CERTAIN NEW ALLOYS AND METALLIC COMPOUNDS, WITH A METHOD OF WELDING THE SAME AND OTHER METALS
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
DAVIE MORRIES STIRLING, of Blackgrange, in North Britain, Esquire, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I did, by Petition, represent unto Her most Excellent Majesty
Queen Victoria, that I had, after much study and expence, invented "CERTAIN
NEW ALLOYS AND METALLIC COMPOUNDS, WITH A METHOD OF WELDING THE SAME
AND OTHER METALS," and Her said Majesty, being willing to encourage all
useful Inventions, did issue Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great
Britain, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of June, in the
year One thousand eight 'hundred and forty-six, in the tenth year of Her
reign, whereby Her Majesty did, for Herself. Her heirs, and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Davie Morries Stirling, my exors, admors,
and assigns, Her especial permission, license, and full power, sole privilege
and authority, that 1. the said John Davie Morrics Stirling, my exors,
admors, and assigns, by ourselves, or any other person to whom I or they
should grant permission, and to no others, during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, nse, exercise, and vend, the said
Invention within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland called England, Wales, the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also
in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad; in which said Letters

page_text: Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said John Davie Morries
Stirling, within the space of six calendar months from the date of the said
grant, by a writing under my hand and seal, enrolled in Her Majesty's High
Court of Chancery, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what mode it is to be performed, otherwise the said
Letters Patent should become void, as the said Letters Patent in themselves
more fully bear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Davie Morries Stirling, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, are described
and ascertained in manner following (that is to say):-
The part of my said Invention relating to alloys and metallic compounds
consists in certain combinations of iron and cast iron and mixtures of iron and
cast iron, or either of them, with certain other metals, so as to produce alloys
and compounds differing more or less from each other, and applicable to various
useful purposes. To produce an alloy capable of receiving a high polish, and
useful for cutting instruments of various kinds where great hardness is required,
and for other purposes where these qualities are desirable, or an alloy adapted
for the formation of bells or other instruments of sound, I proceed as follows;
that is to say, I cause cast iron to be heated nearly to its fusing point or till
a part of it is melted; I then add to it from a fourth to a fifth of its weight
of tin. And to retard oxidation I cover the surface with powdered charcoal
or other suitable material (as is well understood among practical men). And
I would remark, that as cast iron is very variable in its composition and
qualities the quantity of tin must be varied where necessary, so as to produce
a saturated, compound of the two. This compound of cast iron and tin I
denominate the hardening or alloying metal, which employ in the production
of other alloys, as herein-after mentioned. I add to cast iron in its melted
state a quantity of this alloy or hardening metal, so that there shall be added
to the mixture an eighth of its weighth of tin. Thus, for example, sup-
posing the above hardening metal to contain a fifth of its weight of tin, and
my object be to produce an alloy applicable to the above-mentioned purposes,
I take four parts of ordinary cast iron and five parts of the hardening metal
and melt them together in any manner so as expose the tin which the harden-
ing metal contains to as little risk of oxidation as possible, either by conducting
the process in a crucible or melting pot, or in any suitable furnace. If I
conduct the operation in a crucible I bring the cast iron up to its melting
point and then add the hardening metal, preventing as much as possible the
oxidation and loss by the means already mentioned in the directions for the

page_text: production of the hardening metal. If I conduct the process in an air or
reverberatory furnace I cause the cast iron to be melted, and when it has run
down I add to it the hardening metal, and in either case the mixture must be
well stirred with a wooden pole or other suitable instrument.. Either of these
methods of operating is applicable also to the production of the hardening
metal. This last-mentioned alloy may also be produced by the addition to
cast iron in its melted state of an eighth of its weight of- tin, but I prefer, on
account of there being less liability to oxidation, adding the requisite quantity
of tin in the form of the hardening metal, and I find the mixture or union of
the two to be more intimate and complete when so done than when the tin
is added directly to the cast iron. Cast iron being variable in its composition
and qualities in respect of its quantity of carbon and its manufacture (whether
hot or cold blast). the above proportions may sometimes be varied with advan-
tage, the more highly carbonised requiring more, and the lesser carbonized requir-
ing less tin. The same general rule applies to hot and cold blast iron, the hot
blast usually requiring the larger, and the cold blast the smaller, proportion of
tin, but I find for bells and other instruments of sound the addition of one
eighth of tin to be a good proportion. For certain purposes, such as shaftings.
