Aluminium: its history, occurrence, ... and applications ... Illustrated, etc

Preface

No apology is necessary in presenting a work on aluminium in English. In 1858 Tissier Bros. published in France a small book on the subject. H. St. Claire Deville, the originator ofthe aluminium industry, published a treatise, also in French, in 1859. Deville's book is still the standard on the subject. Until December, 1885, we have an inter mission, and then a work by Dr. Mierzinski, forming one of Hartleben's Chemisch-Technische Bibliothek, which is a fair presentation of the industry up to about 1883, this being a German contribution. Probably because the English speaking people have taken comparatively little hand in this subject we find no systematic treatise on aluminium in our language. The present work aims to present the subject in its entirety to the English reader. Tissier, Deville, Mierzinski, and the German, French, and English scientific periodicals have

PREFACE.

. been freely consulted and extracted from, full credit being given in each case to the author or journal. As this art has of late advanced so rapidly it has been a special aim to give everything that has been printed up to the time of pub lication. The different parts of the work are arranged in what seemed their logical order, corresponding closely to that followed by Deville. The Appendix contains an account of laboratory experiments, etc., several of which, it is trusted, may be of value. In conclusion, the author wishes to thank the faculty of his " Alma Mater," Lehigh University, for their permission to use his Thesis on Alumin ium as the basis of this treatise; also, to acknowl edge his indebtedness to Dr. Wm. H. Greene, of Philadelphia, for assistance rendered in the prep aration of the work for the press.

J. W. R. Philadelphia, November 25, 1886. LIST OF REFERENCES. Tissier Recherche de 1' Aluminium. C. & H. Tissier. Paris, 1858. Deville De 1' Aluminium. H. St. Claire Deville. Paris, 1859. Watts Watts's Dictionary of Chemistry, vol. i. Mierzinski .... Die Fabrikation des Aluminiums. Dr. Mierzinski. Vienna, 1885. Compt. Rend. . . . Comptes Rendus de les Sciences de P Academic Paris. Wagner's Jahresb. . Wagner's Jahresberieht der Chem ische Technologic. Phil. Mag The London and Edinburgh Philo- & **■> sophical Magazine. Mon. Scientif. ... Le Moniteur Scientifique. Dr. Quesnesville. Fremy Enc*rclop6die Chemique. Fremy. Paris, 1883. Dingl. Joul Dingler's Polyteehnisches Journal. Pogg. Ann Poggendorff's Annalen. Jrnl. der Pharm. . . Journal der Pharmacie. Bull, de la Soc. Chem. Bulletin de la Socidte Chemique de Paris.

Sci. Am. (Suppl.) . . Scientific American (Supplement). Eng. and Mng. Jrnl. . The Engineering and Mining Journal. Chem. News . . . The Chemical News. Jahresb. der Chem. . Jahresberieht ueber die Fortsehritte der Chemie. 1* FORMULÆ. Al ... Aluminium. APO3 . . . Alumina. A12C16 . . . Aluminium chloride. K . . . . Potassium. KOH . . . Caustic Potash. KC1 . . . Potassium chloride. Na. . . . Sodium. Al2Cl6.2NaCl. Aluminium-sodium double chloride. Si ... . Silicon. Fe ... . Iron. Cu . . . . Copper. TEMPERATURES. Unless stated otherwise, all temperatures given are in Centi grade degrees. CONTENTS.

