From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Use of Hykro material for case hardening to avoid chromium plating on Phantom III and Merlin engine components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 142\4\ scan0179 | |
| Date | 2nd October 1936 | |
| GRY{Shadwell Grylls} Pmk Swdl{Len H. Swindell} 1203 DY.{F R Danby} (crossed out) c. Wer. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Rgg-HHC. Sft.{Mr Swift} E.3/HP.2.10.36. Referring to your memo BY.1/G.15.9.36, giving particulars of a case hardening Hykro material capable of producing a hardness figure of 930, this is an extremely interesting development. Personally I have always been of the opinion that we could avoid the use of chromium plating if we could achieve a sufficient degree of hardness, and I think it is important that we should order enough material to make tappets and camshafts for the P.III engine in addition to the rockers and camshafts you are instructing for Merlin. With regard to the question of the possible trouble with distortion, this might be a case where the Rotary quenching rig used by Vauxhall's would prove specially useful. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||