cranks for steam engines, girders or beams, guns or ordnance, and where a
metal possessing greater tenacity or strength than ordinary cast iron is
required. and where it is an object to vary the degree of hardness. I make a
mixture of wrought and cast iron as follows; that is to say. I melt cast
iron, or I take cast iron as it runs from the blast furnace in which it is
made, and. add to it, either in the moulds into which it is to be run. or
otherwise, a quantity of malleable iron, less than the weight of the cast
iron, by which means the wrought iron will be agglomerated and a partial
union of the two will be effected. This mixture is afterwards to be
remelted in a blast furnace, cupola, air furnace, or in a crucible, as may be most
convenient. Or a preferable mode of obtaining the same mixture is to heat
the wrought iron to a strong or white heat in any convenient manner, and
while the wrought iron is in this state the quantity of cast iron in a melted
state is to be added to it: the heat is then to be encreased if necessary till the
whole compound is thoroughly melted and then to be perfectly mixed by
stirring or otherwise. And I would remark, that the cold blast iron.. or
iron containing the lesser quantity of carbon. will require a smaller addition'
of wrought iron than hot blast iron, or iron containing a larger quantity of
carbon but I find that the addition of from about one third to one fifth of
wrought iron to answer well in the generality of cases where increased
strength. toughness, and tenacity are required, The above compounds may

page_text: 1
also be made of iron from the puddling furnace after it has been treated, so as
to get rid of the scoria, but a proportionately larger quantity of such iron will
be required. These mixtures of cast and wrought iron may be conveniently
called "toughened cast iron." Where closeness of texture or smoothness of
surface in polishing, or where increased fusibility are especially required, the
hardening metal previously described. or an alloy of tin and bismuth, or of
tin and zinc, or of tin and copper, or of bismuth and zinc, or of bismuth and
copper, or of any of the above (or of the more fusible of them, where increased
fusibility is the especial object.) may be added to the last-mentioned mixtures
of wrought and cast iron, or to cast iron alone. The addition of either zinc
alone, or an alloy of zinc and tin, which I prefer, increases the hardness of
the alloy considerably, and renders it fitted for being manufactured into tools
and implements of various kinds destined to have and to maintain a cutting
edge, and for other uses where a smooth or hard surface is required. If to
the above mixture of wrought and cast iron one eighth of its weight of tin, or
a proportionate quantity of the hardening metal be added. I find an alloy to
he produced that is very sonorous and similar to the first-described alloy, but
possessing more toughness, applicable to the purposes already described.
and extremely well adapted for the formation of bells. If the quantity of tin
be further increased a more brilliant and closer grained, but more fragile
metal, is obtained; and I find that the addition of tin to a mixture of cast and
wrought iron, or to cast iron alone, or to some of the alloys above described,
even when the quantity of tin does not exceed one half per cent of the iron
mixture or alloy, renders the compound more brittle and closer in its texture.
