EXAMINING METALS BY X-RAYS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 217, 7 June 1919, Page 11

EXAMINING METALS BY X-RAYS

• Tiio rapid development of electric welding in ureat Jin tain, lostered by Hie Admiralty tor snip construction and otner pm-puses, has led lo some highly important improvement:, in this useful means ot forming a close union between plates aud .other sections ot iron or steel. The Untisli experts who carried out successful work dt n novel kind have made excellent use of "llux-cuvered" metal electrodes. In this system .the. metal electrodes between which tho arc ior melting purposes is struck are covered with certain materials which How under thtfli'eat of the arc and protect the metal from oxidatiou' during the process. In welding steels ahoyctt with special substances, a'lltix can be used containing- the alloys, supplying them to tile weld as it is being ninue. By this means ( tiiu weld is niade.uniform in composition villi the remainder of the metal Special ■ attention'-'isf.-'also.-, being given by Jjritish'engineers' to the test' ing of-welds by "radiiiinotallogrnpliy." The weld is examined under the X-rays much as a portion of the human body might be, and internal imperfections are thereby revealed although they. may. bo covered by n solid close-grained surface.' Many British men of science are devot■ing themselves to research in. . this direction, which is calculated ■to be of great practical value to ' all users of metals, ft. may bo recalled tliat "Ureat .Britain; led. the way in tho microscopic study of the structure, of metals—a study, which laid tho foundations of modern 'Scientific; metallurgy. " f • ' .