Improvements in the Manufacture of Metallic Alloys or Compounds.
Year: 1888

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Metallic Alloys or
Compounds.
I JOHANNES CATHARINUS BULL of 18 Adolphus Road, Finsbury Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be
as follows:-
:-
This invention consists of improvements in the manufacture of metallic alloys or
compounds and is based upon the following facts:-
(1). In the alloying of zinc with iron manganese and various other metals or alloys
or compounds which have a melting point much higher than that of zinc a great
difficulty exists because the zine volatilizes at a temperature appreciably above its
melting point; the introduction of these metals, alloys or compounds by the hitherto
known imperfect methods into alloys containing zine has a highly beneficial effect on
the latter.
(2). If the metals above referred to, or compounds thereof, be as it were digested,
that is to say immersed for a prolonged period in a bath of molten zinc, the zinc will
absorb a certain per-centage of them, whereby uniform alloys or compounds are
formed.
(3). The per-centage of the metal or compound absorbed depends upon the
temperature of the zine bath, the maximum absorption taking place at the temperature
at which the zinc begins to volatilize.
(4). The point of fusion of zine is raised by an addition of phosphorus or arsenic,
or both, to a degree corresponding to the percentage of phosphorus or arsenic, or both
phosphorus and arsenic, added.
(5). Phosphorus and arsenic have a bighly deoxidizing effect on metals, alloys
and compounds, and if metals or metallic alloys or compounds containing a small
per-centage of phosphorus or arsenic are used in the manufacture of many trade alloys
or compounds, these alloys or compounds are much improved provided the quantity
of phosphorus or arsenic be so regulated as to suffice to deoxidize the materials and at
most leave only a very small per-centage of phosphorus or arsenic particularly arsenic
in the finished alloy or compound.

page_text: Now my invention consists in so applying the facts above stated as to produce a
zine alloy or compound richer in iron manganese or other metal or alloy or compound
of high melting point than is obtainable by any known process. For this purpose I
digest or immerse for a prolonged period the iron manganese or other metal or alloy
or compound in a bath of molten phosphureted or arseniureted zinc or zine which is
both phosphureted and arseniureted the bath being kept as near as possible at the
point at which volatilization takes place. With this method or process I can obtain
à percentage of alloyed iron for instance ranging above 10 per cent. if digested to
saturation.
By varying the strength of the bath, that is to say the percentage of phosphorus
or arsenic or phosphorus and arsenic contained therein, I obtain baths of fixed melting
points more and uioro elevated above that of zine alone in proportion as the per-centago
of phosphorus or arsenic or phosphorus and arsenic is increased, and therefore capable
of dissolving, at point of saturation, fixed and increasing quantities of the iron
manganese or other metal, or alloy or compound, digested. I am thus able to produco
zinc alloyed with the metal or alloy or compound of a uniformity, exactness and
richness unattainable by any known process while within certain limits I can introduce
the precise quantity of metal desired.
The phosphorus and arsenic assist in preventing oxidation of the zine bath.
If the materials digested contain phosphorus or arsenic they dissolve more readily
in the bath.
The bath should be kept as much as possible from free access of the air.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Metallic Alloys or
Compounds.
1, JOHANNES CATHARINUS BULL late of 18 Adolphus Road Finsbury Park in the
County of Middlesex, now of 2 Pier Road, Erith in the County of Kent, 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 consists of improvements in the manufacture of metallic alloys or
compounds, and is based upon the following facts:
-
(1). In the alloying of zinc with iron, manganese, chromium, tungsten, or alloys or
compounds of any two or more of these metals which have a melting point inuch
higher than that of zine, a great difficulty exists, because the zinc volatilizes at a
temperature appreciably above its melting point; the introduction of these metals,
alloys, or compounds by the hitherto known imperfect methods into alloys containing
zine has a highly beneficial effect on the latter, but incomplete assimilation or alloying
of the materials greatly detracts from the industrial value of the alloys made by these
imperfect methods.
(2). If the metals above referred to, or alloys or compounds thereof be as it were
digested, that is to say, immersed for a prolonged period in a bath of molten zinc, tho
zinc will absorb a certain per-centage of them whereby uniform alloys or compounds
are formed, but too poor to give good results when employed in practical
manufacture.
(3). The per-centage of the metal or compound absorbed depends upon the length
of the immersion and upon the temperature of the zinc bath, the maximum absorption
taking place at the temperature at which the zinc begins to volatilize. Berthier
mentions 9 parts in a 100 as the highest proportion of iron ever alloyed with zine, a
result which is, however only obtainable with the greatest care and much waste of
material.
(4). The point of fusion of zinc is raised by an addition of arsenic or phosphorus,
or both, to a degree corresponding to the per-centage of arsenic or phosphorus, or
both arsenic and phosphorus added.
(5). Arsenic and phosphorus have a highly deoxidizing effect on metals, alloys,
and compounds, and if metals or metallic alloys or compounds containing a small
per-centage of arsenic or phosphorus are used in the manufacture of many trade
alloys or compounds, these alloys or compounds are much improved, provided the
quantity of arsenic or phosphorus be so regulated as to suffice to deoxidize the
materials and at most leave only a very small per-centage of arsenic or phosphorus,
particularly arsenic, in the finished alloy or compound.
Now my invention consists in so applying the facts above stated as to produce a
zinc alloy or compound richer in iron, manganese, chromium, tungsten, or in alloy
or compound of any two or more of these metals of high melting point, than is
obtainable by any known process and of perfect uniformity throughout. For this
purpose I digest or immerse for a prolonged period, say from 4 to 6 hours the iron,
manganese, chromium, tungsten, or alloy or compound in a bath of molten arseniureted
or phosphureted zinc, or zinc which is both arseniureted and phosphureted, the bath

