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 to Messrs. Lake & Elliot discussing the microscopic analysis of submitted iron specimens.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 142\4\ scan0172 | |
| Date | 27th February 1936 | |
| X1203 Exptl. Dept. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/AFM.{Anthony F. Martindale}5/KW. 27th February, 1936. Messrs. Lake & Elliot, Braintree, Essex. Dear Sirs, Re Specimens of Iron submitted. We have examined these specimens under the microscope, both etched and unetched, and as you remark, the structure is not entirely uniform. We are having these specimens photographed and will in due course send you copies, but in the meantime we can say that one of these specimens consists of Ferrite and Pearlite in nearly equal quantities, with both coarse and fine flakes of Graphite interspersed; the other being chiefly Pearlite with small patches of Ferrite, and coarse and fine flakes of Graphite interspersed. The Photomicrograph we sent you of an iron which we say has good friction properties and which you say is deficient in strength, is entirely different from the samples you have submitted, and as the latter have low strength and Brinell figures we feel it is not worth while for you to make or us to test drums in this material. We are going into this question of brake fade most carefully, especially the relative advantages of iron and steel, and in a few weeks' time we should have a definite answer to our problem. Thanking you very much for your co-operation in this matter. Yours faithfully, FOR ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED. | ||