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This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
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Home › Metallurgy › Alloys, or Compound Metals
Alloys, or Compound Metals
Metals, in general, will unite with each other by fusion or amalgamation, and acquire new properties. Brass is a compound of copper and zinc; and possesses a different color to either of the component parts.
As metals fuse in different degrees of heat, care should be taken not to add those metals which fuse easily, to others which require a greater degree of heat, while they are too hot, because the former may evaporate and leave the compound imperfect. Or, if they are brought into fusion together, it should be under a flux to prevent the volatile metals from evaporating before the union is effected.
Or-moulu-Mosaic Gold. at the lowest temperature that will fuse the former, Melt together equal parts of copper and zinc, stir them well to produce an intimate mixture of the metals, and add by degrees small quantities of zinc; the alloy first assumes a yellow color like brass, on adding a little more zinc it becomes purple, and lastly perfectly white, which is the proper appearance of the desired product when fused. The quantity of zinc to be used altogether, should be from 52 to 55 parts out of the hundred.
Talmi Gold.
A beautiful gold-colored alloy, sold under the above name, gives on analysis: Copper, 86.4; zinc, 12.2; tin, 1.1; iron, 0.3. The presence of the iron was probably accidental.
Queen's Metal.
Melt together 44 lbs. of tin, lb. of bismuth, lb. of antimony, and lb. of lead. A very excellent alloy will be formed by using these proportions; it is used for making tea-pots and other vessels which are required to imitate silver. They retain their brilliancy to the last. composed of 100 lbs. of tin, 8 of regulus of anti- Another. A very fine silver-looking metal is mony, 1 of bismuth, and 4 of copper. ciently pure, it is cemented a second time. In this process the sulphuric acid of the calcined vitriol decomposes the common salt during the cementation, by uniting to its alkaline base, while 1 lb. of zinc. Tombac.
Melt together 16 lbs. of copper, 1 lb. of tin, and Red Tombac.