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By E. Douglas, D. N. Collins, J. R. Stevens

E. Douglas (Dept. of Scientific and lndustrial Re-search, Warren Spring Laboratory, Hertfordshire, England) — The authors are to be congratulated on the considerable improvements they have made in tailoring efficiency and selectivity terms which are generally superior to the alternative forms in current use. However, I feel that their efficiency expression is limited to lower-grade feeds; its accuracy reduces as the feed grade increases. For example, its application to such processes as the beneficiation of glass sands, refractories and clays will invoIve considerable inaccuracies. The reason for this lies in the direct use of recovery, which, with high-grade feeds, biases their empirical expression, R(1 - c/h). With a 90% grade feed, the recovery weighting for the slightest degree of beneficiation, over a zero efficiency sampling operation, will be 90+%+ I disagree with their second basic requirement which states that there can be no fundamental basis for any single quantifying expression. A formula giving a comprehensive representation of concentra- tion efficiency can be derived fundamentally accord-to the procedure outlined in the literature. '' This formula, called the Basic Efficiency formula, is

Jan 1, 1963

By C. Feng, C. Elbaum

Knoop hardness measurements were carried out on large grains of iodide titanium containing different amounts of oxygen. For each oxygen content the hardness is recorded ainingas a function of the crystal orientation and of the angle 4 between the indenter diagonal and the projection of the C (hexad) axis in the surface. The results can be expressed by the following relation; hardness = n-k cos 2ø, where n and k are constants for a given oxygen content and crystal surface orientation. A NISOTROPY of hardness is a well-known phe-nomenon and has been reported for many metals.1-3 At the present time, however, such information is not available in the literature for titanium. Consequently, a systematic study of the simultaneous effects of oxygen content and crystallographic orientation on the hardness of titanium was undertaken in this laboratory. Evaluations of oxygen content in titanium are frequently carried out through hardness tests. Although such procedures may be justified in small grain specimens, the results of the present investigation indicate that the anisotropy of hardness should be taken into account in the case of coarsegrained specimens as well as in the case of pronounced preferred orientation. Materials and Experimental Procedures Iodide titanium, 99.99 pet pure and containing of the order of 0.002 wt pet O, was used throughout this investigation. The metal was arc melted in an argon atmosphere and cold rolled into strips 1/16 in. thick. These strips were subsequently recrystal-lized and strain annealed in vacuum (10" mm Hg or better) at 850°C in order to produce crystals varying in diameter from 10 to 25 mm. Oxygen was introduced into selected large crystals by heating at 700°C in an atmosphere of pure oxygen under an observed pressure of approximately 50 mm Hg. Each sample was subsequently annealed in vacuum at 850°C for 100 hr, in order to homogenize the oxygen content throughout the specimen. It was found that longer annealing was not necessary, for no change of surface hardness in a given direction was detected after prolonged annealing. The oxygen content was determined by the difference in weight of the specimens before and after the oxidation-annealing cycle. The accuracy of oxygen determination is within ±0.1 mg in samples weighing 0.5 to 1 g. A vacuum fusion analysis of oxygen was performed on several samples and gave results in good agreement with the ones obtained by the weight change. It should be emphasized that expected weight losses through evaporation of the metal in vacuum at 850°C' are many orders of magnitude lower than the precision of these measurements. Following the annealing treatment, both oxidized and unoxidized crystals were carefully polished. All detectable traces of surface cold working were removed by repeated polishing and etching. Laue back reflection X-ray patterns were taken for each crystal for the purpose of determining the orientation and ascertaining the absence of substructures detectable by this method. Hardness measurements, using a 1 kg load, were subsequently carried out on a Tukon hardness tester equipped with a Knoop indenter. The Knoop indenter was used throughout this work because indentations obtained by means of a Vickers indenter are considerably distorted due to the anisotropy of the elastic constants in titanium. Such distortions are much less pronounced in the case of Knoop indentations, although for some orientations a cer-

Jan 1, 1959

By W. A. Thatcher

Nearly three years of experience in Spanish Honduras has placed the writer in possession of many facts concerning its resources which may be of interest to the Institute. According to the most trustworthy surveys, Honduras is bounded on the north and east by the Caribbean Sea; southeasterly by the river Segovia (or Wanks), which flows into the Caribbean at a point called Cabo Gracias a Dios (Cape Thanks be to God), long famous as the favorite hiding-place of the celebrated pirate, Morgan ; southwardly by a corner of San Salvador, the Bay of Fonseca, and the Republic of Nicaragua; Guatemala and San Salvador form tile western boundary. It is one of the five republics composing Central America, has a population of about 310,000 and an area of 150,000 square miles, lying between the 13th and 16th degrees of N. latitude, extending from north to south 200 miles, between the Atlantic and Pacific, and 400 miles from east to west, between Guatemala and Cape Gracias a Dios. It is composed of 13 States or Departments, under one common law. The principal resources are valuable woods, hides, rubber, tobacco, coffee, fruit, cattle, silver and gold. It is of the mineral resources of the country that I will speak, calling attention to the most noted mines, and their relative position to Tegucigalpa, the capital. The introduction of foreign capital into the country dates back about eleven years, and to-day there are at least twenty-five well organized companies.

