IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUNDS OR PREPARATIONS FOR HARDENING, SOFTENING, TEMPERING, AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF STEEL, AND FOR FACILITATING THE WELDING THEREOF
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Denton Abel at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th August 1881. A communi-
cation from abroad by F. Hanswirth and Küpfer, both of Zurich, Switzerland.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the 'County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUNDS OR PREPARATIONS
FOR HARDENING, SOFTENING, TEMPERING, AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF STEEL,
AND FOR FACILITATING THE WELDING THEREOF." [A communication from abroad
by F. Hanswirth and Küpfer, both of Zurich, Switzerland.]
This Invention relates to the production of various compounds or preparations
for treating steel.
One of the said compounds has the property of imparting to the steel great
toughness and to improve its quality, and even to restore burnt steel to its original
condition, the compound being more particularly applicable for tools.
The
compound which I will term No. 1 is produced by the admixture of the following
ingredients: 200 parts by weight of rosin, 120 parts of liver oil, 60 parts of
sheep's tallow, 30 parts of paraffine, 40 parts of colophonium, 20 parts of yellow
prussiate of potash, 10 parts of chromate of potash, 10 parts of refined borax,
15 parts of powdered oxes hoof, 15 parts of tartaric acid, 10 parts of alum, 10 parts
of soft soap, 20 parts of charcoal powder from lime tree wood, 15 parts of burnt
ivory, 5 parts of dry cooking salt, 10 parts of gum arabic, 5 parts of aloë powder,
5 parts of gentian powder; these ingredients after mixing are boiled together for
an hour.
If hardened steel is to be operated upon the tools after having been treated in a
heated condition with the above compound are cooled in the liquid compound
No. 7 hereinafter described. By this means they become as hard as glass, combined
with such great toughness that in working with them they do not split off but are
only gradually blunted.
Compound No. 2 has similar properties to No. 1, and is particularly suitable for
instruments and cutting tools that easily split off or become crooked in the usual
hardening process. It consists of the admixture of 100 parts by weight of rosin,
100 parts of colophonium, 50 parts of lard, 25 parts of yellow wax, 50 parts of

page_text: liver oil, and 12.5 parts of alum. After mixing, the compound is boiled for half an
hour under constant stirring.
Compound No. 3 has similar properties to Nos. 1 and 2, and is more particularly
suited for larger tools than those for which No. 2 is used, more particularly for
hammered or welded tools. It consists of 125 parts by weight of refined borax,
500 parts of colophonium, 100 parts of gum arabic, 150 parts of prussiate of
potash, 100 parts of chromate of potash, 25 parts of aloë powder, 25 parts
powdered sal ammoniac. These ingredients are merely well mixed together.
Compound No. 4 has the property of softening steel to such an extent that it
can be cut with a knife. If the steel be softened by this compound it can
readily be restored to its original hardness by treating with compound No. 3, this
compound is therefore principally applicable for engraved dies or plates. The
compound consists of 100 parts by weight of charcoal dust, 100 parts of burnt
lime, and 10 parts of guano, all well mixed together.
Compound No. 5 is a powder for welding steel, by means of which steel can be
welded at a temperature much below a white heat, and accordingly by its
application the burning of the steel by the welding is very greatly prevented, and
the steel can afterwards be readily completely regenerated by the use of either of
the compounds Nos. 1, 2, or 3. The compound consists of 500 parts by weight of
calcined borax, 5 parts of prussiate of potash, 5 parts of sal ammoniac, 2.5 parts of
colophonium, and 50 parts of steel filings, all well mixed together.
Compound No. 6 forms a hardening liquid, which prevents the splitting off and
distortion of the steel articles. It consists of 150 parts by weight of refined
borax, 100 parts of powdered sal ammoniac, 500 parts of prussiate of potash,
500 parts of zinc vitriol powder, all dissolved in about 50,000 parts of water.
Compound No. 7 is a hardening liquid with very great hardening powers; if
tools are cooled in it they become as hard as glass and also tough, and they can
even be used for cutting hard castings which can usually only be operated upon
by means of diamonds. It consists of 250 parts by weight of zinc vitriol powder,
125 parts of arsenic powder, 125 parts of sal ammoniac powder, 125 parts of
tartaric acid, 250 parts of prussiate of potash, and 500 parts of dry powdered
cooking salt. The ingredients are first finely powdered, and then, the salt having
been first dissolved in 25,000 parts of water, the other ingredients are added thereto
while boiling.