Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 215, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1917 — New Cutting Agent. [ARTICLE]

New Cutting Agent.

In the recent evolution of new alloys, it is interesting to note that steel is surpassed as a cutting agent by a metal containing no iron, though this element has been since the bronze age the basis of practically all working tools. The “stellite” of Elwood Haynes claims not only the durable hardness at high temperature that gives it greater results than “high-speed steel* in lathe work, but Its resistance to tarnish is an added property especially fitting it for ordinary cutlery. Its beautiful color and polish are said to be quite unaffected by atmospheric conditions or add fruits. Of its development, Mr. Haynes says that when molybdenum is added to an alloy of cobalt with 15 per cent of chromium, the hardness gradually increases until the molybdenum reaches 40 per cent, when the product Js exceedingly hard and brittle, cutting deeply into glass and easily scratching quartz. Taking a fine polish, it is so hard as to escape ordinary scratching. With 25 per cent of molybdenum, the resulting me£ftl is fine grained, scratches glass 'fwdlly, f ahd takes a strong, keen edge. The alloy Is too hard for forging,, but It can be cast without difficulty.