Jan 1, 1892

By W. C. Lilliendahl, H. W. Highriter

THE method developed and used in this laboratory for the production of metallic uranium of such purity that it is ductile and can be cold-worked to fine wire or thin sheet by rolling has already been described1. It consists, briefly, in the electrolysis of potassium uranous fluoride (KUF6) in a molten bath composed of equal parts of sodium and calcium chlorides. The bath is contained in a graphite crucible, electrically heated to about 775° C., the crucible serving as the anode for electrolysis. The uranium deposits in finely divided form mixed with salts upon a molybdenum cathode suspended axially in the crucible. Upon completion of the electrolysis the cathode is removed and cooled, the deposit broken and leached to remove salts. The metal powder is washed with water and dilute acetic acid and dried in vacuo to reduce oxidation. Suitable amounts are then pressed into pellets and heated in vacuo by high-frequency induction, using a thoria crucible. The uranium melts and flows away from the pellet, leaving a shell, which is largely oxide. In general, this method produced a satisfactory metal, although at times the uranium was not ductile. The investigations recorded here were made to find the cause of this embrittlement. It was known that the metal generally contained carbon, derived from disintegration of the graphite crucible in which electrolysis is conducted, in amounts dependent upon the thoroughness of washing the metal powder. Accordingly, analyses of several samples, both ductile and brittle, were made by combustion and absorption of CO2 in Ascarite, using air instead of oxygen to reduce the temperature and rate of oxidation. Several of these metals were made with special precautions to reduce carbon content. The results show no relationship between ductility and carbon content in the range investigated (Table 1).

Jan 1, 1935

By John Greenawalt

IN view of the increasing importance of sintering in the beneficiation of iron ores preparatory to their reduction in the blast furnace, the writer believes the time is opportune for an up-to-date, though brief, discussion of the general principles of sintering, as well as a discussion of some of the recent improvements and mechanical developments that have been achieved in this industry, its present trend and future possibilities. Sintering may be defined as the agglomeration of fine mineral particles into a porous mass by incipient fusion caused by heat produced by com-bustion within the mass itself. Its first successful application, in connec-tion with the treatment of lead sulphide ores, was known as blast roasting. In this process the lead ore was given a preliminary roasting in a reverber-atory furnace, then the incandescent mass was placed in a pot with a grate and an updraft was applied. It was soon discovered that much better results were obtained by cooling the ore, moistening it, and placing it upon an incandescent layer of fuel previously placed upon a grate, and then applying the updraft blast of air until the charge was converted into a more or less agglomerated mass. The fuel was sulphur and the process one of desulphurization, which was the principal result desired. The application of downdraft to blast roasting brought about tremen-dous results; the principal one of which was that an air blast of high pressure could be passed through a layer of ore deposited on a grate, or on a grate covered by a layer of coarse porous material, without disturbing the particles of which the layer is composed. The air current is compelled to filter through the pores of the charge, whereas if the same pressure applied to the top surface of the charge with downdraft were applied to the bottom of the charge with updraft, the charge would be completely blown off the grate. Another result of reversing the draft was that a flame could readily be applied to the top surface of the charge for ignit-ing purposes.

Jan 1, 1938

By G. B. Gould

THE softening temperature of coal ash, as determined in the labora-tory, has been used for years as an indication of the tendency of coal to form clinker and slag. It has not, however, provided an index of unfail-ing and complete reliability for forecasting the relative performance of different coals, even in the same plant and under the same conditions of operation. A large amount of investigation has been done in attempts to account for this, but practically all of this has been in the direction of studying the chemical constitution of coal ash. Much has been learned, but without much progress toward a better practical application of knowledge to the selection of coal. There has always seemed to be an important factor that eluded discovery. It has long been recognized that the ash-softening temperature as determined in the laboratory had one weakness, in that it represented the temperature at which a thorough mixture of the whole ash of the coal would melt, the mixing having taken place before the heat was applied. This does not, of course, simulate what takes place in practice. With certain exceptions, which will be noted later, almost all of the investiga-tions that have been made, especially the chemical studies of coal ash, have likewise dealt with a mixture of the whole ash in the coal. The present investigation differs from these fundamentally in its approach to the problem. It started from the observation that some clinkering and slagging obviously takes place in a boiler furnace at tem-peratures below the laboratory-determined ash-softening temperature of the coal. Knowing that coal as it is shipped to market is a hetero-geneous mixture of diverse mineral substances, each of which may act independently of the others in the initial stages of clinker and slag formation, it seemed logical to investigate separately the softening tem-perature of the ash in physically separable portions of the coal, and to determine the relative quantities of ash contributed by each portion.

