Year: 1896

page_text: A Communication by LA SOCIÉTÉ CIVILE D'ETUDES DU SYNDICAT DE L'ACIER GÉRARD
of 14 Rue de la Victoire, Paris in the Republic of France.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors of G, Lord Street, Liverpool & 6, Bank Street, Manchester both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick & 322, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of steel, and consists in a new method
of treatment of the pig metal with a view to said manufacture.
In the process of steel manufacture at present employed comprising the use of
apparatus provided with basic linings for the purpose of treating phosphoric and
slightly sulphurous pig- or raw-metal, it is generally admitted that the phosphorus
contained in such pig combines with the lime of the lining and forms phosphate
of lime, which passes into the slag and is thus eliminated."
Recent experiments have led us to believe that the reactions take place differ-
ently, and that under the action of the high temperatures employed and in the
presence of iron, the lime decomposes and its oxygen burns off the silicon, carbon
and phosphorus contained in the pig metal, which pass into the slag, whilst a
part of the calcium thus liberated combines with the steel giving the particular
properties sought for, and another part of this calcium absorbs the oxygen of the
oxides of iron, manganese and the like which may be contained in the converter
in order to again form lime, which combines with the slag and renders it more
fluid.
In operating in this manner and with the object of directly producing calcium
in the bath of metal to be treated, a small quantity of sodium is placed at the
bottom of a crucible (less than 1% of the metal to be treated) and this sodium
is covered with about 3 % of chloride of calcium. The crucible is then filled with
iron filings or small fragments of ordinary grey pig and suitably heated for about
one hour. The operation furnishes an ingot of steel of very fine texture present-
ing no trace of bubbles or blow holes, and it is found that this metal, which is
very sound in all its parts, may also be forged and tempered like steel of good
quality.
The reactions which are produced in this case may be explained in the following
manner:
Under the action of the high temperature, the sodium decomposes the chloride

page_text: of calcium, absorbs the chlorine in order to form chloride of sodium, and liberates
the calcium which alloys itself with the molten metal from which it eliminates
all the impurities, comprising phosphorus and sulphur which form a light slag
floating on the surface of the molten metal, or they escape in a gaseous condition.
Although this method of manufacture allows of steel being obtained at a lower
price than has been possible up to the present, means will now be indicated for
enabling the operation to be simplified and the metal to be treated in large masses
as is done in ordinary processes.
Observing that on the one hand the action of calcium is instantaneous and that
on the other hand the reactions which it causes produce heat, it is evident that
the transformation of the pig metal into steel may be effected in the foundry
ladle itself immediately on its exit from the cupola.
In this case it is preferable to employ, according to the masses to be treated,
suitable proportions of sodium and chloride of calcium with the addition of a
little lime as flux, and then to immerse this mixture, simply wrapped in paper,
for instance, in the ladle full of molten metal by means of a sort of spoon suitably
arranged for this purpose and provided with a long handle. Under these con-
ditions the reaction takes place very rapidly and the impurities eliminated which
rise to the surface by means of the slag may be easily removed, and the metal
refined and converted into steel may be poured off immediately.
In order to vary the qualities of the steel obtained according to the purpose for
which it is destined, manganese, tungsten, nickel aluminium, titanium, chromium
and the like may be added to the compound hereinbefore indicated, either, in a
metallic condition or in the condition of alloys or of salts. It is evident besides
that the addition of these same substances may be made with the same object in
the treatment in the crucible hereinbefore mentioned. The choice of the sub-
stances and their proportions will vary necessarily according to the nature and
the qualities of the metal it is desired to attain. The right is also reserved of
effecting the transformation of the pig metal into steel in the cupola itself, where
it is subjected to fusion, by adding in suitable proportions the composition herein-
before indicated (sodium, chloride of calcium and lime) to each of the charges of
pig metal alternately introduced with the combustible into the cupola in such a
way as to there bring about the same reactions as hereinbefore mentioned in order
that the molten metal collected at the bottom of the well shall be actual steel.
In this case, as before, the qualities of the steel obtained may also be varied by
the addition of the bodies hereinbefore indicated: chromium, tungsten and the
like.
In the present specification chloride of calcium has been mentioned more parti-
cularly with a view to the reaction to be produced for the purification of pig
metal and its transformation into steel, but it must be understood that there
can equally well be employed any other substance capable of producing similar
reactions. It has even been found that fluoride of calcium also yields good
results. There may also be pointed out for this purpose the application more
particularly of aluminium, magnesium, baryta and in general of various salts,
chlorides or fluorides of the earthy metals which experience may recommend as
of suitable and economical use.
It is equally evident that the sodium employed for the operation may be replaced
by potassium or other metals of the same series.
Finally, with the same object of economy, the right is reserved of producing
the sodium or other similar metal at the actual moment when it is to be employed,
thus a mixture of soda and coal, or of potash and coal may be made use of, which,
under the action of the high temperatures employed, may produce the correspond-
ing metals for the use herein before indicated.
Dated this 11th day of November 1896.

