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By Leo J. Vogel, E. D. Hummer

INTRODUCTION by E. D. HUMMER An efficient refuse-disposal system is a necessary part of the modem cleaning plant. The large-scale refuse system and disposal area, engineered for the lifetime of the plant, has become more important due to the greater tonnages of refuse produced from increased quantities of mechanically mined and prepared coal. Laws and increased government regulations have affected the design and operation of disposal systems. THE EFFECT OF MINE AND PLANT OPERATION Refuse disposal starts at the mining face. The mining system, the type of roof support, the machinery used, and the degree of discipline at the face contributes to the amount and type of refuse that must be removed through the disposal system. Economies gained through modification of the mining system or mining machinery may be partially offset by increased dilution of the mined coal with impurities from associated rock formations. In some cases the change in the mining system and equipment has reduced the dilution. In all cases the ratio of impurities that must be removed from the raw-coal feed to the plant not only affects the maintenance and operating costs of the plant, but greatly affects the design of the refuse disposal system. The design of a mine and plant should include the location and the estimated capacity of the disposal areas for the life of the property or plant. Complete evaluation of the disposal system and an estimate of its annual cost of operation over the life of the property or plant should be incorporated in the plant and mine evaluation. Plant design should be as simple as possible, consistent with the efficient production of clean coal. Material transfer points, crushing, screening and pumping operations should be kept to a minimum to reduce degradation and the subsequent increased difficulty and cost of refuse removal. The maintenance of good process control by operating management will result in a minimum of misplaced material in both refuse and clean coal. Reduction of misplaced float material in the plant refuse is an important factor in preventing combustion in the refuse storage pile. THE REFUSE DISPOSAL AREA Combustion in refuse piles occurs when air enters the pile in sufficient quantity to support oxidation. At certain rates of air in-filtration, the heat produced by the oxidation process is not dissipated and temperature rises.

Jan 1, 1968

By F. Keller, E. H. Dix

The desirable high strength and hardness of the heat-treated strong aluminum alloys result from two distinct structural changes: (1) the formation of a solid, solution by heating at the required temperature for a sufficient period, and the substantial retention of this solid solution by rapidly quenching; (2) precipitation of particles of constituent and coalescence to a critical size to produce maximum strength and hardness. In alloys of the duralumin type, that is, alloys containing both copper and magnesium silicide precipitation takes place at normal atmospheric temperature, whereas in alloys containing copper without magnesium silicide or magnesium silicide without copper, maximum properties are obtained only after an accelerated aging treatment consisting of heating for 15 to 20 hr. at temperatures of about 150" C. The mechanical properties of these alloys subsequent to quenching but prior to aging are ideal for forming operations. Unfortunately, however, the alloys of the duralumin type age very rapidly during the first 24 hr. and aging is substantially complete after four days. For severe forming, such as the heading of rivets, it is desirable that this be accomplished within ½ hr. or at the most 2 hr. after quenching. Alloys containing magnesium silicide without copper also age at normal temperatures but the aging is less rapid and the material can be satisfactorily worked within several weeks after quenching. Some slight aging of alloys containing copper alone also takes place at room temperature but it is unimportant from the standpoint of workability. Any method of retarding the aging at room temperature of the duralumin type of alloys would be of considerable advantage in that the period during which the material could be worked successfully would be lengthened. For instance, in aircraft plants it is customary to supply the workmen with small lots of rivets that should be used within ½ hr . after heat treatment. Such procedure has the obvious disadvantage of being uneconomical, and furthermore there is always the possibility that the workmen would use the rivets after the time limit had expired, or the supply being depleted might use some that had not been heat-

Jan 1, 1931

By Herbert H. Kellogg

C. M. Decroly (University of Brussels, Belgium) — The importance of the fluorides in the process metallurgy of special metals has already been accepted and it will probably increase in the future. Free energy diagrams as such established by Professor Kellogg are therefore very useful. It is interesting to note that the absolute value of the standard free energy of formation of HF increases with temperature, whereas for almost all the other fluorides it decreases; consequently it should be theoretically possible to reduce all the fluorides of the metals which, at low temperature, have a greater affinity for fluorine than hydrogen by this last element, provided a sufficiently high temperature is used in order to have a good efficiency. However, with regard to the reduction of UFe by hydrogen, I doubt that it will be possible to obtain directly the metal at comparatively low temperatures. There are other uranium fluorides which are more stable than UF6 and it is very likely that such fluorides will be obtained first. For example, in considering the reaction: UF6gas + H2gas + UF1so1id + 2 HFgas it is found, using the thermodynamic data of Brewer et al, that ?H298 = —66 kcal and ?G°298, = —65.2 kcal. As a result, the reduction of UF6 to UF4solld should proceed spontaneously even at ordinary temperature. On the other hand, the standard free energy of formation of UF4solid at 298°K is AG°298 = -209 kcal per mol of F2. The reduction of UF4 by hydrogen will be practically difficult and, as it is known, the only practical way of reducing this compound is to use alkaline-earth metals such as calcium or magnesium. I should like to point out, further, that the fluorination of many metal oxides can be carried out very easily by using the ammonium difluoride method of preparation, which renders the use of fluoride gas unnecessary. The first compound formed is generally a double fluoride of the metal and ammonium. This compound can be decomposed by heating either in a vacuum or in an inert atmosphere, ammonium fluoride being volatilized leaving the metal fluoride in a very pure state. H. H. Kellogg (author's reply)—Professor Decroly is quite right in pointing out that the formation of lower halides of uranium may complicate the reduction of UF6 by H2. I was unable to find his reference to the free energy of formation of UF4 in the compilation of Brewer.13 however. The value of AG°298, = —209 kcal for formation of ½ UFa seems rather high, and I hope the source of this value may be made clear.

