Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel and Iron.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel and Iron.
I, JAMES MACKINTIRE of 10 Havelock Square Sheffield in the County of York
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
The object of this invention is the manufacture, and production, at a small cost of
steel of a high class and quality out of the more common and less costly grades of iron
by means of the addition of the combination of ingredients hereinafter named, and
which can be used either in the crucible, Bessemer converter, Siemens-Martin, open
hearth process, or with any other method of making steel in use at the present
time.
The same combination of ingredients can also be used with equal facility in the
manufacture of iron for the production of a purer, and better quality of metal, at a
lower cost than has hitherto been possible.
At the present time it has not been found possible to produce with certainty a high
class steel possessing a very high tensile strength, and at the same time retaining
sufficient elongation to preserve the toughness necessary to satisfy the requirements of
engineers. Hitherto steel of the greatest tensile strength has often been found to be
exceedingly brittle, and thus unfit for use. Again, where much elongation is required
this quality has only been obtainable at the expense of a considerable reduction in the
tensile strength of the metal.
An essential feature of this invention is, that by it steel can be made having a very
high tensile strength, and at the some time retaining a well defined elongation, and
area reduction, as well as possessing a special character, that permits of its being
readily manufactured, and worked in a perfectly sound and merchantable condition,
being free from the flaws, and seams, or cracks, or cells, which are the universal
defect in manufactured steel of the higher and finer grades.
By varying the proportions of the ingredients, as used by me, according to the
requirements in any given case steel of all kinds, and for all purposes can be manu-
factured, which will be found to be unequalled for strength ductility, and endurance,
also easy to forge, and which can be tempered by any known method for the hardest
service.
In the conversion of a given weight of iron into steel by my process I proceed as
follows, dealing with a proportion of, say, one hundredweight of iron :-
(2.) I use of black oxide of manganese of one per cent.
(3.) I use of tannic acid or tannin 3 of one per cent.
same, i.e. numbers 1. 2. and 3. together.
(4.) I take of soot one per cent.
- 5 ounces.
ounce, and well combine
6 ounces and of animal charcoal of one
per cent., and mix the same well together.
(5.) I then take of tar 2 ounces and from 2 to 3 ounces of hot water, and, when
well mixed, I add number 4. to it, and then the mixture numbers 1. 2. and 3,
and, by sufficient trituration, I form same into a compact cake. This cake is
introduced into the crucible, either with the charge of metal in a cold state, or
when it is molten.
The ingredients 1-2-3 and 4. can be used together in a dry condition, and
combination produces an excellent effect on the steel. But, when these are

page_text: combined with the ingredient numbered 5, and then baked, the result is better.
Results however show that the ingredients as first described, mixed together as
before stated, and left in the pasty condition produce the best effect, and I there-
fore, preferably, use the pasty cake.
The proportions used of each ingredient vary slightly according to the materials
treated, and the nature of the metal required, i.e. bard or soft steel.
In using the process also in the Bessemer converter or other similar converters,
or in the open hearth, or puddling furnace, the total weight of the combined
ingredients will be less or more in proportion to the charge of metal, than that
used for the crucible, according to the time taken in these processes respectively
for the ingredients to become thoroughly amalgamated with the molten metal.
In treating iron by my process in order to purify it, and improve its quality
the ingredients should be placed in the puddling furnace while the iron is in the
molten condition, and before it comes to nature.
Dated this 6th day of January 1890.
JAMES MACKINTIRE,
Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel and Iron.
1, JAMES MACKINTIRE, late of 10 Havelock Square, but now of 27 Victoria Road,
Broomball Park, Sheffield, in the County of York, 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 object of this invention is the manufacture and production at a small cost of
steel of a high class and quality out of various grades of iron and when necessary out
of the more common and less costly grades of iron by means of the addition of the
combination of ingredients hereinafter named and which can be used either in the
crucible, Bessemer converter, Siemens-Martin open hearth process, or with any other
method of making steel in use at the present time.
The ingredients hereinafter named can be used either directly in the form of a
powder, paste, or cake, as preferred, or as found to be most suitable to the metal
operated upon, or they may be combined with a small charge of iron or steel and such
combination when molten can be run into moulds and used as an alloy in a manner
analogous to that employed when spiegel-eisen or other alloys are used in the manu-
facture of steel, and as hereinafter inore fully described.
At the present time it has not been found possible to produce with certainty a high
class steel possessing a very high tensile strength and at the same time retaining
sufficient elongation to preserve the toughness necessary to satisfy the requirements,
of engineers and manufacturers. Hitherto steel of the greatest tensile strength bas
often been found to be exceedingly brittle and thus unfit for use. Again when much
elongation is required this quality has usually been obtainable at the expense of a con-
siderable reduction in the tensile strength of the metal.
An essential feature of this invention is that by it steel can be made having a very
high tensile strength and at the same time retaining a well defined elongation and area
reduction, as well as possessing a special character that permits of its being readily
manufactured and worked in a perfectly sound and merchantable condition being free
from flaws and seams or cracks or cells or what are sometimes called roaks, which are
the common defects in manufactured steel of the higher grades, besides showing an
evenness not to be found in any other steel.
By varying the proportions of the ingredients as used by me either in the powder
cake or alloy according to the requirements in any given case, steel of all kinds and
for all purposes can be manufactured which will be found to be unequalled for
strength, ductility and endurance, and also easy to forge and which can be tempered
by any of the known methods for the hardest service.
In the conversion of a given weight of iron into steel by my process I proceed as

