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By Charles Barron McIntosh

BECAUSE of the well known relationship between a low atmospheric pressure and increased amounts of methane in coal mines, attempts have been made to find associations between low pressures and coal mine explosions. An early study by F. Able disclaimed this relationship. He found that half the explosions took place during a rising barometer when methane content in a ventilated mine would be decreasing. A more recent study by C. L. Hosler revealed a close relationship between anthracite mine explosions and low atmospheric pressure. Bituminous coal mine explosions, where coal dust as well as methane can be exploded, were found to be more closely associated with a rising pressure following a low barometer than with the falling or low pressure period. Emphasis on rising pressure periods led the present writer to investigate the effect of the post-frontal or post-cyclonic weather on coal dust. Dust samples of uniform mesh were exposed in an Illinois mine. Analyses of the dust taken before and after the passage of cold fronts and their accompanying low pressure troughs indicated an increase in coal dust moisture prior to a frontal passage and loss of moisture from coal dust following the time of lowest pressure. Thus the warm, moist air (Tropical Maritime)found over the mine during the falling pressure period was cooled in the mine and moisture added to the dust. Cold, dry air (Polar Continental) accompanies' the rising barometer following a frontal passage and the air, being heated in the mine, subtracted moisture from the coal dust. A similar but seasonal phenomenon occurs from summer to winter, the dry dust period in winter being recognized as the more dangerous period. The question arose as to how the short period or daily changes in moisture content of coal dust compared with the seasonal changes. Temperature and humidity statistics were obtained from the surface and mine entry for the months of July andJanuary. The gain and Ioss of mdisture. to the hine were calculated for these two morths as were the gain and loss associated with mT (Tropical Maritime) and cP (Polar Continental),air masses as observed in the investigatiynsl. Temperature and humidity statistics tigatiynsl.taken from [the two air masses represent atimp span of only 34 hr. The redultant changes as presented in the accompanying table verify the supposition that short period changes in coal mine moisture may attain the magnitude of recognized dangerous seasonal changes. Statistics for the mT air and the July air have been placed next each other and those for cP and January air together for easier comparison of the two warm and two cold air units. The last column readily reveals that there is little difference in the amount of moisture being deposited in the mine from the mT air and the July average air. A similar conclusion is reached regarding the loss of moisture from the mine when it is affected by the cP air mass or the average January air. This comparison would be particularly true from late fall through early spring when strongly contrasting air mass changes are a common occurrence. The invasion of cold, dry air following a cold front thus produces a drying period that could well receive more attention as a danger period for coal dust explosions. This drying period would compare with Able's explosion period during a rising barometer. The drying period is also perltinent in Hosler's findings, where it was noted that the average explosion day (for bituminous coal mines) followed the day of lowest atmospheric pressure. Moreover, the author's investigation of some 365 coal mine explosions also indicates that this post-frontal period should receive special attention in connection with mine safety measures. Two comparatively recent major explosions in Illinois (Centralia and West Frapkfort) occurred after the mines had been under the influence of cold-dry air for 25 to 30 hr-following a deep low pressure passage. Dust was the important explosive element in both these explosions.

Jan 1, 1958

By J. W. Thompson

ORE CONCENTRATION PROCESS-PATENT OIL FLOTATION PROCESS. The invention of the patent issued to Sullman, Picard & Ballot November 6, 1906 (United States Letters Patent No. 835120), is based upon the discovery of an wholly unexplained phenomenon arising from the agitation of ore pulp containing oil and air in certain proportions. This was a discovery in an art in which it was well known that the elements of oil, air, and agitation possessed certain characteristics and produced certain results. As early as 1860 a British patent first suggested the use of oil in water concentration of ores by pointing out the affinity which oils have for metallic sub- stances in preference to gangue. Subsequently many patentees employed the known affinity of oil for metal in ore concentration proc- esses by using oil in proportions varying from 2 per cent to 300 per cent of the ore and recovering the oil-coated metal particles by causing them to rise to the top or sink to the bottom of the pulp. In these processes the agitation was either gentle or thorough but never great, and though always employed to produce thorough oiling of the metal it was used in different degrees for the sole pur- pose of causing the metal particles to rise or sink. In the prior art the oil was used for its known selective affinity for metal, agitation was em- ployed to mix the oil with the metal, and air was introduced to supple- ment the buoyancy of oil in raising oil-coated metal particles to the surface. To this extent had the art of oil flotation advanced when the patentee entered it, having reached the commercial stage in only two processes, representing respectively metal-flotation and metal-sinking processes, and having reached the stage of success in none. In the line of experiments by the patentee when the proportion of oil to ore was reduced to 1.5 per cent a "float" appeared; at 1.04 per cent still more "float" appeared; at 0.32 per cent the "float" again vastly in- creased; at 0.1 per cent the "float" again vastly increased. It thus developed that in using oil at 0.1 per cent or even at 0.05 per cent of the ore and after violently agitating the pulp from 24 to 10 minutes, there arose to the surface when the pulp was brought to rest, a thick froth or foam of oil-coated air bubbles carrying oil-coated metal particles to the extent of about 90 per cent of the metal con- tent, the foam being sufficiently stable to permit removal and metal recoveries. This was a new result based upon phenomenon then unknown and still unexplained and constituted discovery and promised a change in the art of oil flotation from laboratory experi- ments and mill failures to commercial success. The patent referred to covering the points mentioned has been sustained by the District and the Circuit Courts of Appeals and by the Supreme Court. Miami Copper Co. v. Mineral Separation, 244 Federal, 752, pp. 754-757. ORE CONCENTRATION PROCESS-OIL FLOTATION-INFRINGEMENT. The Miami Copper Co. in its process of concentrating ores by the oil flotation process used three distinct processes that were either the processes included and covered by the Sullman, Picard & Ballot patent or their fair equivalent and which were clearly an infringe- ment of the patent, and the company can not escape liability for such infringement by taking an additional step, although such additional step if taken alone would not constitute an infringement of the Sullman, Picard & Ballot patent. Miami Copper Co. v. Mineral Separation, 244 Federal, 752, p. 768. ORE CONCENTRATION PROCESS-VALIDITY OF GREENWAY PATENT. The patent issued to H. Greenway, June 9, 1914 (Letters Patent No. 1999699), is valid. The process disclosed in this patent was a substantial departure from processes of the prior art. The heating of water is a matter of large moment and the use of acids is a matter of constant and considerable expense. By wholly dispensing with both by the use of a minute quantity of hydroxy compounds, the patentee has disclosed an original and novel plan which has broad- ened and made more simple the agitation process of air flotation. The novelty and inventive character of Greenway's discovery is patentable.