If zinc is intended to be added to the mixture of wrought and cast iron,
or to cast iron alone, or to be alloyed with iron, in any case where the iron
forms the greater proportion. I find a convenient mode of doing this is pre-
viously to make an alloy of tin and zinc in the proportion of one part of zinc,
and from one to forty of tin, according to the purpose for which the alloy of
iron is intended, the tin increasing the fusibility, and the zinc adding espe-
cially to the hardness of the alloy. Where the zinc added is only one four
hundredth part of the weight of the iron, the alloy so produced is much
increased in hardness, and is well adapted for cutting tools. The alloy of
zinc and tin is to be added to the melted mixture of wrought and cast iron,
or cast iron alone, as it runs from the furnace; or if a crucible be employed
the alloy of zinc and tin may be added to the melted metal on the removal of
the crucible from the fire, the whole being. in either case, well mixed by
stirring, and if necessary, remelted. Where zinc is used alone, care must be
taken to add it in small portions at a time, as explosions take place from the

page_text: rapid addition of this metal to iron and its compounds at or near their melting
points. The addition of bismuth and tin, or of bismuth alone, to the above
mixture of wrought and cast iron, or to cast iron alone, increases the fusibility
of the compound or alloy. To facilitate the union of the bismuth with the
iron I alloy the bismuth previously with tin, and I find a mixture of one part
of bismuth with sixteen parts of tin, when mixed with the iron in the same
manner as has been described with reference to producing the alloy of zinc,
answer well, and the addition of this alloy in the proportion of one part of the
alloy to forty parts of cast iron, or to forty parts of the mixture of wrought
and cast iron above described, increases the closeness of texture or grain of the
alloy, renders it more brilliant, and diminishes its tendency to oxidation, and it
may be used for a variety of purposes where the above qualities are desirable.
The addition of copper to some of the above-mentioned mixtures of iron
increases the malleability when employed to the extent of from one to twelve
per cent. and when this metal is to be added I prefer using it previously
alloyed with tin. The greater proportion of tin the alloy contains the more
fusible and brittle the iron alloy will become, and the larger the proportion of
copper previously mixed with tin the more soft and malleable the iron alloy.
will be rendered. The addition of silver to cast iron, or to the mixtures of
wrought and cast iron, or to the above alloys, and more especially to those
containing tin. renders them closer in texture and tougher; and I find that
when silver is added, in the proportion of one five hundredth part of the weight
of any of the above, these effects are produced. The addition of manganese
to any of the above alloys, either in their production or subsequently, increases
their capability of receiving additional hardness, and improves the quality of
them for tools and cutting instruments. When I employ manganese for this
purpose I use the best kind of peroxide of manganese that is to be met with
in commerce, in the proportion of from two to ten per cent. of the iron
employed in producing them. The quantity of manganese to be employed
depends not merely on the use to which the compound or alloy is to be put.
but also on the quality of the iron or kinds of iron and manganese used, as it
is known that some kinds of iron do contain manganese, and that the quality
of the oxide of manganese. varies. The carburet of manganese, metallic
manganese, or any of the salts or compounds of this metal that are reducible
by heat when in contact with iron, may be used for the same purpose, and in
a similar manner. The above alloys of cast iron, or the mixtures of wrought
and cast iron with the other metals, may be hardened in the manner in which,
steel is hardened, and may be softened by annealing or by being made fully
red hot and subsequently allowed to cool very gradually, and the more slowly

page_text: they are allowed to cool the softer will they become.
But as some of these
alloys are more fusible than steel, they must not be heated quite as hot as some
kinds of steel are in the hardening of them, neither must they be heated on
account of their increased fusibility to such an extent as to endanger their
melting or changing their composition for the purpose of softening them by
annealing. As a general rule, those compounds or alloys which contain the
greatest quantity of wrought and cast iron will sustain a higher heat than
those which contain the fusible metals. The greater quantity of the fusible
metals they contain the less heat must be applied either in the hardening or
softening of them.
.
To produce an alloy applicable to many purposes for which brass is
employed, and partaking of its color and other qualities. I proceed as follows.
i.e. I either take zine previously alloyed with iron in the proportion of
This
from two per cent. to twenty-five per cent. of the weight of the zinc.
T employ instead of ordinary or pure zinc in all the proportions as used in
the production of brass or other analagous compounds of zinc and copper.