Jan 1, 1952

By T. A. Pollard, C. R. Sandberg, E. B. Elfrink

This paper presents an evaluation of compressibility factor data and a discussion of their application to the estimation of gas reserves. A correlation is presented which provides compressibility factors for use in both two-phase and single-phase hydrocarbon systems. Accuracies comparable to those obtained previously for single-phase systems only can be expected. A simple means of predicting the presence or absence of a liquid phase in a condensate system of known composition is illustrated. The correlation is based on 1,030 compressibility determinations from 21 hydrocarbon samples taken from eight oil fields. Of the data used, 75 per cent were from California, 15 per cent were from the Mid-Continent area, and 10 per cent were from South America. The average numerical deviation of the experimental data from this compressibility chart is 1.22 per cent. Charts and tables are included and discussed which illustrate the errors involved through the misuse or nonuse of compressibility factors in estimates of gas-in-place. INTRODUCTION The compressibility factor is a coefficient which expresses the deviation of a gas of given composition from the Perfect Gas Laws. A factor such as this is necessary in any calculation involving volumes of gaseous mixtures, and finds extensive application in the estimation of natural gas and condensate reserves. It is used in the decline curve, the volumetric, and the material balance methods of gas reserves estimation. The behavior of gases at high pressures has been investigated extensively in recent years and considerable data have been assembled on the compressibility characteristics of a number of gases. Notable among the investigators of high pressure gas relationships are Kvalnes and Caddya, Kay" Sage and Laceys, and Brown, Standing" and Katz4. Other contributors are Smith and Watson, Roland and Kaveler', and Stevens and Vance". The data on compressibility factors assembled by these investigators have been presented and correlated in numerous ways; particularly noteworthy is the method first presented by Kay5 which relates compressibility factor "Z" to pseudo-reduced temperature and Pseudo-reduced pressure. Other investigators have used this empirical relationship successfully and numerous charts covering a large number of gases have been constructed on this basis. It is the purpose of this paper to evaluate compressibility factor data and to illustrate the importance of their proper use in the estimation of gas-in-place for both gas and condensate reservoirs. EVALUATION OF COMPRESSIBILITY FACTOR DATA The compressibility chart presented by Standing, Katz, Brown and Holcomb in 1941 is probably the most recent and reliable chart for natural gases. The reliability of the Katz chart has been investigated by the writers for a fairly large number of gases (single-phase) in the pressure range from 500 to 10,000 psia and temperature range from 80 to 400°F. A summary of this comparison is presented in Table I. The numerical average deviation of the chart compressibility factors from the experimental compressibility factors is 1.05 per cent, and the algebraic deviation is -0.28 per cent. The Katz correlation appears to be quite accurate for single-phase hydrocarbon systems. It was based on single-phase systems and does not necessarily provide a means of accurately predicting the behavior of two-phase systems which might be encountered in condensate work. Data published recently by Sage and Oldsl' have enlarged the knowledge of phase behavior in condensate systems by covering extensively the Compressibilities of systems in the two-phase as well as single-phase regions for a wide range of temperatures, pressures and gas-oil ratios. An evaluation of these data indicates that conditions can arise, especially in condensate systems having fairly low gas-oil ratios, in which two phases occur and the usual gaseous compressibility factors do not accurately apply. The measured PVT data of Sage and Olds covering two-phase systems have been correlated with additional such data from the Mid-Continent area and South America; these are presented in Fig. 1. This chart is the result of 1,030 compressibility* determinations from 21 hydrocarbon samples taken from eight oil and condensate fields. Of the data used, 74.75 per cent were from California, 15.45 per cent were from the Mid-Continent area, and 9.80 per cent were from South America. The chart construction is based on the original

Jan 1, 1949

By C. R. Sandberg, T. A. Pollard, E. B. Elfrink

This paper presents an evaluation of compressibility factor data and a discussion of their application to the estimation of gas reserves. A correlation is presented which provides compressibility factors for use in both two-phase and single-phase hydrocarbon systems. Accuracies comparable to those obtained previously for single-phase systems only can be expected. A simple means of predicting the presence or absence of a liquid phase in a condensate system of known composition is illustrated. The correlation is based on 1,030 compressibility determinations from 21 hydrocarbon samples taken from eight oil fields. Of the data used, 75 per cent were from California, 15 per cent were from the Mid-Continent area, and 10 per cent were from South America. The average numerical deviation of the experimental data from this compressibility chart is 1.22 per cent. Charts and tables are included and discussed which illustrate the errors involved through the misuse or nonuse of compressibility factors in estimates of gas-in-place. INTRODUCTION The compressibility factor is a coefficient which expresses the deviation of a gas of given composition from the Perfect Gas Laws. A factor such as this is necessary in any calculation involving volumes of gaseous mixtures, and finds extensive application in the estimation of natural gas and condensate reserves. It is used in the decline curve, the volumetric, and the material balance methods of gas reserves estimation. The behavior of gases at high pressures has been investigated extensively in recent years and considerable data have been assembled on the compressibility characteristics of a number of gases. Notable among the investigators of high pressure gas relationships are Kvalnes and Caddya, Kay" Sage and Laceys, and Brown, Standing" and Katz4. Other contributors are Smith and Watson, Roland and Kaveler', and Stevens and Vance". The data on compressibility factors assembled by these investigators have been presented and correlated in numerous ways; particularly noteworthy is the method first presented by Kay5 which relates compressibility factor "Z" to pseudo-reduced temperature and Pseudo-reduced pressure. Other investigators have used this empirical relationship successfully and numerous charts covering a large number of gases have been constructed on this basis. It is the purpose of this paper to evaluate compressibility factor data and to illustrate the importance of their proper use in the estimation of gas-in-place for both gas and condensate reservoirs. EVALUATION OF COMPRESSIBILITY FACTOR DATA The compressibility chart presented by Standing, Katz, Brown and Holcomb in 1941 is probably the most recent and reliable chart for natural gases. The reliability of the Katz chart has been investigated by the writers for a fairly large number of gases (single-phase) in the pressure range from 500 to 10,000 psia and temperature range from 80 to 400°F. A summary of this comparison is presented in Table I. The numerical average deviation of the chart compressibility factors from the experimental compressibility factors is 1.05 per cent, and the algebraic deviation is -0.28 per cent. The Katz correlation appears to be quite accurate for single-phase hydrocarbon systems. It was based on single-phase systems and does not necessarily provide a means of accurately predicting the behavior of two-phase systems which might be encountered in condensate work. Data published recently by Sage and Oldsl' have enlarged the knowledge of phase behavior in condensate systems by covering extensively the Compressibilities of systems in the two-phase as well as single-phase regions for a wide range of temperatures, pressures and gas-oil ratios. An evaluation of these data indicates that conditions can arise, especially in condensate systems having fairly low gas-oil ratios, in which two phases occur and the usual gaseous compressibility factors do not accurately apply. The measured PVT data of Sage and Olds covering two-phase systems have been correlated with additional such data from the Mid-Continent area and South America; these are presented in Fig. 1. This chart is the result of 1,030 compressibility* determinations from 21 hydrocarbon samples taken from eight oil and condensate fields. Of the data used, 74.75 per cent were from California, 15.45 per cent were from the Mid-Continent area, and 9.80 per cent were from South America. The chart construction is based on the original