page_text: being kept as near as possible at the point at which volatilization takes place. With
this method or process I can obtain a per-centage of alloyed iron for instance ranging
above 10 per cent. if digested to saturation.
The proportion of arsenic or phosphorus, or of arsenic and phosphorus employed
should be from about 2 to 10 per cent. I prefer arsenic alone, because the use of
phosphorus requires very great care.
The bath can be prepared by placing the arsenic or phosphorus, or both, as the caso
may be, in the molten zinc dissolved in a suitable crucible or iron pot, care being
taken by any known or suitable means to prevent as much as possible the escape of
fumes. A convenient way of effecting this is to place the arsenic or phosphorus, or
both, in a small crucible which is then plugged with paper; the crucible is then
inverted and immersed in the crucible or pot containing the molten zinc until completo
solution takes place. The small crucible having then been removed, the material or
materials to be digested or alloyed with the zinc are introduced into the bath, and the
bath is then preferably covered with fine coke as is usual when zine is to be kept in
a molten state.
By varying the strength of the bath, that is to say the per-centage of arsenic or
phosphorus or arsenic and phosphorus contained therein, I obtain baths of fixed
melting points more and more elevated above that of zine alone in proportion as the
percentage of arsenic or phosphorus or arsenic and phosphorus is increased, and
therefore capable of dissolving at point of saturation fixed and increasing quantities of
the iron, manganese, or other metal or alloy or compound digested. I am thus able
to produce zinc alloyed with the metal or alloy or compound of a uniformity, exactness
and richness unattainable by any known process, while, within certain limits I can
introduce the precise quantity of metal desired. With 5 per cent. of arsenic ]
can obtain a percentage of 18 per cent. of alloyed iron.
The arsenic and phosphorus assist in preventing oxidation of the zinc bath.
If the materials digested contain arsenic or phosphorus they dissolve more readily
in the bath.
The bath should be kept as much as possible from free access of the air, and this
object can be attained by the use of fine coke as above mentioned.
The zinc alloys or compounds manufactured as above described and containing a
percentage of iron, manganese, chromium, tungsten, or an alloy or compound of two
or more of these metals are particularly adapted to be added to copper or other metals
or alloys or metallic compounds in order to produce metallic alloys for the use of
founders, engineers and others, as will be well understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
In the manufacture of zinc alloys or compounds, the digesting or immersing for a
prolonged period of iron, manganese, chromium, tungsten or an alloy or compound of
two or more of these metals which have a melting point much higher than that of zinc
in a bath of molten arseniureted or phosphureted zinc or of zinc which is both
arseniureted and phosphureted, substantially as hereinbefore described, whereby the
zine absorbs a larger percentage of the iron, manganese, or other metal or alloy or
compound, and with more perfect uniformity throughout, than if the bath were
composed of simple molten zinc.
Dated this 17th day of December 1888.
J. C. MEWBURN,
169, Fleet Street, London,
Patent Agent.