IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL." A communication from abroad by Alexandre
Jullien, Director of the Societé Anonyme des Fers et Aciers par Alliage de
Manganése, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th August 1879.
JOHN IMRAY, of 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL." [A communi-
cation from abroad by Alexandre Jullien, Director of the Societé Anonyme des Fers
et Aciers par Alliage de Manganése, of Paris, France.]
In producing cast steel by the Bessemer process, or by the Siemens-Martin or
other open hearth processes, the metal is superoxidated for the purpose of separating
from it and collecting in the cinder certain impurities, such as sulphur and phos-
phorus. A quantity of iron oxide thus produced remains in solution in the metal,
and seriously interferes with its malleability. When moderate oxidation is applied
to comparatively pure metal red-sbortness is remedied by the addition of spiegeleisen
or ferromanganese; but when, owing to considerable impurity of the metal extra
oxidation is necessary, resulting in the presence of a considerable proportion of
oxide in solution in the metal, spiegeleisen or ferromanganese cannot be applied in
the usual way, because the carbon which they contain unites with the oxygen of the
iron oxide, producing dangerous explosive actions, and, as a consequence of this
reaction the sulphur and phosphorus which under the oxidation had passed into the
cinder as sulphates and phosphates are to a great extent caused to return into the
metal as sulphides and phosphides, seriously damaging its quality.
This Invention relates to means of remedying these evils by the application of a
reducing agent, consisting of silicide of iron or of manganese, or a triple compound
or alloy of silicon, iron, and manganese, in such quantity as to introduce into the
metal from two to six thousandth parts of silicon. The red-shortness being thus
corrected without danger of explosive action, spiegeleisen or ferromanganese is added
in such proportion as is required for the particular quality of steel intended; or

page_text: instead of these pure pig without manganese may be added for the purpose of
recarburating the metal. In applying this method to the Bessemer process the
converter is lined in the first place with material suitable for eliminating such
impurities as sulphur and phosphorus. The molten pig is introduced, and the blast
is applied. At proper intervals during the blowing the materials suitable for
eliminating sulphur and phosphorus are introduced in the usual way, and the blast
is continued even beyond the time necessary for complete combustion of the carbon,
so that the whole of the sulphur and phosphorus may be certainly oxidated and
collected in the cinder. When it is ascertained, either by sampling or by experience
as to the duration of the blast necessary for the quantity of impurity to be eliminated,
the blast is stopped and the reducing agent is introduced. This, as stated above,
consists of silicide of iron or of manganese, or of a mixture of these, or of a compound
of silicon, iron, and manganese, and is introduced either cold, or hot or fused, in
such proportion as to give to the metal from two to six thousandth parts of silicon,
the quantity being larger the greater the proportion of sulphur and phosphorus
originally existing in the metal. The excess of oxide being thus removed without
danger of explosive action, and without causing return of the impurities from the
cinder into the metal, the desired proportion of carbon and manganese is given by
the addition of spiegeleisen, ferromanganese, or pure pig.
In applying the method to open hearth processes, such as the Siemens-Martin,
the furnace bed is in the first place lined with material most suitable for removing
impurities such as sulphur and phosphorus, and the process is carried on in the
usual way, with the addition of known materials for eliminating impurities; but
in order to promote this elimination an extra quantity of oxygen is applied to the
metal either by increasing the proportion of air supplied to the gas, or by blowing
air into the molten mass through fixed or moveable tuyeres, or by adding to the
bath a considerable proportion of iron oxide. When the impurities, such as sulphur
and phosphorus, have thus been eliminated from the metal and collected in the
cinder, the heat is moderated, and the reducing agent is introduced, as described
above with reference to the Bessemer process, after which the recarburisation is
effected in like manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th January
1880.
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL." A communi-
cation from abroad by Alexandre Jullien, Engineer to the Foundries and Forges
Company, of Terre Noire La Voulte et Besseges, France.
