Improvements in and in the Manufacture of Metallic Alloys.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in the Manufacture of Metallic Alloys.
I, ALPHA FRANCIS COTHIAS, of 9, Rue Victor Hugo, Ivry-sur-Seine, (Seine)
in the Republic of France, Manufacturer, 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 :-
The invention which forms the object of the present application relates to
improved compositions of alloys as well as to their process of manufacture.
I have thus been able to obtain articles which are completely finished on emerging
from the mould.
These alloys have a considerable tensile resistance, they attain and even some-
times exceed a resistance of 35 kilogrammes per square millimetre of section. They
may be soldered and worked with the greatest facility.
In
My improved alloys are composed of copper, tin, zinc and aluminium or lead
in variable proportions according to the uses for which they are intended.
certain cases a little lead may be added thereto.
In order to increase the hardness of the alloy, I add thereto a small quantity of
titanium, manganese, wolfram, tungsten or the like. These additions are made
in the form of a salt generally of phosphates.
The combinations and proportions of the various metals which enter into these
improved alloys may be varied according as it is desired to obtain hardness,
elasticity or rigidity.
The five following compositions correspond to the principal industrial applications
likely to be required-

page_text: This alloy is of a density inferior to Formula 3 and has a resistance of 25
to 30 kilogrammes.
It is worked without encrusting the tools and is easily plated or tinned.
It is of course evident that the five compositions hereinbefore described are not
immutable and that the right is reserved of changing the proportions to such an
extent as may be deemed necessary.
In order to make these various alloys, I operate in the following manner :--
I commence by placing in a crucible the desired quantities of copper and tin
and I melt them together, I thus obtain a first alloy of copper and tin to which
I add the necessary quantity of zinc, and then remelt the whole together. When
the whole has become well melted, I allow the substance to cool until it gets into
a pasty condition and then I add the necessary proportions of aluminium, which
has the effect of immediately increasing the temperature of the mass, after which
I heat the substance to a very high temperature. The combinations are then
formed in the most complete manner and I obtain a perfectly homogeneous alloy.
In order to facilitate the combination of the various elements and to reduce the

page_text: oxides which form at each fusion I add in the course of the last operation about
1 kilogramme of hydrochlorate of ammonia per 1000 kilogrammes of alloy.
I also add in the course of the last operation a small quantity of phosphorus in
order to render the alloy more ductile and fluid. This phosphorus may be employed
in the form of a salt.
When the alloy is thoroughly fused it is run into ingot moulds where it is...
cooled.
In order to be absolutely sure that the composition of the alloy is thoroughly
exact, a sample is drawn and assayed, and if it is found that the desired proportions..
do not exist the alloy is remelted adding to it the necessary materials to impart
to it the desired composition.
The various metals employed for increasing the resistance and hardness of the
alloys (titanium, manganese, wolfram, tungsten and the like) are added in the form.
of salts (principally in the form of phosphates) to the mixture either in the course
of the last fusion or in the course of a fresh fusion to which the ingots are subjected.
after the first casting and assaying.
The alloys obtained in the manner herein before described are fusible at a
temperature inferior to 800°; it is sufficient to heat them in ladles in the open
air exactly in the same way as lead or tin without the necessity of employing
either furnaces or crucibles. The alloys may be moulded perfectly well in
metallic moulds.
Having now particularly described and accertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The use of copper, tin, zinc, and aluminium or lead combined together in
variable proportions with the addition of hydrochlorate of ammonia and phosphorus
in the form of a salt in order to form metallic alloys substantially such as
herein before described.
2. The five improved alloys prepared according to the formulæ indicated in the
course of the present specification.
Dated this 20th day of June 1896
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.