IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC ALLOYS
Year: 1885

page_text: "
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC ALLOYS which Invention has been communi-
cated to me from Abroad by the Société Anonyme "Le Ferro-Nickel" of Paris in
the Republic of France to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of a new class of alloys possessing
superior qualities of homogeneity, malleability, ductility tenacity and other advan-
tages which have not heretofore been obtained in the binary, ternary quaternary
or other alloys known in England as German Silver or pinchbeck and in France
by the name of Maillechort.
The novel combinations or alloys obtained by means of this Invention acquire
according to the proportions of the component metals the lustre and brilliancy of
compounds containing a large proportion of nickel and bear reheating without
injury because the more fusible metals predominate in their composition, zinc for
example being generally excluded from these alloys although it may be employed
in certain special cases as hereinafter explained.
The improved manufacture is based upon the employment of ferro nickel com-
pounds and copper with other ingredients hereinafter specified the iron being
introduced in variable quantities with or without zinc and other metals as herein-
after indicated thereby creating a new product hereinafter designated "Ferro
Maillechort."
Iron has heretofore been carefully eliminated from the metals employed in the
manufacture of German Silver and like products which were depreciated by its
presence in the state of mechanical mixture or in suspension resulting from the
treatment employed.
w
According to the present Invention on the contrary iron is employed in relatively
large proportions without prejudice to the quality of the product and imparts to it
the advantages herein before enumerated.
The invention also consists in the employment of oxide of manganese or metallic
manganese and of ferro cyanides of potassium and aluminium in combination with
other materials as hereinafter setforth.
I will now proceed to describe a few examples of the method of carrying out
the process of manufacture in practice the relative-proportions and combinations
being evidently subject to alteration according to the qualities which it is desired
to impart to the product.

page_text: In order to obtain a "Ferro-Maillechort" with crude nickel refined to the point
where the elimination of iron commences the following ingredients are employed
namely
1000
"
In this case the preliminary preparation required in the preceding example with
the employment of crude nickel is dispensed with owing to the employment of a
ferro nickel compound which has been previously rendered malleable. The afore-
said ingredients are placed together in a crucible provided with a cover and
moderately heated until just before the pouring at which moment the fire is
sharply urged.
In order to obtain a "Ferro-Maillechort" without zinc to be produced by a
similar process with metallic nickel and soft iron the following ingredients are

page_text: Oxide of Manganese
Ferro Cyanide
Aluminium
0.00925 parts by weight.
0.00450
-
0.00040
"
33
These materials are combined in one fusion the zine being previously alloyed
with Copper (the amount of Copper therein contained being deducted from the
quantity which would otherwise have to be added to obtain the required propor-
tions) is added at the last moment and after the temperature of the metal has
been reduced to the lowest point possible. These ingredients having been intro-
duced the materials are stirred, the temperature is raised and the casting is then
performed.
To obtain a
"
Ferro-Maillechort" with zinc with the employment of a Ferro
nickel compound previously rendered malleable, the following ingredients are
fused together namely
1.00000
The observations made with reference to the second example respecting the
"Ferro Maillechort" without zinc apply in this case also.
In the case of "Ferro-Maillechort" with zinc to be obtained by the employment
of metallic nickel or of an oxide of this metal and soft iron there are combined in
one fusion the following metals namely
Nickel
Iron
Copper
Zinc
0.18675 parts by weight.
-
0.22825
-
0.530
->
0-055
1.00000
"
"
"}
Oxide of Manganese
-
0.00925
"
Ferro cyanide of Potassium
-
Aluminium
-
-
0.00450
0.00040
"
"
Metallic Manganese may be substituted for the oxide of Manganese in all cases.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Metallic Alloys.
I JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC ALLOYS" which Invention has been communi-
cated to me from abroad by the Société Anonyme "Le Ferro-Nickel" of Paris in
the Republic of France 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 a new class of alloys possessing
superior qualities of homogeneity malleability, ductility, tenacity, and other
advantages which have not heretofore been obtained in the binary, ternary,
quaternary or other alloys known in England by the generic terms Gerinan silver
or pinchbeck and in France by the name of Maillechort.
The novel combinations or alloys obtained by means of this invention are of a
reddish colour and acquire according to the proportions of the component metals
the lustre and brilliancy of compounds containing a large proportion of nickel.
They bear reheating to the utmost extent because their component metals as
regards fusibility are in near rather than in extreme relationship the more fusible
metals predominating in their composition zinc for example is generally excluded
from these alloys or is employed only in certain specific and particular special cases.
The improved manufacture is based upon the combination of ferro nickel
compounds with copper and other ingredients hereinafter specified and admits in
general of employment of iron in variable quantities in the manufacture of German
silver with or without zinc with a view to creating an absolutely new group of
products consisting of intimate alloys of iron nickel and copper hereinafter
designated by the generic term "Ferro-Maillechort."
Iron has heretofore been excluded from the combinations employed in the manu-
facture of German silver and the like (the accidental presence of iron having
heretofore necessitated a fusion of the metal for the purpose of purifying it) but
manufacturers careful of the good quality of their products have always
endeavoured to eliminate it whenever it appeared in any appreciable quantity
either owing to the employment of impure metal or in consequence of being stirred
with an iron paddle.
In these cases the quantity of iron disclosed by analysis varies from about one to
four per cent in German silver which is depreciated by its presence because it is
present not as a true alloy but in a state of mechanical mixture or in suspension in
the mass owing to its relatively small specific gravity.
According to the present invention on the contrary iron is employed in relatively
large proportions as part of the alloy without prejudice to the quality of the product
and imparts to it the advantages hereinbefore enumerated which are characteristic
of the new group of alloys obtained by means of this invention.

