3544. Tin and Cadmium Amalgam

3544.    Tin and Cadmium Amalgam. Similar properties to tin and copper amalgams belong to the compound amalgam of tin and cadmium, which are fused together in the proportion of 2 to 1 and mixed with warmed mercury in excess, which latter is removed by pressure when cold. (See No. 3549 (Evans' Tooth Amalgam).)

3545. Amalgam for Silvering Glass Ornaments

3545.    Amalgam for Silvering Glass Ornaments. The silver coating of glass beads and those large sized glass ornaments now in fashion, is produced by shaking within them an amalgam composed of 8 parts bismuth, 5 of lead, 3 of tin, and from 7 to 9 parts of mercury. (See No. 3538 (Amalgam for Silvering the Insides of Convex Mirrors, Glass Globes, etc.).) A mix ture of 2 parts each tin and bismuth and 1 of mercury, when powdered, is used for painting as imitation silver bronzes.

3546. Amalgams of the Alkaline Metals

3546.      Amalgams of the Alkaline Metals. The amalgams of the alkaline metals are remarkable for their hardness, though the metals sodium and potassium themselves are quite soft at the ordinary temperature. One per cent, of sodium in mercury produces an amalgam which is liquid, but still quite thick, and 1/2 per cent, of potassium renders the mercury still more so. A very hard compound is that consisting of 200 parts of mercury, 10 of potassium, and 1 of sodium. By means of the alkaline amalgams, most other mercurial alloys may be produced, by introducing them into the solution of other metals. Zinc amalgam is likewise used for the purpose.

3547. Amalgam of Fusible Metal

3547.    Amalgam of Fusible Metal. Fusible metal forms an amalgam with 1/16 of its weight of mercury, which fuses far below the boiling point of water; cadmium increases the fusibility still more. A mixed amalgam for injecting anatomical preparations, which is hard at ordinary temperature, but becomes soft at 150°, and fuses at 176° Fahr., consists of 20 part3 of bismuth, 12 of lead, 7 of tin, and 4 of mercury. (See Nos. 3456 (Fusible Alloys), etc..)

3548. Amalgam for Varnishing Plaster Casts

3548. Amalgam for Varnishing Plaster Casts. Melt together 1 part each tin and bismuth, and stir in thoroughly 1 part mercury. When cool, pound the amalgam with white of egg, forming a metallic paint which may be laid on with a brush.

3549. Evans' Tooth Amalgam

3549. Evans' Tooth Amalgam. Take of pure grain tin, 2 parts; cadmium and bees' wax, of each 1 part; melt them together in a porcelain crucible at a heat not exceeding 600° Fahr., and cast the alloy so as to form a small ingot, which, when cold, must be reduced to filings. For use, a small quantity of these filings is formed into an amalgam with quicksilver, the excess of the latter is squeezed out through a piece of chamois leather, and the amalgam at once applied to the tooth. (See No. 3550 (Dentists' Amalgam, or Gold Stopping).) This cement is recommended by Mr. Evans as very durable and unobjectionable. Its color is intermediate between that of silver and tin, but it is said not to darken so readily as the simple amalgams of those metals. (See No. 3544 (Tin and Cadmium Amalgam).)