Journal of the Institute of Metals

THE latest volume of this useful journal contains several papers of interest. Prof. Carpenter, in addition to his presidential address, in which he deals with the relations between scientific investigation and training and technical practice, contributes, with Miss Elam, a paper on the cause of. unsoundness in bronze castings. The subject is a difficult one, and the principal conclusion, confirmed by the experience of others who took part in the discussion, is that the most important factor in ensuring soundness is the proper control of the pouring temperature. The equilibrium between a molten alloy and the gases dissolved in it still remains somewhat mysterious. Die-casting, especially of alloys of high melting-point, has received little attention in technical journals, although it is widely and successfully used in practice, and the paper by Messrs. Rix and Whitaker is the more welcome on that account. By using an aluminium bronze containing iron, excellent results have been obtained with complicated castings. The discussion turns largely on the behaviour of the dies. Aluminium bronze is also studied from the point of view of the hardness of alloys by Mr. Greenwood, and other matters dealt with are the determination of the grain size of metals and the annealing of aluminium. The volume also includes abstracts of metallurgical papers from all sources.Journal of the Institute of Metals. Vol. xix. Pp, x + 316. (London: Published by the Institute, 1918..) Price 21s. net.