Jan 1, 1940

By J. B. Wagstaff

The raceway in front of the tuyere of the blast furnace has been studied quantitatively and a correlation obtained for the penetrastudiedtion of the blast. Some evidence is presented for the height and width of the raceway which suggests that all the raceways of a ffurnace overlap. The size of the coke in this zone has been measfurnaceoverlap.ured photographically during normal operation and results are given for the various areas. IN an earlier paper,' it was shown that a raceway exists opposite each tuyere of a blast furnace. This raceway is formed by the jet effect of the air emerging from the tuyere and consists essentially of a turbulence in which coke particles are recir-culated at high speed. Its presence was deduced originally from observations on movies taken with a high-speed camera through the tuyeres of various furnaces and was confirmed by experiments made on a model. In the model described,' this raceway was shown as operating in a vertical plane only, although there was a suggestion in the motion-picture film exhibited at that time that the raceway was three dimensional, unless artificially restricted. There was also some doubt then about the factors influencing its size. This paper describes the next steps in the investigation. Since the size of the raceway is obviously of importance in the operation of the furnace, it seemed worth while to study the subject more carefully. It is probably in this region that about half the coke in the furnace is consumed, so that the movement of the stock column may well be controlled by raceway behavior. Furthermore, there is some evidence to suggest that the coke is packed densely in the center of the furnace to form the "dead man" and more loosely above the raceway. It is therefore probable that the bulk of the gases passing up the stack flow from the top surface of this raceway. Clearly then, a knowledge of this critical zone is of interest to the blast furnace operator, and the first half of this report is devoted to a quantitative discussion of the subject. A further topic of interest among operators is the degree of breakdown of coke in the furnace, with which is inseparably linked the importance of a strong coke. Indeed, the whole question of the optimum size and type of coke may be as dependent on the condition of the coke in the bottom of the blast furnace as at the top. Attempts have been made from time to time to obtain samples of coke from the tuyeres and other furnace openings but they all suffer from the fact that the coke is filled to a varying degree with metal and slag and is probably broken up by the very act of taking the sample. It has proved difficult to make any reliable studies of coke size by these methods. However, it did seem possible to use the highspeed movies mentioned earlier1 to estimate the size of the coke. These movies provide an accurate record of individual coke particles so that, in theory at least, it should be possible to measure the size of the particles one by one and to obtain, for the first time, information on the coke being blown around the raceway under actual operating conditions while the furnace is performing normally. Such a study has been made and is discussed in the second half of this paper. The results obtained enabled the blast furnace data to be correlated with the model results given in the first half. Raceway Size In order to make a quantitative study of the size of the raceway it was necessary to devise some apparatus of laboratory scale, which could be handled quickly and easily. This focused attention on models, which in turn means that the laws of similarity governing this particular process must be ascertained. Method of Procedure: Since the work was to be carried out on a smaller scale than the blast furnace, the linear dimensions of the model became unimportant provided that the scale was known; it is only important to insure that the container does not affect the raceway being observed. The studies therefore were carried out in a glass-sided box, 11 in. high x 7 in. wide x 3 in. deep, using air jets ranging

Jan 1, 1954

By Bobby P. Faulkner

The Tennessee Copper Co.'s flotation plant, refer- T red to as London Mill, processes approximately 4800 tons of a massive complex sulfide ore per day. The ore is predominantly pyrrhotite and pyrite, the other sulfides being chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and a small amount of galena. Magnetite of economic value is also present. There are four concentrates produced. In decreasing tonnage, these are iron, copper, zinc and lead. The ore feeding the mill is a composite of ores from five mines which vary in grade. Therefore, in order to provide a fairly constant feed to the mill, the ore is blended several times before reaching the flotation machines. The flotation plant is divided into three main sections: bulk, copper and zinc. Fig. 1 shows a simplified flowsheet. The first two sections, the bulk and copper, were the two sections studied most closely in utilizing the computer.

