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By Harry H. Power

While the attention of all engineering branches is focused today on changes and improvements in the several curricula, we are concerned here with the many questions arising in industry and college concerning the preparation for the petroleum engineering profession. The succession of problems confronting the petroleum engineer demands a degree of versatility not ordinarily encountered in other professions. As a consequence, the student cannot acquire mastery of all the several engineering branches represented in field practice, and as an alternative, he has learned to appreciate the value of thorough training in the basic or fundamental sciences as a Preliminary foundation for professional work. While our attention is directed primarily to the training of engineers in educational institutions, it is necessary that the ultimate education of the professional engineer be kept in mind. It is apparent that his success as an engineer is limited not only by his educational and job experience, but by his native endowments: mentality, Personality and health. The engineer's lack of job experiences often proves as much a handicap as the lack of adequate college training. If the final product proves to be satisfactory, both industry and technical institutions are to be congratulated. However, if the Product is found wanting, the one most responsible should For the most part, students of engineering colleges have had their interests in applied science awakened at a relatively early age. Manyof them entered college as a convenient means of acquiring a technical education, but undoubtedly would have had better prospects in a shorter program offered by institutions of non-college grade. The activating motive of practical interest is also strong in students suitable for college training, but in many cases an intellectual interest must be awakened in order that it may survive graduation. Numerous engineers believe that this progressive process of selection and determination of career aims is one of the essential services rendered by the engineering colleges. Industrialists, who are more inter. ested in quality than quantity of petroleum engineering graduates, have pointed out the good that should result if more emphasis were given to the work of eliminating the misfits. They also point out the protective measures that have been taken by other professions for the betterment of professional standards. Mention has been ,de of the beneficial results to be obtdned by collective determination of the market for the products of engineering schools, particularly in that the students unsuited to the profession would have an opportunity to prepare themselves for employment more suited to their personalities and other qualifications. In the event that such a system of coordinated personnel direction is developed by the

Jan 1, 1941

By Harry H. Power

While the attention of all engineering branches is focused today on changes and improvements in the several curricula, we are concerned here with the many questions arising in industry and college concerning the preparation for the petroleum engineering profession. The succession of problems confronting the petroleum engineer demands a degree of versatility not ordinarily encountered in other professions. As a consequence, the student cannot acquire mastery of all the several engineering branches represented in field practice, and as an alternative, he has learned to appreciate the value of thorough training in the basic or fundamental sciences as a Preliminary foundation for professional work. While our attention is directed primarily to the training of engineers in educational institutions, it is necessary that the ultimate education of the professional engineer be kept in mind. It is apparent that his success as an engineer is limited not only by his educational and job experience, but by his native endowments: mentality, Personality and health. The engineer's lack of job experiences often proves as much a handicap as the lack of adequate college training. If the final product proves to be satisfactory, both industry and technical institutions are to be congratulated. However, if the Product is found wanting, the one most responsible should For the most part, students of engineering colleges have had their interests in applied science awakened at a relatively early age. Manyof them entered college as a convenient means of acquiring a technical education, but undoubtedly would have had better prospects in a shorter program offered by institutions of non-college grade. The activating motive of practical interest is also strong in students suitable for college training, but in many cases an intellectual interest must be awakened in order that it may survive graduation. Numerous engineers believe that this progressive process of selection and determination of career aims is one of the essential services rendered by the engineering colleges. Industrialists, who are more inter. ested in quality than quantity of petroleum engineering graduates, have pointed out the good that should result if more emphasis were given to the work of eliminating the misfits. They also point out the protective measures that have been taken by other professions for the betterment of professional standards. Mention has been ,de of the beneficial results to be obtdned by collective determination of the market for the products of engineering schools, particularly in that the students unsuited to the profession would have an opportunity to prepare themselves for employment more suited to their personalities and other qualifications. In the event that such a system of coordinated personnel direction is developed by the

