Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1912 — Value of Cement Mortar as Iron Saver [ARTICLE]

Value of Cement Mortar as Iron Saver

By JOHN R. HOWLAND

Tests are to be made by the Panama canal commission to determine the value of cement mortar applied to iron plates by the “cement gun” as a preservative of iron. Twelve plates 6%x14 inches have been, coated, with a one-to-three mortar of cement and sand after they were cleaned, to a gray metal by the sand-blast process. Six of these have been covered, with a half-inch coating and the remaining sir with a one-inch coat on one side and a 1%-inch coat on the other. Three plates of each kind have been

sent to Balboa and three to Cristobal, where they will ( be kept immersed in salt water to test the mortar method of preventing corrosion. / Two plates of each kind will be taken from the salt water, both at the end of three months, and one-half of -the coating will be removed to determine the condition of the metal. The duration of the test for the balance of the plates will be determined later.