Jan 1, 1918

By R. Maddin, A. Lawley

Single crystal Mo-Re alloys (99.99+ purity), grown by electron bombardment floating zone heating, were deformed in tension at temperatures from -196° to +200°C. At -196oC, Mo-6 pet Re and Mo-20 pct Re alloys deform by slip on systems of the type (101) [1ll]. Above-78oC, the operative slip system is of the type (112) [111], (101) [1ll], or (211) [1ll], depending upon orientation. Mo-39 pct Re alloys deform by twinning and slip at all test temperatures with a (112) [111] type twinning system. Critical resolved shear stress for slip and twinning is calculated as a function of composition and temperature, and the mechanical properties compared with those of less Pure polycrystalline alloys. HEXAGONAL close-packed rhenium, c/a = 1.615, is highly soluble in molybdenum. The bee molybdenum-rich solid solution extends to approximately 42 at. pet Re* at 2500°C,' Fig. 1. Recent work on polycrystalline alloys has shown conclusively that the addition of rhenium to molybdenum improves both the fabricability and the low-temperature ductility.2"5 Similar behavior is observed for W-Re and Cr-Re alloys.5 Initially, Geach and Hughes2 found that the Mo-30 pct Re alloy could be cold rolled to approximately 90 pct reduction before the onset of cracking. The remarkable effect of the rhenium was later confirmed by Jaffee et al. 3-5 with an optimum condition of maximum strength combined with maximum ductility at the Mo-35 pet composition. At higher rhenium contents, the ductility was severely impaired due apparently to the presence of brittle tetragonal s phase, Fig. 1. In the Mo-35 pet Re alloy, at least 110 ppm (parts per million) oxygen could be tolerated before cold workability was reduced. By comparison, the corresponding tolerance figure in unalloyed molybdenum is ~ 10 ppm. The effect of rhenium was considered in terms of: 1) a reduction in oxygen solubility in the lattice; 2) a redistribution of intergranular oxide from grain boundary films to isolated spheres; and 3) the promotion of twinning as a further mode of plastic deformation. Paradoxically, twinning is often associated with brittle fracture in iron and the silicon irons.6'7 Work to date has been restricted to are-melted and powder metallurgy polycrystalline material of ~ 99.9 pet purity. The present investigation was initiated for the purpose of determining the mode and crystallography of plastic deformation of a series of bee Mo-Re alloy single crystals over a wide temperature range from -196o to +200°C. Using high-purity zone-melted material (~ 99.99 + pet purity), the specific role of rhenium in the molybdenum lattice may be understood more fully since effects due to grain boundaries and oxide redistribution will be absent. At the same time, the study provides a comparison of single and polycrystalline deformation behavior. EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES A) Preparation and Purity of Single Crystals. Alloys in the form of either are-cast and swaged or sintered and ground bar, 0.120 in. diam, were obtained from the Chase Brass and Copper Co. Alloy single crystals ~ 8-in. long were grown from the