Or the copper may be previously alloyed with a portion of iron, and the zinc
added to it in the melted state. These compounds made with iron and zine.
instead of pure zinc, will be found to work more easily under the file and in
the lathe, and such of them as from their composition (similar proportions of
the iron and zinc alloy will produce similar compounds as regard toughness to
those made with common zinc.) will allow of their being drawn into wire will
be found to be stiffer and capable of receiving a more brilliant polish, and better
adapted for lacquering or gilding than ordinary brass. The addition of tin to
the above compounds hardens them, and the quantity of such addition may be
varied. Alloys of zinc and iron. more especially where the proportion of iron
alloyed with the zinc does not exceed eight or ten per cent: of the former,
when united with lead, form alloys of sufficient hardness to be adapted for
many purposes where gun metal, pot metal, or brass are now used. As one
application. I mention the casting of patterns, as the alloy is easily fused.
easily turned in the lathe, and yet hard enough to retain its form even when
smartly struck with a light hammer, or other hard body of light weight. The
quantity of lead may vary from ten to fifteen per cent. of the iron and zinc
alloy. A larger quantity of lead is apt to cause an imperfect union. or the
lead separates partially, and is found at the depending or lower part of the
casting.
And I would observe as a general rule in the production of these metallic
compounds or alloys, that the more infusible metals should be first strongly
heated, or if readily fusible should be brought up to the melting poin

page_text: previous to the addition of the more fusible or oxidiseable metals or compounds
of metals; and in order to retard or prevent as much as possible the action of
the air upon them, the surfaces should be covered with powdered charcoal or
other suitable material, as is well understood, and as soon as complete fusion
and mixture, by stirring or otherwise, has. taken place, the alloy's should be
removed from the source of heat.
As some of the above alloys or compounds of metals acquire con-
siderable hardness if they are allowed to cool rapidly, the following mode
of casting I have found to be advantageous under certain circumstances;
that is to say, the moulds into which I intend to cast the metal I make as
hot as the nature of the mould will permit, and subsequently to casting I
raise the heat of the mould and casting together as quickly as possible, and
keep up a red heat for a considerable time, according to the degree of softness
requisite for the article so cast, and withdraw the heat as slowly as possible.
In some cases the more fusible of the above mixtures may be continued at a
low white heat, in order to cause slow consolidation, and the more infusible at
a higher degree of heat for the same reason. Where the mould will allow of
the use of hæmatite in its construction, and where the above method of heating
the mould and its contents is adopted, the casting, when the iron forms its
principal constituent, will be rendered much softer.
The above alloys, and other metals when required to be united by welding,
may be welded together according to my Invention in the following manner:-
The surfaces of each of the parts to be welded must be rendered smooth, even,
and fitted to each other as nearly as may be convenient, and being applied to
each other. the whole is brought to the heat necessary for the purpose (a low
welding heat will generally be suflicient), and the lower heat at which this can
be effected the better. The appearance of the more fusible metal will be the
guide for the workman. The iron, may be previously heated, and. the alloy or
other metal to be welded laid on it and brought to a welding heat; the more
fusible of the two metals to be welded will be now almost melted. Borax,
either in powder or solution, or other suitable flux, should be applied to the
surfaces to be welded. I then apply pressure to bring the surfaces into close
contact by a screw, vice, or rollers, or otherwise, as may be convenient, heated
surfaces being placed between the instruments of pressure and the article to
be welded; or the instruments of pressure being themselves heated to a heat
not lower than the fusing point of the most fusible metal of the alloy to be
welded, cast iron and steel of any description may be welded by these means
either to iron or steel, and in these cases I find a red heat suitable for the
pressing instruments or interposed surfaces. In quenching (in the process of

page_text: hardening) articles faced with these alloys, or where these alloys are united by
welding to either steel or iron, it is requisite to plunge the articles so that the
different contractions of the two metals shall not produce splitting or
separation.