Part I

History of Aluminium. PAGE Lavoisier's suggestion of the existence of metallic bases of the earths and alkalies ; Researches in preparation of aluminium, by Davy, Oerstedt, and Wohler . . 25 Isolation of aluminium, by H. St. Claire Deville, in 1854 26 Patronage of Emperor Napoleon III. ; Aluminium at the Paris Exhibition, 1855; Its manufacture on a large scale at Glaci.re, Nanterre, and Salindres ; Tissier Bros.' book on aluminium in 1858 .... 28 Deville's book, 1859; History of the works near Rouen 29 Deville's explanation of the uses of the new metal . 30 Alfred Monnier's production of aluminium at Camden, N. J., 1856 31 W. J. Taylor claiming the possible cost of aluminium at $1 per pound; Kerl and Stohman's rtsumi of the manufacture of aluminium up to 1874 ... 32 Dr. Clemens Wincklcr's retrospect of the development of aluminium, 1879 33 Manufacture of aluminium in England, France, and Germany ; Aluminium beams for balances, made by Sartorius of Gottingen; Difficulties in using aluminium for mathematical instruments ; Action of molten aluminium upon earthen crucibles ......

CONTENTS. PAGE Prices of aluminium and of aluminium bronze in France ; Webster's aluminium works in England ... 36 Col. AVilliam Frishmuth' s invention for producing aluminium at reduced cost; Opinion of his invention by Major Riearde-Seaver, F.R.S.E 37 Col. Frishmuth's works in Philadelphia ; Aluminium casting for the Washington Monument, made by Col. Frishmuth ; Census report of his annual production ; His price in bars ........ 39 Imports and consumption of aluminium in the United States from 1870 to 1884 ; Its production in Philadelphia by Col. Frishmuth in 1883, 1884 ... 40 Cowle's process for making aluminium bronze at Cleveland, Ohio ; Present state of aluminium industry as described by Prof. Charles F. Mabery, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Dr. T. Sterry Hunt, of Montreal . . 41

Part II

Occurrence of Aluminium in Nature. Combinations of aluminium with oxygen, alkalies, and acids, etc. ; Formula, of aluminium silicates . . 43 Appearance of most of the aluminium compounds ; Formula, of some of the precious stones .... 44 Minerals most used for producing aluminium; Beauxite . 45 Analyses of beauxite ....... 46 Cryolite ; Where found, description, and general uses ; Its importation by the Pennsylvania Salt Co., of Philadelphia ; Native cryolite in the United States . . 48 Imports of cryolite into the United States ; Corundum ; Its great source of supply . . . . .49 Probable sources of supplies of materials for production of aluminium in the United States and Great Britain . CONTENTS. IX PART HI. Physical Properties of Aluminium.

PAGE Table of analyses of commercial aluminium ... 51 Free and combined silicon in aluminium ; Gases in aluminium ......... 52 Composition of the aluminium apex of the Washington Monument at Washington, D. C, cast by Col. Frishmuth ; Color of aluminium; As described by Deville, Fremy, Mallet, and Mierzinski ..... 53 Mat ; As described by Deville, Mierzinski, and Bell Bros. 54 Polish and lustre ; Processes for producing as given by Deville, Bell Bros. and Kerl and Stohman . . 55 Odor ; As given by Deville and Watts .... 56 Taste— Deville ; Malleability— Deville and Mallet on this subject ......... 57 M. Dcgousse's success in beating aluminium into leaves; Substitution of aluminium for silver leaf; Kerl & Stohman on rolling and annealing aluminium . . 58 Bell Bros. on beating aluminium ; Mierzinski on extensibility of aluminium ....... 59 Aluminium leaf first made by C. Falk & Co., Vienna; Ductility; Drawing aluminium wire ; Results obtained by Deville, Vangeois, and Bell Bros. ... 60 Elasticity, Tenacity, Hardness — Deville, Wertheim, Mallet, Fremy ; Kerl & Stohman on engraving aluminium 61 Mierzinski and W. H. Barlow on tensile strength; Tables ; Comparative mechanical value of aluminium, steel, etc 62 Table of strength of aluminium wire ; Sonorousness; Results obtained by Deville and M. Lissajous in making bells and tuning-forks ...... 63 Results obtained by Faraday and Watts ; Density ; Deville's table of comparison with other metals . .

