Silicon iron-the acid resisting alloy

Abstract

Acid resisting silicon iron is essentially a casting alloy of iron containing 14%-16% silicon plus small quantities of other elements such as carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulphur and nickel. lts discovery is credited to Jouve, a French metallurgist, in 1908. lts properties and method of manufacture were also studied by Dr. Rossi, ltaly; and in 1910 castings were manufactured by Lennox Ltd. in London. When in 1912, silicon iron was manufactured in America under the trade name Duriron, pig iron containing 15% silicon was shipped from London for remelting by the Duriron Company. Since 1912 the metal has been used extensively in the acid industry in positions where resistance to strongly corrosive liquors coupled with metallic properties were essential. In the manufacture of acids, dephlegmator columns and evaporating pots are required to stand sulphuric acid in all concentrations at temperatures from atmospheric to 250°C. 15% silicon iron is highly suitable for such work and was widely used as, for example, in the manufacture of TNT for explosives. Some typical castings made for the ordnance factories are shown in the figures.