Jan 1, 1941

By D. K. Crampton, H. I. Burghoff, J. T. Stacy

The effect of cold-working upon electrical conductivity of copper and of copper alloys appears not to be generally known in detail. Although several papers on the subject have been presented, showing variable effects according to alloy composition, it is often assumed that the 2 to 3 per cent lowering of the conductivity of ordinary tough-pitch copper by severe cold-working is typical for copper alloys. Because of this situation it was decided to carry out the present work upon several types of copper, copper-zinc alloys over the commercial range of brasses, other binary alloys, and numerous age-hardening alloys in the quenched, and quenched and aged conditions. The large number of alloys investigated made it impossible to study every one in the detail it may have merited. Inasmuch as several interesting points that could not be satisfactorily explained came to light, further work is contemplated by the authors. It is usually considered that the normal effect of cold-work on ductile metals and unordered alloys is to decrease conductivity slightly. In alloys that are in the ordered state, as annealed or otherwise heat-treated, cold--working tends to disorder the structure, resulting in very marked lowering of conductivity. The random state of atomic arrangement produces lower con- ductivity than the ordered state for the same composition.1 Previous Work Previous work in the authors' laboratory has shown the electrical conductivity of several copper alloys to be decreased by greater amounts than might have been expected, in view of the general knowledge on the subject, when cold-worked. Guillet and Ballay2 investigated the influence of cold-work upon the resistivity of several metals and alloys, including copper and some copper alloys. The increase of resistivity due to severe working w is less than 4 per cent for all pure metals tested, while the increases for the alloys were generally higher. In the copper-zinc alloys, they found that the increase of resistance due to drawing increased with zinc content, and reported a 21.7 per cent increase of resistance for an alloy contaiiiing 67.9 per cent Cu as severely worked. Masima and Sachs3 studied the change in electrical resistance of three brass crystals when stretched in the tensile test, obtaining increases in resistance of the order of 3 per cent for 30 to 40 per cent reduction of area of the specimens. The resistance decreased again when the cold-worked crystals were subsequently annealed. Bardenheuer and Schmidt4 found that the conductivity of copper was decreased by 3 to 4 per cent when reduced 50 per cent by working. The conductivity of 72-28

Jan 1, 1941

By D. K. Crampton, H. I. Burghoff, J. T. Stacy

The effect of cold-working upon electrical conductivity of copper and of copper alloys appears not to be generally known in detail. Although several papers on the subject have been presented, showing variable effects according to alloy composition, it is often assumed that the 2 to 3 per cent lowering of the conductivity of ordinary tough-pitch copper by severe cold-working is typical for copper alloys. Because of this situation it was decided to carry out the present work upon several types of copper, copper-zinc alloys over the commercial range of brasses, other binary alloys, and numerous age-hardening alloys in the quenched, and quenched and aged conditions. The large number of alloys investigated made it impossible to study every one in the detail it may have merited. Inasmuch as several interesting points that could not be satisfactorily explained came to light, further work is contemplated by the authors. It is usually considered that the normal effect of cold-work on ductile metals and unordered alloys is to decrease conductivity slightly. In alloys that are in the ordered state, as annealed or otherwise heat-treated, cold--working tends to disorder the structure, resulting in very marked lowering of conductivity. The random state of atomic arrangement produces lower con- ductivity than the ordered state for the same composition.1 Previous Work Previous work in the authors' laboratory has shown the electrical conductivity of several copper alloys to be decreased by greater amounts than might have been expected, in view of the general knowledge on the subject, when cold-worked. Guillet and Ballay2 investigated the influence of cold-work upon the resistivity of several metals and alloys, including copper and some copper alloys. The increase of resistivity due to severe working w is less than 4 per cent for all pure metals tested, while the increases for the alloys were generally higher. In the copper-zinc alloys, they found that the increase of resistance due to drawing increased with zinc content, and reported a 21.7 per cent increase of resistance for an alloy contaiiiing 67.9 per cent Cu as severely worked. Masima and Sachs3 studied the change in electrical resistance of three brass crystals when stretched in the tensile test, obtaining increases in resistance of the order of 3 per cent for 30 to 40 per cent reduction of area of the specimens. The resistance decreased again when the cold-worked crystals were subsequently annealed. Bardenheuer and Schmidt4 found that the conductivity of copper was decreased by 3 to 4 per cent when reduced 50 per cent by working. The conductivity of 72-28