Jan 1, 1949

By O. J. Neslage, R. W. Jenkins

MINE operators today are paying increased attention to the mechanization of drilling operations as an important factor in increasing efficiency and decreasing costs. Recent progress in the design of drill jibs for mounting on drill carriages, or jumbos, has done much to advance the mechanization of mining methods. This progress has introduced new opportunities in the application of "jib jumbos" that are worth serious consideration. An attempt will be made here to classify the various types of jumbos and drill mountings available for level development and flat stope work, t6 indicate applications, and to measure their effectiveness in relation to their cost. The data here are based on a wide variety of field usage, and are offered only to point up, in a general way, the relative efficiency in proportion to cost. It should be remembered that any contemplated jumbo installation must be studied to determine what type of installation is most suitable, considering ground conditions, loading, timbering and haulage equipment, service available, and attitude of manpower. Early Drill Carriages: The advantages of some sort of a drill carriage were recognized at the time rock drills were introduced. In drift or heading operations where a fairly standard drill round and cross section were anticipated, as well as in flat bedded deposits where standard slabbing rounds were used, track and crawler-mounted drills found an early application. These first drill jumbos were little more than drill carriers, designed locally and manufactured with materials at hand. Of comparatively simple construction, function, and low capital cost, they usually consisted of a hinged column which supported one or more drills on arms or universal bars. When the column was pivoted vertically, the drills were moved into position. Screw jack extensions reached from the column to the roof and floor to hold the drill rigid. In some cases, particularly in tunnel jumbos, enough weight was carried that rail clamps or roof jacks were sufficient. Many of these column and arm-type jumbos, usually equipped with air and water manifolds, steel racks, and staging for drillers, are still in use today. Some have employed air or hydraulic extensions for securing the columns. They offer the equip-saving advantage of having all the necessary out, ment together, and they un be moved i and t. set up and torn down as a unit. Boom-type Jumbos: When the advantages of to column-type jumbo were seen, operators could to realize the further gains possible. More time could be saved with mechanical assistance to position api drill vertically. A rack on the column and a pinion on the arm for raising and lowering the drill in the manner of a quarry bar were tried with some success. The most outstanding solution to the vertical handling problem was reached with the boom-type of jumbo. Here two or more machines were mounted on a cross arm at the end of a boom that was pivoted at the rear of the track. This was raised and lowered by various mechanical aids. Occasionally air or hydraulic power was used. Nearly all of today's wagon drills use this boom-type principle. Boom jumbos represent a savings in time and physical effort expended in raising and lowering the drills. The boom must be balanced by the roof of the truck which is secured by rail clamps or type jacks. The most successful application of areawhere this of jumbo has been in the Tri-State area where multiple long-feed machines are used on caterpillar-mounted, boom-type jumbos for slabbing

Jan 1, 1951

By R. W. Jenkins, O. J. Neslage

MINE operators today are paying increased attention to the mechanization of drilling operations as an important factor in increasing efficiency and decreasing costs. Recent progress in the design of drill jibs for mounting on drill carriages, or jumbos, has done much to advance the mechanization of mining methods. This progress has introduced new opportunities in the application of "jib jumbos" that are worth serious consideration. An attempt will be made here to classify the various types of jumbos and drill mountings available for level development and flat stope work, t6 indicate applications, and to measure their effectiveness in relation to their cost. The data here are based on a wide variety of field usage, and are offered only to point up, in a general way, the relative efficiency in proportion to cost. It should be remembered that any contemplated jumbo installation must be studied to determine what type of installation is most suitable, considering ground conditions, loading, timbering and haulage equipment, service available, and attitude of manpower. Early Drill Carriages: The advantages of some sort of a drill carriage were recognized at the time rock drills were introduced. In drift or heading operations where a fairly standard drill round and cross section were anticipated, as well as in flat bedded deposits where standard slabbing rounds were used, track and crawler-mounted drills found an early application. These first drill jumbos were little more than drill carriers, designed locally and manufactured with materials at hand. Of comparatively simple construction, function, and low capital cost, they usually consisted of a hinged column which supported one or more drills on arms or universal bars. When the column was pivoted vertically, the drills were moved into position. Screw jack extensions reached from the column to the roof and floor to hold the drill rigid. In some cases, particularly in tunnel jumbos, enough weight was carried that rail clamps or roof jacks were sufficient. Many of these column and arm-type jumbos, usually equipped with air and water manifolds, steel racks, and staging for drillers, are still in use today. Some have employed air or hydraulic extensions for securing the columns. They offer the equip-saving advantage of having all the necessary out, ment together, and they un be moved i and t. set up and torn down as a unit. Boom-type Jumbos: When the advantages of to column-type jumbo were seen, operators could to realize the further gains possible. More time could be saved with mechanical assistance to position api drill vertically. A rack on the column and a pinion on the arm for raising and lowering the drill in the manner of a quarry bar were tried with some success. The most outstanding solution to the vertical handling problem was reached with the boom-type of jumbo. Here two or more machines were mounted on a cross arm at the end of a boom that was pivoted at the rear of the track. This was raised and lowered by various mechanical aids. Occasionally air or hydraulic power was used. Nearly all of today's wagon drills use this boom-type principle. Boom jumbos represent a savings in time and physical effort expended in raising and lowering the drills. The boom must be balanced by the roof of the truck which is secured by rail clamps or type jacks. The most successful application of areawhere this of jumbo has been in the Tri-State area where multiple long-feed machines are used on caterpillar-mounted, boom-type jumbos for slabbing

