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 Ferodo Limited detailing the metallurgical structure of a cast iron called Millenite and its performance.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 141\3\ scan0161 | |
Date | 28th February 1933 | |
From FERODO LIMITED. Sheet No. 2. 28th February, 1933. Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY. The first of these is directed against Millenite. You, probably in your Metallurgical Department, know exactly what Millenite is, so that possibly it is not necessary for us to describe it. We do so, however, because it will be interesting to receive your confirmation. We find it to be a grey cast iron made in a high frequency electric furnace. Its feature is that it is composed of areas of Ferrite with Graphite infilling and eutectic formation. The Ferrite areas are dendritic, showing that the iron has not been annealed. The Graphite infilling is encouraged by the Nickel content. The net result is a most desirable composition of hard wearing Pearlite with an extremely evenly divided mixture of Ferrite and Graphite. This particular physical structure we have found to give a remarkably good result as regards coefficient of friction with Ferodo MR, and moreover we have found that the life of Ferodo MR is remarkably good with this particular type of cast iron. Perhaps at some future date the writer will have an opportunity of seeing you again, when a verbal explanation of the above description of the structure of Millenite will render possible a more complete understanding of what we believe is happening in modern friction applications. This we think answers your immediate enquiry and we are taking this opportunity of asking you to which print we may prepare a set of Ferodo MR linings for trial. Yours faithfully, FERODO LIMITED. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Longley. Chief Chemist. | ||