Jan 1, 1941

By Alan U. Seybolt

In examination of some cold-rolled copper and cupronickel that contained a little columbium, it was discovered that these alloys were unusually resistant to annealing. This effect was suficiently pronounced to warrant some investigation of the annealing characteristics of such compositions. Experimental Procedure The alloys were made from cathode copper, electrolytic nickel, and a special copper-columbium hardener alloy furnished by the Electro Metallurgical Corporation. This hardener alloy contained 10 per cent columbium, with tantalum, aluminum and iron as major impurities. The melting was carried out in a clay-graphite crucible in a high-frequency induction furnace! under a charcoal or electrode carbon cover. No deoxidizing additions were made. The 7-lb. copper heats were poured into a steel mold, hot-rolled to 1/4-in. thickness, and annealed for 56 hr. at 760°C.; the cupronickels were annealed I hr. at 815°C. The material was then cold-rolled to a 50 per cent reduction in thickness and annealing tests were carried out on this 1/8-in. hard-rolled strip. A little silver was added to copper-columbium alloys 402 and 403 to find out

Jan 1, 1942

By Alan U. Seybolt

In examination of some cold-rolled copper and cupronickel that contained a little columbium, it was discovered that these alloys were unusually resistant to annealing. This effect was suficiently pronounced to warrant some investigation of the annealing characteristics of such compositions. Experimental Procedure The alloys were made from cathode copper, electrolytic nickel, and a special copper-columbium hardener alloy furnished by the Electro Metallurgical Corporation. This hardener alloy contained 10 per cent columbium, with tantalum, aluminum and iron as major impurities. The melting was carried out in a clay-graphite crucible in a high-frequency induction furnace! under a charcoal or electrode carbon cover. No deoxidizing additions were made. The 7-lb. copper heats were poured into a steel mold, hot-rolled to 1/4-in. thickness, and annealed for 56 hr. at 760°C.; the cupronickels were annealed I hr. at 815°C. The material was then cold-rolled to a 50 per cent reduction in thickness and annealing tests were carried out on this 1/8-in. hard-rolled strip. A little silver was added to copper-columbium alloys 402 and 403 to find out

Jan 1, 1942

By Tracy C. Jarrett

In making gold alloys possessing certain physical properties, such i~nportant factors as corrosion resistance, color, hardness and melting points must be considered. All of these requirements depend directly upon the composition. It is possible to obtain the same colored gold alloy by using different compositions, but in doing so one may bring in some undesirable property. Other investigations have been carried on in this field by F. E. Carter,' E. M. Wise12 and L. Sterner-Rainer2 To make a complete study of the effect of composition upon these properties, a systematic investigation was carried on involving a range of copper content from 85 to 65 per cent. Elements such as zinc, silver and nickel were used to replace in part the copper content. The gold content in all the alloys remained constant. Only 10-karat gold alloys of those containing 41.6 per cent gold will be considered. All of the alloys were made in an induction furnace. Each alloy was cast in a 3 by 1/4 by 3/4-in. ingot. The method of obtaining the melting points and making color determinations was described in a previots paper.4 The Rockwell B scale with the 1/16-in. ball and 100-kg. weight was used for all hardness determinations. The submersion of test pieces in concentrated nitric acid is one of the standard corrosion tests used in the optical trade. A test piece in the 50 per cent cold-worked condition, % by 2 by 0.045 in., is blanked from a skip using a die, and the weight loss per square inch of surface is taken as a means of comparison. The time for this test is 2 1/2 hr. of actual submersion of the test picce in the acid. This standard test was applied to all of the 10-karat gold alloys discussed in this paper. The tensile tests were made upon strips of the dimensions shown in Fig. 1. The test pieces after blanking were annealed at 1300" F. for 20 min. and cooled in air. Thc "drop of the beam" method was used in determining the yield point, as there was a very marked "drop" when the yield point was reached.