X CONTENTS. PAGE Comparative value of equal volumes of aluminium and silver; Specific gravity of absolutely pure aluminium, Mallet ; Fusibility ; As given by Deville, Mallet, and Mierzinski ...... 65 Fixity ; As given by Deville, Watts, and Fremy ; Electric conductivity ; Results obtained by Deville and M. Buff 66 Comparison with copper and magnesium, Fremy ; Thermal conductivity ; Deville, Faraday, and Watts, etc., on this subject . . . . . . . .67 Mierzinski, Calvert, and Johnson on this subject ; Specific heat ; Deville, Regnault, Paul Morin, Mallet, and Fremy on this subject ...... 68 Magnetism ; Deville, MM. Poggendorff and Reiss ; Crystalline Form ; Deville on this subject ... 69

Part IV

Chemical Properties of Aluminium. Remark; Action of air; Deville's observations . . 70 Cupellation of aluminium; Observations of Wohler, Peligot, Watts, etc. 71 gui, -r. aits, Action of water ; Deville on this subject ... 72 Mierzinski and the Chemical News ; Action of hydrogen sulphide and sulphur ; Deville and Fremy . . 73 Sulphuric acid ; Deville, M. de la Rive, and Fremy . 74 Nitric acid ; Deville and M. Hulot ; Hydrochloric acid ; Deville, M. Favre, and others ..... 75 Potash, soda, and lime ; Deville, Mallet, Mierzinski . 77 Aqua ammonia ; Deville and Wohler ; Organic acids, vinegar, etc. ; Deville, M. Paul Morin ; LTse of Aluminium for culinary articles ..... 78 Solutions of metallic salts ; Precipitation of other metals by aluminium ; Deville, Tissier, Paul Morin, Mourey, Christofle, Hulot .......

CONTENTS. XI PAGE Mierzinski, Fremy and Watts ..... 81 Nitre ; Purification by nitre ; Deville, Fremy, and Mierzinski on this subject ....... 83 Silicates and borates ; Action on glass and crucible clay ; Deville and Tissier ; Fluorspar ; Tissier on its use as a flux ......... 84 Phosphate of lime, Tissier on this subject ; Sodium chloride and chlorides, Deville ; Tissier on their use as fluxes ......... 85 Metallic oxides ; Tissier' s experiments .... 86 Mierzinski; Beketoff's experiments; Animal matters; Deville and M. Charriere on the use of aluminium in surgery ......... 87 Miscellaneous agents ; Tissier and Mierzinski on this subject 88 General observations on the properties of aluminium, Deville 88

Part V

Metallurgy of Aluminium. Oerstedt's original paper on isolation of aluminium, 1824 90 Wohler, the true discoverer of the metal ; Wohler's first paper . . . . . . . . .91 Wrbhler's second paper ....... 93 Deville's remarks on the metal obtained by Wohler . 95 Deville's improvement, 1854-55 ..... 96 Deville's apparatus at Javel and Glaci.re described and illustrated 98 Deville's experiments with sodium vapor . . . 100 Reduction from cryolite ; H. Rose's entire paper . . 103 Dr. Percy's investigations as laid before the Royal Institution . . . . . . . . .115 Allan Dick's paper, November, 1855 . . . .116 CONTENTS. PAGE Deville's account of his researches .... 118 Wohler's improvement on Deville's process; Watts on the reduction of cryolite ; Gerhard's furnace . .126 Watts' s summary of the use of cryolite . . .127 General remarks . . . . . . . .128