Jan 11, 1966

By W. M. Parris, P. D. Frost, H. A. Robinson

The effects of hydrogen content and strain rate on the static tensile and notch-rupture properties of the Ti-3Mn-complex alloy heat-treated to differed strength levels were investigated. The extent of embriulement was found to be proportional to the amount of hydrogen present and the strength to which the specimens were heat-treated. The research suggests the possible necessity of specifying lower hydrogen limits than are now allowed when titanium alloys are heat-treated to higher strengths than are presently used. The research also supports a hypothesis advanced earlier for a mechanism of hydrogen embrittlement. MUCH attention has been focused on the effects of hydrogen in in Most of the published in- formation has dealt with the effects of hydrogen on alloys in the annealed or lowest-strength condition. The work of Kotfila and Erbin3 is one of the few exceptions. In view of the fact that heat-treatments are now being used to produce high strength in titanium alloys,' it is necessary that more attention be given to the effects of hydrogen on these alloys in the heat-treated condition. Research was initiated to establish the effects of hydrogen on the properties of the Ti-3Mn-complex alloy at various strength levels. This research, which supplemented that of Kotfila and Erbin, was started because it was found that high-strength tensile specimens of this alloy were strain-rate sensitive. The essential results of the research are summarized in this paper. MATERIALS AND EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES Material for this investigation was a 41/2-in.-diam bar forged from a single commercial heat of the Ti-3Mn-complex alloy having the composition given in Table I. The as-received forging was reduced further by forging at 1750°F to 3/4-in. square bars. About one fourth of this material was vacuum annealed at 1400°F for 24 hr to obtain a base hydrogen content of 25 ppm. The remaining bars were hydrogenated to levels of 90, 140, and 260 ppm in a large Sievert's apparatus in the following manner: Four 3/4-in. square bars, 5 in. long, were placed in the reaction chambzr. The chamber was evacuated, heated to 1400°F, and a measured amount of hydrogen was introduced. When absorbtion was complete, as indicated by the drop in pressure, the reaction tube was cooled and the bars removed. Each batch of bars was then sealed in individual evacuated Vycor containers and heated for 24 hr at 1400°F in order to distribute the hydrogen homogeneously. After vacuum-annealing or hydroge nation, the bars were rolled at a temperature (1400°F) below the ß-transus to 1/2 - in. - diam rounds. Groups of the rolled specimens representing each of the hydrogen levels were given the following heat-treatments: 1) One hr at 1300°F, water-quenched. 2) One hr at 1300°F, water-quenched, and aged 8 hr at 1100°F. 3) One hr at 1300°F, water-quenched, and aged 4 hr at 1000°F. 4) One hr at 1300°F, water-quenched, and aged 48hr at 800°F. Heat-treated bars were machined into standard 0.250-in.-diam tensile specimens having 1-in. gage lengths. Throughout the processing and testing of this material, hydrogen analyses were made by vacuum-fusion methods to check for accuracy of hydrogen additions, homogeneity, and possible losses during processing. A summary of these analyses is given in Table II It may be seen that the actual hydrogen contents were reasonably close to the desired levels. In addition, it was noted that the variation in hydrogen content within any one bar did not exceed

Jan 1, 1959

By P. Barnes

Exact accounts hare been kept of the cost of these chimneys, and it may he a matter of some possible interest. that the plans and details of cost should be laid before the Institute. The statement of cost herewith submitted does not give minute particulars of the weights or quantities of material used, although these are noted upon the company's books.

By H. W. Highriter

THE method developed and used in this laboratory for the production of metallic uranium of such purity that it is ductile and can be cold-worked to fine wire or thin sheet by rolling has already been described1. It consists, briefly, in the electrolysis of potassium uranous fluoride (KUF5) in a molten bath composed of equal parts of sodium and calcium chlorides. The bath is contained in a graphite crucible, electrically heated to about 775° C., the crucible serving as the anode for electrolysis. The uranium deposits in finely divided form mixed with salts upon a molybdenum cathode suspended axially in the crucible. Upon com-pletion of the electrolysis the cathode is removed and cooled, the deposit broken and leached to remove salts. The metal powder is washed with water and dilute acetic acid and dried in vacuo to reduce oxidation. Suitable amounts are then pressed into pellets and heated in vacuo by high-frequency induction, using a thoria crucible. The uranium melts and flows away from the pellet, leaving a shell, which is largely oxide. In general, this method produced a satisfactory metal, although at times the uranium was not ductile. The investigations recorded here were made to find the cause of this embrittlement. It was known that the metal generally contained carbon, derived from disintegration of the graphite crucible in which electrolysis is conducted, in amounts dependent upon the thoroughness of washing the metal powder. Accordingly, analyses of several samples, both ductile and brittle, were made by combustion and absorption of C02 in Ascarite, using air instead of oxygen to reduce the temperature and rate of oxida-tion. Several of these metals were made with special precautions to reduce carbon content. The results show no relationship between ductility and carbon content in the range investigated (Table 1).