Jan 1, 1940

By Tracy C. Jarrett

In making gold alloys possessing certain physical properties, such i~nportant factors as corrosion resistance, color, hardness and melting points must be considered. All of these requirements depend directly upon the composition. It is possible to obtain the same colored gold alloy by using different compositions, but in doing so one may bring in some undesirable property. Other investigations have been carried on in this field by F. E. Carter,' E. M. Wise12 and L. Sterner-Rainer2 To make a complete study of the effect of composition upon these properties, a systematic investigation was carried on involving a range of copper content from 85 to 65 per cent. Elements such as zinc, silver and nickel were used to replace in part the copper content. The gold content in all the alloys remained constant. Only 10-karat gold alloys of those containing 41.6 per cent gold will be considered. All of the alloys were made in an induction furnace. Each alloy was cast in a 3 by 1/4 by 3/4-in. ingot. The method of obtaining the melting points and making color determinations was described in a previots paper.4 The Rockwell B scale with the 1/16-in. ball and 100-kg. weight was used for all hardness determinations. The submersion of test pieces in concentrated nitric acid is one of the standard corrosion tests used in the optical trade. A test piece in the 50 per cent cold-worked condition, % by 2 by 0.045 in., is blanked from a skip using a die, and the weight loss per square inch of surface is taken as a means of comparison. The time for this test is 2 1/2 hr. of actual submersion of the test picce in the acid. This standard test was applied to all of the 10-karat gold alloys discussed in this paper. The tensile tests were made upon strips of the dimensions shown in Fig. 1. The test pieces after blanking were annealed at 1300" F. for 20 min. and cooled in air. Thc "drop of the beam" method was used in determining the yield point, as there was a very marked "drop" when the yield point was reached.

Jan 1, 1940

By Clarence G. Merritt

Stainless iron, as mild stainless steel is usually called, an alloy ranging from 11.50 to 15.00 per cent chromium with carbon under 0.12 per cent, has been considered to be not appreciably affected in respect to corrosion resistance by heat treatment. This metal, while one of the most widely used of the "straight" chromium stainless alloys, has failed in many applications because of insufficient information regarding heat treatment. These failures have been attributed to many possible causes from an inherent lack of resistance to corrosion and misapplication to mlysterious electrolytic effects or comparatively minute non metallic inclusions. Many uses for a steel with such excellent physical properties as are latent in this alloy have been lost on account of corrosion failures which could have been avoided by applying proper heat treatment. The alloy has not received the recognition or attention it should because of the fact that the details of its metallurgical behavior were not thoroughly understood. Response to heat treatment of the steel is well known as regards tensile properties,1-2 but its application has been for improvement in tensile characteristics or on account of machining considerations rather than for corrosion prevention. The potential user of this steel has not been clearly advised in papers, either technical or commercial, that have been written about it in the last 10 years or more, of particular features that are of prime importance in developing the excellent properties of this metal. The data to be presented in this paper are concerned mainly with the effect of heat treatment on the corrosion resistance, but a study has also been made of the concurrent microstructural changes and an explanation developed for the phenomena revealed, as well as a correlation to the other physical properties—hardness, tensile characteristics and impact strength. Stainless steel, largely used for cutlery purposes, an alloy of approximately 13.00 per cent Cr with 0.30 per cent C;, must be hardened and the surface prepared by polishing or pickling for best resistance to staining and corrosion. Monypenny reports that a loss of hardness is

Jan 1, 1932

By Arthur Phillips

The progress made in recent years in the art of dispersion-hardening has naturally led to an intensive study of alloy systems capable of yielding supersaturated solid solutions at ordinary temperatures. In general, the investigations have been confined to rather precise determinations of solubility limits and to experimental approaches designed to furnish more complete information regarding the rate and nature of precipitation under appropriate thermal conditions. Efforts are being made to focus more sharply on the atomic changes that are a direct consequence of the instability of the supersaturated solution. Here precision X-ray methods have come to be of considerable importance because lattice parameter measurements indicate very precisely the concentration of solute atoms in the solvent lattice. In spite of the general acceptance of parameter values as a criterion for the placing of solubility limits, it may be suggested that no thorough appraisal has been made of the several factors that conceivably may affect such measurements. More specifically, little attention has been devoted to the significance of surface energy conditions, specimen size and method of preparation, with particular regard to the genesis of the grains and the surface concentration changes as a consequence of heat treatment and etching. Stenzel and Weertsl recently published the results of a detailed study of precipitation reactions in aluminum-rich copper alloys. They found that, although copper lowers the lattice constant of aluminum, a 5 per cent copper alloy quenched from 150" and 225' C. had parameter values unquestionably higher than that of pure aluminum. Their results seem to substantiate, at least qualitatively, the earlier work of von Göler and Sachs,2 who indicated a parameter value, for the same alloy annealed for 24 hr. at 200° C., some 0.0008Å. larger than that of pure aluminum. Stenzel and Weerts attributed the abnormal lattice dimension to the effect of strain induced by the precipitation of CuA12. Weerts3 later