Part VI

TnE Manufacture of Sodium. Preliminary observations ...... 130 Summary, taken principally from Mierzinski ; Efforts of Davy, Gay Lussac, Thenard, Curaudau, Briinner, Donny, and Mareska . . . . . .131 Donny and Mareska's condenser, illustrated; Deville's account of its operation ...... 132 Object of and disadvantage in use of chalk ; Preliminary calcination of the mixture ; Illustration of the furnace. 133 Decomposition retorts, illustrated . . . . .134 Operation in the retorts ....... 135 Deville, Rivot, and Tissier on the temperature . . 137 Wagner's improvement; Attempts to reduce potassium and sodium together . . . . . . .138 Weldon's calculation of the cost of sodium ; Making of sodium in New York City, N. Y. ; Castner's* American patent process . . . . . . .139 Claims made in Castner's patent . . . . .141 Reduction of sodium by electricity, Mierzinski, Davy; Jablochoff's apparatus described and illustrated . . 142

Part VII

Manufacture of Alumina. Present state of the industry ; Tilghman's process . . 144 Manufacture from cryolite ; Dry way .... CONTENTS. XIII PAGE Thomson's furnace described and illustrated . . . 147 Preference for mechanical furnaces as used in manufacture of soda, potash, etc. . . . . • _■ • 148 Precipitation of solution of sodium aluminate, according to Lowig ......... 151 Wet way 152 Manufacture from alum-stone or shales .... 153

Part VIII

Manufacture of the Double Chloride of Aluminium and Sodium. Preliminary remarks ....... 154 Mierzinski, Deville, and M. Dullo on this subject . . 155 Manufacture by using hydrochloric acid and carbon disulphide ......... 157

Part IX

Manufacture of Aluminium at Salindres (Gard). Aluminium as made by A. R. Pechiney & Co., successors to Henry Merle & Co 158 Reactions involved in and outline of the process . . 158 Preparation of the aluminate of soda ; Material used ; Composition of mixture ; Calcination, washing, filtering, with illustration of filtering apparatus . . . 159 Preparation of the alumina ; Description of precipitating tank and method of precipitation, washing, and drying, illustrated 163 Preparation of aluminium — sodium double chloride . 166 Illustration of furnace ; Mixing and shaping the charge ; Condenser ........ 167 CONTENTS. PAGE Reduction of the double chloride by sodium ; Illustration of furnace ; Difficulties met ; Method of charging, reducing, running out ...... 168 Average cost of manufacture at Salindres in 1872 . .172 Later improvements in Deville's process ; Webster's process ; History and description of the plant ; Where its advantages lie ; Utilization of bye products . .173 Frishmuth's process ; Patent claims . . . . 178 Other processes ,* Niewerth's method of reduction by nascent sodium; Grousillier's reduction under pressure . 179

Part X

Reduction of Aluminium by other reducing agents than Sodium. Reduction by Cyanogen; Knowles's patent; Corbelli's patent 180 Deville's and Watts's comments ; Reduction by hydrogen ; Process of F. W. Gerhard; Comment by AVatts . 181 Reduction by carburetted hydrogen ; Process of A. L. Fleury, of Boston 182 Petitjean's process ....... 183 Reduction by double reaction ; Processes of M. Comenge and Johnson . . . . . . . .184 Process of Niewerth ....... 185 Reduction by carbon and carbon dioxide ; Process of J. Morris, of Uddington . . . . . .187 Reduction by carbon ; Article by M. Chapelle . . 188 Statement of G. AV. Reinar ; Cowles Bros.' process . 189 Patent claim of Messrs. Cowles . . . . .190 Prof. Charles F. Mabery's official account of Cowles Bros.' process . . . . . . . . .191 Dr. T. Sterry Hunt's paper read before the American Institute of Mining Engineers . . . . .194 CONTENTS.