Jan 1, 1962

By M. Herman, G. J. London

A series of dilute Fe-Co alloy specimens were prepared from zone-melted iron. The iron used was given ten floating-zone passes in purified hydrogen. Alloying was accomplished by plating a gradient of metallic cobalt onto a 1/4-in.-diam bar of material from a pure plating bath. The deposit was radioac-tively tagged by a small addition of co80 to the plating bath. Alloy homogenization was accomplished by passing an additional floating-zone pass through the plated section of the bar. The final concentration gradient achieved was from residual to about 1000 ppm (0.1 pct) added Co. After homogenization, the bar was swaged to 0.057 in. wire and cut to tensile specimen blanks 1-1/16 in. long. Each specimen was counted in a well-type scintillation counter. The concentration of cobalt was computed by combining the normalized specimen counting rate with the known weight (measured to the nearest 0.01 mg) of cobalt added during plating. Fig. 1 shows the cobalt gradient obtained, exclusive of residual cobalt which was estimated by neutron-activation analysis to be approximately 50 ppm. Results of recrystallization for 1 hr at 750°, 700°, 650°, and 600°C with specimens containing 40, 170, 470, and 870 ppm added Co are shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5. Recrystallization was accomplished in a dynamic vacuum of less than 1 x 10 torr. The specimens were mounted and polished parallel to the swaging direction. The recrystallization re- sults show a radical coarsening of structure with increasing cobalt concentration. The coarsest structure obtained was at the 470-ppm level (at all recrystallization temperatures) with a slight grain refinement at the 870-ppm level shown. A more normal solid-solution effect is seen in Fig. 5 (60OoC, 1 hr) where the only specimen completely recrystallized is the one containing 47 ppm Co. Since the possibility existed that some atmosphere-contamination phenomenon might be responsible for the observed results the recrystallization series was repeated using sealed quartz capsules. These were filled with purified argon which was gettered during heat treatment on metallic titanium included in the capsules. The results obtained were essentially the same as shown. Another identical alloy was made using a 5-mm-diam bar of Westinghouse Puron. Specimen preparation and recrystallization treatment were also as described. The results obtained (see Table I) were somewhat erratic. Some coarsening in structure does appear at the highest cobalt concentrations. There is no apparent relationship between the coarse, columnar, directionally solidified structure of the as-melted bars and any of the recrystallized grain structures observed, all of which are much finer than the former structure. A recrystallization process can be most simply described as one of homogeneous nucleation of recrystallized grains in a cold-worked matrix followed by more or less uniform growth of the strain free grain into the cold-worked material.' An impurity element may influence one or both of these processes. Aust and utter' have shown that impurities strongly influence grain boundary mobility in lead. Moreover, definite recrystallization textures are produced by small concentrations of tin,3 while additions of silver or gold4 produce large boundary in-

Jan 1, 1964

By H Pray, H. W. Russell, Paul D. MILLER

It is known that austenitic chromium-nickel steels that have free carbide in the grain boundaries are subject to intergranu-lar corrosion. It is difficult to detect such a susceptible condition in a fabricated article because present test methods require a sample section for examination and in most cases this is difficult to obtain. The question of the nature and prevention of intergranular corrosion in austenitic stainless steels has been ably discussed by Bain and co-workers1-3 and by other investigator4-10 The present methods of study subject samples to corrosive conditions in such reagents as the Strauss solution, a mixture of copper sulphate and sulphuric acid. Such tests usually require at least 72 hr. to run. Various methods of measuring the degree of sensitization have been employed, such as the measurement of electrical resistivity, magnetic measuremerits, measurement of the degree of cracking produced on bending over a malldrel, and microscopic studies. The detection of carbides at the grain boundaries by metallographic polishing and etching methods is tedious and requires a skilled operator. A recent report on such methods of carbide detection is given by the American Society for Testing Materials Subcommittee VI of Committee A.-1011 and by Arness.12 The present investigation was undertaken to develop a simple test procedure for detecting carbide precipitation or susceptibility to intergranular corrosion. The test is designed for use in the plant and for the testing of fabricated structures. Carbide precipitation, the factor leading to susceptibility to corrosion, is produced by heating the alloy in the temperature range 800° to 1600°F., as in welding, in improper annealing or in service where such temperatures are met. The connection between such precipitation and susceptibility to corrosion has been thoroughly discussed, as has been the use of stabilizing addition elements to prevent precipitation. Experimental Method A small area of the steel under test is subjected to an anodic treatment in a cell that can be 'lamped Onto a a Or an actual structure. The cell and electrical circuit used are illustrated in Fig. I. The cell C is lead, joined to the steel plate D and insulated from it by a short piece of rubber tubing E. The cell is forced tightly against the steel plate by a spring Or clamping device. The seal formed by the rubber against the steel plate is sufficient to retain the liquid bath inside the cell. The spot treated can be made any shape desired, depending on the shape of the rubber gasket. The cell illustrated polishes a circular spot about 3/8- diameter' The bath consists of 60 per cent (by weight) sulphuric acid to which is added 5 ml. per liter of Glycyrrhiza extract (U.S.P.). The cell requires about 2 to 2.5