page_text: OGS I take 102.
(2) use of black oxide of manganese say about 5 oz.
(3) I use of tannic acid or tannin about oz. and well combine same i.e.
numbers 1, 2, and 3 together.
(4) I take of vegetable soot about 6 oz. and of animal charcoal or bone black
about 2 oz. and mix the same well together.
(5) I then take of tar 2 oz. and from 2 to 3 oz. of hot water and when well mixed
I add No. 4 to it and then the mixture of numbers 1, 2 and 3 and by sufficient
trituration I form the same into a compact cake.
The cake made as above is suitable for treating a cwt. of iron and when operating
in a crucible capable of containing say 56 lbs. of iron a suitable proportion of the cake
is introduced either with the charge of metal in a cold state or when it is partially
molten.
The ingredients 1, 2, 3 and 4 can be used together in a dry condition and this
combination produces an excellent effect on the steel, but when these are combined
with the ingredient numbered 5 and then baked, the result is better. Results however
show that the ingredients as first described mixed together as before stated and left in
the pasty condition may be advantageously used, as it prevents the formation of what
are called roaks.
The proportions used of each ingredient vary slightly according to the materials
treated, and the nature of the metal required i.e. hard or soft steel.
In using the process in the Bessemer converter or other similar converters, or in
the open hearth or puddling furnaces the total weight of the combined ingredients
will be less or more in proportion to the charge of metal than that used for the
crucible according to the time taken in these processes respectively for the ingredients
to become thoroughly amalgamated with the molten metal.
In practice I have found that the ingredients employed by me as above indicated
work more evenly and reliably when introduced in the form of an alloy as above
mentioned. This being specially so in the case of the Bessemer converter.
In making this alloy I proceed as follows using the same ingredients as before
mentioned.
In an ordinary steel crucible I place about 40 lbs. of pig iron of any kind but
preferably hæmatite and melt same to a pasty condition. To this I then add my said
ingredients mixed and treated as before mentioned in the case of the powder or cake,
but in the following quantities
:―
(1) Of the mixture of carbonate of calcium and phosphate
of calicum, in the before named proportions
(2) Black oxide of manganese
(3) Tannic acid or tannin
(4) Soot lb. animal charcoal lb.
(5) Tar 1 oz. mixed with sufficient hot water to make a paste
. about 1 lbs.
"
"
"
1
1
ور
oz.
Ib.
1
Oz.
"
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are mixed and form a paste which is added to the 40 lbs. previously
placed in the crucible and in addition I place about 26 lbs. more of the pig iron and
melt the whole together, and when the charge is properly melted 1 teem and run the
contents as required into moulds.
I find that the above proportions work well when hæmatite is used and that they
may also be advantageously used with iron of other qualities in cases where it may
be found convenient to use other kinds of iron. As experience in carrying out my
process will readily guide the operator he will have no difficulty in varving the

page_text: proportions above given to meet his requirements in dealing with other kinds of iron
and in effecting the result at which he may aim.
In making steel by any of the above processes by means of my alloy I use any
proportion thereof which is suitable to the class of metal required as will be well
understood by an experienced operator. In practice I find that such proportion may
be varied up to 16 per cent. of the iron to be converted. If a higher grade of steel be
required it can be obtained by adding the requisite amount of carbon to the alloy in
the case of the crucible in the form of wood charcoal and in the case of the Bessemer
or open hearth processes in the shape of pig iron as hereinafter described.
In using my alloy with a Bessemer converter in the case of a charge of 10 tons of
pig iron I proceed as follows:-The iron is first melted in the usual way in a cupola
furnace or it can be taken from the blast furnace direct when suitable kinds of iron
are used and then run into the converter. This is then subjected to the usual blow
Whilst this is
but no lime spiegel-eisen or other substance should be introduced.
being done I take the proper proportion of alloy, say about ten cwt. to 10 tons of
hæmatite iron and melt it in a cupola furnace. In case a steel containing a larger
proportion of carbon is required I introduce pig iron in sufficient quantities with the
alloy into the cupola furnace. At the termination of the first blow the molten alloy is
run into the converter and the charge is then subjected to a further blow of about
one half minute so as to thoroughly mix the alloy with the charge. No further
mixing is required but the converter should then be tilted and the contents poured into
the ladle and thence into the ingot moulds.
My alloy can be further used to improve and strengthen iron castings. In making
iron castings by my process I have used about one third of the total casting of alloy,
one third of scrap iron, and one third of pig iron but the proportion of alloy employed
may he reduced according to requirements as an experienced operator will readily
understand. Though claiming the above proportions I do not confine myself to them
as they may be varied according to the nature and quality of the castings required and
the character of the metal used.
In treating iron by my process in order to purify it and improve its quality, the
ingredients or alloy should be placed in the puddling furnace while the iron is in the
molten condition and before it comes to nature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be carried out or performed I desire to state that I
am aware that attempts have before been made to improve the manufacture of iron
and steel by the use of some of the ingredients hereinbefore mentioned but what I
believe to be new and original and therefore claim is :-
(1) The improvements in the manufacture of steel and iron consisting in the manu-
facture and use of the combination of materials forming a powder or cake substantially
as described.
(2) The manufacture and use of the within mentioned combination of materials in
the form of an alloy substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
Dated this 6th day of November 1890.
JAMES MACKINTIRE.