Word: oxyhydrogen
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Ordinary sapphires and rubies are clear crystals of aluminum oxide (A12O2). The colors come from small amounts of such elements as chromium or iron. For years, both gems have been manufactured (without the stars) by passing finely powdered A12O2 through the flame of an oxyhydrogen blowpipe. The tiny particles melt and then solidify into a crystalline blob just beyond the flame. Such crystals have all the beauty, color, hardness and other desirable properties of natural gems. When they are well made, their "falsity" can be detected only by an expert who looks (with a microscope) for their slightly curving "growth...
...melted tungsten wire like an icicle, indicating that its heat was at least 7,000° F. Playing on a sheet of chrome steel the flame left molten pools behind it. Significance: steel girders could be welded silently instead of noisily riveted;* the welds would not (as when an oxyhydrogen flame is used) be oxidized and thus weakened, they would be annealing instead. This is important in joining aluminum, magnesium and other light metals.) Alloy metals, too refractory to work with by present methods, could be used for building, thus conserving the world's iron...
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