Jan 1, 1941

By H. W. Maynor, C. J. McHargue

DURING the course of an investigation of materials suitable for use as thermocouples at elevated temperatures by one of the authors, several nlolybdenum-rhenium alloys were prepared. Micrographs of an annealed alloy containing 25 pct Re (intended concentration; analysis not obtained) showed a number of twins, Fig. 1, suggesting a face-centered cubic structure. This note reports the structure and recrystallized wire texture of an alloy containing 25 wt pct Re. Alloys were prepared from 99.9 pct Mo (Fansteel Metallurgical Corp.) and rhenium obtained from the University of Tennessee (purity unreported). Powders were combined and briquetted at 56,000 psi and sintering was carried out at 2400°C for 5 hr in vacuum. Ingots so prepared were swaged at 982.2" to 1037.8oC into wires 0.036 in. diameter, a reduction in diameter of 85.6 pct. These wires were vacuum-annealed 1 hr at 2000°C. A North American Philips 114.59 mm powder camera and nickel-filtered copper radiation were used for structure determination. For the texture determination a Laue-type camera was used with zirconium-filtered molybdenum radiation and, because of the high background, aluminum foil was mounted next to the film. Exposures were taken with the wire perpendicular to the X-ray beam and tilted by 10". It was found that the X-ray pattern could be indexed on the basis of a face-centered cubic structure. Because of difficulties associated with obtaining a good X-ray pattern for this material, accurate parameter determinations were not made. An indicated parameter value of 3.70A was obtained. The X-ray data are given in Table I. The annealed wire texture was observed to be a sharp [111] texture. The spread about this fiber axis was k8" at the surface of the 0.036 in. wire. The annealed wire textures of aluminum have been reported as retention of the [Ill] deformation texture for anneals below 500°C and a new [1121 texture for anneals above 600°C.1 In copper wires, with a [Ill] plus [loo] deformation texture, results indicate a retention of this texture for annealing at lower temperatures and new components or the disappearance of components for annealing at higher temperatures.' The presence of the strong [I111 texture in the molybdenum-rhenium alloy after a 2000 °C anneal suggests that the deformation texture was the same. Acknowledgment The wires used in this study were prepared and heat-treated at the Institute for Atomic Research, and Ames Laboratory, Iowa State College, and the authors wish to express their thanks to the Institute for allowing the use of the material and permission to publish the results.

Jan 1, 1954

By Richard Paul Seelig

The following review covers published information on pressing of metal powders at room temperature. Only those operations are considered which occur between the time the powder is filled into the cavity and the compact is ejected from the die. Thus, this review does not concern hot pressing, coining or sizing feed or flow problems, commercial presses nor designs. It was also necessary to disregard to a large extent the effect of pressing on subsequent operations and on properties after sintering. 'The pressing operation is considered independently in its function to compact loose metal powder into useful shapes which can subsequently be handled. There are some comments by the writer in connection with a few of the findings quoted in the literature in order to stimulate thought and discussion. The selection of references quoted in the text is in some cases arbitrary although an attempt was made to favor papers containing novel ideas, techniques or results which mag stimulate future research. In order to enable the reader to check further into the subjects mentioned, the original, rather extensive, bibliography is appended even though not all the references are touched on in the printed version of this review. The equipment used by various workers, for example a die design created by Bridgman,22 is very interesting. 'The die insert has a conical external surface. The vertical pressure exerted on the punch transmits itself to the die which in turn is pushed harder into its tapered retainer. Thus, the higher the pressure exerted on the punch, the higher also the pressure exerted inwards on the die inserts. Inasmuch as this pressure counteracts the internal pressure from the compact the two stresses balance each other so that it is possible to obtain tremendous pressures without breaking the die. The die collar was made from an oil hardening tool steel, heat treated to a tensile strength of some 300,000 psi. The die was closed at the bottom by a plug made from special tool steels. Bridgman found that there is no steel which will withstand a com-pressive stress of 700,000 psi without continuous slow flow or immediate fracture. Therefore, the only material suitable for use in the pressing punch was sintered carbide. In view of the ingenious design it was possible to use special tool steel as die material. Jones22 raises the question whether this method of pressing has practical application in powder metallurgy. Although these tremendous pressures cannot readily be utilized without many special precautions, the tapered die and retainer idea is believed to be useful even for lower pressures. Bridgman, himself," alls attention to the fact that the properties

Jan 1, 1947

By John R. Green

ROTARY kilns, varying in construction, are used in a variety of processes. Products differ and operating conditions vary according to economic requirements. All of these variables influence the degree of instrumentation and type of control necessary or profitable to install. Products fired in rotary kilns are the results of combined temperature and time treatment and the interrelation of these two factors should be kept constantly in mind in the perusal of this paper. MEASUREMENTS OF KILN TEMPERATURE The securing of proper temperatures within the rotary kiln, either of the charge or of the kiln lining in the high fire zone, are basic objectives of kiln operation; therefore the measurement of these high-temperature conditions merits first consideration. For these measurements, radiation pyrometers, properly designed and protected, have proved adequate, particularly where records or automatic control are desired, while optical pyrometers may serve as portable indicators. Light-sensitive devices or photoelectric cells in this service are capable of producing records as well as certain forms of automatic control. High-temperature measuring devices for rotary-kiln work should have the measuring unit protected from dust, as a continued accumulation of deposit would lower the readings. Fig. I shows a typical application of radiation equipment to a rotary kiln, mounted far enough away from the sighting hole through the kiln hood to be protected from puffs or stingouts and with a sighting tube having a series of settling chambers, to prevent dust from reaching the lens. Although dust conditions inside the kiln itself usually fluctuate considerably and have their effect upon the readings at that moment, such effects are not cumulative and show as a continuous fluctuation in the temperature indicated, provided the radiation unit and recorder are responsive to such slight and rapid temperature fluctuations. The ambient temperature to which a measuring unit is subjected fluctuates from possibly 0° to over 200°F., therefore these changes should have no effect upon the final reading or upon the life of the measuring unit. A very narrow sighting angle is desirable, so that measurement of temperature may be made as far as possible into the high fire zone without effect of the flame temperature. There should be some sighting means on the measuring unit, so that the proper field may be viewed. Measurement of wall temperature taken at a point where the charge has just left the wall is less affected by dusting conditions than when taken elsewhere. Factors Influencing Temperature Table I gives an outline of the factors that produce kiln temperatures and comments on the possibility of measurement and control. Of greater number and of varied influence are the factors that control when, where and how the heat is delivered to the kiln, the type of flame and the rate of