Jan 1, 1935

By H. B. Kinnear

THE first copper stool used under an ingot mold to receive molten steel has recently been taken out of service after it had received ingots amounting to 6012 gross tons. This stool, weighing 8330 lb. had been in continuous service for 1822 heats since its installation. From this modest beginning the use of copper for ingot-mold stools grew to 425,000 lb. in 1934, with an additional 50,000 lb. of copper used in the form of inserts in cast-iron stools. During 1935 the quantity of copper used for stools increased by about 350,000 lb., making a total of 775,000 lb. now in use for that purpose. Copper used for inserts has increased during this time 180,000 lb., or over 350 per cent, to a total of 230,000 lb. The total of copper, therefore, in use at present under ingot molds is slightly over 1.000,000 lb.

Jan 1, 1936

By James T. Gow, Oscar E. Harder, Anton de S. Brasunas

This paper deals with the results obtained and the techniques employed in determining: 1. Liquidus and solidus temperatures of the HH and HT type heat-resistant alloys. 2. The relation of true temperatures (thermocouple) to apparent temperatures (optical pyrometer) for the molten HH and HT type alloys. This work was the outgrowth of needing to know something definite about these temperatures in order to study the effect of pouring temperatures, shake-out times, and heat-treatments on the properties of some heat-resistant alloys. The information developed is thought to be of interest to industry for guidance in foundry practices and the industrial heat applications of the alloys. This paper is based upon work that has been done for the Alloy Casting Institute at Battellc Memorial Institute. Liquidus and Solidus Temperatures of HH and HT Type Alloys Experimenta1 Procedures Temperature-time curves were obtained during the cooling and solidification of several HH and HT type alloys. The metal was melted in an Ajax high-frequency, induction furnace and poured into a core-sand mold for cooling. The temperature measurements were obtained by means of a platinum, platinum-rhodium thermocouple contained within a fused silica sheath, which was extended through the side wall of the dry core-sand mold to a point at about the center of the mold cavity, which was 3 in. in diameter by 5 in. deep. The cold junction of the thermocouple was kept in an ice bottle, and the temperature was recorded automatically on a direct-reading potentiometer recorder. Through a switching arrangement, the temperature recorded was checked occasionally with a portable Leeds and North-rup potentiometer indicator. Less than a 5°F. variation in the two instruments was always found. This is within the limit of accuracy of readings. The thermocouple used was checked for accuracy against a standard couple, both before use on this work and after completion of the work, by the instrument laboratory. Temperature-time Cooling Curves Fig. I is an enlarged reproduction of a part of one of the cooling curves over the temperature range of 2600' to 2200°F. for an alloy of the HT type with 0.45 per cent carbon, 16 per cent chromium, and 36 per cent nickel. This is a typically shaped cooling curve as obtained for the alloys. It will be noted that two temperatures "re shown on Fig. I for the liquidus temperature. It is thought likely that the higher temperature, A, at the point at

Jan 1, 1945

By James T. Gow, Oscar E. Harder, Anton de S. Brasunas

THIS paper deals with the results obtained and the techniques employed in determining: I. Liquidus and solidus temperatures of the HH and HT type heat-resistant alloys. † 2. The relation of true temperatures (thermocouple) to apparent temperatures (optical pyrometer) for the molten HH and HT type alloys. This work was the outgrowth of needing to know something definite about these temperatures in order to study the effect of pouring temperatures, shake-out times, and heat-treatments on the properties of some heat-resistant alloys. The information developed is thought to be of interest to industry for guidance in foundry practices and the industrial heat applications of the alloys. This paper is based upon work that has been done for the Alloy Casting Institute at Battelle Memorial Institute. LIQUIDUS AND SOLIDUS TEMPERATURES OF HH AND HT TYPE ALLOYS Experimental Procedures Temperature-time curves were obtained during the cooling and solidification of several HH and HT type alloys. The metal was melted in an Ajax high-frequency induction furnace and poured into a coresand mold for cooling. The temperature measurements were obtained by means of a platinum, platinumrhodium thermocouple contained within a fused silica sheath, which was extended through the side wall of the dry core-sand mold to a point at about the center of the mold cavity, which was 3 in. in diameter by 5 in. deep. The cold junction of the thermocouple was kept in an ice bottle, and the temperature was recorded automatically on a direct-reading potentiometer recorder. Through a switching arrangement, the temperature recorded was checked occasionally with a portable Leeds and Northrup potentiometer indicator. Less than a 5°F. variation in the two instruments was always found. This is within the limit of accuracy of readings. The thermocouple used was checked for accuracy against a standard couple, both before use on this work and after completion of the work, by the instrument laboratory. Temperature-time Cooling Curves Fig. I is an enlarged reproduction of a part of one of the cooling curves over the temperature range of 2600° to 2200°F. for an alloy of the HT type with 0.45 per cent carbon, 16 per cent chromium, and 36 per cent nickel. This is a typically shaped cooling curve as obtained for the alloys. It will be noted that two temperatures are shown on Fig. r for the liquidus temperature. It is thought likely that the higher temperature, A, at the point at

