IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC ALLOYS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Alexander Dick, of 110 Cannon Street, in the
City of London, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF METALLIC ALLOYS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Alexander Dick at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th May 1882.
GEORGE ALEXANDER DICK, of 110 Cannon Street, in the City of London,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC ALLOYS,"
This Invention consists in the following improvements in the manufacture of
certain metallic alloys.
First. In a new method of manufacturing alloys of copper, zinc, (with or
without tin) and iron, by previously alloying the iron, in definite proportions, with
the zinc.
Secondly. In deoxidising the oxide or oxides contained in alloys of copper and
iron, of copper, iron and zinc, of copper, iron and tin, or of copper, iron, zinc and
tin, by the employment of manganese-copper.
Thirdly. In introducing into the last named copper alloys, by the employment of
manganese-copper, a certain definite quantity of manganese beyond that required
for the deoxidation of the oxides present.
And Fourthly. In adding lead to the alloys containing manganese as lastly
referred to.
I am well aware that iron and also manganese, either separately or combined
together in the form of "Ferro-manganese," have been previously used to improve
brass and gunmetal, but the various methods employed have great inconveniences,
they either require very high temperatures to form the combinations, they give
uncertain results, or they have other objections, the whole of such objections are,
however, obviated by the methods hereinafter described.
The first part of the said invention which relates to an improved method of

page_text: introducing into the alloys of copper and zinc (with or without tin) definite
quantities of iron, is effected as follows:-
When wrought iron is introduced into molten zinc the latter readily dissolves
the former and will take up to about 5 per cent thereof. The exact point of
saturation varies with the temperature at which the molten zinc is kept during the
process, by using furnaces which always give off the same temperature, such as, for
instance, gas furnaces, I produce an alloy containing a definite proportion of iron,
and by adding the zinc and iron alloy thus formed to the requisite amount of
copper, or copper and tin, I am enabled to introduce any definite quantity of iron,
up to 5 per cent of the zinc contained in the improved alloys.
The second part of this Invention consists in adding from 1 to 20 per cent of
Manganese-copper (containing from 2 to 50 per cent of manganese and from 98 to
50 per cent of copper) to the following alloys, the amount of copper, so added
in form of manganese-copper, being reckoned as forming part of the finished
alloy =
a. Alloys of copper and iron, containing from 0-1 to 10 per cent of iron and
from 99.9 to 90 per cent of copper.
b. Alloys of copper, iron and zinc containing from 0.1 to 5 per cent of iron, from
50 to 65 per cent of copper, and from 49.9 to 30 per cent of zinc. In this case
the manganese copper is added to the zinc in which the requisite quantity of iron
has previously been dissolved, by the method forming the first part of my invention,
or the manganese copper is added to the refuse from galvanising works (hard
spelter) which consists of zinc with from 3 to 4 per cent of iron (in the latter case
the exact amount of iron must be previously ascertained), or, the manganese-copper
is added to the copper with which the zinc and iron alloy is to be mixed.
c. Alloys of copper, iron and tin (containing from 0.1 to 5 per cent of iron from
01 to 15 per cent of tin and from 99.8 to 80 per cent of copper.)
d. Alloys of copper, iron, zinc and tin (containing from 0.1 to 5 per cent of iron,
from 0.1 to 10 per cent of tin, from 18 to 45 per cent of zinc, and from 98'0 to
40 per cent of copper.) Although it is herein before stated that the manganese
copper is added to the said alloys, I do not confine this invention to that method
of manufacturing the improved alloys, as in some cases, I add the requisite quantity
of manganese-copper to any of the ingredients or to any combination of ingredients
either before or during the manufacture of the said improved alloys.
Sufficient manganese-copper is added to the alloys as will introduce the requisite
quantity of manganese to deoxidise the oxide or oxides contained in the alloy or
metals used, as will be well understood.
The third part of this invention consists in adding to the alloys last mentioned,
or to any of the metals to be employed in forming the same, before, during or after
their mixing a larger proportion of manganese-copper, of the nature above described,
than would be required for deoxidising only, so that a certain definite quantity
of manganese remains in the finished alloy (say from 0.1 to 10 per cent of the
finished alloy.)
And this invention relates fourthly, to adding to the last named alloys containing
manganese a certain proportion of lead from about 1 to about 10 per cent. The
lead may be added to the metals to be employed in the manufacture of the alloys
or it may be added during or after the completion of such manufacture

