Home › Metallurgy › Another (Melt together oz of brass)

Another (Melt together oz of brass)

Melt together 1 oz. of brass with 1½ or 2 oz. of copper, fused under a coat of charcoaldust. Oréide, a New Brass.

M. M. Mourier and Vallent, of Paris, have succeeded in making an alloy which imitates gold sufficiently near to merit the name Oréide. The properties are as follows: Pure copper, 100 parts, by weight; zinc, 17; magnesia, 6; sal ammoniac, 3.6; quicklime, 1.80; tartar of commerce, 9. The copper is first melted, then the magnesia, sal ammoniac, lime and tartar in powder, little by little; the crucible is briskly stirred for about 1/2 an hour, so as to mix thoroughly, and then the zinc is added in small grains by throwing it on the surface and stirring until it is entirely fused; the crucible is then covered and fusion maintained for about 35 minutes; the crucible is then uncovered, skimmed carefully and the alloy cast in a mould of damp sand or metal. The oréide melts at a temperature low enough to allow its application to all kinds of ornamentation; it has a fine grain, is malleable, and capable of taking the most brilliant polish; when, after a time, it becomes tarnished from oxidation, its brilliancy may be restored by a little acidulated water. If the zinc is replaced by tin, the metal will be still more brilliant. Prince's Metal.

Melt together 3 oz. of copper, and 1 oz. of zine; or, 8 oz. of brass and 1 oz. of zinc.