STAINLESS STEEL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 962, 3 May 1930, Page 12

STAINLESS STEEL

LECTURE ON CORROSION RESISTANCE ENGLISH VISITOR’S TALK Th© development of corrosion - resisting steels from the original stainless steql for cutlery to the ductile and superior cromium-nickel steel known as "staybrite,” was traced by Mr. J. A. McWilliam, M.A., in a lecture on ’’Corrosion and Heat-resisting Steels” given at the Lewis Eady Hall last evening. The speaker was introduced by Mr. tv. H. McCorltindale, of Auckland, who mentioned Mr. Me William’s association with Dr. Hatfield, another recognised authority in Great Britain and America. The generally accepted reason why steels such as staybrite resisted rust, said Mr. McWilliam, was that they had on the surface what is known as a passive film, which might be attained or prevented by various conditions. The mechanical and physical properties of these steels were given. The development of heat-resistance in steel Was also traced, and specimens of firebar were shown. The exhaust valves and fittings on the seaplane which won the Schneider Trophy in 1929 were cited as examples of the properties of the steel. Slides were shown detailing some of the applications of corrosion and heatresisting steels, and at the end of the lecture a film entitled "The Fabrication of Acid-resisting Steel Plant” was screened. During the film Mr. McWilliam mentioned that a man had once ordered a stainless steel tomb for his wife. "Heat-resisting?” asked a member of the audience.