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).
Page from a journal discussing the industrial and aviation applications of nickel alloys.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 132\1\ scan0110 | |
| Date | 18th March 1939 | |
| 371 of NICKEL tured in Japan, nickel-chromium cast irons are being used for 24. Of 41 kinds of pistons, seven are of the nickel-aluminum alloy type materials, four are nickel-chromium cast iron, three are aluminum-silicon nickel alloy and one is nickel-aluminum-copper alloy. Thirty-two kinds of piston rings for internal combustion engines include four of low nickel-chromium iron, and out of 34 kinds of crankshafts for internal combustion engines, six are of nickel-chromium steel. In the United States, as well as in other countries, the use of high grade nickel alloy steels in buses, trucks, tractors and industrial trucks continues as in the past, and in several cases has shown an increase in the amount of nickel per vehicle. In all heavy-duty units, both gasoline and Diesel types, the use of nickel cast iron continues for cylinder blocks, heads, liners, pistons, brake drums, exhaust manifolds. Under conditions of high temperature operation “Ni-Resist” is being used, and at least in one case the nickel content has been increased as high as 30 per cent, with 5 per cent of chromium to obtain the necessary heat-resisting properties. “Z” nickel is employed for the fishpole type aerials for automobiles where resistance to rusting and good mechanical properties are required. These aerials are telescoped in “Monel” tubing. Use of high strength, corrosion-resistant nickel-copper steels has shown a substantial increase in the construction of truck bodies, dump bodies, trailers and tanks for transporting gasoline and other liquids. Nickel in Aviation The year 1938 was marked by rapidly increasing aircraft production throughout the world. In the United States, for example, both domestic and export business far exceeded that of any previous year. It is reliably estimated that total production of planes, engines, accessories and parts for the entire year will exceed a value of $160,000,000 as against $115,000,000 in 1937. Nickel has always been the fundamental alloying element for steels subject to wear, as well as for highly stressed parts for aircraft engines. This role continues unchanged. Straight nickel steels and nickel-chromium, nickel-molybdenum and nickel-chromium-molybdenum steels with nickel contents up to 5 per cent remain the standard materials for gears, connecting rods, crankshafts, cam rings, piston and knuckle pins, rollers, studs, bolts, nuts, roller bearings, shafting and numerous other important parts. The use of these materials not only assists manufacturers to obtain reliability but also makes possible low weight-to-horse-power ratios without sacrifice of safety. This latter consideration is particularly pertinent in the face of a steady drive for increased horsepower per cylinder and per engine. Radial high-power engines, formerly confined in the main to nine cylinders in a single row, are now manufactured with 14 cylinders in two rows, with maximum power for take- (Turn to page 379, please) Radial drilling operations on Mack block. The nickel content allows a speed of more than one and one-half times that possible on unalloyed cast iron Automotive Industries March 18, 1939 | ||