And I would observe that although the above alloys and other metals may
be welded by the pressure of heated surfaces according to my Invention, as
above described, the alloys containing copper require great care in the welding,
and are at best but imperfectly welded.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Davie Morries Stirling, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and forty-six.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-ninth day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1846, the aforesaid John Davie Morries Stirling
came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
DAVIE MORRIES STIRLING, of Blackgrange, in North Britain, Esquire, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I did, by Petition, represent unto Her most Excellent Majesty
Queen Victoria, that I had, after much study and expence, invented "CERTAIN
NEW ALLOYS AND METALLIC COMPOUNDS, WITH A METHOD OF WELDING THE SAME
AND OTHER METALS," and Her said Majesty, being willing to encourage all
useful Inventions, did issue Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great
Britain, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of June, in the
year One thousand eight hundred and forty-six, in the tenth year of Her
reign,, whereby, Her Majesty did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Davie Morries Stirling, my exors, admors,
and assigns, Her especial permission, license, and full power, sole privilege,
and authority, that 1, the said John Davie Morries Stirling, my exors,
admors, and assigns, by ourselves, or any other person to whom I or they
should grant permission, and to no others, during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, the said
Invention within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland called England, Wales, the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also
in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad; in which said Letters

page_text: "said
Patent there is contained a proviso obliging 'me, the said John Davie Morries
Stirling within the space of sixticalendar months from the date of the sa
grant, by a writing under, my hand and seal, enrolled in Her Majesty's High
Court of Chancery, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of thre
said Invention, and in what mode it is to be performed; otherwise the said
Letters Patent should become void as the said Letters Patent in themselves
more fully bears
gods
quid d
NOW KNOW YE that in compliance with the said proviso I, the said
John Davie Morries,Stirling, do hereby declare that the nature of Cury said
Invention, and in what, manner, the same is to be performed; are described 1
and ascertained in manner following (that is to say)
1
The part of my said Invention relating to alloys; and metallic compounds
consists in certain combinations of iron and cast iron and mixtures of iron and
cast iron, or either of them, with certain other metals, so as to produce alleys ::
and compounds differing more or less from each other, and applicable to various 1
useful purposes: To produce, an alloy capable of receiving a high polish, and
useful for cutting instruments of various kinds' where great hardness is required,
and for other purposes where these qualities are desirable; or an alloy adapted
for the formation of bells or other instruments of sound, proceed: as follows;
that is to say, Lcause cast iron to be heated nearly to its fusing point or till
a part of it is melted; I, then add to it from a fourth to a fifth of its weight
of tin; And to retards oxidation cover the surface with powdered charcoal
or other suitable material (as is well understood among practical men): And
I would remark, that as cast iron is very variable: in its composition and
qualifies the quantity of tin, must be varied where necessary, so as to produce 5
a saturated. compound of the:, two. This compound of cast iron and tih os
denominate the hardening or alloying metal, which employ in the production
of other alloys, as hereinafter mentioned. I add to cast iron in its melted
state la quantity of this alloy or hardening metal, so that there shall be added
to the mixture: an eighth of its weighth ofstin. Thus, for example, sup-
posing the above hardening, metal toi contain a fifth of its weight of tin; and
my object, bisto produce an alloy applicable to the above-mentioned purposes,
I take four parts of ordinary; cast iron and five parts of the hardening metal
and imelt them together in any manner.soras expose the tin which the harden-
ing metal contains to as little risk of oxidation as possible, either by conducting
the process in a. crucible or melting pot; or in any suitable furnace. If
conduct the operation in a crucible bring the cast iron upto its "elting
point and then add the hardening metal preventing as much as possible the
oxidation and loss by the means already mentioned in the directions for the
35

page_text: unton
!!