Jan 1, 1941

Discussion of the paper of John H. Hall, presented at the New York. Meeting, October, 1913, and printed in Bulletin No. 79, July, 1913, pp. 1247 to 1256. WILLIAM 'R. WEBSTER, Philadelphia, Pa.:-I would like to call ,attention to the fact that the results of the ordinary tension and bend tests do not always give us the information we want even if we figure out the amount of work done. You want a bending test of sufficient width and full thickness. In the case of eyebars, for instance, I have had experience with a 10- by 1-in. eyebar which gave perfectly good results in a full-size test of the finished bar. The 10- by 1.5-in. and 10- by 1.75-in. eyebars from the same heats-of steel were absolutely worthless in full-size tests. The narrow bending tests from all these bars gave good results. Bat after going into the matter fully, we found that if pieces about 3 in. wide and full thickness were used for the. cold bending tests, the heavier material would not stand this test, but failed. That is, in order to check the quality of the rolled bar you should have a wide piece of full thickness for cold bending, as the narrow pieces give misleading results. J. E. JOHNSON, JR., New York, N. Y. :-I would like to ask if there have been any tests made to compare the results of Charpy tests with the true dynamic test similar .to the Wohler test, except that the piece is subjected to a tensile or compressive stress and to alternating stresses in addition, at the same time. This seems to me to approach more nearly than any other test to the conditions of actual service. where the piece is under a fixed initial stress plus a highly variable and often alternating stress. Some tests were made on this plan in England within a year or two. The test piece was Subjected to either a tensile or compressive stress of known amount and simultaneously to alternating stresses in addition. Such a. test as this gives information which we cannot get by a tensile test or even from the tensile strength multiplied by an. elongation. Such tests, however, are exceedingly tedious and require long periods of time in order to obtain valuable results. If material could be subjected to these dynamic tests and the same material to the. Charpy shock test, and if some reasonable qualitative relation could be established between the results of the two tests, then we could assume that the shock test, which is so simple and easy to make, was a measurably accurate test of the dynamic qualities of the material. At present it does not seem

Jan 12, 1913

By Roe-Hoan Yoon

INTRODUCTION In 1960, coal accounted for 49% of the world energy consumption, an amount that was reduced to 29% in 1973 because of the availability of cheap oil. At that time, it seemed that oil would remain available for a long time in unlimited quantities. However, this situation changed drastically in 1973/74 when a series of closely spaced price increases from $3 per to $12 per bbl by mid-1974 hit both industrialized and developing countries. Another sharp price increase in 1979/80 to the $34 to $38 per bbl level also hit the world economy hard and, at the same time, set in motion powerful technology development forces for increased coal utilization. At this point, the price of coal was approximately $1.50 per MM Btu, while that of oil approached $6.00 per MM Btu. This huge price differential offered an incentive for developing new coal technologies including liquefaction, gasification, fluidized bed combustion, coal-water mixture (CWM), etc. The CWM technology was of particular interest to the utility industry, which consumes more than 80% of the coal mined in the US for power generation. In this technology, a powdered coal is mixed with water to produce a stable slurry that can be stored for an extended period of time without settling and is readily pumpable. Various reagents in the amount of approximately 1% by weight of the coal are added to inhibit sedimentation during storage and to reduce the viscosity for atomization in burners. The coal loading is in the range of 50 to 80% solids, depending on the particle size and its distribution. With very fine particles, it is difficult to increase the coal loading above 50%, and a binomial distribution helps increase the coal loading. The presence of water consumes a relatively small amount of the heating value of the coal during combustion; for a coal-water slurry containing 30% water, less than 5% of the calorific value of coal is usually consumed due to evaporation. The major advantage of burning coal as a slurry is that many of the oil-burning furnaces can be converted to coal-burning with a minimum retrofit cost. Considering the substantial price margin between coal and oil, the pay- back period for retrofit costs can be relatively short. Nevertheless, the retrofit cost can be further reduced if low-ash coals are used as feedstocks for CWM; there will be savings in the capital cost of installing bag filters or electrostatic precipitators that are designed to remove the ash from the combustion gases. Furthermore, the use of low-ash coals can minimize derating of boilers because the velocity of the combustion gases can be maximized without creating erosion

