Thanks a lot, Edward, for sharing with us this piece of history.
It epitomizes the approach early scientists had with their work.
They knew that they were exploring a new field and could be wrong, even if we can say that they were very accurate in what they were doing. The last paragraph from the excerpt of Comstock 1918 article you sent us is very illuminating of his aptitude:
In presenting these notes the writer (Comstock, editor's note) does not claim to have made
any remarkable discovery or to have found the best method for identifying
the non-metallic inclusions in non-ferrous metals, nor does he claim
to be able to identify every inclusion that may occur in a bronze. It is
hoped, however, that the notes may be of some interest or possible
value to other metallographists, and may bring out criticisms or further
suggestions along these lines which will accelerate progress toward the
the true interpretation of everything that we see in metals with the
microscope.
------------------------------
Donato FIRRAO FASM
Professor
Politecnico di Torino
TORINO
+393351494032
Italy
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-16-2022 14:04
From: Edward Vojcak
Subject: Effect of impurities on mechanical properties of brasses
What do you mean by impurities - non-metallic inclusions?
I've attached a file PDF of Comstock 1918 NMI in Brass and Bronzes
------------------------------
Edward Vojcak
Senior Metallurgical Engineer
SGS North America
Blue Island IL
(708) 595-8734
Original Message:
Sent: 04-06-2022 05:00
From: Peter Northover
Subject: Effect of impurities on mechanical properties of brasses
The effect of impurities on the ductility, both hot and cold, of brass has been known for centuries: in the Middle Ages wrought brass had much lower concentrations of impurities such as arsenic and antimony than cast brass. What I am hoping that members of ASM might assist me with is in pointing me to early references in the metallurgical literature. I imagine there should be papers, say, from the first quarter of the 20th century. All help will be much appreciated.
------------------------------
Peter Northover
Retired
University of Oxford
+44 1865 820543
peter.northover@retired.ox.ac.uk
------------------------------