XV PAOE Dr. Hunt's address before the National Academy of Science . . . . . . . . .196 AV. P. Thompson's complete description of the process . 197 Illustrative description of the furnace ; Mode of operating furnace, and improvements thereon ; Amount reduced ; Ores used . . . . . . .199 Reduction by iron ; Lauterborn's process not new ; Patents of F. Lauterborn and of H. Niewerth . . 206 Preparation of aluminium and sodium in the Bessemer converter; AV. P. Thompson's experiments . . 207 Calvert and Johnson's experiments .... 209 Reports of Fremy, AVatts, Benzon, Evrard . . .211 Silicon bronze, by Evrard; Ostberg's statement ofthe iron-aluminium alloy used in the mitis process ; Reduction with copper ; Calvert and Johnson's process . 212 Kerl and Stohman's account of Benzon's process . . 213 Laboratory tests of this process ; Reduction by zinc ; Dullo's observations ....... 214 Patent of M. N. Basset 215 AAred_ding's remarks on Basset's process . . .217 Kagensbusch's singular proposition ; Fred'k J. Seymour's patent 218 Extraordinary claim in Seymour's second patent . . 220 American Aluminium Co., Detroit; Reduction by lead; AVilde's invention 221 Reduction by manganese ; Claims of AV.

AA'eldon, Burstow, England ; Reduction by electricity . . . 222 Deville's account of the process ..... 223 Sectional illustration of the crucibles .... 224 Bunsen and Deville on the subject ..... 225 Mierzinski's practical remarks ..... 226 Patented improvement by Richard Gratzel, Germany, illustrated 228 Duvivier's experiment with electric current . . . CONTENTS. XVI PAGE Kagensbusch's proposition; Gaudin's "economic" reduction of aluminium ....... 230 Metals coated with aluminium by Thomas and Tilly ; Depositing of aluminium by Corbelli and J. B. Thompson 231 Patented process by J. A. Jeaneon ; Experiments by M. A. Bertrand, C. AVinkler, and Sprague . . . 232 Electrolyses of M. L. Senet, Gerhard, and Smith ; Decomposition of a solution of alum by J. Braun ; Moses G. Farmer's patent for obtaining aluminium . . 233 Mierzinski's denial of the successful deposition of aluminium from an aqueous solution of its salt ; Aluminium and nickel plating at Frishmuth's works . . 234

Part XI

AAtorking in Aluminium. Melting aluminium ; Deville's instructions . . . 235 Kerl and Stohman's instructions ..... 236 Mierzinski's instructions ; Casting aluminium ; Deville's instructions . . . . . . . .237 Purification of aluminium ; Freeing from slag, Deville . 238 Process of Paul Morin . . . . . . .239 AVatts's suggestion ; Freeing from impurities, Deville . 240 Mierzinski's recommendation . . . . .242 Bnchner's treatment of commercial aluminium to eliminate silicon ; Mallet's process of obtaining pure from commercial aluminium; Uses of aluminium . . 243 Aluminium plating and aluminium leaf .... 246 Aluminium coins ; Soldering aluminium ; Deville's views on . . . . . . . _ .247 Hulot's process ; Mourey's solder ..... 248 Mierzinski's statements as to Mourey's solder; Improvements of Schwarz ; Formulæ for these solders . .

CONTENTS. XVII PAGE Frishmuth's solders ; Kerl and Stohman on Mourey's solders, with formulas ...... 250 Process of Bell Bros 252 Veneering with aluminium ; Deville's account of the success of M. Sevrard in 1854 ..... 253 Dr. Clemens AVinckler on this subject .... 254 Gilding and silvering aluminium ; Failures of Deville and Morin ; Success of Mourey and Christofle . . 256 AVatts, and Kerl and Stohman, on this subject . . 257

Part XII

Alloys of Aluminium. General remarks, Mierzinski ..... 258 Aluminium and silicon ; Tissier and Deville . . . 259 Aluminium and mercury ; Statements of Deville and AVatts ; Aluminium amalgam made by Caillet with the battery . - 261 Joules' s method of electrolyzing ..... 262 Properties of aluminium amalgam ; Fremy, Tissier, Gmelin on this subject ...... 263 Aluminium and copper; Tissier Bros., 1858 . . . 264 Deville, 1859 ; Use ofthe alloy by Christofle ; Alloy described by Debray ; Composition of aluminium bronze 265 Properties of aluminium bronze ; M. Lechatelier's table of its strength ; Experiments by A. Gordon . . 266 M. Boudaret on its malleability ; Mierzinski on points to be attended to in making the aluminium bronze . .267 Directions to be observed in casting ; Comparative strength of the bronze . . . . ... 268 Hulot's solder ; Fremy's instructions ; Kerl and Stohman's directions ......... 269 Bronze for philosophical instruments ; Specific gravity and strength ; Comparative strength of the alloys ; Their specific gravities ......