Jan 1, 1934

By Charles O. Burgess

The improvement in the quality of cast iron by means of alloy additions has been a metallurgical accomplishment of recent years. Work in this field has shown that chromium is one of the most effective of such additions but, in general, the influence of chromium has been studied only in connection with other alloying additions, with irons other than foundry irons, or with relatively high percentages of chromium. The present study was initiated for the purpose of determining the influence of small additions of chromium (0.25 to 1.00 per cent) on the quality and resultant properties of cast irons of various foundry grades. The effect of small chromium additions on cast iron was investigated with particular reference to casting characteristics, hardness vs. section, strength, machinability, heat resistance and structure. Material Tested Three separate types of cast iron were investigated as to the effect of small chromium additions. The first series of these irons was prepared from remelted foundry cast iron at the Union Carbide and Carbon Research Laboratories, and the other two series consisted of cupola melts made under usual operating conditions. The first series was made by melting 30-lb. charges of foundry scrap iron containing 2.86 per cent carbon, 2.72 silicon, 0.50 manganese, 0.062 sulfur and 0.794 phosphorus in a carbon resistance furnace. The chromium was added as high-carbon ferrochrome just before pouring. The irons were cast at approximately 1250" C. (2282" F.). The analysis and physical properties of these irons are given in Table 1, test 1. The second set of cast irons was made in a cupola in accordance with normal practice, the charge containing approximately 42 per cent steel scrap and the chromium additions being made to the ladle. Analysis and tests of these heats are shown in Table 1, test 2. A small amount of copper was present in heat C of this series. Further data on the effect of chromium on strength were obtained from a third series of 13 cupola heats containing from 0.06 to 0.50 per cent chromium and made without steel additions. The heats were all

Jan 1, 1933

By O. B. Ellis, Eric R. Jette, John Chipman

In the study of the chemical reactions orcurring in the open-hearth furnace, it is frequently assumed that a condition of equilibrium between slag and metal is attained. In order to test this assumption it is necessary to have dependable operating data as well as an exact knowledge of the equilibrium state. Considerable progress has already been made in the study of slag-metal equilibria, notably in the earlier work of Hertyl and of Oberhoffer and Schenck2 and in the more recent researches of Krings and Schack-mann3 and of Koerber and Oelsen.4 None of these investigators, however, have employed basic slags comparable to those encountered in basic open-hearth practice, so that up to the present time our only information regarding the equilibria of these slags is based upon observations drawn from steelmaking practice in which there is little assurance that actual equilibrium was attained. The original plan of this investigation was to secure simultaneous slag and metal samples at intervals during the making of an open-hearth heat, recording the heat history in detail and obtaining complete allalyses of slag and metal, then to bring these slag samples into equilibrium with liquid iron in the laboratory induction furnace and thus to determine directly whether or not the observed relationships in the open hearth represent conditions approaching equilibrium. This plan was only partly successful. While slags were obtained from the open hearth under satisfactorily recorded conditions and these were re-melted in the laboratory under equilibrium conditions, changes in slag composition, which accompanied the remelting operation, were so great that the final slag from the induction furnace bore little resemblance to its open-hearth parent and the direct comparison was therefore abnndoned. The results, however, lie within a range of slag composition that is of interest in the making of low-carbon steel. As far as we are aware, they represent the first published laboratory study of equilibria involving slags that contain all the con stituents of basic open-hearth slag. Experimental Heats The first set of measurements on slag-metal equilibrium was made in the Research Laboratories of the American Rolling Mill Co, at Middletown, Ohio. This will be known as series A. The second set was made in the Metallurgical Rescarch Laboratories at Massachusetts Institute of Techology, and will be referred to as series B. Series A.—The induction furnace used has been described. Approximately I kg. of a special ingot iron containing less than

