A few secrets of the metallurgist simply toldHinkley, Gerald Watson
Science
A few secrets of the metallurgist simply told
Hinkley, Gerald Watson
Steel
Phosphorus has little effect upon the hot properties, but in the cold
state makes the steel brittle and is of course highly undesirable
although some writers have claimed that it adds to the tensile strength
in about the same degree as carbon.
SULPHUR.
Sulphur has just the opposite effect of Phosphorus, and makes the steel
crack while it is being hot worked, although after the metal is cold it
seems to have no particular effect upon the physical properties.
ELEMENTS WHICH HAVE BECOME
ESPECIALLY ASSOCIATED
WITH SPECIAL
ALLOY STEELS.
Such elements are:—Chromium, Tungsten, Molybdenum, Vanadium, Cobalt,
Uranium, Titanium, Aluminum, etc.
CHROMIUM.
Chromium is an indispensable constituent in modern high speed steel,
and does not make a poor high speed steel, even when used alone. The
chief effect which chromium produces in high speed steels is
undoubtedly that of “hardening”. However, chromium, like carbon, will
produce brittleness, if added in too large quantities, although if kept
down to between 2 to 5% it seems to allow the lowering of the carbon
element, while at the same time maintaining the desired hardening
effect, without causing undue brittleness. The great hardness in the
face of an armor plate, and the great toughness in the back of the
plate, also the superb properties in the projectile which attempts to
pierce the plate, can all be induced in chromium steels to a degree
unattainable by the use of any other single element.
As a simple chromium steel the product may be used in five-ply plates
for the manufacture of safes. These plates are made of five alternate
layers, two of chrome steel and three of soft steel, and after having
been hardened, offer resistance to the drilling tools employed by
burglars. Hardened chromium rolls are manufactured for use in
cold-rolling metals. Files, ball and roller-bearings are other noted
products of this type of steel. It is the essential constituent of
those steels which neither rust nor tarnish.
TUNGSTEN.
It was soon found that the composition of “self-hardening” steels was
not the best one for high speed steels. Tungsten was discovered as an
element which gave the steel properties of hardness and toughness at a
red heat. After the peculiar heat treatment had been learned, and the
presence of manganese or chromium in addition to the tungsten was shown
to be unnecessary in appreciable amounts, it was found that more
durable qualities could be obtained by increasing the percentage of
tungsten, while at the same time the carbon element was greatly
reduced.
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