Improvements in the. Manufacture of Alloys of Iron, Steel, Copper, and other Metals.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the. Manufacture of Alloys of Iron, Steel, Copper,
and other Metals.
I, HUBERT HENRY GRENFELL, of 18; Ashburn Place, London, .S.W., Captain
R.N.; do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of alloys of iron, steel, copper. or
other metals with vanadium or similar metals.
It is already known that sodium has a purifying effect upon steel and other
metals, when introduced into molten masses thereof, the sodium, by its rapid
oxidation, eliminating the slag, dross and other impurities. It is also known,
however, that no increase of strength or ductility, apart from that due to the
greater purity of the metal, is imparted to the steel or other metal by the sodium.
Vanadium, on the other hand, has no purifying effect upon the metals, but
will alloy directly with pure iron, steel, copper and other metals; and will
greatly increase their strength and ductility, and also has the effect of rendering
iron or steel much less liable to oxidation or rust.
Now my invention comprises an improved process whereby I obtain vanadium
alloys of improved quality by utilizing the purifying action of the sodium to
bring the molten iron, steel or other metal into a condition favorable for its
alloy with the vanadium, which I also introduce into the molten metal.
By my said invention, moreover, I facilitate the manufacture on a large scale
of vanadium. alloys, since the iron, steel or other metal does not require to be
freed from impurities previous to its treatment by my process.
In carrying on my improved process, I first treat. the molten metal with
sodium and then add thereto the desired proportion of vanadium; or I introduce
the sodium and vanadium simultaneously into the molten metal; or I introduce
into the molten metal first the vanadium and then the sodium. I use either
the pure metals of sodium and vanadium or suitable salts of either or both of
these metals. Or, if desired, I use the preparations of either of these metals
known as ferro-sodium and ferro-vanadium, or a compound or alloy of both.
In this process, I obtain, by the use of the sodium, greater purity of the
molten metal and thus ensure a more certain, uniform and efficacious alloy of
the-vanadium--with-the iron, -steel and other metal than would otherwise_be_
obtained.
Alloys produced by my improved process are of superior quality to those pro-
duced without the conjoint use of the sodium and vanadium.
Dated the 24th day of January 1899.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Alloys of Iron, Steel, Copper,
and other Metals.
I, HUBERT HENRY GRENFELL, of 9, The Holt, Alverstoke, Hants, late of
18, Ashburn Place, London, S.W., Captain, R.N., do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to the treatment of iron, steel and copper or alloys of
these metals with vanadium and sodium or with compounds containing vanadium
and sodium for the purpose of obtaining improved alloys of these metals.
It is already known that sodium has a purifying effect upon steel and other
metals, when introduced into molten masses thereof, the sodium, by its rapid
oxidising, eliminating the slag, dross and other impurities. It is also known
however, that no increase of strength or ductility, apart from that due to the
greater purity of the metal, is imparted to the steel or other metal by the sodium.
Vanadium, on the other hand, while having no purifying effect upon iron,
steel and copper or alloys of these metals, will alloy directly therewith and will
greatly increase their strength and ductility. Vanadium also has the effect of
rendering iron and steel less liable to rust.
Now my invention comprises an improved process whereby I obtain vanadium
alloys of improved quality by utilizing the purifying action of sodium to bring
the molten iron, steel or other metal into a condition favorable for its alloy with
the vanadium, which I also introduce into the molten metal.
By my said invention, moreover, I facilitate the manufacture, on a large
scale, of vanadium alloys.
In carrying on my improved process, I first treat the molten metal with
sodium and then add thereto the vanadium; or I introduce the sodium and
vanadium simultaneously into the molten metal; or I introduce into the molten
metal first the vanadium and then the sodium. I use either sodium and vana-
dium, or suitable salts or oxides of either or both; or, if desired, I use the
preparations known as ferro-sodium and ferro-vanadium, or a compound or
alloy of these preparations.
The proportions of the materials to be used will differ according to the form
in which the sodium and vanadium are employed, to the metal to be treated, i.e.
whether steel, iron, copper, brass or other metal, and to the quality desired to
be produced, i.e. to the hardness, softness, and ductility of the resultant product.
By way of example I will instance steel in which case the proportions of the
added metals may vary from 1/10000th per cent. to 10th per cent. of metallic
vanadium and 1/7000th per cent. to 1/3000th per cent. of metallic sodium according
to the class of steel it is desired to make.
The method of adding the metals will also vary in accordance with the form
in which they are added; as an example, if ferro-sodium and ferro-vanadium
are used the substances in the case of small charges or castings may be added
in the due proportions in a powdered form and stirred well into the molten
metal by means of an iron rod. In the case of larger charges or castings, the
material in the form of lumps may be placed in the runner or shoot leading
from the hearth to the ingot mould when they will be carried into the mould
by the passage of the molten metal; or the lumps may be placed in the bottom
of the mould itself,

page_text: In my process, I obtain, by the use of sodium, greater purity of the molten
metal and thus ensure a more certain, uniform and efficacious alloy of vanadium
with the iron, steel or other metal than would otherwise be obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
1. In the treatment with vanadium of iron, steel or copper, or of alloys of iron,
steel or copper, the use of sodium for the purpose specified.
2. In the treatment of iron, steel or copper, or of alloys of iron, steel or
copper, the conjoint use of sodium and vanadium, or of salts thereof, or of com-
pounds, such as ferro-sodium and ferro-vanadium, containing these elements,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
3. An alloy of vanadium with iron, steel or copper, or with alloys containing
iron, steel or copper, produced by the method or process herein described.
Deted the 11th day of October 1899