Jan 1, 1941

By John Chipman, Eric R. Jette, O. B. Ellis

In the study of the chemical reactions orcurring in the open-hearth furnace, it is frequently assumed that a condition of equilibrium between slag and metal is attained. In order to test this assumption it is necessary to have dependable operating data as well as an exact knowledge of the equilibrium state. Considerable progress has already been made in the study of slag-metal equilibria, notably in the earlier work of Hertyl and of Oberhoffer and Schenck2 and in the more recent researches of Krings and Schack-mann3 and of Koerber and Oelsen.4 None of these investigators, however, have employed basic slags comparable to those encountered in basic open-hearth practice, so that up to the present time our only information regarding the equilibria of these slags is based upon observations drawn from steelmaking practice in which there is little assurance that actual equilibrium was attained. The original plan of this investigation was to secure simultaneous slag and metal samples at intervals during the making of an open-hearth heat, recording the heat history in detail and obtaining complete allalyses of slag and metal, then to bring these slag samples into equilibrium with liquid iron in the laboratory induction furnace and thus to determine directly whether or not the observed relationships in the open hearth represent conditions approaching equilibrium. This plan was only partly successful. While slags were obtained from the open hearth under satisfactorily recorded conditions and these were re-melted in the laboratory under equilibrium conditions, changes in slag composition, which accompanied the remelting operation, were so great that the final slag from the induction furnace bore little resemblance to its open-hearth parent and the direct comparison was therefore abnndoned. The results, however, lie within a range of slag composition that is of interest in the making of low-carbon steel. As far as we are aware, they represent the first published laboratory study of equilibria involving slags that contain all the con stituents of basic open-hearth slag. Experimental Heats The first set of measurements on slag-metal equilibrium was made in the Research Laboratories of the American Rolling Mill Co, at Middletown, Ohio. This will be known as series A. The second set was made in the Metallurgical Rescarch Laboratories at Massachusetts Institute of Techology, and will be referred to as series B. Series A.—The induction furnace used has been described. Approximately I kg. of a special ingot iron containing less than

Jan 1, 1941

By P. V. Martin

Shortly after the middle of the nineteenth century, the invention of the regenerative open-hearth furnace and the development of the Bessemer process stimulated a rate of steel production whose magnitude created an unprecedented demand for pig iron. Revolutionary improvements in furnace design, auxiliary equipment, and operating technique enabled the blast furnace to keep abreast of the constantly increasing requirements of the steel mill. The development of improved blowing equipment, more adequate facilities for material handling, and particularly the general use of anthracitc and coke to replace the physically weaker charcoal, led to a rapid expansion in both the height and volume of furnaces. Beyond a doubt, however, the greatest single factor in blast-furnace improvement at this time was the use of the higher blast temperatures made available by the replacement of the recuperative iron pipe stoves by the regenerative Cowper brick stove. The increased blast temperature not only resulted in greater output but also reduced fuel consumption . far more than could be explained by the additional heat content of the blast. The progress of iron manufacturing was thus largely mechanical and thermal. Little attention was given the chemistry of the process until the publication of the investigations of Sir Lowthian Bell.1 Bell's painstaking experiments and investigations gave to the blast-furnace man his first real scientific conception of blast-furnace chemistry. Bell's recognition of the dual function of the carbon, the technical importance of reversible reactions and chemical equilibria, and his conception of the degree of oxidation of the carbon as shown by the analysis of the outgoing gases as a criterion of furnace efficiency, laid the foundation upon which has since been erected the structure of blast-furnace theory. Prominent among those availing themselves of Bell's data as .a basis of further study was M. L. Gruner,2 professor of the French School of Mines. His "Blast Furnace Phenomena," published in 1870, presented

Jan 1, 1940

By P. V. Martin

Shortly after the middle of the nineteenth century, the invention of the regenerative open-hearth furnace and the development of the Bessemer process stimulated a rate of steel production whose magnitude created an unprecedented demand for pig iron. Revolutionary improvements in furnace design, auxiliary equipment, and operating technique enabled the blast furnace to keep abreast of the constantly increasing requirements of the steel mill. The development of improved blowing equipment, more adequate facilities for material handling, and particularly the general use of anthracitc and coke to replace the physically weaker charcoal, led to a rapid expansion in both the height and volume of furnaces. Beyond a doubt, however, the greatest single factor in blast-furnace improvement at this time was the use of the higher blast temperatures made available by the replacement of the recuperative iron pipe stoves by the regenerative Cowper brick stove. The increased blast temperature not only resulted in greater output but also reduced fuel consumption . far more than could be explained by the additional heat content of the blast. The progress of iron manufacturing was thus largely mechanical and thermal. Little attention was given the chemistry of the process until the publication of the investigations of Sir Lowthian Bell.1 Bell's painstaking experiments and investigations gave to the blast-furnace man his first real scientific conception of blast-furnace chemistry. Bell's recognition of the dual function of the carbon, the technical importance of reversible reactions and chemical equilibria, and his conception of the degree of oxidation of the carbon as shown by the analysis of the outgoing gases as a criterion of furnace efficiency, laid the foundation upon which has since been erected the structure of blast-furnace theory. Prominent among those availing themselves of Bell's data as .a basis of further study was M. L. Gruner,2 professor of the French School of Mines. His "Blast Furnace Phenomena," published in 1870, presented

