employ the impure oxide of chromium allied with oxide of
iron in the condition it is found in the ore, which is selected carefully, using only
that containing at least 45 to 50 per cent. of oxide of chromium. This material
may as well as the oxide of chromium, be employed in blocks or of other moulded
forms, produced by pulverizing or reducing the material to the desired degree of
coarseness, moulding, and then burning the same if needed,
The material may be employed either alone or combined with a small per centage
Price Ad71

page_text: of agglomerating substances such as aluminous and other earths, alumina or silicate
of alumina and others.
Oxide of chromium may also be employed with advantage for moulds, into which
metal is run from Bessemer and Martin furnaces, as a substitute for the more or less
silicious matters usually employed which combine with the metal at these high
temperatures, and also in lieu of cast iron moulds, which are expensive and last but
a short time.
Oxide of chromium whether pure or as found in the ore, may also be employed
in furnaces, pots, and retorts used in the manufacture of zinc white for linings and
other parts of furnaces, vaults, and hearths used in the reduction, fusion, or oxidation
of metals, more especially lead, copper, and silver, for making laboratory crucibles,
muffles, pots, and hearths in common glass works, and also gas retorts. Also for
making tuyeres and all kinds of pottery ware and paving tiles, which are harder
than steel, as well as all kinds of bearings, taps, and for other purposes.
The following are the advantages resulting from the use of the above-mentioned
material. It will resist the highest temperatures and is uninfluenced by reducing
or oxidizing flames. When properly prepared it is not liable to contract and resists
sudden variations of temperature, better than any aluminous or silicious material.
Owing to the closeness of its grain and its chemical properties, it resists in the
highest degree the action of fluxes and oxides. It also resists alike the action of
heat and cold as well as friction and shocks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
September 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "A NEW AND IMPROVED REFRACTORY MATERIAL OR COMPOSITION
FOR LINING, PUDDLING, AND OTHER FURNACES, AND FOR OTHER USES."
A com-
munication from abroad by Marie Eugène Paul Audouin, of Paris, France.
Intense heat is not the only agent which acts in an injurious manner on the
refractory linings of furnaces employed in the working of metals. Certain principles
either already existing or resulting from the working of the metals exert a much
more energetic action, among which may be mentioned such matters as cinder,
slag, &c., and more particularly the oxide of iron as produced in the Bessemer,
Siemens, and Martin furnaces, wherein the extremely high temperatures also assist
to a great extent the other causes of destruction. It has been long proved that
pure alumina, which although less fusible than rock crystal, yet cannot resist the
heat of the oxyhydrogen blow pipe, is perfectly adapted to resist the melting
temperature of soft iron, and it has been since shown that bauxite, a raw material
rich in alumina and found in abundance, will also perfectly resist the highest
temperatures hitherto attainable for industrial or practical purposes, 'viz., that
produced by the combustion of dead oils in a suitable furnace. This material
however which presents certain objections when used for the manufacture of articles
or materials brought in contact with fusible or corrosive principles, resists but
imperfectly the action of the oxide of iron produced in the Bessemer or Siemens
processes.
It has also been proposed to employ oxide of iron as found in nature or produced
artificially as a lining for puddling, cupola, rotary, and other furnaces, but hitherto
with imperfect results more especially when working at higher temperatures than
those ordinarily employed.
This Invention relates to the application and use for lining puddling and other
furnaces (and other uses as will be herein-after described) of a refractory material
calculated to more effectually resist the action of oxide of iron than any other

page_text: material heretofore employed for the purpose. This material is oxide of chromium
which is capable of resisting the very highest temperatures employed in furnaces
and laboratories (such as the Siemens furnace and furnaces heated by means of dead
oils) and of resisting the action of oxide of iron at the highest degrees of heat.
There is no danger of the oxide being reduced under the ordinary conditions of
working, and moreover the presence of a small quantity of chromium would be far
from impairing the quality of the iron. This oxide may also be utilized in the
manufacture of refractory blocks to be exposed to the action of furnace cinder
and slag, but with less advantage as the action of certain matters more especially
potash, soda, and lime, results eventually in the formation of chromates.
Although oxide of chromium itself is at present a rare substance and of high
price yet the raw material rich in chromium (viz., chroine ore) is found in abundance,
and in a great number of cases I may employ the impure oxide of chromium allied
with oxide of iron as found in the ore, which is selected carefully, using only that
containing at least 45 to 50 per cent. of oxide of chromium. This material as well
as the oxide of chromium itself may be employed in blocks or of other moulded
forms produced by pulverizing the material to the desired degree of coarseness,
compressing and then burning the same if needed.
The material may be employed either alone or combined with a small per contage
of agglomerating substances, such as aluminous or other earths, alumina or silicate
of alumina, and others.
Oxide of chromium may also be employed with advantage for making any vessel
or capacity other than the furnace properly so called, in which the metal in fusion is
to be contained, and it may therefore be used with advantage for the ingot and
other moulds into which the metal is run from Bessemer, Martin, and other furnaces
and crucibles as a substitute for the more or less silicious matters usually employed,
which combine with the metal at these high temperatures, and in lieu of cast iron
moulds which are expensive and last but a short time.
Oxide of chromium whether pure or as found in the natural ore may also be
employed for the construction of the furnaces, pots, and retorts used in the manu
facture of zinc white for linings and other parts of furnaces used in the reduction,
fusion, or oxidation of metals, more especially lead, copper, and silver, for making
laboratory crucibles, furnaces of all kinds, muffles, pots, and hearths, in common
glass works, and also gas retorts, also for making tuyeres and all kinds of pottery
ware for industrial and domestic use, and paving tiles possessing a hardness superior
to that of steel as well as all kinds of bearings and taps, and for moulds used in
casting steel and other metals.
The following are the advantages resulting from the use of the above mentioned
material. It will resist the highest temperatures and is uninfluenced by reducing
or oxidizing flames. When properly prepared it is not liable to contract and resists
sudden variations of temperature better than any aluminous or silicious material.
Owing to the closeness of its texture and its chemical properties it is but slowly
attacked by the action of fluxes and oxides. It also resists alike when hot or cold
the action of friction and blows.
The pure or natural oxide of chromium prepared as above described is also
adapted by reason of its peculiar properties as a lining or coating for the moulds
and cores used in casting solid or hollow projectiles. The use of such a material
which is unalterable and conducts heat slowly prevents the formation of air cells.
It may also be applied as a lining or coating for apparatus used in compressing cast
or Bessemer steel in the manufacture of ordnance.
The composition may also be applied with advantage for the manufacture of
grinding wheels and surfaces as a substitute for emery and other wheels for grinding
metal articles, mills for grinding grain, &c., artificial sharpening, and other stones.
Reduced to a fine powder before or after being baked this material may also be used
for the manufacture of emery paper and cloth. Owing to its powers of resistance
to the action of sulphuric, hydrochloric, or nitric acids, either hot or cold, chlorine, &c.,
and nitrous vapors, the oxide of chromium in a pure or natural condition moulded

page_text: to the proper form and baked may be used with advantage for making vessels,
receivers, and other apparatus, used in chemical manufactories as a lining for chambers
used in the concentration of sulphuric acid, &c.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the use and application of oxide of chromium
(whether in a pure or natural condition, and either alone or mixed with other
refractory materials) pulverized and agglomerated by pressure into bricks or
moulded of other forms, as and for the various purposes herein-before specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.