Jan 1, 1945

By Leslie F. Tedsen, Alan E. Flanigan, John E. Dorn

IT is necessary occasionally to use aluminum-alloy sheet where moderately elevated temperatures are encountered. Considerable attention has been directed toward determining the influence of "artificial aging" on the room-temperature properties of the precipitation-hardenable alloys, as testified by numerous company reports and by references 1 to 4. Investigations on the properties at elevated temperatures are few, however,5-7 and have not always covered the range of times and temperatures of greatest interest. The present investigation was instituted to overcome this deficiency. The work was done for the Office of Production Research and Development of the War Production Board, under the supervision of the War Metallurgy Committee, as a part of the "restricted" Project NRC-548. It has been released for publication by the Office of Production Research and Development. As is well known, the high-strength aluminum alloys achieve their remarkable properties as a result of precipitation-hardening. In production they are subjected to a solution heat-treatment followed by quenching, to retain the supersaturated solid solution. The solution treatment is followed by "aging" (precipitation-hardening) either at room temperature or at a suitable elevated temperature. A considerable increase in tensile and compressive yield stresses results from precipitation at room temperature ("natural aging"). Through the elevated-temperature process ("artificial aging") it is possible to obtain values of yield stress considerably higher than those attainable by natural aging. The increase in yield stress is accompanied by a smaller gain in ultimate tensile stress and by a decrease in elongation. During [TABLE I.-Sources of Materials Used in the Testing Program MATERIAL ORIGIN AND TREATMENT 24S-T Alclad.... From Lockheed stock. 24S-RT Alclad... Direct from mill. 24S-T80 Alclad.. 24S-O Alclad from Lockheed stock, solution-heat-treated (925°F., water quench) and aged at 375°F. for t0 t % hour. 24S-T8I Alclad.. 24S-T Alclad from Lockheed stock, plant stretched up t0 I per cent and aged t0 ± % hr. at 375°F. 24S-T86 Alclad.. 24S-RT Alclad from Lockheed stock aged 534 ± 34 hr. at 375°F. 6IS-W (bare).... From Lockheed stock. 6IS-T (bare) 6IS-W (bare) from Lockheed stock aged 8 hr. at 350°F. XB7SS-T Alclad. From Lockheed stock.] the first stages of artificial aging the yield stress increases steadily until it reaches a maximum value. In this condition the material is said to be "fully aged." Further exposure results in "overaging," attended by a steady decrease in yield stress. In the production of the artificially aged materials, temperatures and times are selected to achieve full aging. The following important characteristics are associated with the process: I. The higher the temperature, the more rapidly is the fully aged condition attained.

Jan 1, 1945

By A. Aly Selim, Bruce D. Hanson

A computer model capable of simulating the basic production system in a variety of underground mining methods has been developed at the U.S. Bureau of Mines Twin Cities Mining Research Center. The simulation of the basic production system at the working face, which includes drilling, blasting, mucking, and roof bolting, is described in this paper. The model is event-oriented; that is, the status of the system is updated at the occurrence of an event. All event or activity times, including failure and repair of equipment, are treated as stochastic variables. A location dimension, in addition to the time dimension, is used, allowing the simulation of systems with a number of stopes or faces. To aid the user in determining the efficiency of his system, the model provides several reports. An event or activity report gives the frequency of occurrence, total active time, and cumulative delay statistics for each event. An equipment report delineates the availability and utilization of all equipment. A production report provides information on various performance measures such as tons produced and holes drilled. The cost report gives the cost of various elements in the system. Operating data from an actual mining situation were used in validating the model. In addition to the description of the model, examples of simulation experiments which were performed on a room-and-pillar mine system are given. Use of the model to determine methods for improving the efficiency of the system is discussed.