Jan 1, 1951

By H. E. Elliott, R. S. Busk, A. T. Peters

ONE of the problems of the fabricator of metals and alloys is the propensity of some composition ranges toward abnormal grain growth during certain stages of fabrication. In this respect magnesium alloys are no exception among alloys. Fortunately, convenient foundry control methods have been developed by which the abnormal grain growth possible in certain magnesium-alloy castings can be suppressed. An unusual characteristic of magnesium alloys, however, is that castings of some composition ranges are subject to local grain growth during heat-treatment without the necessity of intentional mechanical stressing of the part prior to heat-treatment. This effect occurs only under certain critical casting conditions, and only in certain alloys of greater than about 8.5 per cent aluminum content, such as C alloy (Mg, o per cent Al, 2 per cent Zn, 0.2 per cent Mn) and G alloy (Mg, i0 per cent Al, 0.2 per cent Mn). The first observation of this phenomenon in cast magnesium alloys occasioned much surprise, since it is not observed in other metals. Jeffries and Archer' have stated that "the grain size of cast metals, provided they have not been plastically deformed, cannot be changed by heating below the melting point." The study of the conditions leading to abnormal grain growth in cast magnesium alloys, and of the mechanism of this phenomenon, has led to some very interesting observations. Perhaps the most significant of these was the observation that stresses originating from cooling contraction in magnesium-alloy castings are the only stresses necessary, under certain conditions, to cause local recrystallization and subsequent grain growth in the casting during heat-treatment. of abnormal local grain growth was a definite problem in the production foundry on C alloy sand castings. Illustrated (Fig. r) is a picture of a casting scrapped because of this defect. A mottled effect is produced in coarse-grained areas by suitable etching solutions. The properties of metal in the affected area are much impaired by such grain coarsening. Ultimate tensile strengths of half the normal value have been measured in metal of this nature. In this paper are described the techniques that have been developed by The Dow Chemical Co. for studying, and in large measure solving, this production problem. Also discussed are studies of the mechanism by which excessive grain coarsening occurs, and the fundamental conditions that produce this effect. The abnormal grain growth discussed in this paper will be referred to as "germination," since this term has been defined' as any process leading to an abnormally coarse grain size. This paper deals only with abnormal local grain growth that may occur during the solution heat-treatment of certain magnesium-alloy castings, as dis-

Jan 1, 1945

By Strathmore R. B. Cooke, Thomas E. Ban

MUCH experimental work has been performed on the mechanism of agglomeration and pelletizing of moist ore and concentrates and on the process of firing agglomerates, but except for the work of Tigerschiöld and Ilmoni1 much of the published information is empirical, and the literature contains no information concerning the structure of fired pellets. Results of a preliminary study of the microstructures occurring in pellets produced both in the laboratory and on a pilot-plant scale are presented in this paper. Most of the results were obtained from pellets prepared from Mesabi magnetic taconite, but through the courtesy of the staffs of the Minnesota Mines Experiment Station and the Bethlehem Steel Co., fired pellets produced from limonite and hematite ores and from Lebanon magnetite have also been examined. The work has been restricted almost entirely to pellets produced without additives, the exceptions being those in which coal was. added to the filter cake before rolling. Schwartz has described the microstructures occurring in ore sinters produced under reducing conditions.2 Many of the structures and constituents he describes are common to fired pellets, but the constituents normally occur in markedly different proportions. His statement that "in all satisfactory sinter the amount of hematite is small, perhaps not over 2 or 3 per cent" is inapplicable to pellets produced by pilot plant operation or by any process in which air is not deliberately excluded. Pilot plant pellets contain over 90 pct by weight of hematite, and those produced in the smaller furnaces of the Minnesota Mines Experiment Station contain more than 80 pct of that constituent. Preparation of Specimens It is difficult to examine unfired pellets microscopically because of their insufficient coherency to withstand sectioning and polishing. Fired pellets sometimes lack coherency and frequently contain holes which are troublesome during polishing. Impregnation of both air-dried and fired pellets is readily accomplished by the use of methyl methacrylate monomer.3 The dry pellets are covered in a test tube with excess monomer, to which a small amount of accelerator has been added. When the test tube is placed in a cooling bath and evacuated with an aspirator, most of the entrapped air is removed, and disruption of weak pellets by boiling of the monomer is reduced to a minimum. Polymerization is then effected by immersion of the test tube in a water-bath at about 45°C, this temperature being held for 4 or 5 days. The test tube may then be broken away from the solidified mass and the pellets sectioned by a carborundum wheel or a diamond saw. Where time is important, impregnation is carried out at a higher temperature by Meyer's method.4 Air-dried pellets must be impregnated with especial care; otherwise swelling occurs and the solids are displaced. It is more important to be certain that the monomer forms a reasonably complete network throughout the specimen than that all entrained air is removed, and for this reason the vacuum technique may be omitted. Impregnated agglomerated products and pellets are extremely coherent, section well, and may be polished either by hand or by machine. Hand polishing is not satisfactory for the examination of conditions existing at the boundaries of grains, and for this machine polishing must be used. The Graton-Vanderwilt machine gives excellent results, provided that pressure on the specimen is considerably in excess of that recommended by the manufacturer. Mineralogy of Fired Pellets Only two opaque iron minerals, magnetite and hematite, have been recognized in pellets. The complete identity of these artificial minerals with their corresponding natural counterparts is shown by their mineralographic characteristics and their X-ray structures. Wüstite has not been found. Slag is the most common transparent constituent of fired pellets. Occasionally conditions have been appropriate for the crystallization of fayalite from the slag, and at other times another crystalline sil-