page_text: This principle of manufacture including all varieties of formule according to the
application or employment of the product constitutes an essential feature of the
invention.
I am aware that attempts have been made to employ various agents such as tin,
antimony, lead zine and the like in order to obtain an intimate union between iron
and copper but the result hitherto has been of little or no value in cases where
malleability is required. Moreover these agents are only added to raw iron in
order to improve the castings which thereby acquire as is well known greater
sharpness and homogeneousness and by expanding, somewhat in the mould cause
the finer parts of the design to be reproduced sharply and clearly All these results
however are based on the enployment of iron as the principal metal and heretofore
none but castings containing a very small quantity (usually about two per cent) of
copper and absolutely devoid of the quality of malleability have been obtained.
The alloys manufactured according to this invention in place of consisting of
cast or other iron but slightly alloyed with copper are more correctly described as
copper containing varying proportions of iron and nickel in which iron is present
in various proportiops and to which as herein before stated zinc may also be added
if required the quantity being dependant upon the purpose to which the product is
to be applied.
The
The alloys thus obtained are in the highest degree malleable and ductile and the
process enables them to be obtained independently of the relative proportions in
which the metals, iron nickel and copper forming the base are present.
invention also consists in the employment of oxide of manganese or metallic
manganese and of ferro cyanides of potassium and aluminium in combination with
other materials as hereinafter set forth.
The oxide of manganese or metallic manganese and the ferro cyanides of
potassium and aluminium may be introduced either by the employment of ferro
nickel compounds which have been rendered malleable by the addition of these
substances or by fusing them with the other ingredients as hereinafter explained.
I will now proceed to describe a few examples of the method of carrying out this
process of manufacture in practise the relative proportions and the combinations
being evidently subject to alteration according to the qualities it is desired to impart
to the product.
30 iron)
-
0:290 =
Iron
Soft iron in addition
0.087
0-160
"
>>
Copper
0.550
"
Oxide of manganese
Ferro cyanide of potassium-
Aluminium
-
->
-
1.000
0.00925
0.00450
0.00040
"
"
"
"
These ingredients are combined together in one fusion the oxide of manganese
being previously mixed with the ferro cyanide of potassium and then placed in the
crucible with all the other metals in the table. The aluminium is added after the
alloy is completely liquefied and the mixture is then well stirred or agitated. The
crucible is provided with a lid by which it is covered during the operation of fusing
and a moderate fire is maintained except towards the end of the fusing when the
temperature is raised before the aluminium is introduced.

page_text: In the preparation of this alloy as well as those hereinafter specified and all
others of higher or lower grades or qualities corresponding to the requirements of
the trade-metallic manganese is also employed the quantity thereof being reduced
to the proportions corresponding to the amount of metal in its oxides.
2.
In order to obtain a
"
Ferro-Maillechort" without zinc by the addition of a Ferro
nickel compound previously rendered malleable the following metals are combined
in one fusion namely.

page_text: to reduce the temperature of the metal to the lowest point possible for the
introduction of the alloy of copper and zinc. These ingredients baving been
introduced the materials are stirred, the temperature is raised and the casting
operation may then be proceeded with.
100.00
دو
"
Oxide of Manganese
Ferro cyanide of potassium
Aluminium
-
0.00925
0.00450
0.00040 "
"
"
"
"
"
In the case of ternary alloys (iron nickel and copper) and quaternary alloys (iron,
nickel, copper and zinc) the improved process produces combinations of elements
or agents exercising a most powerful influence. upon each other by direct and reflex
action productive of special effects of affinity and at the same time contributing to
balance the whole without any prejudice to the said compounds resulting from
the action of any of the individual elements.
These compounds in which the combinations of iron nickel, copper and some-
times zinc are employed in varying proportions constitute a new series of alloys
forming a complete scale coloured similarly to the known and so called white
metals and presenting every grade of softness, strength or elasticity that is required
in the arts wherein they may be employed. These products also possess in a high
degree the qualities of homogeneousness malleability ductility and non liability
to oxidise which are characteristic of the novel product obtained by means of this
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is
First. The manufacture of alloys composed of iron, nickel, and copper, or of
iron nickel copper and zinc combined and prepared substantially as hereinbofore
described.

page_text: Second. In the manufacture of alloys as herein before described and claimed
the introduction in the process of fusion and conjointly with the other metals.
employed of oxide of manganese or metallic manganese ferro cyanide of potassium
and aluminium these substances being introduced either directly or indirectly by
the employment of nickel and ferro-nickel compounds containing the same all 5
substantially as hereinbefore described.