IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAST IRON, IRON, AND STEEL."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Clément Verdié, of Firminy, Departement de la Loire
(France), Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF CAST IRON, IRON, AND STEEL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Clément Verdié at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1876.
'
CLÉMENT VERDLE, of Firminy, Departement de la Loire (France), Engineer.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAST IRON, IRON, AND STEEL."
The object of my Invention is the purification of the materials employed in the
manufacture of cast iron, of iron, and of steel. The products which I employ to
effect this purification are chiefly the bromide of potassium, and its derivatives, as
well as all other substances which give up bromide, such as the bromide of sodium. I
can also employ the chlorides and fluorides of potassium, and their derivatives; with
these bodies I mix the carbonates of potash or soda, or the nitrates of potash of
soda or borax. Of the above mentioned materials the one which I prefer and
think gives the best results is the bromide of potassium. I can employ these
materials in many different manners in order to effect the purification of cast iron,
of iron, or of steel; thus I employ the bromides, chlorides, or fluorides of potassium
or their derivatives alone, or I nix them with carbonates of potash or soda, or with
nitrate of potash, or soda, or borax.
These matters may be introduced either into the blast furnace, into the
puddling furnace, or into the reverberatory furnace, called the "Martin" furnace, to
manufacture steel, or into a retort on the Bessemer system, or into the crucibles for
casting steel, in short into 'all apparatus capable of producing cast iron, iron, or
steel.
The introduction of these materials in the blast furnace or smelting furnace can
be effected either at the upper or at the lower part, but it is evident that the latter
method is preferable because it facilitates the volatilization of the bodies employed.
The introduction can be effected either by pipes or by a front crucible, or by any
other means which may be found convenient. .
The introduction of bromide and the other matters above mentioned can be mado
in the puddling furnace and the "Martin" furnace, when their contents are in a
state of fusion.

page_text: The quantity of the material to be introduced will depend upon the quality of
the cast iron, iron, or steel.
The introduction of these materials into cast iron, iron, or steel in a state of
fusion has the effect of removing the sulphur, arsenic, and the greater part of the
impurities which so often render cast iron, iron, and steel incapable of certain
employments.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Clément Verdié in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th July 1876.
CLÉMENT VERDIÉ, of Firminy, Department de la Loire, France, Engineer,
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAST IRON, IRON, AND STEEL."
The object of my Invention is the purification of the materials employed in the
manufacture of cast iron, of iron, and of steel. The product which I employ to effect
this purification is chiefly the bromide of potassium united with marine salt (chlo-
ride of sodium) and borate of soda. The introduction of three substances, bromide
of potassium, marine salt, and borax, into cast iron, iron, or steel in a state of fusion
has the effect of removing the phosphorus, the sulphur, the arsenic, and the greater
part of the impurities which so often render the metals unfit for certain purposes.
This mixture is previously prepared, the elements composing it being reduced to
powder, and rammed into a cartridge. The purification by means of this mixture
is made in the apparatus, within which the metal to be purified is being produced,
the blast furnace for cast iron, the puddling furnace for iron, or into the Bessemer
converter for steel, and lastly, in the crucibles in which steel is melted.
In order to enable my Invention to be well understood, and facilitate its being
put into practice, I proceed to describe, by way of example, its application to the
purification of a charge of steel composed of old rails containing phosphoric im-
purities.
The steel is obtained by means of a mixture of cast-iron, droppings of steel rails,
morsels left from other operations in which a large proportion of old rails has been
used, scraps of iron and steel, and lastly of old phosphoric rails. In this operation,
to produce 6,000 kilogrammes or about 13,000 lbs. of steel, would be mixed 1,800
kilogrammes, or about 4,000 lbs. of cast iron, and 2,500 kilogrammes, or about
5,500 lbs. of old rails or iron, containing about seven per cent. of sulphur, the
remainder would be provided with the droppings of steel rails, scraps of various
kinds, and some spiegel eisen, containing from 10 to 12 per cent. of manganese
to complete the operation.
To purify this steel the mixture above mentioned should contain
Bromide of potassium 150 grammes
Marine salt
Borax
300
ور
1 kilogramme
but these proportions may be varied.
or about 5 oz. avoirdupois
"
01
10/2
2% lbs.
"
"
The cartridge containing this mixture is introduced into the Martin furnace before
the addition of the cast spiegel. The steel resulting from this treatment adapts
itself perfectly for rolling, and to cold treatment, either by the hammer or the
hydraulic press, which cannot be the case without the aid of the cartridge containing
the bromide of potassium united with two other salts.
It is the bromine which plays the chief part in the reaction which effects the
elimination, or at least the neutralization of the impurities, especially of phosphorous,
sulphur, and arsenic.
I have given the preference to bromide of potassium as giving the best results
among the bromides, but bromide of sodium may be substituted for it. The em-
ployment of the flourides of potassium, and of sodium, also effect a very efficacious
purifying action upon cast iron, iron, and steel; and instead of marine salt I may
add to the bromide an alkaline carbonate or nitrate.

page_text: And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the employment of bromide of
potassium, or of one of its congeners above mentioned, with the addition of the marine
salt and borax, or of some alkaline salt as a purifying mixture for the purpose of
eliminating or neutralizing the impurities existing in cast iron, iron, and steel,
especially phosphorous, sulphur, and arsenic, in the manner herein-before explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Clement Verdie, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.
Witness,
ARMENGAUD JEUNE,
Civil Engineer,
Of Boulevard de Strasbourg, No. 23,
At Paris,
(France).
CT. VERDIÉ. (L.S.)