Jan 1, 1991

By D. Shishin

Continuous integrated experimental and thermodynamic modelling work is conducted in Pyrometallurgy Innovation Center (PYROSEARCH). The target is to develop a tool, which is capable to predict the compositions of phases, phase equilibria and enthalpy balance for pyrometallugical processes with higher accuracy. All these can be achieved by thermodynamic calculations based on Gibbs energy minimization algorithm. Recent developments made it possible to predict important factors, such as the chemical solubility of Cu in slag as a function of matte grade, temperature, P(SO2), Fe/SiO2 ratio in slag, wt% Al2O3, CaO and MgO in slag. In industrial practice, it is not only chemical solubility, but the overall amount of slag, which affects the recovery of copper and other valuable metals. It will also impact the energy balance. The presence of solids in the slag matrix influences the physical entrainment of matte in slag. Oxygen enrichment which is sometimes used to control the temperature of the furnace, may also affect the volatilization of minor elements into the gas phase. Same is true if additional fuel is used to compensate for heat balance. In other words, all key process parameters mentioned above are interrelated. Present study demonstrates the ways thermodynamic modelling can be used to link those process parameters on the example of copper smelting. INTRODUCTION Research methodology involving integrated thermodynamic modelling and experimental approach has been recently reported by the authors (Shishin, Hayes, & Jak, 2018 Shishin, Hidayat, Jak, Decterov, & Belov, 2016). Present paper reviews the updates and discusses challenges in the development of a large self- consistent thermodynamic database. The database covers the Al-Ca-Cu-Fe-Mg-O-Pb-S-Si-Zn-(Ag, As, Au, Bi, Ni, Sb, Sn) chemical system. The database works in the environment of FactSage software Bale et al., 2016 and related family of products: ChemApp (Petersen & Hack, 2007), ChemSheet and SimuSage. A list of phases, and thermodynamic models is shown in Table 1. For the copper industry, most important phases are Gas, Slag, Spinel and Liquid matte/metal/speiss. Black-colored elements represent the base system, elements in green can be considered as slag modifiers (slagging elements), and elements in red are minor. Ni is highlighted because it was included recently, in 2019, and currently under development. In addition to copper, the database covers the conditions typical for lead and zinc pyrometallurgical extraction. It is developed in consistency with the experimental results for high concentrations of Pb and Zn. Examples of applications in the present study include the thermodynamic analysis of fluxing for an agitated copper reactor to show the effect of Fe/SiO2, and calculations of copper slag cleaning using reductant.

Jan 1, 2019

The Technical Study Panel on the Utilization of Belt Air and the Composition and Fire Retardant Properties of Belt Materials in Underground Coal Mining (hereafter referred to as the Panel or the TSP) was established by Section 11 of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act). The Panel was charged with providing “independent scientific and engineering review and recommendations with respect to the utilization of belt air and the composition and fire retardant properties of belt materials in underground coal mining.” The TSP was impaneled by the Honorable Elaine L. Chao and commenced its work on January 9, 2007. At this first meeting, Mr. Richard E. Stickler, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, asked the Panel to report on many issues including how recent technological advances could be applied to atmospheric monitoring systems, point-type heat sensors, current state of fire-resistant vs. fireproof belt materials, and belt fire suppression systems to improve miner safety. In addition, Mr. Stickler asked the Panel to review belt air velocity limitations. The Panel members attended 12 days of public meetings over a nine-month period. Three of the public meetings were scheduled for the Panel to hear from technical experts and those persons or organizations interested in providing input. The meetings were held in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania with emphasis on belt fires, belt maintenance, belt flammability and toxicity, ventilation, and escape issues; in Salt Lake City with emphasis on ground control and convergence issues; and in Birmingham with emphasis on fire detection, sensors and atmospheric monitoring systems. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) personnel, representatives of the major belt conveyor manufacturers and a representative of the National Mining Association provided discussions at the Coraopolis meeting. In Salt Lake City, Utah, MSHA district managers and ventilation specialists, a member of the Aracoma Mine No. 1 investigation team, a representative of the Bureau of Land Management, and industry and consulting representatives of the Utah Mining Association and the Colorado Mining Association made presentations. In Birmingham, Alabama, atmospheric monitoring system representatives, NIOSH researchers, representatives of coal mining companies, and UMWA workers from two Alabama mining companies made presentations. In addition, a staff member of The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness also presented comments to the Panel. In conjunction with the meetings in Salt Lake City and Birmingham, three-member subcommittees of the Technical Study Panel made field visits to the Skyline Mine, the Aberdeen Mine, and the Jim Walter Resources Mine No. 4. The mine visits were scheduled to see first-hand the mining conditions under which belt air was being utilized as an additional source of intake air for working sections.