production of the hardening metal. If I conduct the process in an air or
reverberatory, furnace, I cause the cast iron to beimelted, and when it has 'run
down. I add to it the hardening metal, and in either case the mixture must be
well stirred with a wooden pole or other suitable instrument. Either' of these
methods of operating is applicable also to the production of the hardening
metal. This last-mentioned alloy, may also be produced by the addition to
cast iron-in its melted state of an eighth of its weight of tin, but I prefer, on
account of there being less liability to oxidation, adding the requisite quantity
of tinnin the form of the hardening metal, and I find the mixture of unf
the two, to be more intimate and complete when so done than when the tint
is added directly to the cast iron ast iron being variable in its composition"
and qualities in respect of its quantity of carbon and its manufacture (whether
hot or cold blast) the above proportions may sometimes be varied with advan
tage, the more highly carbonised requiring more; and the lesser carbonized requir
ing less tineThe same general rule applies to hot and cold blast iron, the hot
blast usually requiring, the larger, and the cold blast the smaller, proportion of
tin, but. I find for bells and other instruments of sound the addition of "d
one
eighth of tin to be a good proportion. For certain purposes, such as shaftings,
cranks for steain enginess girders or beams,guns or ordnance; and where a
metal possessing greater tenacity or strength than ordinary cast iron is
required. and where it is an object to vary the degree of hardness, I make a "
mixture of wrought and cast iron as follows; that is to say! I melt cast
iron, or I take cast iron as it runs from the blast furnace in which it is
madeland. add to it either in the moulds into which it is to be rumor
otherwise, a quantity of malleable iron; less than the weight of the cast
iron, by which means the wrought iron will be agglomerated and a partial
union; of the two will be beffeçted. This mixture is afterwards to be
remelted in a blast furnace, cupola, air furnace, or in a crucibleyas may be most
convenient. Or a preferable mode of obtaining the same mixture is to heat
the wrought iron to a strong or white heat in any convenient manner and
while the wrought iron is in this state the quantity of cast iron in a melted
state is to be added to its the heat is then to be encreased if necessary till the
whole compound is thoroughly melted and then to be perfectly mixed by
stirring or otherwise. And I would remark, that the cold blast iron, or
iron containing the lessen quantity of carbon will require a smaller addition
of wrought iron than hot blast iron opinion containing a larger quantity of
carbon but I find that the addition of from about one third to one fifth of
wrought iron to answer well-in the generality of cases where increased b
strength, toughness, and tenacity are required, The above compounds may

page_text: £
1.
10
15
also be made of iron from the puddling furnace after it has been treated, so as
to get rid of the scoria, but a proportionately larger quantity of such fron will
be requiredThese mixtures of cast and wrought iron may be conveniently
called "toughened cast iron." Where closeness of texture or smoothness of
5
surface in polishing, or where increased fusibility are especially required, the
hardening, metal previously described, or an alloy. of; tin and bismuth, or of
tin and zinc, or of tin and copper, or of bismuth and zine, or of bismuth and
copper, or of any of the above (or of the more fusible of them, where increased
fusibility is the especial object) may be added to the last-mentioned: mixtures
of wrought and, cast iron, or to cast iron alone. The addition of either, zinc
alone, or an alloy of zinc and tin, which I prefer, increases the hardness of
the alloy considerably, and renders it fitted for being manufactured into tools
and implements of various kinds destined to have and to maintain a cutting
edge, and for other uses where a smooth or hard surface is requiredio Ifitow
the above mixture of, wrought and cast iron one eighth of its weight of tin, or
a proportionate quantity of the hardening metal be added, I find an alloy to
be produced, that is very sonorous, and similar to the first-described; alloy.rbūt si
possessing, more toughness, applicable to the purposes already described,
and extremely well, adapted for the formation of bells. If the quantity of tin
20
be further increased a more brilliant and closer grained, but more fragile
metal, is obtained; and I find that the addition of tin to, a mixture of cast and
wrought iron, or to cast iron alone, or to some of the alloys above described,
even when the quantity of tin does not exceed one half per cent of the ironto
mixture or alloy, renders the compound more brittle and closer in its texture.in
If zinc is intended to be added to the mixture of wrought and, cast iron,
or to cast iron alone, or to be, alloyed with iron, in any case, where, the iron
forms the greater proportion, I find a convenient, mode of doing this is pre-
viously to make an alloy of tin and zinc in the proportion of one part of zinc
and from one to forty of tin, according to the purpose for which the alloy of
iron is intended, the tin increasing the fusibility, and the zinc adding esper 30
cially to the hardness of the alloy. Where the zinc added is only one four
hundredth part of the weight of the iron, the alloy so produced is much
increased in hardness, and is well, adapted for cutting, tools. The alloy of
zinc and tin. to be added, to the melted mixture of wrought, and cast iron
or cast iron alone, as it runs from the furnace; or if a crucible be employed, 35
the alloy of zinc and tin may be added to the melted metal, on the removal of i
the crucible from the fire, the whole being in either case well mixed by
stirring, and if necessary, remelted. Where zinc is used alone, care mustibet
taken to add it in small portions at a time, as explosions take place from the
"
"
25

page_text: allor
* quo!