Jan 1, 1940

By C. O. Burgess, A. B. Kinzel

Although vanadium is an important constituent of almost every brand of high-speed steel manufactured today, little is known as to its role in this series of alloys. The now standard 18 per cent tungsten and 4 per cent chromium constituents were the result of developments and improvements before 1903. In that year, vanadium was added to the steel by Dr. J. A. Mathews. This proved to be an outstanding contribution, so that the standard high-speed steel of today is generally referred to as the 18-4-1 type—18 per cent W, 4 per cent Cr and 1 per cent V. Various modifications have been attempted since then, but with the exception of the introduction of cobalt, no striking improvements have occurred. Vanadium has been increased to 2 per cent in many of the common brands, and at least one brand contains 5 per cent V in addition to the usual tungsten and chromium. The carbon has been gradually increased so that it is not uncommon to find 0.80 per cent in the standard grade, although the carbon in the 5 per cent vanadium steel mentioned above is approximately 1 per cent, and even 1.2 per cent has been made experimentally. The role of vanadium has never been well understood, and although vanadium has been increased to 2.5 and even 5 per cent in certain high speed steels, it has not been generally established that the higher vanadium contents result in superior cutting properties. However, in all of the investigations, of which the writers are aware, the interrelation of the vanadium and carbon contents was not considered as a prime factor. The carbon content was held at 1.2 per cent or less—generally at the usual 0.65 to 0.75 per cent. Theoretical Aspects Although the role of vanadium is not understood, there are theoretical considerations which indicate definite reasons for the improved cutting effciency due to vanadium. Refinement of the secondary grain is one distinct possibility. The well-known action of vanadium in limiting grain size might well be expected to operate in high-speed steels, and even though its action were not evident in the parent austenite grain.

Jan 1, 1932

By Russell Franks, W. O. Binder

In recent years a considerable tonnage of the 18 per cent chromium and 8 per cent nickel steels has been used in lightweight high-strength structures that must be resistant to deterioration under atmospheric conditions. These steels are austenitic in character and their strength can best be increased by cold-working. Although a marked increase in tensile strength is obtained, claims have been made that the cold-worked steels do not possess fully satisfactory elastic propertics. Under certain conditions, however, this has caused no great concern, because, as explained by Ragsdale,1,2 he cold-rolled steels have been widely applied for construction of lightweight, high-strength trains using spot welding for joining purposes. Ffield3 agrees that the ease with which thin sections of the cold-rolled 18-8 steels can be joined by spot welding is greatly in their favor, but that they would be more satisfactory if higher elastic properties and a higher modulus of elasticity could be obtained. He states that, as far as the mechanical properties are concerned, the straight chromium stainless steel is superior to the cold-worked 18-8 steel, and in order to illustrate, he prcsented the data of Fig. 1, which also give a stress-strain curve for a low-carbon 13 per cent Cr steel. Ffield† proposed that columbium-bearing or titanium-bearing cold-rolled 18-8 steels be given a heat-treatment (preferably for 1 hr.) in the range 400" to 600°C. to precipitate carbides in order to obtain better mechanical properties. Discussions by Sutton,4,5 de Ganahl,6,7,8 Krivobok and Lincoln,' Knerr,l0 and Thaden11 have given further information on the properties of the cold-rolled 18-8 steels compared with other materials used in lightweight, high-strength structures. These investigators and others point out that the ultimate tensile strength of the cold-rolled 18-8 steel can be increased to 200,000 lb. per sq. in. or higher; Krivobok et al. indicate that

