steel with iridium and osmium, and latterly, steel with chromium. In this last series of experiments we were particularly fortunate, having by practice acquired considerable address in the management of the furnaces, and succeeded in procuring the best fuel for the purpose. Notwithstanding the many advantages met with in the laboratory of the Royal Institution, the experiments were frequently rendered tedious from causes often unexpected, and sometime difficult to overcome; among these, the failure of crucibles was perhaps the most perplexing. We have never yet found a crucible capable of bearing the high degree of temperature required to produce the perfect reduction of titanium; indeed we are rather disposed to question whether this metal has ever been so reduced: our furnaces are equal[1] (if any are) to produce this effect, but hitherto we have failed in procuring a crucible.
The metals that form the most valuable alloys with steel are silver, platinum, rhodium, iridium and osmium, and palladium; all of these have now been made in the large way, except indeed the last-named. Palladium has, for very obvious reasons, been used but sparingly; four pounds of steel with 1100 th part of palladium has, however, been fused at once, and the compound is truly valuable, more especially for making instruments that require perfect smoothness of edge.
We are happy to acknowledge the obligations due from us to Dr. Wollaston, whose assistance we experienced in every stage of our progress, and by whom we were furnished with all the scarce' and valuable metals; and that with a liberality which enabled us to transfer our operations from the laboratory of the chemist to the furnace of the maker of cast steel.
In making the alloys on a large scale, we were under the necessity of removing our operations from London to a steel furnace at Sheffield; and being prevented by other avocations from giving personal attendance, the superintendence of the work was consequently entrusted to an intelligent and confidential agent. To him the steel, together with the alloying metals in the exact proportion, and in the most favourable state for the purpose, was forwarded, with instructions to see the whole of the metals, and nothing else, packed into the cru-
- ↑ We have succeeded in fusing in these furnaces rhodium, and also, though imperfectly, platinum in crucibles.