XVltl CONTENTS. PAGE Melting point of 10 per cent, bronze ; B. S. Procter's experiments . . . . . . • • .271 Thurston on the properties of aluminium bronze . . 272 Strange and Knighf on the properties of aluminium bronze . . . . . . . • .273 Alloys made by Cowles Bros. ..... 274 Strength of these alloys by the testing machine . . 276 Alloys of aluminium and copper with other metals ; Neogen made by F. H. Sauvage .... 277 Minargent; P. Baudrin's alloy; James AVebster's patent bronze ........ 278 Phosphor aluminium bronze made by Thomas Shaw, Newark, N. J.; Cowles Bros.' reports of the strength of aluminium silver castings ; Solders for aluminium bronze for jeweller's use ...... 279 Silicon and aluminium bronze, Cowles Bros.; Aluminium and iron; Tissier Bros.' alloy; Deville, Rogers . 280 Fremy and Mierzinski on aluminium alloys . . . 282 Ostberg's mitis castings, with description of the process . 283 Alloy used by Ostberg, AVorcester, Mass. . . . 285 Ostberg's note to the Engineering and Mining Journal ; AVatts's note ; Mr. Sellers's series of experiments . 286 Aluminium and zinc ; Tissier Bros., Deville, Kerl and Stohman, and Fremy on these alloys .... 287 Aluminium and tin ; Tissier Bros., Deville, and Kerl and Stohman on this subject ..... 289 Fremy, Mierzinski, and M. Bourbouze . - . . 290 Aluminium and lead ; Tissier, Deville, Kerl and Stohman, and Mierzinski . . . . . . . .291 Aluminium and antimony ; Tissier, and Kerl and Stohman ; Aluminium and bismuth ; Tissier and Watts . 292 Aluminium and nickel ; Tissier and Mierzinski . . 293 Argentan ......... 294 Minargent ........ 295 Aluminium and silver ; Tissier on this subject . .

CONTENTS. XIX PAGE Deville ; Kerl and Stohman ; Fremy . . . .296 Mierzinski; "Tiers Argent;" Cowles Bros. on "Aluminium silver" ........ 297 Aluminium and gold ; Tissier, Fremy, and Mierzinski on these alloys ........ 298 Aluminium and platinum ; Tissier ; Aluminium and Cadmium, Deville; Aluminium and boron, Deville on this subject 299 Aluminium and carbon, Deville and Cowles ; Aluminium and gallium, Watts, Lecoq de Boisbaudran . . 300 Aluminium and titanium, AA'ohler ..... 301 Aluminium and tungsten, by Michel, in AArohler's laboratory ; Aluminium and molybdenum ; Experiments by Michel ; Aluminium and manganese ; Experiments by Michel 302 Aluminium and sodium ; Deville and Fremy on these alloys ; Aluminium and nitrogen, Dr. Hunt . . 303