Jan 1, 1952

By Albert F. J. Bordeaux

The immediate vicinity of the sea-shore, affording special facility for the exportation of ores, makes it possible to work certain mines in the Vladivostok district, which, in more remote places of Siberia., would remain unproductive. Outside of the city of Vladivostok the population is small and the country is very little prospected. Additional discoveries of valuable deposits like the large body of calamine which has recently been opened in the neighborhood of earlier worked lead-silver ores, in the Tetiuhe valley, are still in the field of possibilities. For many years gold alone was produced, in part from the coastal rivers and in part from a quartz-vein on Askold island near Vladivostok. But the production is diminishing, and prospectors are looking for other rivers in the interior, such as the tributaries of the Ussuri. These rivers are now more accessible than formerly, due to the slow but gradual development of colonization by the Russian peasants. The few natives of the country, called Orodjones, are of the Chinese race. They resemble the North American Indian and are hardy fur-hunters. They have given some attention to placers and have already shown good specimens of gold-dust from the rivers Iman, Bikin, Noto, etc. Coal-mining was begun in the Vladivostok region more than 20 years ago, but in a somewhat irregular way. The industry is not as yet important and the best coal-seams are badly prospected, or are even neglected. Copper, lead, and iron exist in several places. The amounts give some encouragement to the anticipation that the discoveries will give rise to important metallurgical works. I here present a review of the various deposits, based upon such safe information as is in hand, when I have not drawn upon my personal observations. Fig. 1 is a map of Eastern Siberia, showing the mineral deposits.

Jan 1, 1913

By K. G. Davis, P. Fryzuk

VALUES for the equilibrium distribution coefficient, ko, are required for solidification studies. The procedure generally adopted1-3 is to progressively solidify alloy rods over a range of growth rates, under conditions where a high degree of convective mixing is present in the melt. The measured effective distribution coefficients are plotted as a function of growth rate, and the extrapolated value at zero growth rate is taken to be the equilibrium ko. The method is limited by the experimental difficulty in obtaining steady growth rates less than approximately 10-4 cm per sec. Extrapolation from rates greater than this can lead to inaccuracy. In the present investigation, an alternative method for determining ko, previously used by the authors for the Ag-Sn system,' was applied to alloy of thallium in tin. Specimens were grown under conditions where convective mixing was absent, and experimental concentration-distance curves in the region of the initial transient were compared with curves calculated for trial values of ko. The ko which gave the best fit was taken as the correct value. To obtain the calculated curves, a value for the diffusion constant in the liquid near to the melting point was needed. This was determined by the capillary-reservoir method. Diffusion Constants. Details of the experimental procedure used by the authors in the capillary-reservoir technique have been described in previous papers,5'6 the only variation being in the use of Tl204, a ß emitter, as tracer, in contrast to previous work where ? emitters were used. The activity of a ß-emitting sample, as measured in a Geiger counter, is proportional to the surface area. To measure the concentration of thallium along the capillary after diffusion had taken place, the solidified capillary (1 mm diam) was cut into 2.5-mm lengths and each length compressed between parallel steel plates to form a disc approximately 5 mm in diam. The discs were placed in a flat-bottomed dish, covered by a thin lead shield with a central aperture, and counted in a 0 counter with fixed geometry. Each disc was etched lightly in a dilute solution of nitric and hydrochloric acids a short time before counting, to eliminate sur-

Jan 1, 1968

By William Brewster

DATING back some five years ago, various foundries made inquiries as to the probable total carbon content in a given specification and grade of pig iron. Up to that time we had no data, and except for a few occasional determinations of total carbon, no attempt had ever been made to set up routine determinations of total carbon. In fact, at that time, a cast analysis was considered sufficient, without examining at further length into possible variations of analysis between ladles of the same cast. In view of the various inquiries as to total carbon, we sampled all piles of all grades of pig iron, making complete analyses. Finding some variation in carbon content, we secured more samples and plotted the carbon content with respect to silicon in each grade of iron except for the higher phosphorus foundry iron, where it was necessary to divide the group into twenty-point phosphorus ranges. This is easily understood, owing to the falling off of carbon content with the increase in phosphorus con-tent, silicon in each case being the same. In addition, these curves clearly demonstrate the lowering of the carbon content as the silicon is increased. In order to insure accuracy and reliable determinations the following method of sampling and analysis was employed: Two pigs selected from each end of the car, each car containing iron from one 50-ton ladle, are drilled with a 5/16-in. drill all the way through from top to bottom in the center of one section of the pig. The drillings are collected and transferred to an 80-mesh sieve; the portion passing through and the portion retained are placed in separate envelopes and labeled accordingly. The amount of sample in each envelope is weighed to obtain the proportionate amount of coarse and fine drillings, then a factor weight of sample (1.3636 grams) made up of proportionate