Jan 1, 1976

By Sam Tour

OF the new alloys achieving commercial prominence during the year, an aluminum-silicon magnesium casting alloy, which is similar in many respects to the 4 per cent copper alloy, developed about 1921, which has attained such a wide field of service, may be mentioned. The new alloy, like the old, is a heat-treatable type and develops about the same physical properties. The alloy casts easily and is relatively insensitive to high pouring temperatures. Its ability to produce substantially leak- proof castings is noteworthy. A second casting alloy development is the new Aluminum Co. of America No. 132, "Lo-Ex" piston alloy, a result of nearly eight years of research. The alloy contains about 14 per cent silicon and varying amounts of nickel, copper, and magnesium. It exhibits a low coefficient of expansion and thus permits small piston clearances. Its lower specific gravity is a further advantage.

Jan 1, 1932

By Ralph B. Stevens

INTRODUCTION Underground fires continue to be one of the most serious hazards to life and property in the mining industry. Although underground mines are analogous to high-rise buildings where persons are isolated from immediate escape or rescue, application of technology to locate and control fire hazards while still in their controllable state is slow to be implemented in underground mines. Even in large surface structures such as hotels, often only fire protection systems which meet minimal laws are implemented due to the high cost of adding extensive extinguishing systems, isolation barriers, alternate ventilation, escape routes and alarm systems. Incomplete and ineffective protection occasionally is evidenced where costs would not seem to be a factor, such as the $211 million MGM Grand Hotel fire November 21, 19801. Paramount in increasing fire safety and decreasing the threat of serious fire is early warning followed by proper decision analysis to perform the correct action. However, very complex fire situations can be produced in structures such as high-rise buildings and underground mines simply because of the distances between the numerous fire-potential locations and fire safe areas. Other complexities arise when normal activities occur that emit products of combustion signaling a fire condition to a sensitive fire/smoke sensor. For example, the operation of diesel equipment or the performance of regular blasting can produce combustion products that reach the sensitive alarm points of many sensors2. Smoke detectors for surface installations provide fire warning when occupants are at a distant location or when sleeping, thus greatly reducing injuries and property damage. However, when installed in the harsh environments of underground mines, fire and smoke detection equipment soon becomes inoperative, unreliable, or requires excessive maintenance. The U.S. Bureau of Mines has performed many studies and tests to improve fire and smoke protection for underground mine workers3. This paper describes several USBM safety programs which included in-mine testing with mine fire and smoke sensors, telemetry and instrumentation to develop recommendations for improving mine fire safety. It is hoped that the technology developed during these programs can be added to other programs to provide the mining industry with the necessary fire safety facts. By recognizing fire potentials and being provided with cost-effective, proven components that will perform reliably under the poor environmental conditions of mining, mine operators can provide protection for their working life and property equal to that which they provide for themselves and their families at home. The basis of this report is two USBM programs for fire protection in metal and nonmetal mines4,5 and one coal program6. The data was collected beginning in May 1974 and continuing through the present with underground tests of a South African fire system installed at Magma Mine in Superior, Arizona, and a computer-assisted, experimental system at Peabody Coal Mine in Pawnee, Illinois. The conduct of each program was as follows: • Define the problem and its magnitude in the industry • Develop concepts to solve or diminish the problem • Review available hardware or systems approaches to fit the concepts • Install and demonstrate the performance of a prototype system through fire tests in an operating mine. MINE FIRE FACTS Whether in coal or metal and nonmetal mines, the potential severity of fire hazard is directly related to location. As shown in Figure 1, fire in intake air at zones A, B, C or D can cause contamined air to route throughout the mine quickly if not detected, isolated or rerouted. Causes and location of former metal and nonmetal fires are represented in Table 1; the cause and location of fatalities and injuries is shown in Table 2. Coal-related fires and their impact on deaths and injuries are graphed in Figure 2; their locations are described in Table 37. Significantly the table shows that the hazard to personnel was three times greater for fires occurring in shaft or slope areas, and the percentage of deaths and injuries was four times that of other areas. Number of Persons Affected A 129-mine sample indicated that from 8 to 479 employees per shift work in underground metal and nonmetal mines, and that deeper mines have larger populations, as shown in Figure 3. Coal mining relates similar employment, and a 16-state sample of 670 mines employing at least 25 persons shows the distribution in Figure 4. Drift mines accounted for 58 percent of the sample but employ only 45 percent of the underground workers.

