An Improved Process of Manufacturing Improved Alloys of Refractory Metals with More Fusible Metals.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1895-Accepted, 1st Feb.,
1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process of Manufacturing Improved Alloys of
Refractory Metals with More Fusible Metals. .
A communication by LA SOCIÉTÉ NÉO-METALLURGIE MARBEAU, CHAPLET & CO.,
of 16, Rue Drouot, Paris, in the Republic of France, Metallurgists.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birminghani, in
the County of Warwick, and 31, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improved alloys which form the object of this invention may be composed of
one or more of the so-called "refractory metals such as chromium, tungsten,
molybdium, and the like and of one or more fusible metals such as nickel, cobalt,
manganese, iron, copper, aluminium and the like in such proportions as regards
each of these various metals as are most suitable for the purposes to which the
alloys which are to be produced are ultimately intended.
"
The refractory metals which are to be treated are employed in the form of
oxides, whilst the more fusible metals are employed in a metallic state but may
also be employed in the form of oxides.
Before their treatment, the oxides are previously mixed with the quantity of
carbon necessary for their reduction. The alloys which it is desired to produce
are obtained in a suitable electric furnace heated by horizontal arcs in such a way
as to avoid any contact of the carbon electrodes with the metals and the oxides
under treatment, and consequently any carburetting of the products obtained.
The process is carried out in the following manner :-
A suitable quantity of the more fusible metal or metals intended to enter into
the composition of the alloy which is to be produced is first introduced in a
metallic form into the furnace and fusion is effected; or a corresponding quantity
of the metal or metals herein before mentioned is introduced into the furnace in
the form of oxide mixed with the quantity of carbon necessary for its reduction,
and the reduction and fusion (in this latter case) simultaneously effected. The
result in both these cases is the production of a metallic bath into which the oxide
or oxides of the refractory metals prepared in the manner herein before mentioned
are charged successively in such a way as to regularly follow the working of the
furnace until the total quantity of oxide or oxides corresponding to the quantity
of the refractory metal or metals required for the composition of the alloy which
is to be produced, has been inserted in the furnace.
In the course of this part of the operation the reduction and the simultaneous
fusion of the oxide or oxides is operated in contact with the bath to which the
refractory metal or metals thus obtained are added proportionately as the fusion
proceeds in order to form an alloy of the various metals subjected to the treatment
hereinbefore described in the proportion and quantity decided on for each of
them.
This alloy is then run into ingots, plates, or grains.
The same alloys are also obtained by previously mixing oxide or oxides of
the refractory metals with oxide or oxides of the more fusible metals which
are to be treated, each of these various oxides being taken in a proportion and

page_text: quantity which corresponds to the composition and quantity of the alloy which is
to be produced.
To this mixture of the various oxides the quantity of carbon necessary for
their reduction is added. They are then treated by a suitable quantity being first
introduced into the furnace. Under the action of electric. arcs a reduction and
fusion of the oxide or oxides of the more fusible metal or metals is first effected,
and constitutes the commencement of the metallic bath on contact with which the
reduction and simultaneouis fusion of the oxides (a mixture of which is introduced
into the furnace, in such a way as to regularly follow the working of the furnace)
will be successively effected.
The fused metals mingle and alloy themselves with the metallic bath gradually
as they are produced, and when the quantity of the alloy thus obtained attains the
limits of the capacity of the furnace, the tapping of the furnace is effected as has
been herein before mentioned.
The same alloys may be obtained by the same processes, by using the refractory
metals, which are to be treated, in the form of metallic powder, that is to say of
oxides reduced by electrolysis for instance or other suitable means.
In this case
the fusion of the said reduced oxides is effected on contact with the metallic bath
composed of the more fusible metal or metals; to which bath they are added and
alloy themselves as they become fused, forming thus the alloys which are to be
produced, and which are then run from the furnace as hereinbefore mentioned.
By the 'menns and processes herein before described, exactly calculated alloys of
all proportions and more particularly of high proportions of the so-called
"refractory" metal or metals are produced practically and industrially, which
refractory metals may be alloyed for instance in the proportions of 70, 75. or
80 per cent., or even more, of the product. These alloys by reason of their molten
metallic condition and also of their fusibility which greater than that of the
non-alloyed refractory metals, allow of their being added, in any precise but
usually small quantity (comprised between 2% and 2.5% for instance) in a
practical and certain manner to other metals and their alloys in a state of fusion,
and more particularly to iron and steel to which they communicate their inherent
qualities.
Dated this 18th day of Auril 1895.
An Improved Process of Manufacturing Improved Alloys of
Refractory Metals with More Fusible Metals.
A communication by LA SOCIÉTÉ NÉO-MÉTALLURGIE MARBEAU CHAPLET & CO.,
of 16 Rue Dronot, Paris, in the Republic of France, Metallurgists.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in
the County of Warwick and 31 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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 :-
The improved alloys which form the object of this invention may be composed
of one or more of the so-called "refractory" metals, such as chromium, tungsten,
molybdium, and the like and of one or more fusible metals such as nickel, cobalt,
manganese, iron, copper, aluminium and the like in such proportions as regards

