Improvements in Alloys.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Alloys.
I, JOHANNES CATHARINUS BULL of 29, Bexley Road, Erith, in the County of
Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to alloys of copper and tin and it consists in the addition
thereto of very minute quantities of mercury, the object being to produce malleable
alloys capable of being rolled or otherwise worked in a hot state and having the
necessary degree of hardness for commercial utility.
I am aware that mercury has already been used in connection with copper-tin
alloys to render them more tough or malleable in a cold state but such alloys contain
a large proportion of tin and are not malleable in a red hot state.
I am also aware that copper-tin alloys having not more than 1 per cent. of tin
can be rolled and forged in a red hot state, but such alloys are too soft to be of much
commercial value.
According to my invention I add mercury to the alloys of copper and tin in very
minute quantities whereby the malleability of the alloy in a cold state is materially
increased and those having more than 1 per cent. of tin are also rendered perfectly
malleable in a red hot state.
In making my improved alloys I prefer to first amalgamate the mercury with the
tin and then add it to the copper using from 2 to 4 per cent. of mercury. I add up to
4 per cent. of this tin amalgam to the copper, stir well and pour into ingots in the
ordinary way which are capable of being rolled forged or drawn into bars, sheets,
tubes and wire.
I do not limit myself to the use of from 2 to 4 per cent. of the tin amalgam,
although so far as I now know any excess over 4 per cent. has no further influence
and alloys containing more than 4 per cent. of the tin amalgain cease to be perfectly
malleable at a red hot state.
By this invention a large range of new and useful malleable alloys of copper and
tin can be produced.
It is essential that the copper used should be as nearly chemically pure as possible
and to this end I prefer to use the best obtainable brand of electro-deposited copper,
but this is not obligatory as by the addition of phosphorus-preferably in the form
of copper phosphide-to the copper before the tin and mercury are added, copper
which is less pure may be used. It is however necessary to take care that the amount
of phosphorus added is not so great that any appreciable quantity of it is left
unoxidized in the alloy, and in no case should more than 1/10 er cent. of phosphorus
be added to the copper.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Alloys.
I, JOHANNES CATHARINUS BULL of 29, Bexley Road, Erith, in the County of
Kent, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to alloys of copper and tin made with materials of particular
purity, and it consists in the addition thereto of very minute quantities of mercury,
the object being to produce nalleable alloys capable of being rolled or otherwise
worked in a red hot state and baving the necessary degree of hardness for commercial
utility.
I am aware that mercury has already been used in connection with copper-tin
alloys to render them more tough or malleable in a cold state but such alloys contain
a large proportion of tin and are not malleable in a red hot state.
am also aware that ordinary copper-tin alloys having not more than 1 per cent.
of tin can be rolled and forged in a red hot state but such alloys are too soft to be of
much commercial value.
According to my invention I add mercury to the alloys of copper and tin in very
minute quantities whereby the malleability of the alloy in a cold state is materially
increased and those having more than 1 per cent. of tin are also rendered perfectly
malleable in a red hot state.
In making my improved alloys I prefer to first amalgamate the mercury with the
tin and then add it to the copper using from 2 to 4 per cent. of mercury. I add up
to about 4 per cent. of this tin amalgam to the copper, stir well and pour into
ingots in the ordinary way which are capable of being rolled forged or drawn into
bars, sheets, tubes and wire.
I do not limit myself to the proportion of mercury stated as considerably higher
quantities can be added without rendering the alloys non-malleable at a red heat,
but I prefer not to exceed the proportion stated as the alloys with more mercury
become difficult of casting.
I do not limit myself to the use of from 2 to 4 per cent. of the tin amalgam,
although so far as I now know any excess over 4 per cent. has no further influence
and alloys containing more than 4 per cent. of the tin amalgam cease to be
perfectly malleable at a red hot state.
By this invention a large range of new and useful malleable alloys of copper and
tin can be produced.
It is essential that the copper used should be as nearly chemically pure as is
commercially and practically obtainable, and to this end I prefer to use good brands
of electro-deposited copper, but this is not obligatory as by the addition of a small
proportion of deoxidizing material, for instance phosphorus-preferably in the form
of copper phosphide-to the copper before the tin and mercury are added, electro-
deposited copper which is less pure may be used. It is however necessary to take
care that the amount of phosphorus added is not so great that any appreciable
quantity of it is left unoxidized in the alloy, and in no case ought more than
1/10 per cent. of phosphorus be added to the copper as the malleability in a red hot
state is otherwise impaired.
It will be understood that the tin should be of good quality and practically free
from impurities.
Having
now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-

page_text: (2.) A malleable alloy of copper and tin capable of being worked in a red hot
state composed of copper, as chemically pure as can be commercially obtained, with
from about 2 to about 4 per cent. of a tin amalgam, containing from about 2 to
about 4 per cent. of mercury.
(3.) In malleable alloys of copper and tin as hereinbefore specified the use of
electro-deposited copper.
(4.) In malleable alloys of copper and tin capable of being worked in a red hot
state composed of copper as chemically pure as can be commercially obtained with
from about 2 to 4 per cent. of a tin amalgam containing from about 2 to 4 per cent.
of mercury, the addition to the copper of a small proportion of deoxidizing material
such as phosphorus preferably in the form of copper phosphide, the deoxidizing
material being added in such proportion that no appreciable percentage thereof is
left unoxidized when such material would form a prejudicial addition to the final or
resulting alloys.
Dated this 4th day of December 1896
.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.