In producing cast steel by the Bessemer process, or by the Siemens-Martin or
other open hearth processes, the metal is superoxidated for the purpose of separating,
from it and collecting in the cinder certain impurities, such as sulphur and phos-
porus. A quantity of iron oxide thus produced remains in solution in the metal,
and seriously interferes with its malleability. When moderate oxidation is applied
to comparatively pure metal red-shortness is remedied by the addition of spiegeleisen
or ferromanganese; but when, owing to considerable impurity of the metal extra.
oxidation is necessary, resulting in the presence of a considerable proportion of
oxide in solution in the metal, spiegeleisen, or ferromanganese cannot be applied in:
the usual way, because the carbon which they contain unites with the oxygen:
of the iron oxide, producing dangerous explosive actions, and, as a consequence of
this reaction, the sulphur and phosphorus which under the oxidation had passed
into the cinder as sulphates and phosphates are to a great extent caused to return
into the metal as sulphides and phosphides, seriously damaging its quality.
This Invention relates to means of remedying these evils by the application of
a reducing agent, consisting of silicide of iron or of manganese, or a triple compound
or alloy of silicon, iron, and manganese in such quantity as to introduce into the
metal from two to six thousandth parts of silicon. The red-shortness being thus
corrected without danger of explosive action, spiegeleisen or ferromangenese is added
in such proportion as is required for the particular quality of steel intended; or
instead of these pure pig without manganese may be added for the purpose of
recarburating the metal. In applying this method to the Bessemer process, the
converter is lined in the first place with material suitable for eliminating such
impurities as sulphur and phosphorus. The molten pig is introduced, and the blast
is applied. At proper intervals during the blowing the materials suitable for
eliminating sulphur and phosphorus are introduced in the usual way, and the blast
is continued even beyond the time necessary for complete combustion of the carbon,
so that the whole of the sulphur and phosphorus may be certainly oxidated and
collected in the cinder. When it is ascertained, either by sampling or by experience
as to the duration of the blast necessary for the quantity of impurity to be eliminated,
the blast is stopped and the reducing agent is introduced. This, as stated above,
consists of silicide of iron or of manganese, or of a mixture of these, or of a compound
of silicon, iron, and manganese, and is introduced either cold or hot or fused in such
proportion as, to give to the metal from two to six thousandth parts of silicon, the
quantity being larger the greater the proportion of sulphur and phosphorus originally
existing in the metal. The excess of oxide being thus removed without danger of
explosive action, and without causing return of the impurities from the cinder into
the metal, the desired proportion of carbon and manganese is given by the addition
of spiegeleisen, ferromanganese, or pure pig.
In applying the method to open hearth processes, such as the Siemens-Martin,
the furnace bed is in the first place lined with material most suitable for removing
impurities such as sulphur and phosphorus, and the process is carried on in the
usual way, with the addition of known materials for eliminating impurities; but
in order to promote this elimination an extra quantity of oxygen is applied to the
metal, either by increasing the proportion of air supplied to the gas, or by blowing
air into the molten mass through fixed or moveable tuyeres, or by adding to the

page_text: bath a considerable proportion of iron oxide. When the impurities, such as sulphur
and phosphorus, have thus been eliminated from the metal, and collected in the
cinder, the heat is moderated, and the reducing agent is introduced, as described
above with reference to the Bessemer process, after which the recarburisation is
effected in like manner.
As stated above the proportions in which the reducing agent is applied are varied
to suit different qualities of metal operated on, and different qualities desired in the
product. Good results have been obtained by introducing into a highly oxidated
bath containing much cinder the alloy so as to give an addition to the bath of
about one and a half per cent. of manganese and about one third per cent. of
silicon.
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 foreign correspondent, I'
claim in processes for the production of steel,-
First. The use of a triple compound or alloy of iron, manganese, and silicon,
instead of the ferromanganese or spiegeleisen employed in producing mild steel.
Second. The use of a triple compound or alloy of iron, manganese, and silicon in
the conversion of highly phosphoric iron into steel, as herein described.
Third. In the conversion of iron into steel, first superoxidating the metal, and
then reducing by the addition of a triple compound or alloy of iron, manganese,
and silicon, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Imray, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.