If two or more metals are combined in a particular proportions, then we can form a new type of metal. They named the metal (uloagam) which is formed by this way as non-metal (aloagam). This non-metal will possess the characteristics of the both the main metals and will act with a better characteristics.
If the way of combining and the proportions are all correctly chosen only we can prepare a best metal. The modern science attempts to make such non-metals only after proper research is done. But our Siththars have already done those attempts and were getting benefit out of it. We can find more evidences for it.
Now let us see about one such non-metal that is still in use by all of us in this post. The combination of the zinc and the copper is the non-metal brass. This is called by Siththars with various names like kuththoadi, ooththabari,muzhukku, kudavan, kaalikkam, natrappon, saeru. Bogar in his book “Bogar 7000” has mentioned about the way of preparing it, their composition preparation, characteristics and uses.
"கண்மையான காகதுண்ட மாகி ஒன்று
kanmaiyaana kaakathunda maaki onru
கடுந்தார பித்தளைதான் ரெண்டுமாச்சு
kadunthaara piththalaithaan rendumaachu
இரெண்டிலே முன்சொன்ன காகதுண்டந்தான்
irendilae munsonna kaakathundanthaan
ஏற்றமான பூமியில் உற்பத்தி யாச்சு
aetramaana bhoomiyil urpaththi yaachu
பின்னது நாகம் ரெண் டெட்டு செம்பு
pinnathu naagam ren dettu sembu
கூடித்தான் பித்தளையும் ஆச்சு ஆச்சு
koodiththaan piththalaiyum aachu aachu"
- போகர் 7000 (Bogar 7000)
As per this "kaagathundam", "kadunthaaram" are the two types of brass available says Bogar. In this kaagathundam is naturally available. He says that it could be formed by mixing up two parts of zinc and eight parts of copper. He explains its nature in the following way.
"தானான நாகம் ரெண்டு செம்போ எட்டு
thaanaana naagam rendu semboa ettu
தனிக் கூட்டுப் பித்தளையின் குணமுந்தானும்
thanik koottup piththalaiyin gunamunthaanum
கனமாக் குடிலமாகி வெப்பமாகி
kanamaak kudilamaagi veppamaaki
வெளுப்பாகி விரிசலாகி மஞ்சளாகி
veluppaagi virisalaagi manjalaagi
தேனான விருதி மிகவாயிருக்கும்
thaenaana viruthi mikavaayirukkum"
- போகர் 7000 (Bogar 7000)
This being formed out of the combination of the zinc and copper, it is very thick in nature and also it could sustain to a very high temperatures. It is of pale yellow in color and being the combination of zinc and brass it will have high density also. He has also shared about the uses of brass. I shall share those details in another situation.
In the next post we shall see much about the metallurgy.
Original - www.siththarkal.com