Jan 1, 1940

By Russell Franks, W. O. Binder

In recent years a considerable tonnage of the 18 per cent chromium and 8 per cent nickel steels has been used in lightweight high-strength structures that must be resistant to deterioration under atmospheric conditions. These steels are austenitic in character and their strength can best be increased by cold-working. Although a marked increase in tensile strength is obtained, claims have been made that the cold-worked steels do not possess fully satisfactory elastic propertics. Under certain conditions, however, this has caused no great concern, because, as explained by Ragsdale,1,2 he cold-rolled steels have been widely applied for construction of lightweight, high-strength trains using spot welding for joining purposes. Ffield3 agrees that the ease with which thin sections of the cold-rolled 18-8 steels can be joined by spot welding is greatly in their favor, but that they would be more satisfactory if higher elastic properties and a higher modulus of elasticity could be obtained. He states that, as far as the mechanical properties are concerned, the straight chromium stainless steel is superior to the cold-worked 18-8 steel, and in order to illustrate, he prcsented the data of Fig. 1, which also give a stress-strain curve for a low-carbon 13 per cent Cr steel. Ffield† proposed that columbium-bearing or titanium-bearing cold-rolled 18-8 steels be given a heat-treatment (preferably for 1 hr.) in the range 400" to 600°C. to precipitate carbides in order to obtain better mechanical properties. Discussions by Sutton,4,5 de Ganahl,6,7,8 Krivobok and Lincoln,' Knerr,l0 and Thaden11 have given further information on the properties of the cold-rolled 18-8 steels compared with other materials used in lightweight, high-strength structures. These investigators and others point out that the ultimate tensile strength of the cold-rolled 18-8 steel can be increased to 200,000 lb. per sq. in. or higher; Krivobok et al. indicate that

Jan 1, 1940

By Gifford White

Considerable attention has been directed in recent years to methods of electric prospecting other than the conventional direct-current techniques. It has been extensively recognized that electrical data of a more general nature than that possible by direct-current methods might be useful in geophysical studies. To this end, a number of different types of electric currents have been employed, such as single-frequency alternating currents, square-topped periodic current waves,4 periodic surges of a less specific nature,s and suddenly applied direct current.1,2 Yet, to the author's knowledge, little analysis of these different types of driving currents has been made from the standpoint of network theory to determine just what typc of currents would give the most useful data, and, most important of all, to determine the relation of the data taken by one method to those of another. Without touching on the actual theoretical problem of how currents flow in the earth under specified boundary conditions, some very useful information can be obtained from the study of the fundamental integral equations of electrical networks, throwing light on the problem not ordinarily appreciated by the field worker. Some manipulation of the standard network equations will be made, with the sole purpose in mind of developing expressions leading to practical results. Suppose that four points in the earth have been located and it is wished to obtain the most useful type of electrical data by inserting current into two of them and measuring the potential developed between the other two. The first problem that arises is that of which pair of the four shall be chosen as current grounds. In the direct-current case, where only steady potentials are measured, the selection is of little consequence, but as soon as currents varying with time are used at the current grounds, a new effeet arises. The fact that a varying current is flowing in the current-carrying conductor between the current grounds means that magnetic and electric fields varying with time will be produced

Jan 1, 1940

By Gifford White

Considerable attention has been directed in recent years to methods of electric prospecting other than the conventional direct-current techniques. It has been extensively recognized that electrical data of a more general nature than that possible by direct-current methods might be useful in geophysical studies. To this end, a number of different types of electric currents have been employed, such as single-frequency alternating currents, square-topped periodic current waves,4 periodic surges of a less specific nature,s and suddenly applied direct current.1,2 Yet, to the author's knowledge, little analysis of these different types of driving currents has been made from the standpoint of network theory to determine just what typc of currents would give the most useful data, and, most important of all, to determine the relation of the data taken by one method to those of another. Without touching on the actual theoretical problem of how currents flow in the earth under specified boundary conditions, some very useful information can be obtained from the study of the fundamental integral equations of electrical networks, throwing light on the problem not ordinarily appreciated by the field worker. Some manipulation of the standard network equations will be made, with the sole purpose in mind of developing expressions leading to practical results. Suppose that four points in the earth have been located and it is wished to obtain the most useful type of electrical data by inserting current into two of them and measuring the potential developed between the other two. The first problem that arises is that of which pair of the four shall be chosen as current grounds. In the direct-current case, where only steady potentials are measured, the selection is of little consequence, but as soon as currents varying with time are used at the current grounds, a new effeet arises. The fact that a varying current is flowing in the current-carrying conductor between the current grounds means that magnetic and electric fields varying with time will be produced

Jan 1, 1940