page_text: A Communication by LA SOCIETE CIVILE D'ETUDES DU SYNDICAT DE L'ACIER GÉRARD,
of 14 Rue de la Victoire, Paris in the Republic of France.
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 322 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:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of steel, and consists in a new method
of treatment of the pig metal with a view to said manufacture.
In the process of steel manufacture at present employed comprising the use of
apparatus provided with basic linings for the purpose of treating phosphoric and
slightly sulphurous pig- or raw-metal, it is generally admitted that the phosphorus
contained in such pig combines with the lime of the lining and forms phosphate
of lime, which passes into the slag and is thus eliminated.
Recent experiments have led us to believe that the reactions take place differ-
ently, and that under the action of the high temperatures employed and in the
presence of iron, the lime decomposes and its oxygen burns off the silicon, carbon
and phosphorus contained in the pig metal, which pass into the slag, whilst a
part of the calcium thus liberated combines with the steel giving the particular
properties sought for, and another part of this calcium absorbs the oxygen of the
oxides of iron, manganese and the like which may be contained in the molten metal
in order to again form lime, which combines with the slag and renders it more
fluid.
In operating in this manner and with the object of directly producing calcium
in the bath of metal to be treated, a small quantity of sodium is placed at the
bottom of a crucible (less than 1% of the metal to be treated) and this sodium
is covered with about 3% of chloride of calcium. The crucible is then filled with
iron filings or small fragments of ordinary grey pig and suitably heated for about
one hour. The operation furnishes an ingot of steel of very fine texture present-
ing no trace of bubbles or blow holes, and it is found that this metal, which is
very sound in all its parts, may also be forged and tempered like steel of good
quality.
The reactions which are produced in this case may be explained in the following
manner:-
Under the action of the high temperature, the sodium decomposes. the chloride
of calcium, absorbs the chlorine in order to form chloride of sodium, and liberates
the calcium which alloys itself with the molten metal from which it eliminates
all the impurities, comprising phosphorus and sulphur which form a light slag
floating on the surface of the molten metal, or they escape in a gaseous condition.
Although this method of manufacture allows of steel being obtained at a lower
price than has been possible up to the present, means will now be indicated for
enabling the operation to be simplified and the metal to be treated in large masses
as is done in ordinary processes.
Observing that on the one hand the action of calcium is instantaneous and that
on the other hand the reactions which it, causes produce heat, it is evident that
the transformation of the pig metal into steel may be effected in the foundry
ladle itself immediately on its exit from the cupola.

page_text: In this case it is preferable to employ, according to the masses to be treated,
suitable proportions of sodium and chloride of calcium with the addition of a
little lime as flux, and then to immerse this mixture, simply wrapped in paper,
for instance, in the ladie full of molten metal by means of a sort of spoon suitably
arranged for this purpose and provided with a long handle. Under these con-
ditions the reaction takes place very rapidly and the impurities eliminated form
a slag which rises to the surface and may be easily removed, and the metal
refined and converted into steel may be poured off immediately.
In order to vary the qualities of the steel obtained according to the purpose for
which it is destined, manganese, tungsten, nickel aluminium, titanium, chromium
and the like may be added to the compound herein before indicated, either in a
metallic condition or in the condition of alloys or of salts. It is evident besides
that the addition of these same substances may be made with the same object in
the treatment in the crucible hereinbefore mentioned. The choice of the sub-
stances and their proportions, will vary necessarily according to the nature and
the qualities of the metal it is desired to attain. The right is also reserved of
effecting the transformation of the pig metal into steel in the cupola itself, where
it is subjected to fusion, by adding in suitable proportions the composition herein-
before indicated (sodium, chloride of calcium and lime) to each of the charges of
pig metal alternately introduced with the combustible into the cupola in such a
way as to there bring about the same reactions as hereinbefore mentioned in order
that the molten metal collected at the bottom of the well shall be actual steel.
In this case, as before, the qualities of the steel obtained may also be varied by
the addition of the bodies hereinbefore indicated: chromium, tungsten and the
like.
In the present specification chloride of calcium has been mentioned more parti-
cularly with a view to the reaction to be produced for the purification of pig
metal and its transformation into steel, but it must be understood that there
can equally well be employed any other substauce capable of producing similar
reactions. It has even been found that fluoride of calcium also yields good
results. There may also be pointed out for this purpose the application more
particularly of alumina, magnesia, baryta and. in general of various salts,
chlorides or fluorides of the earthy metals which experience may recommend as
of suitable and economical use.
It is equally evident that the sodium employed for the operation may be replaced
by potassium or other metals of the same series.
Finally, with the same object of economy, the right is reserved of producing
the sodium or other similar metal at the actual moment when it is to be employed,
thus a mixture of soda and coal, or of potash and coal may be made use of, which,
under the action of the high temperatures employed, may produce the correspond-
ing metals for the use herein before indicated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention 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. A method of steel manufacture which consists essentially in causing an
alkaline metal such as sodium to react at a high temperature in a bath of pig
metal on a chloride, fluoride oxide or salt of an earthy metal such as calcium in
order to liberate the said earthy metal one portion of which unites with the steel
and improves its quality whilst the other portion causes, in the presence of the
lime or flux added, the elimination of the phosphorus or sulphur contained in
the pig, substantially as herein before described..
2. In the manufacture of crucible steel, the introduction the bottom of the
crucible of a given proportion of sodium or other alkaline mrtal and chloride of
calcium or other oride or salt of an earthy metal, the wheeing covered with
pig metal broken into fragments and then heated for a suf. ent time; substan-
tially as herein before described.
J

page_text: 3. In the manufacture of steel in a cupola the introduction with the successive
charges of pig metal and fuel, of a mixture formed of sodium or other alkaline
metal, chloride of calcium or other oxide or salt of an earthy metal and lime,
substantially as herein before described.
4. In order to obtain the immediate conversion into steel of the molten pig metal
in the cupola the introduction into the ladle filled with molten metal of a mixture
in suitable proportions of sodium, chloride of calcium, and lime with the addition
of certain metals suited to the quality of the steel which it is desired to obtain,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 4th day of August 1897
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.