Elementary Practical Metallurgy, Iron and Steel

Abstract

WORKS on practical metallurgy have generally consisted of descriptions of series of experiments suitable for performance in an ordinary laboratory possessing the usual equipment with small assay furnaces; but this book is an elementary work on the metallurgy of iron and steel, written with the view not only of serving the needs of the ordinary beginner among students, but of attracting the severely practical man to the study of metallurgical literature, and thus helping him ultimately to the position of being able to throw the light of new discoveries on his daily work, and to make application of suitable results—evidently a practical apostle of the methods of the British Science Guild. The writer thoroughly agrees with the author that “Such a work should not be overloaded with detail, but the facts presented should be accurate and the matter reliable,” for nothing more certainly repels the very specially practical man than a mass of finical hedgings, which are only fit for discussion among philosophers, but do not affect the main present issues. While this is so, looseness of expression is the last thing to permit oneself, as no type of man more appreciates accurate statements if they are simply expressed. While the author has in the main succeeded in his ideal, there are some points which the writer would change. Thus, p. 7, “Elasticity... is the length to which....” Similarly, tenacity, breaking load, ductility, and duetility as applied to wire-drawing are not satisfactory. Interesting and simply written chapters on refractories, iron ores, and the blast furnace follow. The author's wide practical experience in foundries lends a special interest to his chapters (vi. to ix.) on pig-and cast-irons, for in the works he was daily brought into contact with the adjustment of those properties of cast-iron to the fulfilment of the orders on hand, and this may account for his almost bitter treatment of the enemy, sulphur, which is perhaps not quite so black as he has painted it.

Elementary Practical Metallurgy, Iron and Steel.

By Percy Longmuir. Pp. xiii + 270 + 13 plates. (London: Longmans, Green and Co.) Price 5s. net.