By W. H. Brandt

THERE has been much progress in the last two decades in understanding the hardenability of steel. Roughly, the progress has been along two lines, which may be designated as empirical and fundamental. This empirical work has progressed to the point where steels may be manufactured to the desired characteristics quite closely and heat-treatment and application problems can be approached with considerable confidence. Particularly noteworthy among the empirical work is that of Grossmann,12 who has given formulas for calculating hardenability as a function of composition, and the establishment of the isothermal transformation curve by Davenport and Bain.13 The latter does not fall entirely in the class of an empirical study, for while it provides a means of presenting a tremendous amount of empirical data in the form of a single curve, it also outlines clearly the problems that face the fundamental investigator. The isothermal transformation curve shows clearly that the phenomena occurring in the neighborhood of the knee of the curve are those that limit the hardenability of steel. Above the knee of the curve, the product of decomposition of austenite is lamellar pearlite and fundamental progress has consisted chiefly of a detailed study of structure and formation of pearlite, largely at the hands of Mehl and his collaborators.1-5 They have shown that formation of pearlite proceeds by a process of nucleation and growth and they measured both the nucleation and growth rate. However, there is still a wide gap between our empirical knowledge and fundamental knowledge, owing largely to the fact that there is no satisfactory theory of nucleation rate or of growth rate. This paper is being written in an attempt to fill in a small part of the gap. A method was presented recently14 for calculating the velocity of edgewise growth of pearlite using an expression for the carbon concentration that satisfies the diffusion equation. The edgewise velocity of pearlite growth in a plain carbon eutectoid steel was calculated, using linear extrapolations of the ferrite and cementite solubilities. While the results are in fairly good agreement with the experimental facts, the calculated velocity of edgewise growth is smaller at 600°C. than G, the radial growth velocity of pearlite nodules, whereas one would expect it to be larger. In this paper the calculation will be repeated using a new extrapolation for the ferrite solubility, which gives better agreement between G and V, the calculated velocity of edgewise growth. A calculation will also be made of the effect of carbon content on velocity of edgewise growth, and the problems of calculating the effects of other alloying elements on growth rates will be discussed. It will be assumed that the mechanism of pearlite growth, established by Mehl and

Jan 1, 1945

By H. W. Russell, H Pray, Paul D. MILLER

It is known that austenitic chromium-nickel steels that have free carbide in the grain boundaries are subject to intergranu-lar corrosion. It is difficult to detect such a susceptible condition in a fabricated article because present test methods require a sample section for examination and in most cases this is difficult to obtain. The question of the nature and prevention of intergranular corrosion in austenitic stainless steels has been ably discussed by Bain and co-workers1-3 and by other investigator4-10 The present methods of study subject samples to corrosive conditions in such reagents as the Strauss solution, a mixture of copper sulphate and sulphuric acid. Such tests usually require at least 72 hr. to run. Various methods of measuring the degree of sensitization have been employed, such as the measurement of electrical resistivity, magnetic measuremerits, measurement of the degree of cracking produced on bending over a malldrel, and microscopic studies. The detection of carbides at the grain boundaries by metallographic polishing and etching methods is tedious and requires a skilled operator. A recent report on such methods of carbide detection is given by the American Society for Testing Materials Subcommittee VI of Committee A.-1011 and by Arness.12 The present investigation was undertaken to develop a simple test procedure for detecting carbide precipitation or susceptibility to intergranular corrosion. The test is designed for use in the plant and for the testing of fabricated structures. Carbide precipitation, the factor leading to susceptibility to corrosion, is produced by heating the alloy in the temperature range 800° to 1600°F., as in welding, in improper annealing or in service where such temperatures are met. The connection between such precipitation and susceptibility to corrosion has been thoroughly discussed, as has been the use of stabilizing addition elements to prevent precipitation. Experimental Method A small area of the steel under test is subjected to an anodic treatment in a cell that can be 'lamped Onto a a Or an actual structure. The cell and electrical circuit used are illustrated in Fig. I. The cell C is lead, joined to the steel plate D and insulated from it by a short piece of rubber tubing E. The cell is forced tightly against the steel plate by a spring Or clamping device. The seal formed by the rubber against the steel plate is sufficient to retain the liquid bath inside the cell. The spot treated can be made any shape desired, depending on the shape of the rubber gasket. The cell illustrated polishes a circular spot about 3/8- diameter' The bath consists of 60 per cent (by weight) sulphuric acid to which is added 5 ml. per liter of Glycyrrhiza extract (U.S.P.). The cell requires about 2 to 2.5

Jan 1, 1941

By Richard Paul Seelig

The following review covers published information on pressing of metal powders at room temperature. Only those operations are considered which occur between the time the powder is filled into the cavity and the compact is ejected from the die. Thus, this review does not concern hot pressing, coining or sizing feed or flow problems, commercial presses nor designs. It was also necessary to disregard to a large extent the effect of pressing on subsequent operations and on properties after sintering. 'The pressing operation is considered independently in its function to compact loose metal powder into useful shapes which can subsequently be handled. There are some comments by the writer in connection with a few of the findings quoted in the literature in order to stimulate thought and discussion. The selection of references quoted in the text is in some cases arbitrary although an attempt was made to favor papers containing novel ideas, techniques or results which mag stimulate future research. In order to enable the reader to check further into the subjects mentioned, the original, rather extensive, bibliography is appended even though not all the references are touched on in the printed version of this review. The equipment used by various workers, for example a die design created by Bridgman,22 is very interesting. 'The die insert has a conical external surface. The vertical pressure exerted on the punch transmits itself to the die which in turn is pushed harder into its tapered retainer. Thus, the higher the pressure exerted on the punch, the higher also the pressure exerted inwards on the die inserts. Inasmuch as this pressure counteracts the internal pressure from the compact the two stresses balance each other so that it is possible to obtain tremendous pressures without breaking the die. The die collar was made from an oil hardening tool steel, heat treated to a tensile strength of some 300,000 psi. The die was closed at the bottom by a plug made from special tool steels. Bridgman found that there is no steel which will withstand a com-pressive stress of 700,000 psi without continuous slow flow or immediate fracture. Therefore, the only material suitable for use in the pressing punch was sintered carbide. In view of the ingenious design it was possible to use special tool steel as die material. Jones22 raises the question whether this method of pressing has practical application in powder metallurgy. Although these tremendous pressures cannot readily be utilized without many special precautions, the tapered die and retainer idea is believed to be useful even for lower pressures. Bridgman, himself," alls attention to the fact that the properties