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Alexander Dick in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th November 1882
"
GEORGE ALEXANDER DICK of 110 Cannon Street, in the City of London,
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC ALLOYS
"
My said Invention consists in the following improvements in the manufacture
of certain metallic alloys, hereinafter mentioned.
First. In a new method of manufacturing alloys of copper, zinc, (with or without
tin) and iron by previously alloying the iron in such a manner that it is combined
in definite and known proportions with the zinc, as may be required.
Secondly In deoxidising the oxide or oxides contained in alloys of copper and
iron, or of copper, iron and zinc, or of copper, iron and tin, or of copper, iron, zinc
and tin, by the employment of manganese copper, as hereinafter described.
Thirdly. In introducing into the last named copper alloys, by the employment
of manganese copper, a certain definite quantity of manganese beyond that required
for the deoxidation of the oxides present
And Fourthly. In adding lead to the alloys containing manganese as lastly
referred to, so as to produce alloys of an improved character.
I am well aware that iron and also manganese either separately or combined
together in the form of "Ferro-manganese " have been previously used to improve
brass and gunmetal, but the various methods employed have great inconveniences,
they either require the employment of very high temperatures to form the com-
binations, and are found to give uncertain results as regards the character of the
alloys produced or they have other objections which are, however, obviated by the
methods hereinafter described.
The first part of the said Invention which relates to an improved method of
introducing into the alloys of copper and zinc (with or without tin) definite
quantities of iron, is effected as follows:-
When ordinary wrought iron is introduced into molten zinc the latter readily.
dissolves or absorbs the former and will take it up in proportions of about 5 per
cent thereof or in some cases somewhat larger proportions. The exact point of
saturation or the proportion dissolved or absorbed is found to vary with the
temperature at which the molten zinc is kept during the process; and unless the
temperature is ascertained and controlled the resulting products will be uncertain
in their character as has hitherto been the case with the methods of procedure
that have been tried. I find that by using furnaces which may be. made to give
off or work at the same or uniform temperatures, (such as, for instance, gas furnaces)
for heating the crucibles in which the process is performed, and by keeping the
crucible at as high a temperature as is possible without the volatilization of the
zinc, that is to say, not exceeding about 1200° Fahrenheit, I am able with
uniformity to produce the required alloy containing a definite and known pro-
portion of iron, and by adding the zinc and iron alloy thus formed of ascertained
and known character to the requisite amount of copper or copper and tin I am
enabled to introduce any definite quantity of iron, up to about 5 per cent of the
zinc contained in the improved alloys which are thus manufactured uniformly of
the required character.
The second part of this invention consists in an improved method of deoxydising
the copper alloys hereinafter mentioned by adding from 1 to 20 per cent of
manganese copper which will be found to vary in its character and contain from 2
to 50 per cent of manganese and from 98 to 50 per cent of copper to the alloys
mentioned below. It will be obvious from what is stated above that the proportion

page_text: of manganese copper employed should increase as the percentage of manganese
found to be contained in it diminishes within the limits above indicated. It should
also be noted that the amount of copper so added in form of manganese copper is
to be reckoned as forming part of the finished alloy and where the quantity of
oxide to be acted upon is large a proportionally large quantity of manganese will
be required as will be well understood subject to the above observations I add
from 2 to 50 per cent of manganese copper to
a. Alloys of copper and iron containing from 0.1 to about 5 per cent of iron and
from 99.9 to 95 per cent of copper.
.
b-Alloys of copper, iron and zinc containing from 0.1 to 5 per cent of iron
from 50 to 65 per cent of copper, and from 49.9 to 30 per cont of zinc. In this
case the manganese copper is added to a zinc and iron alloy prepared by causing
the zinc to dissolve or absorb the known and requisite quantity of iron, by the
method forming the first part of my invention. In some cases the manganese
copper is added to the refuse from galvanizing works (hard spelter) whose character
is known and which is usually found to consist of zinc with from 3 to 4 per cent
of iron care must be taken to ascertain by analysis the exact amount of iron which
is combined with the zinc so that the alloys may be formed in about the
proportions above indicated. In some cases the manganese copper is added to the
copper with which the zinc and iron alloy-is mixed to form the required compound
alloy.
c. Alloys of copper iron and tin (containing from 0.1 to 5 per cent of iron;
from 0.1 to 10 per cent of tin and from 99-8 to 85 per cent of copper.
d. Alloys of copper, iron, zinc and tin containing from 0.1 to 5 per cent of iron,.
from 0.1 to 10 per cent of tin, from 1.8 to 45 per cent of zinc and from 98.0 to
40 per cent of copper. Although it is hereinbefore stated that the manganese
copper is added to the said alloys, I do not confine this invention to the exact
method of manufacturing the improved alloys or order of combination as in some
cases, I add the requisite quantity of manganese-copper to any of the ingredients
or to any combination of ingredients either before or during the manufacture of
the said improved alloys but in all cases a sufficient quantity of manganese-copper
must be added to the alloys so as to introduce the requisite quantity of manganese
to effect the required deoxidation of the oxide or oxides contained in the alloy or
metals used and it will be known when the effect is produced by noting the bright
metallic shine possessed by the mother metal as soon as the oxides are eliminated
as will be well understood by those experienced in the manufacture of alloys such
as those in question.
The third part of this invention consists in manufacturing improved alloys by
adding to the alloys last mentioned or to any of the metals employed in forming
the same, before, during or after their mixing a proportion of manganese copper,
of the nature above described larger than would be required for merely effecting
the required deoxidation so that a certain definite quantity of manganese will be
found to remain in the finished alloy (say from 0.1 to 10 per cent of the finished
alloy).
And this invention consists fourthly, in manufacturing improved alloys by
adding to the last named alloys containing manganese a certain proportion of lead
from about 1 to 10 per cent. The lead may be added to the metals to be employed
in the manufacture of the alloys or it may be added during or after the completion
of such manufacture.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention I would
observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original and therefore claim
as constituting the invention secured to me by the said hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent, are:-
First. The manufacture of the alloys herein before mentioned by introducing into
copper zinc and copper zinc and tin alloys definite quantities of iron by previously
causing the zinc uniformly to dissolve or absorb a known proportion of iron,
substantially as hereinbefore described,

page_text: Secondly. The manufacture of the improved alloys of copper and iron, of copper,
iron and zinc, of copper, iron and tin, and of copper, iron, zinc and tin (all in the
proportions as stated in the specification) by the employment of manganese copper
for reducing the oxides contained in the said alloys, substantially as herein before
described and set forth.
Thirdly. The manufacture of improved alloys of similar composition. as first
stated but also containing in the finished alloys a certain proportion of manganese,
by adding manganese copper, substantially as herein before described and set forth.
Fourthly. The manufacture of improved alloys by adding to alloys manufactured
as above mentioned and claimed in the third claim a certain proportion of lead,
substantially as; herein before described and set forth.
In witness whereof I the said George Alexander Dick have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of November in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two