page_text: each of these various metals as are most suitable for the purposes for which the
alloys which are to be produced are ultimately intended.
The refractory metals which are to be treated are employed in the form of
oxides, whilst the more fusible metals are employed in a metallic state but may
also be employed in the form of oxides.
Before their treatment, the oxides are previously mixed with the quantity of
carbon necessary for their reduction. The alloys which it is desired to produce
are obtained in a suitable electric furnace heated by horizontal arcs in such a way
as to avoid any contact of the carbon electrodes with the metals and the oxides
under treatment, and consequently any carburetting of the products obtained.
The process is carried out in the following manner :-
A suitable quantity of the more fusible metal or metals intended to enter into
the composition of the alloy which is to be produced is first introduced in a
metallic form into the furnace and fusion is effected; or. a corresponding quantity
of the metal or metals hereinbefore mentioned is introduced into the furnace in the
form of oxide mixed with the quantity of carbon necessary for its reduction, and
the reduction and fusion (in this latter case) simultaneously effected. The result
in both these cases is the production of a metallic bath into which the oxide or
oxides of the refractory metals prepared in the manner herein before mentioned
are charged successively in such a way as to regularly follow the working of the
furnace until the total quantity of oxide or oxides corresponding to the quantity of
the refractory metal or metals required for the composition of the alloy which is to
be produced, has been inserted in the furnace.
In the course of this part of the operation the reduction and the simultaneous
fusion of the oxide or oxides is operated in contact with the bath to which the
refractory metal or metals thus obtained are added proportionately as the fusion
proceeds in order to form an alloy of the various metals subjected to the treatment
hereinbefore described in the proportion and quantity decided on for each of them.
This alloy is then run into ingots, plates, or grains.
The same alloys are also obtained by previously mixing oxide or oxides of the
refractory metals with oxide or oxides of the more fusible metals which are to be
treated, each of these various oxides being taken in a proportion and quantity
which corresponds to the composition and quantity of the alloy which is to be
produced.
To this mixture of the various oxides the quantity of carbon necessary for their
reduction is added. They are then treated by a suitable quantity being first
introduced into the furnace. Under the action of electric arcs a reduction and
fusion of the oxide or oxides of the more fusible metal or metals is first effected,
and constitutes the commencement of the metallic bath on contact with which the
reduction and simultaneous fusion of the oxides (a mixture of which is introduced
into the furnace, in such a way as to regularly follow the working of the furnace)
will be successively effected.
The fused metals mingle and alloy themselves with the metallic bath gradually
as they are produced, and when the quantity of the alloy thus obtained attains the
limits of the capacity. of the furnace, the tapping of the furnace is effected as has
been hereinbefore mentioned.
The same alloys may be obtained by the same processes, by using the refractory
metals, which are to be treated, in the form of metallic powder, that is to say of.
oxides reduced by electrolysis for instance, or other suitable means.
In this case
the fusion of the said reduced oxides is effected on contact with the metallic bath
composed of the more fusible metal or metals; to which bath they are added and
alloy themselves as they become fused, forming thus the alloys which are to be
produced, and which are then run from the furnace as herein before mentioned.
By the means and processes herein before described, exactly calculated alloys of
all proportions and more particularly of high proportions of the so-called "refractory"
metal or metals are produced practically and industrially, which refractory
metals may be alloyed for instance in the proportions of 70, 75 or 80 per cent.,

page_text: or even more, of the product. These alloys by reason of their molten metallic
condition and also of their fusibility which is greater than that of the non-alloyed
refractory metals, allow of their being added, in any precise but usually small
quantity (comprised between 2% and 2.5% for instance) in a practical and certain
manner to other metals and their alloys in a state of fusion, and more particularly
to iron and steel to which they communicate their inherent qualities.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The preparation of improved alloys such as hereinbefore specified, in a
suitable electric furnace heated by horizontal arcs in such a way as to avoid any
contact of the carbon electrodes with the metals and oxides under treatment and
consequently to avoid any carburetting of the product obtained substantially as
.described.
2. The improved processes of manufacture herein before described for obtaining in
the various cases mentioned improved alloys of one or more of the refractory
metals such as chromium, tungsten, molybdium and the like, with one or more of
the more fusible metals such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, iron, copper, aluminium
and the like, whereby the said alloys are obtained in a molten metallic state in
various proportions of each of the constituent metals, but mainly with high
proportions of refractory metal or refractory metals, the alloys so produced being
more fusible than these latter refractory metals substantially as set forth.
3. The various applications of the alloys produced in the manner hereinbefore
described, more particularly that of introducing by the intermediation of said
alloys and by melting them, the refractory metals into other metals and their
alloys in fusion, and particularly into iron and steel, to which, when the said
refractory metals. are introduced, they communicate their inherent properties,
substantially as set forth.
: 20th day of December 1805