Appendix

. Native sulphate of alumina ; Account of a deposit in New Mexico ........ 305 Decomposition of cryolite; F. Lauterborn's patent; American aluminium ; Frishmuth's metal . . . 306 Analyses of same ; Specific gravity of aluminium ; Gravity calculated from analyses ...... 307 Amalgamation of aluminium ...... 308 Theory of the rapid oxidation of aluminium amalgam ; Reduction of alumina ; Experiment on reduction with copper; Production and reduction of aluminium sulphide ; Fremy's researches ..... 309 Investigations by Reichel . . . . . .312 Than's remarks ........ 314 Reichel' s experiments in reducing aluminium sulphide ; Petitjean's patent ...... XX CONTENTS. PAGE Reichel's summary . . . . . . .316 Aluminium chloride formed from the sulphide ; F. Lauterborn's patent . . . . . . . .317 Niewerth ; Reichel ; A. Orlowski ; Experiments on making aluminium sulphide . . . . . .318 Tabulated results ; Remarks and suggestions of a practical process ......... 321 Reducing the aluminium sulphide . . . . . 322 Experiments with lead, copper, tin, antimony, and iron ; Review of these experiments and suggestions of a practical process . . . . . . . .323 ADDENDA.

Additional details of Castner's sodium process . . 324 New process for making aluminium chloride ; Remarks on the mitis process . . . . . . .326 Production of aluminium in 1885; Lowprice of aluminium in October, 1886 ....... 327 Index ... ALUMINIUM.

Part I. History Of Aluminium

Laa^oisier* first suggested the existence of metal lic bases of the earths and alkalies. The first researches in the preparation of aluminium date back to 1807. Davy tried, but in vain, to decom pose APO3 by an electric current, or to reduce it by vapor of potassium. Oerstedt, in 1824, believed he had isolated aluminium. He decomposed anhy drous APC16 by K amalgam, and he obtained, along with some KC1, an amalgam which decom posed by heat furnished him a metal resembling tin. It is probable that he employed either some moist Al2Cl6or K amalgam which contained KOII, for it is only when wetted with a solution of KOH that aluminium alloys with mercury ; for, when Wohler, later, wished to prepare aluminium by this method, he found it impossible to obtain an Al amalgam when he employed materials pure * Fremy, Ency.

ALUMINIUM. and dry. Nevertheless, the method of Oerstedt marks an epoch in the history of the science, for in 1827 Wohler isolated aluminium by decomposing APCl6 by K. The metal first isolated by Wohler was a gray powder, taking under the polisher the brilliancy of tin. It was very easily changed, because of its extreme division, and also because it was mixed with the K or APCl6 used in excess. At that time no further use was made of these facts. Later, in 1845, on making vapor of APCl6 pass over potassium placed in platinum boats, Wohler obtained the metal in small, malleable globules of metallic appearance, from which he was able to determine the principal properties of aluminium. I3ut the metal thus obtained Avas scarcely as fusible as cast iron, without doubt because ofthe platinum with which it had alloyed during its preparation.

In addition to this, it decomposed water at 100°, from which we suppose that it was still impregnated with K or APCl6. It is to H. St. Claire Deville that the honor belongs of having in 1854 isolated aluminium in a state of almost perfect purity, determining its true proper ties. In commencing researches on aluminium, Deville, while he applied the method of Wohler, was ignorant of the latter's results of 1845. Besides, he was not seeking to produce aluminium that he might turn its valuable properties to practical account, but that it might serve for the production of AlO, which he believed could exist as well as FeO. The aluminium he wished to prepare would, he thought, by its further reaction on APCl6 form A1CP, from which he might derive AlO and the other proto-salts. But this pro to-chloride was not thus produced ; he obtained, enclosed in a mass of APC16.2KC1, fine globules of a brilliant substance, ductile, malleable, and very light, capable of being melted in a muffle without oxidizing, attacked by UNO*1 with difficulty, but dissolved easily by HC1 or KOH with evolution of hydrogen.

Recognizing the importance of these properties, which he proceeded to investigate and establish, and fearing to see the honor of his discovery pass into other hands, Deville immediately commenced research for an economic process to produce aluminium. The task was difficult, for the metal could only be isolated from its chloride or fluoride by potassium or sodium, of which only the former was known at that time. Moreover, potassium cost then 900 fr. per kilo, was extremely dangerous, and gave only a small return of aluminium. Deville succeeded iu advantageously replacing potassium by sodium, and introduced such improvements into the manufacture of the latter that he reduced the cost of a kilo from 2000 fr. in 1855 to 10 fr. in 1859. In order to produce aluminium cheaply, he busied himself also in the economic production of APO3, which gave later a lively impulse to the cryolite and beauxite industries.