Jan 1, 1936

By John A. Church

In May, 1878, I had the honor of presenting to the Institute, at the Chattanooga meeting, some observations upon the heat of the Comstock Lode, and since then the subject has attracted some attention and criticism, in the course of which, L have observed errors of apprehension which I beg leave to correct now. Mr. John Arthur Phillips discussed it before the Geological Society, his paper being printed in the Quarterly Journal for August, 1879." His criticism is based upon that part of my paper in which I quote a number of analyses of the mine waters, to illustrate the fact that the heat does not come from the oxidation of pyrite. I pointed out that these waters contain only an insignificant proportion of sulphuric acid, and not enough to account for even one per cent. Of

Jan 1, 1880

By Samuel Daniels

The Al-Cu-Ni-Mg alloy is much benefited by heat treatment and, in such condition, is preferable to the Al-Cu-Fe-Mg alloy either as cast or as heat-treated, when both are reheated to temperatures of from 400" to 600" F. and compared, cold, with respect to strength and to hardness. The main differences between the alloys do not arise until the reheating temperature exceeds 400" F., above which they gradually soften. This softening is characterized metallographically by the appearance of intragranular precipitate. The Al-Cu-Ni-Mg alloy is weakest and least hard after being reheated at 600" F., the Al-Cu-Fe-Mg alloy at about 700" F. The former starts to reharden at 700" F., the latter at 800' F. There is a tendency for both alloys to lose strength and hardness with prolongation of time at the reheating temperatures of 500" and of 700" F. The Al-Cu-Ni-Mg alloy is considerably stronger and harder than the Al-Cu-Fe-Mg alloy when both are heat-treated and reheated for long periods of time at 500" and 700" F. Although the latter can be made harder initially than the Al-Cu-Ni-Mg alloy by suitable quenching and aging, heat treatment, in general, favors the retention of this initial (strength and) hardness after reheating to a much greater degree in the Al-Cu-Ni-Mg alloy. The percentage of elongation of the two materials in any condition is very small. Certain aluminum alloys have been used for pistons and other parts operating at temperatures up to 650" F. because of their lightness, high thermal conductivity and specific heat, fair strength and hardness at elevated temperatures, excellent machineability, and moderate resistance to corrosion. In the piston, the inertia forces and the bearing loading, and with this the vibration, are decreased. The piston head functions at a lower temperature (about 200" F. below one of cast iron), so that, because of the lessened tendency toward carbonization and detonation, higher compression ratios may be used. On the other hand, the aluminum alloys do not have the wearing and bearing qualities of cast iron; also they have a large coefficient of expansion, allowance for which must be made in the design. The range in analyses of aluminum alloys, used for pistons in domestic and in foreign internal-combustion engines is shown in Table 1. There seem to be three general types of composition; one containing about 10

Jan 1, 1926

By Klaus Schwerdtfeger

In order to test the performance of ZrO, (CaO) and Tho,(Yz03) electrolytes in the electrochemical determination of oxygen activities in liquid metals at steel-rrzakitng temperatures , electromotive force measurements have been made with the following cells: The oxygen-- activities are calculated from the electmrnotive forces for the investigated systems. The standard free energy of- formation of MnO and the activity of manganese in Fe-Mn melts are derived. Indications are that the Zr 0z(Ca0) electrolyte exhibits little electronic conductivity at oxygen pressures as low as 10'a atnz at 1600°C; however, the partial electronic conductivity may become noticeable at lower oxygen activities. The Tho,(Yz03) electrolyte is found to be an ionic conductor at the oxygen pressure as low as that for the Mn + MnO equilibrium, but exhibits partial electronic conductivity at oxygen pressures higher than 10"1 atm (1500°C). fi. better control of oxidation and deoxidation reactions in steelmaking may be facilitated if the oxygen activity in the steel is known during various stages of the process. In the present work oxygen activities have been measured in liquid iron, manganese, and iron alloys with galvanic cells using ZrOz(CaO) and s solid electrolytes with the object of establishing the range of oxygen pressure in which these materials can be used as electrolytes at steelmaking temperatures. Calcia-stabilized zirconia and Tho2-Y203 solid solutions are oxygen ion conductors. Such electrolytes were first used by Kiukkola and Wagner1 and Peters and ~ann' in galvanic cells for the determination of thermodynamicquantities of oxide systems in the temperature range 700" to 1200°C. At these moderate temperatures calcia-stabilized zirconia has been found to exhibit predominantly ionic conductivity at oxygen pressures as low as those for the Cr + Crz03 equilibrium,394 but at lower oxygen pressures elec- tronic contribution to conductivity becomes significants4 The Th02-Y203 solid solutions are ionic conductors at oxygen pressures lower than those applicable to zirconia base electrolytes.5'6 At high oxygen pressures Thoz base electrolytes exhibit significant p-type semiconduction. At the time the present experiments were carried out several papers1'-* were published on the electrochemical determination of oxygen activities in liquid iron using the ZrOz(CaO) electrolyte. The results of different authors do not agree well. For instance, according to Fischer and ~ckermann" stabilized zirconia can be used to measure oxygen contents in liquid iron larger than 0.02 wt pct, but according to Baker and west1' ZrOz(CaO) cannot be used for the determination of oxygen content in liquid iron because of high electronic contribution to the conductivity. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus used. About 500 g of liquid metal is contained in a crucible into which a stabilized zirconia or Th02(Y203) tube is immersed. A platinum contact wire is pressed (with a spring mechanism) against the inside bottom wall of the electrolyte tube. The tube is flushed continuously with a stream of air, CO-CO, (or Hz-C02) (at 0.96 atm and at a rate of about 300 cu cm per min), via an alumina tube inserted inside the electrolyte tube. This alumina tube also contains the Pt-Pt/10 pct Rh thermocouple. A capillary alumina tube shielding the other contact wire is immersed in the melt. The molybdenum contact wires were used mostly; in some cases platinum wire was employed. Molybdenum has the advantage that it dissolves more slowly in the melt than platinum. The whole cell was contained in the alumina reaction tube of a resistance furnace with molybdenum winding. The reaction tube was closed gas tight at both ends and flushed continuously with argon. Because of the poor thermal shock resistance of the electrolyte tubes the cell had to be assembled in the cold furnace. The electrolyte tube and alumina sheath