Jan 1, 1982

By Tong Guangxu

INTRODUCTION Throughout the world, the caving mining methods of ore-draw under the overlying waste rock are sublevel caving in Sweden, block caving in U.S.A. and forced block caving and sublevel caving with sill-pillar in U.S.S.R. These caving methods are of high efficiency, low cost and large production (especially the block caving method) when compared to opencast mining. From the ore production of all under- ground mines, the largest annual production of underground metalliferous mines in the world is caving methods. The sublevel caving in Kiruna Iron Mine of Sweden has reached annual ore production over 20 million tons in 1974. The block caving in Climax Molybdenum Mine and San Manuel Copper Mine of U.S.A. both have produced about 40 thou- sand tons of ore per day in 1971. At the same time, the productivity of Kiruna was 12 thousand tons of ore per man-year, Climax 42.8 tons (48.3 short tons) per man-shift and San Manuel 29.01 tons (32.1 short tons) per man-shift. The main feature of this group of mining methods is the underground extraction of ore from beneath overlying caveable waste rock. Since the loss and dilution of ore are inherent (sometimes to a great extent), the control of ore-draw in these methods as com- pared with other methods is very important. Consequently, concerned Universities and Research Institutes have devoted great amounts of research on ore-draw theory and control management which has provided positive results to mine production, and has apparently promoted the development of the caving methods. During 1979 in China, metalliferous underground mines accounted for 15.22% of the total iron ore produced, while also accounting for 56% of total non-ferrous production. According to the mining methods, sub level caving in the principal underground iron mines counted for about 56.74% of total principal underground iron mine production, but only about 1% of total non-ferrous underground mine production. Relative to forced block caving and sublevel caving with sill pillar, the Chinese non-ferrous under- ground mines estimated about 35% of total non-ferrous underground mine production from these two methods, mainly from the latter. From the trend of development of underground metalliferous mines in China, the percentage of production in caving will be increased in the future, especially in block caving and forced block caving which have already been given great attention in the mining circle. In these types of mining methods the ore is drawn from the stope under a large area of overlying waste rock, which complicates the basic regulation and control of ore-draw, but provides lower loss and dilution than sublevel caving. Because of these reasons, the Kiruna Iron Mine in Sweden is intending to change its sublevel caving by testing a sublevel shrinkage caving method and considering a large area of ore-draw beneath the stope as an advantage. Therefore, the basic regulation and control management of ore-draw under a large area, as practiced in China, will be discussed in this paper. BASIC REGULATION OF ORE- DRAW FROM CAVING STOPE The aim of studying ore-draw under a large area of overlying waste rock is to se- cure a planned draw schedule that guarantees a certain plane of interface between ore and waste rock, and controls the change of its shape in spatial position for reducing ore loss and dilution during the draw process. Presently, the ellipsoid theory is comparatively near the actual attitude of ore-draw from the cave. 1. Ore Drawn Out from Single Drawpoint Laboratory testing and practical experience all show that after a certain amount of ore has been drawn out from a drawpoint, its original shape in the stope before drawing is more or less similar to an ellipsoid, hence the name "draw ellipsoid." This draw ellipsoid is cut at the bottom by a horizontal plane corresponding to the raise of the drawpoint, and its volume can be calculated by the following formula:

Jan 1, 1981

By Charles Hart

In this paper it is the author's intention to show the extent and character of foreign ores now known to be available; these deposits may be in active production or held in reserve until economic conditions may make them active. He hopes to show the relation existing between these ores and the American supply, and which of the former are now producing or will in turn come into production when our better ores have been exhausted. This phase of this discussion must of necessity include some data as to the present rate of consumption and a study of the changes we may expect here and abroad in the general steel trade and its sources of supply in raw materials. It is obvious that the occurrence of coal, ore and limestone in relation to one another and the proximity of a market are the elements in control of this feature of the problem. If the foregoing situation is favorable, all the other questions may be solved, for it is clear that with proper basic conditions finance, labor and operations will fall in line. We present a short outline of the present methods of carrying on the foreign iron ore trade, believing that it is of general interest in comparison with our own highly specialized methods, and that with the exhaustion of our better ores we will be compelled to seek a part of our supply abroad. A partial list of iron ores, with incomplete analyses (Table I), is added, to give a better understanding of the general situation and explain to some extent the reason for things being as they are in the iron and steel trade of the world and to help in bringing this paper to an informing conclusion. The question of the world supply of iron ores has been a subject for study on the part of geologists and engineers for many years, and found its best results in the Eleventh International Geological Congress, appropriately held at Stockholm, Sweden, in 1910. The proceedings are published in two volumes and are undoubtedly the best records available on this subject at the date of publication. It should be borne in mind, however, that much has happened in the 20 years since these figures were assembled. There is just as much known ore at present as at that time, minus the quantity consumed, plus newly discovered reserves. The World War had great effect upon this situation; during that time explorations were greatly reduced and the settlements after the

Jan 1, 1929