me
"
th
rapid addition of this metal to iron and its compounds at or near their melting
points. The addition of bismuth and tin, on of bismuth alone, to the above
mixture of wrought and cast iron, or to cast iron alone, increases the fusibility in
of the compound or alloy To facilitate the union of the bismuth with the
iron I alloy the bismuth previously with tin, and I find a mixture of one part
of bismuth with sixteen parts of tin, when mixed with the iron in the same
manner as has been described with reference to producing the alloy of zinéix
answer welk and the addition of this alloy in the proportion of one part of the
alloy to forty parts of cast iron, or to forty parts of the mixture of wrought int
and cast iron above described, increases the closeness of texture or grain of the
alloy, renders it more brilliant, and diminishes its tendency to oxidation, and it
may be used for a variety of purposes where the above qualities are desirable.
The addition of copperite soniet of the above-mentioned mixtures of
increases the malleability when employed to the extent of from one to twelve.
per cent. and when this metal is to be added I prefer using it previously de
alloyed with tin The greater proportion of tin the alloy contains the more
fusible and brittle the iron alloy will become, and the larger the proportion of
copper previously mixed with tin the more soft and malleable the iron a
will be rendered. The addition of silver to cast iron, or to the mixtures of
wrought and cast iron, or to the above alloys, and more especially to those q
containing tin renders them closer in texture and tougher, and find
when silver is added, in the proportion of one five hundredth part of the weight
of any of the above, these "effects are produced. The addition dimanganese
to any of the above alloys, either in their production of subsequently, increases
their capability of receiving additional hardness, and improves the
quality of
them for fodis and cutting instruments. When I employ manganese for this
purpose I use the best kind of peroxide of manganese that is to be met with
in commerce in the proportion of from two to ten per cent. of the iron
employed in producing them. The quantity of manganese to be employed
depends not merely on the use to which the compound or alloy is to be
but also on the quality of the iron or kinds of iron and manganese used, as it
is known that some kinds of fron do contain manganese, and that the quality
of the oxide of manganese varies. The carburet of manganese, metallic
manganese oor any of the salts or compounds of this metal that are feducible
by heat when' in contact with iron, may be used for the same purpose
"same purpose, and in
a similar mannerThe above alloys of cast iron, the ad
'br mixtures of wrought..
and cast iron iwith the other metals may be hardened in the manner in which
steel is hardened, and may be softened by annealing or By being made fully
red hot and subsequently allowed to cool very gradually, and the more slowly
tilgo
bbmband
3071 18 30
1,5

page_text: But as some or mese.
they are allowed to cool the softer will they, become. !
alloys are more fusible than steel, they must not be heated quite as hot as some
kinds of steel are in the hardening of them, neither must they be heated on
account of their increased fusibility to such an extent as to endanger, their
melting or changing their composition for the purpose of softening them by
annealing. As a general rule, those compounds or alloys which contain the
greatest quantity of wrought and cast iron will sustain a higher, heat, than
those which contain the fusible metals. The greater quantity of the fusible
als they contain the less heat must be applied either in the hardening or
softening of them.we
metals they
To produce an alloy applicable to many purposes for which brass is
employed, and partaking of its color and other qualities. I proceed, as follows,
i.e. I either take zinc previously alloyed with fron in the proportion of
from two per cent. to twenty-five per cent of the weight of the zine This
I employ instead of ordinary or pure zinc in all the proportions; as used in
the production of brass or other analagous compounds of zinc and copper...