Jan 1, 1968

By Paul Tyler

STRATEGICALLY situated in almost the heart of the leading fertilizer-consuming area of the United States, Tennessee long has ranked second only to Florida as a phosphate-producing state. Since 1932 its share of the national output of phosphate rock has increased steadily, and in 1937 its production mounted to an all-time record. More significant even than the increase in tonnage are the forward strides in technology. The Tennessee Valley Authority's research program has led to quasicommer-cial operations using hydroelectric power to manufacture concentrated phosphatic fertilizer that is used to further the farmer education program designed to streamline the fertilizer business and halt the appalling waste of farm land by soil erosion. Even more stimulating to chemically minded imaginations is the production of elemental phosphorus by a private company that not only has succeeded in extracting it from the phosphate rock in electric furnaces but actually has contrived to capture it and to transport it safely in tank cars. New values have been created for low-grade phosphate deposits, and the economic life of reserves has been lengthened while the waste of former years goes back into the mills for recovery of its values by modernized methods. Tennesse's phosphate-mining industry dates from the discovery of blue rock in Lewis County in December 1893. Its known reserves are of the order of 101,500,000 tons, which compares with the production of 825,099 tons in 1937; that is, 21 per cent of the phosphate-rock output of the whole nation. The total output reported from 1894 until July 1, 1938, was approximately 19,000,000 tons. Official estimates of reserves are overly conservative and evidence submitted before a joint Con-gressional committee in November 1938 places "probable" reserves at more than 6,000,000,000 tons.

Jan 1, 1939

By Strathmore R. B. Cooke, Thomas E. Bam

The paper discusses the mineralogy, structure, and strength of magnetite pellets fired in air and in a neutral atmosphere at various temperatures. The information obtained from this investigation is used to explain the origin of the structures occurring in pellets produced by pilot-plant operation. MUCH experimental work has been performed on i-VL the mechanism of agglomeration and pelletiz-ing of moist ore and concentrates and on the process of firing agglomerates, but except for the work of Tigerschiold and Ilmonil much of the published information is empirical, and the literature contains no information concerning the structure of fired pellets. Results of a preliminary study of the micro-structures occurring in pellets produced both in the laboratory and on a pilot-plant scale are presented in this paper. Most of the results were obtained from pellets prepared from Mesabi magnetic taconite, but through the courtesy of the staffs of the Minnesota Mines Experiment Station and the Bethlehem Steel Co., fired pellets produced from limonite and hematite ores and from Lebanon magnetite have also been examined. The work has been restricted almost entirely to pellets produced without additives, the exceptions being those in which coal was added to the filter cake before rolling. Schwartz has described the microstructures occurring in ore sinters produced under reducing conditions.' Many of the structures and constituents he describes are common to fired pellets, but the constituents normally occur in markedly different proportions. His statement that "in all satisfactory sinter the amount of hematite is small, perhaps not over 2 or 3 per cent" is inapplicable to pellets produced by pilot plant operation or by any process in which air is not deliberately excluded. Pilot plant pellets contain over 90 pct by weight of hematite, and those produced in the smaller furnaces of the Minnesota Mines Experiment Station contain more than 80 pct of that constituent. Preparation of Specimens It is difficult to examine unfired pellets microscopically because of their insufficient coherency to withstand sectioning and polishing. Fired pellets sometimes lack coherency and frequently contain holes which are troublesome during polishing. Impregnation of both air-dried and fired pellets is readily accomplished by the use of methyl metha-crylate monomer." The dry pellets are covered in a test tube with excess monomer, to which a small amount of accelerator has been added. When the test tube is placed in a cooling bath and evacuated with an aspirator, most of the entrapped air is removed, and disruption of weak pellets by boiling of the monomer is reduced to a minimum. Polymerization is then effected by immersion of the test tube in a water-bath at about 45"C, this temperature being held for 4 or 5 days. The test tube may then be broken away from the solidified mass and the pellets sectioned by a carborundum wheel or a diamond saw. Where time is important, impregnation is carried out at a higher temperature by Meyer's method.' Air-dried pellets must be impregnated with especial care; otherwise swelling occurs and the solids are displaced. It is more important to be certain that the monomer forms a reasonably complete network throughout the specimen than that all entrained air is removed, and for this reason the vacuum technique may be omitted. Impregnated agglomerated products and pellets are extremely coherent, section well, and may be polished either by hand or by machine. Hand polishing is not satisfactory for the examination of conditions existing at the boundaries of grains, and for this machine polishing must be used. The Graton-Vanderwilt machine gives excellent results, provided that pressure on the specimen is considerably in excess of that recommended by the manufacturer. Mineralogy of Fired Pellets Only two opaque iron minerals, magnetite and hematite, have been recognized in pellets. The complete identity of, these artificial minerals with their corresponding natural counterparts is shown by their mineralographic characteristics and their X-ray structures. Wiistite has not been found. Slag is the most common transparent constituent of fired pellets. Occasionally conditions have been appropriate for the crystallization of fayalite from the slag, and at other times another crystalline sil-

