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).
Possibility of alkaline water supply in the U.S.A. and its corrosive effects on radiators.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149a\3\ scan0028 | |
| Date | 29th December 1920 | |
| R.R. 235A (100.T) (S.G. 643, 19-2-20) G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 2618 [Handwritten:] e to CJ s to HH c to EFC [Handwritten:] X.3678 Hll/EBE9720. Laboratory. [STAMP: RECEIVED] [STAMP: E O 29 XII 1920] "X.3678 RE RADIATORS FOR U.S.A. R12/037720. I am rather suprised to hear that there is a possibility of alkaline water supply in the U.S.A. since this should prove inconvenient in various ways, as, for example, use in aluminium cooking vessels and for drinking purposes. It is probable that in speaking of the water as alkaline it is meant that it is hard either temporarily, permanently or both. Such hardness is not, strictly speaking, an indication of alkalinity since the temporary hardness is due principally to soluble calcium bicarbonate, and the permanent hardness is due to various soluble sulphates and chlorides etc which tend to precipitate the fatty acids of soap, so that they cannot produce a lather. Calcium bicarbonate is not alkaline to litmus or other common indicators, nor are the salts producing permanent hardness, so that we do not think that they should have much effect in the way of corrosion even if present in considerable quantities (though productive of a fur in boilers etc). The action of calcium carbonate or any other commonly occuring salt should not be great, unless there happens to be some electrolytic action. This should not occur under radiator conditions, since it [crossed out, handwritten above: the brass] should not go in preference to the iron or EXIT [handwritten above: solder] present in the system. We are trying the effect of very hard water in the presence of solder and iron on the tubes and also doing tests in the presence of .1% Sodium Carbonate, .1% Sodium Hydrate and 1% | ||