Improvements in Obtaining Alloys of Aluminium.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 12th Apr. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Obtaining Alloys of Aluminium.
GODFREY BAMBERG 7 Holly Village Highgate Gentleman do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows
Chloride of aluminium or the double chloride of aluminium and sodium is passed as '
a vapour through a pipe or tuyère into the lower end of a suitable receptacle con-'
taining molten metal particularly iron zinc copper or lead. The action of the molten
metal decomposes the chloride of aluminium and the free aluminium is dissolved by
the molten metal.
J
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Obtaining Alloys of Aluminium.
I; GODFREY BAMBERG 7 Holly Village Highgate Gentleman 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 :-
According to my invention, I obtain alloys of aluminium with iron or copper by
first melting down the iron or copper and then after acting thereon with an air blast
in a similar manner to the Bessemer process, for the purpose both of removing
impurities and raising the heat of the metal to a high degree by the combustion of
the carbon and silicon contained therein, injecting the vapours of chloride of aluminium
or of double chloride of aluminium and sodium, or such materials in a fine state of
division which when exposed to the temperature of fused iron or copper, shall produce
the said vapours of chloride or double chloride. The molten iron or copper, at a
very high heat will decompose the chlorides of aluminium, producing chloride of iron
or copper, which pass off as vapour, while the liberated aluminium, being in a nascent
state combines intimately with the fluid metal.
In practically carrying out my said invention the following method may be
advantageously adopted
Assuming the metal to be treated to he iron, this is introduced into a suitable
receptacle somewhat similar to a Bessemer Converter, though preferably of a less
diameter and of greater depth, and provided with holes at bottom for the injection of
the blast, the blast pipe connected thereto being provided with two branches provided
with taps or valves and communicating respectively with the supply of air under
pressure, and of the aluminic chloride vapours under pressure, so that when the air
blast has been admitted to the metal for a sufficient length of time, the supply is cut
off, and the supply of aluminic chloride vapour or a neutral blast containing materials
that will produce the aluminic chloride or double chlorides is admitted
The iron having been brought to a fluid state and the air blast having been turned
on, the fluid metal is poured into the converter and in from 15 to 20 minutes the
carbon and silicon contained in the iron will have been burnt off by the blast,
evolving great heat, so that the metal in the converter is raised to its greatest
heat.
•
The air blast being now turned off, the current of vapours of chloride of aluminium,
double chlorides, or materials to produce the same, is now driven through the fluid
metal, chloride of iron is formed and passes off, being vaporised at that temperature,
while the aluminium is dissolved and retained intimately mixed or combined with
the iron Any percentage of aluminium may thus be obtained by increasing or
decreasing the quantity of aluminic chloride injected The greater the per centage
1

page_text: of silicon and carbon present in the fluid iron previous to the air blast being driven
through, the better, as the temperature will be the higher, the larger the amount of
silicon burnt off.
In the case of copper being used for the production of aluminium bronze, the
most suitable copper for the purpose is such as may have been overpoled and
therefore contains too much carbon for the customary requirements, such excess
of carbon being necessary in my process for bringing the fluid copper to the highest
possible temperature by the action of the air blast, the procedure is otherwise the
same as in the case of iron, as detailed above.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
Producing alloys of aluminium with iron or copper, by first melting down the
iron or copper, and, after raising its temperature to a high degree by the injection
of air blast, injecting into the same vapours of aluminic chloride or of the double
chloride of aluminium and sodium, or of materials that will produce such chlorides
when subjected to the heat of the molten iron or copper substantially as herein
described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.