The researches of Deville, at first undertaken in ALUMINIUM. the laboratory of the Normal School, Paris, were afterwards continued on a larger scale, thanks to the liberality of the Emperor Napoleon III., at the chemical works of Javel. At this works were made the ingots and divers objects of aluminium which figured at the Paris Exhibition in 1855. Later, after new experiments made together at the Normal School, Deville, H. Debray, and P. Morin set up a plant to make aluminium on a large scale at Messrs. Rousseau Brothers' works at Glaciere. The primary method there received many improve ments. Later on it was still further improved under th^ direction of P. Morin at the works in Nanterre. At last, in the works of Messrs. Merle & Co., at Salindres, it has reached its present stage of advancement.

Tissier Bros. wrote and published a book entitled 'Recherches sur rAluminium' in 1858. These brothers were employed in the experiments which Deville superintended at the laboratory of the Normal School, Paris, and Deville charges that after learning the important results of his experi ments they suddenly left him, taking drawings of furnaces, details of processes, etc., aud started works themselves. Deville was very bitter against them, and this ill-feeling was increased by the following incident : Deville was collecting material to write a book on the subject, which he almost regarded as his prerogative, seeing that he had, so to speak, created the industry ; but, before he had completed it, Tissier Bros. published theirs. In order not to be too far behind, Deville hastened the comple tion of his book, by doing which he was unable to make it as full as he had wished, and published it in September, 1859.

Several sharp letters passed between Deville and the Tissiers, which may be seen in the Compt. Rend, or Ann. de Chem. et de Phys. A. Tissier, in his book, thus describes the formation and history of his works : In July, 1855, Messrs. Maletra, Chanu, and Davey, of Rouen, formed a company to produce aluminium, and we were entrusted with the organization and special charge of the industry. The commencement was beset with difficulties, not only in producing, but in using the metal. It then sold at $200 per kilo, the price being an insurmountable obstacle to its employment in the arts. The small capital at our disposal was not enough to start the industry, to pay general expenses, and the losses occasioned by the many experiments necessary. On February 28, 1856, the society was dissolved. In April, the same year, Mr. William Martin, struck by the results already obtained, and sanguine of greater success, united with us.

From that time daily improvements confirmed M. Martin's hopes, and iu 1857 the works at Amfreville-la-mi-Voie, near Rouen, sold the metal at $60 per kilo ($2.00 per oz.). The laboratory of this works was devoted to researches on everything concerning the production and application of aluminium. M. Martin Vs* ALUMINIUM. has our sincere gratitude for the kindness with which he so willingly encouraged and contributed to the progress of the manufacture of "this won derful metal." Deville, as stated above, published his book in September, 1859, aud he concludes it with these words : " I have tried to show that aluminium may become a useful metal by studying with care its physical and chemical properties, and showing the actual state of its manufacture. As to the place whicli it may occupy in our daily life, that will depend on the public's estimation of it and its commercial price.

Tbe introduction of a new metal into the usages of man's life is an operation of. extreme difficulty. At first, aluminium was spoken of too highly in some publications, which made it out to be a precious metal ; but later these estimates have depreciated even to the point of considering it attackable by pure water. The cause of this is the desire which many have to see taken out of common field mud a metal superior to silver itself; the opposite opinion established itself because of very impure specimens of the metal which were put in circulation. It seems now that the intermediate opinion, that which I have always held and which I express in the first lines of my book, is becoming more public, and will stop the illusions and exaggerated beliefs which can only be prejudicial to the adoption of aluminium as a useful metal.