IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ALLOYS OF NICKEL WITH ZINC
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Carl Glaser, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of
Prussia, and Empire of Germany, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ALLOYS OF NICKEL WITH ZINC."
A communication by Dr. Theodor Fleitmann, of Iserlohn, in the Kingdom of
Prussia, and Empire of Germany.
Sealed the 6th February 1880, and dated the 6th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Carl Glaser at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1879.
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and Empire of
Germany, Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF
ALLOYS OF NICKEL WITH ZINC." [A communication by Dr. Theodor Fleitmann, of
Iserlohn, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and Empire of Germany.]
According to received theories it is generally assumed that the combined oxides
of nickel and zinc separate in such a manner on being highly heated with reducing
agents that metallic nickel is produced while the zine is evaporated.. This assump-
tion is, however, not correct, as according to the present Invention it is possible to
obtain by the reduction of combined oxides of nickel and zinc metallic nickel
containing as much as ten per cent. of zinc, only a portion of this metal being
evaporated. Even at the melting point of nickel there remains five per cent. or
more of the zinc, and the nickel receives by this process of manufacture most
important properties in regard to its toughness and density, and yields, with an
addition of one tenth per cent. of magnesium, an exceedingly tough and ductile
metal which otherwise has all the properties of pure nickel.
According to one method of carrying out this Invention mixed solutions of nickel
and zinc are jointly precipitated by means of an alkali or other base, and the
mixture of oxides obtained is purified and heated in the usual way for the manu-
facture of nickel.
According to another method mixtures of compounds of both metals, such as, for
instance, the sulphate, oxalate or carbonate compounds are converted by heating to
the corresponding oxides, and the combined oxides obtained are then treated in the
ordinary way.

page_text: According to another method purified oxide of nickel is mixed mechanically with
sufficient purified oxide of zinc, and the mixture is then treated according to any
of the known processes for its reduction to the metallic state.
The same result may also be obtained by previously slightly reducing the nickel
oxide, and after pulverization, mixing and heating the same together with zinc
oxide and a reducing agent, in which operation the nascent zinc vapour com-
bines with the finely divided nickel.
Or again, the said combination can be obtained by introducing vapours of zinc
among spongy reduced nickel while this is being heated to melting point.
The product obtained in the above manner yields with rapid smelting nickel 1
containing a greater or less per centage of zinc, which not only affords tough
castings but can also be rolled or drawn into plates or wire either cold or hot.
The production of a similar alloy by admixture of zinc with molten nickel does
not succeed, because at that heat the volatilisation of the zinc is too rapid.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Friedrich Carl Glaser, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
February 1880..
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and Empire of
Germany, Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF
ALLOYS OF NICKEL WITH ZINC." A communication by Dr. Theodor Fleitmann, of
Iserlohn, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and Empire of Germany.
According to received theories it is generally assumed that the combined oxides
of nickel and zinc separate in such a manner on being highly heated with reducing
agents that metallic nickel is produced while the zinc is evaporated. This assump-
tion is, however, not correct, as according to the present Invention it is possible to
obtain by the reduction of combined oxides of nickel and zinc metallic nickel
containing as much as ten per cent. of zinc, only a portion of this metal being
evaporated. Even at the melting point of nickel there remains five per cent. or
more of the zinc, and the nickel receives by this process of manufacture most
important properties in regard to its toughness and density, and yields with an
addition of one tenth per cent. of magnesium an exceedingly tough and ductile
metal which otherwise has all the properties of pure nickel. According to one
method of carrying out this Invention mixed solutions of nickel and zinc are jointly
precipitated by means of an alkali or other base, and the mixture of oxides obtained
is purified and heated in the usual way for the manufacture of nickel. According
to another method mixtures of compounds of both metals, such as for instance the
sulphate, oxalate, or carbonate compounds are converted by heating to the
corresponding oxides, and the combined oxides obtained are then treated in the
ordinary way. According to another method purified oxide of nickel is mixed
mechanically with sufficient purified oxide of zinc, and the mixture is then treated
according to any of the known processes for its reduction to the metallic state.
The same result may also be obtained by previously slightly reducing the nickel
oxide, and after pulverization mixing and heating the same together with zinc
oxide and a reducing agent, in which operation the nascent zinc vapour combines
with the finely divided nickel. Or, again, the said combination can be obtained
by introducing vapours of zinc among spongy reduced nickel while this is being
heated to melting point. The product obtained in the above manner yields, with
rapid melting, nickel containing a greater or less percentage of zinc, which not only
affords tough castings but can also be rolled or drawn into plates or wires either
cold or hot. The production of a similar alloy by admixture of zinc with molten
nickel does not succeed, because at that heat the volatilisation of the zinc is too
rapid.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed as communicated to me by my correspondent, I claim in
respect of the production of alloys of nickel and zinc the following processes :-
First. Precipitating by an alkali or other base from mixed nickel and zinc
solutions a mixture of the oxides of these metals, purifying and reducing the
mixture.
Second Converting by heat mixed compounds such as sulphates, oxalates, or
carbonates of nickel and zinc to mixed oxides, and reducing the mixture.
Third. Mixing mechanically purified oxides of nickel and of zinc, and reducing
the mixture.
Fourth. Slightly reducing nickel-oxide, pulverising the same, and mixing there-
with zinc oxide, and reducing the mixture.

page_text: ร
Fifth. Introducing zinc vapour into spongy reduced nickel while it is being
melted.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Carl Glaser, have hereunto set my
.
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.