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).
Letter from Ford Motor Company describing their cyanide hardening process for steel parts.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 136\1\ scan0096 | |
| Date | 26th September 1933 | |
| COPY: X411 FORD MOTOR COMPANY LTD. DAGENHAM, ESSEX W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham Esq., Messrs Rolls Royce Ltd., Derby. Sept 26 1933. Dear Sir, With further reference to your letter of the 22nd. instant and our acknowledgement of the 25th, regarding our Cyanide Hardening Process, so far as we are able to ascertain there is no patent covering this process and there are many similar methods of working. In fact all that is done is to melt a Sodium Cyanide Salt in a suitable container, in our case a cast steel pot of low Carbon content. We operate the bath at varying heats, but in no case should this exceed 1650 deg.F. as above this temp. the process is not economic due to excessive volatilization of the Salt. The part is immersed for various lengths of time, depending on the steel being treated, and the depth of case may vary from mere skin to several thousandths in depth, depending upon the time. The material is then quenched in the desired medium direct from the cyanide bath. We are despatching to you under separate cover a sample gear already treated by the cyanide hardening process. This has not been specially prepared in any way, but has been lifted from representative stock on our production line. We would ask you to accept this sample gear with our compliments. Yours very truly, Signed F.W.Howard. FORD MOTOR COMPANY LTD. FWH:NR. | ||