Or the copper may be previously alloyed with a portion of iron, and the zipc
These compounds made with iron and zine.
added to it in the melted state.
instead of pure zinc, will be found to work more easily under the file and in
the lathe, and such of them as from their composition (similar proportions of
the iron and zinc alloy will produce similar compounds as regard toughness.to
organ woonwift allow of their being drawn into wire will
winkel
made with, common zinc,) will
those
mag
be found to be stiffer and capable of receiving a more brilliant polish, and better
ording than ordinary brass. The addition of tin: to
adapted for lacquering or gilding
fistsuguns them, and the quantity of such addition may be
the above compounds
of zinc
hardens
varied. Alloys s
10
and iron, more especially where the proportion of iron
alloved with the zinc does not exceed eight or ten per cent of the former,
alloys of sufficient hardness to be adapted for
when united with lead. form allo
where gun metal, pot metal, or brass are new used. As one
many purposes where gun'
application. I mention the casting of patterns, as the alloy is easily fused.
easily turned in the lathe, and yet hard enough to retain its. form/even when
smartly struck with a light hammer, or other hard body of light weight.The
quantity of lead may vary from ten to fifteen per cent of the iron and zinc
alloy. A larger quantity
99145 Spe
AP of Dead is apt to cause an imperfect union, or the
partially and is found at the depending on lower part of the
lead separates partially,
94 at wile si to identi
casting.
And I would observe as a general rule in the production of these metalli
ds or alloys, that the" more infusible metals should be first strongly
compounds
heated, or if readily fusible should be brought up to the melting poin

page_text: previous to the addition of the 'more
e'more fusible or oxidiseable metals or compounds
of metals; and in order to retard or prevent as much as possible theraction of
the air upon them, the surfaces should be covered with powdered charcoal or
other suitable material; as is well understood, and as soon as complete fusion...
and mixture, by string or otherwise, has taken, place, the alloys, should be
removed from the source of heat. Conegates alus irony
issue
1.
As some of the above alloys on compounds of metals acquire, Con
siderable hardness if they are allowed to cool rapidly, the following mode
of casting have found to be advantageous, under certain circumstances;
that is to say, the moulds into which I intend to cast the metal make, as
hot as the nature of the mould will permit, and subsequently to casting
raise the heat of the mould and casting, together as quickly as possible, and
keep up a red heat for a considerable, time, according to the degree of softne
requisite for the articleo cast, and withdraw the heat as slowly as possible.
In sonte cases the more fusible of the above mixtures may be continued at a
At Sokus ]
low white heat; in order to cause slow consolidation, and the more infusible at
a higher degree of heat for the same reason. Where the mould will allow of
the use of hæmatite in its construction, and where the above method of heating
the mould and its contents is adopted, the casting, when the iron forms its
16 Bustani
principal constituents will be rendered much softer.
The above alloys, and other metals when required to be united by welding,
17 os oix bura
"
Dig
sly in de b
smooth, even,
1. O
bozulin
may be welded together according to, my Invention in the following manner:
The surfaces of each of the parts to be welded must be renderedi ai o p
and fitted to each other as nearly as may be convenient, and being applied to
each other the whole is brought to the heat necessary for the purpose (a low"
welding heat will generally be, sufficient),, and th
the lower heat. at which this can
be effected the better. The appearance of the more fusible metal will be
guide for the workman The iron, may be previously heated, and the alloy or
other metal to be welded laid on it and brought to a welding heat; the more
fusible of the two metals to he, welded, will be now almost melted. Borax,
either in powder ori solution, or other, suitable flux, should be applied to the
surfaces to be welded then apply, pressure heated
.to. bring the surfaces into close
contact by a screw, vice, or rollers, or otherwise, as may be co si to
convenient,
surfaces being placed between the instruments of pressure and the article to
be welded or the instrunients of pressure, being themselves heated to a heat
not lower than the fusing point of the most fusible metal of the alloy to. be
welded, cast iron and steel of any description, may be welded by these, mean
either to iron or steel and in these cases find a red heat; suitable for the
pressing instruments of interposed surfaces.In quenching (in the process of
volja

page_text: hardening) articles faced with these alloys, or where these alloys are united by
welding to either steel or iron, it is requisite to plunge the articles so that the
different contractions of the two metals shall not produce splitting or
separation.
And I would observe that although the above alloys and other metals may
be welded by the pressure of heated surfaces according to my Invention, as
above described, the alloys containing copper require great care in the welding,
and are at best but imperfectly welded.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Davie Morries Stirling, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.
One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.