Jan 1, 1953

By Strathmore R. B. Cooke, Thomas E. Bam

The paper discusses the mineralogy, structure, and strength of magnetite pellets fired in air and in a neutral atmosphere at various temperatures. The information obtained from this investigation is used to explain the origin of the structures occurring in pellets produced by pilot-plant operation. MUCH experimental work has been performed on i-VL the mechanism of agglomeration and pelletiz-ing of moist ore and concentrates and on the process of firing agglomerates, but except for the work of Tigerschiold and Ilmonil much of the published information is empirical, and the literature contains no information concerning the structure of fired pellets. Results of a preliminary study of the micro-structures occurring in pellets produced both in the laboratory and on a pilot-plant scale are presented in this paper. Most of the results were obtained from pellets prepared from Mesabi magnetic taconite, but through the courtesy of the staffs of the Minnesota Mines Experiment Station and the Bethlehem Steel Co., fired pellets produced from limonite and hematite ores and from Lebanon magnetite have also been examined. The work has been restricted almost entirely to pellets produced without additives, the exceptions being those in which coal was added to the filter cake before rolling. Schwartz has described the microstructures occurring in ore sinters produced under reducing conditions.' Many of the structures and constituents he describes are common to fired pellets, but the constituents normally occur in markedly different proportions. His statement that "in all satisfactory sinter the amount of hematite is small, perhaps not over 2 or 3 per cent" is inapplicable to pellets produced by pilot plant operation or by any process in which air is not deliberately excluded. Pilot plant pellets contain over 90 pct by weight of hematite, and those produced in the smaller furnaces of the Minnesota Mines Experiment Station contain more than 80 pct of that constituent. Preparation of Specimens It is difficult to examine unfired pellets microscopically because of their insufficient coherency to withstand sectioning and polishing. Fired pellets sometimes lack coherency and frequently contain holes which are troublesome during polishing. Impregnation of both air-dried and fired pellets is readily accomplished by the use of methyl metha-crylate monomer." The dry pellets are covered in a test tube with excess monomer, to which a small amount of accelerator has been added. When the test tube is placed in a cooling bath and evacuated with an aspirator, most of the entrapped air is removed, and disruption of weak pellets by boiling of the monomer is reduced to a minimum. Polymerization is then effected by immersion of the test tube in a water-bath at about 45"C, this temperature being held for 4 or 5 days. The test tube may then be broken away from the solidified mass and the pellets sectioned by a carborundum wheel or a diamond saw. Where time is important, impregnation is carried out at a higher temperature by Meyer's method.' Air-dried pellets must be impregnated with especial care; otherwise swelling occurs and the solids are displaced. It is more important to be certain that the monomer forms a reasonably complete network throughout the specimen than that all entrained air is removed, and for this reason the vacuum technique may be omitted. Impregnated agglomerated products and pellets are extremely coherent, section well, and may be polished either by hand or by machine. Hand polishing is not satisfactory for the examination of conditions existing at the boundaries of grains, and for this machine polishing must be used. The Graton-Vanderwilt machine gives excellent results, provided that pressure on the specimen is considerably in excess of that recommended by the manufacturer. Mineralogy of Fired Pellets Only two opaque iron minerals, magnetite and hematite, have been recognized in pellets. The complete identity of, these artificial minerals with their corresponding natural counterparts is shown by their mineralographic characteristics and their X-ray structures. Wiistite has not been found. Slag is the most common transparent constituent of fired pellets. Occasionally conditions have been appropriate for the crystallization of fayalite from the slag, and at other times another crystalline sil-

Jan 1, 1953

By John A. Church

IN May, 1878, I had the honor of presenting to the Institute, at the Chattanooga meeting, some observations upon the heat of the Comstock Lode, and since then the subject has attracted some attention and criticism, in the course of which, I have observed errors of apprehension which I beg leave to correct now. Mr. John Arthur Phillips discussed it before the Geological Society, his paper being printed in the Quarterly Journal for August, 1879.* His criticism is based upon that part of my paper in which I quote a number of analyses of the mine waters, to illustrate the fact that the heat does not come from the oxidation of pyrite. I pointed out that these waters contain only an insignificant proportion of sulphuric acid, and not enough to account for even one per cent. Of * A Contribution to the History of Mineral Veins. By J. Arthur Phillips, Esq., F.G.S. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society for August, 1879.

Jan 1, 1880

By F. L. Toy, C. E. Sims

I. A. Sirel—I would like to ask Mr. Sims what would the preferred hot metal analysis be as far as manganese and silicon are concerned if you used specially made iron for this process instead of basic iron. C. E. Sims (authors' reply)—A preferred composition would contain somewhat less silicon than the basic pig iron used in these experiments. High silicon requires a large lime addition. Lime must be added in sufficient quantity to neutralize the silica formed and to leave an excess for dephosphorization. Manganese presents almost no problem in operation. It is almost completely oxidized and, in burning, develops considerable heat. The evidence indicates, however, that, in continuous commercial operation, there will be an excess of heat produced, and the bath will need to be cooled in some manner as by the addition of scrap or by utilizing the energy for the direct reduction of ore. There do not seem to be any serious limitations on composition of pig iron. One heat was made with an iron containing 2.27 pct silicon and the phosphorus finished at 0.007 pct. In another, the iron contained 0.45 pct phosphorus which was lowered to 0.019 pct. This indicates considerable leeway in composition. D. R. Loughrey—We are all very much interested in the recent discovery of very large deposits of iron ore both in Labrador and in Venezuela. I would like to ask Mr. Sims if the iron ore at either or both of these places is such that it would lend itself to the manufacture of iron suitable for use in the turbohearth. C. E. Sims-—According to my information, those ores are not essentially different from ores now used in this country for making basic pig. They should, therefore, be adaptable to this process. D. I. Brown—You have spoken about the leeway, or spread in analysis of the various irons you can use in the vessel. I would like to have you tell us, if you can, about the different kinds of steels which can be made in such a vessel. The turbohearth process, or it might more aptly be called pneumatic openhearth, is a little different from that used in most Bessemer shops and in the one in which I worked. If we had a blow in the air over 10 min, the boss was in the pulpit in a hurry

Jan 1, 1951