THE NEW METAL—SOLIUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 68, 22 March 1927, Page 20

THE NEW METAL—SOLIUM.

COMBINES QUALITIES OF STEEL AND LEAD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, January 27, One of the legacies of the war which was a boon both inside and outside the home, the production of rustless steel, started us on the path of obtaining rustless metals. We are now, we understand, able to obtain rustless iron, on the usefulness of which we need hardly expatiate. Little information is as yet available about this rustless metal, except that a company has been formed to set up a factory for its production. This company proposes also to manufacture under the same roof a new metal to which the name of solium has been given. Twenty years ago a member > of the Marine Engineers' Society in a j lecture spoke of the need for a metal that would keep its strength in white! heat, that would neither expand nor contract, and withstand the fumes and vapours of nitric acid and superheated steam. This member, Mr. T. D. Kelley, was not content with talking. Ever since then he has been experimenting, and three months ago discovered a formula for a metal possessing these qualities. He claims tha,£ solium can be made harder than steel, or as soft as lead; that there is no degree of malleability to which it may not be reduced; and that there is no purpose whatever for platinum is used which solium will not serve equally well. Since solium is cheaper than platinum it is obvions that the industrial future of solium is very promising. The new metal is compose'! of oxides, earths, and metals. known atha platinum group, ajid lias just been perfected in a laboratory at Bridle-lane, a little street at the back of the Regent Palace Hotel. 8 .