Jan 1, 1947

By L. Kaufman

An equation is derived relating AF a", the difference in free energy between austenite and martensite, to temperature and composition in the iron-chrmnium and iron-chromium -nickel systems. This equation is used to calculate at M,for low-carbon stainless steels. A method for utilizing the energetic equations to calculate M, in stainless steels is suggested. In addition, an explanation is given for the anomalous effect of chromium in forming a y loop concurrent with the lowering of M, in iron-base alloys. It has been demonstrated that the effect of alloying elements on the Ms temperature is strongly dependent upon the influence of the alloying element on the thermodynamic properties of the y and a phases. Notwithstanding the fact that alloying elements affect the Ms temperature by changing the lattice parameters, elastic constants, and inter-facial energies of the a and y phases, their primary role is a thermodynamic one. Thermodynamic analyses have been presented for the iron-carbon'-4 and iron-nickele systems in which equations are derived for Fa and FY, the free energies of the b.c.c. (or b.c.t.) and f.c.c. phases. These equations, which can be obtained with the aid of the equilibrium diagrams, can be used to help predict the Ms vs composition curves. This paper deals with a calculation of the thermodynamic properties necessary to compute AFffLY for iron-chromium alloys. In view of the lack of direct information concerning the activity of chromium in the a and y phases of iron, the regular solution approximationa,g was utilized to bridge the gap. After the necessary equations were derived for the iron-chromium system they were used to calculate AFff— Y for stainless steels by combining them with the previous results obtained for iron-nickel alloys. The results of these calculations offer a means of rationalizing the anomalous behavior of chromium in iron-base alloys. The latter depends on the regular solution approximation in contrast to the explanation offered by zener , which is based upon the "magnetic specific heat effect." THERMODYNAMICS OF THE IRON-CHROMIUM SYSTEM If y represents the atomic fraction of chromium in an iron-chromium alloy, then the free energy of the b.c.c. phase Fa, the f.c.c. phase FY, and the difference in free energy between the f.c.c. and b.c.c. phases of the same composition are given through [3] and Fmy represent the free energies of mixing of the a and y phases; while @era -' and uFea 4Y represent the difference in free energy between f.c.c. and b.c.c. chromium and iron respectively. The values of AEFe0ff4Y in the temperature range between 0" and 900K ( .

Jan 1, 1960

By F. H. Spedding

From thermal, metallographic, X-ray, dilatometric, and electrical resistance data a Phase diagram is proposed for the La-C system. TWO compounds are formed, body-centered-cubic Laz C, having a large range of solid solubility, and body -centered-tetrago-nal Lac2 . The former melts incongruently at 1415°C, and at 25OC it has an electrical resistivity about two and one-half times that of bure lanthanum. The latter melts congruently at 2356°C and at room temperature has an electrical resistivity about equal to that of bure lanthanum. The addition of carbon to La lowers the melting Point of La about 115' C, raises the higher (B-Y) transfomzation about 10" C and appears to have no effect on the lower ( a-0) transformation. The addition of carbon appears to lower the oxygen content in the metal and improve the machinability; however, the tendency to oxidize is increased. Two eutectics are formed in the system. The first occurs at 2.2 pct C and melts at 806" C, while the second occurs between Lac2 and C with a melting point of2271"C. PETTERSSON,~ in 1895, was the first to prepare lanthanum dicarbide by heating the oxide with carbon in an electric furnace. He showed that this yellow, crystalline but brittle carbide had a formula corresponding to LaCz and that it reacted with water with the evolution of hydrogen and hydrocarbons and the formation of the hydrated oxide. Von Stackelberg's investigation of the crystal structure of the MCz carbides showed that the lanthanum dicarbide is of the tetragonal calcium dicarbide-type structure. He found the lattice parameters were a = 3.92 and c = 6.56.* Bredig,' using X-ray methods, showed that the room-temperature form of lanthanum dicarbide is stable up to 1750 °C and that above this temperature it transformsoto a face-centered-cubic structure, a = 6.0 ± O.lA, probably of the pyrite, FeSzstruc- typ? The reported discovery of two new cerium carbides, suggested that a corresponding face-centered-cubic lanthanum monocarbide and a body-centered-cubic lanthanum sesquicarbide might exist. This paper describes work on the lanthanum-carbon system which is part of a study of the rare earth metals and their alloys now in progress in this laboratory. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Source of Materials—The lanthanum metal was prepared at the Ames Laboratory by metal1o;hermic reduction of the fluoride with calcium metal. The results of spectrographic and chemical analysis indicated the presence of 0.01 pct Y, Al, Cu, Fe, and Si; 0.02 pct Ca and Mg; 230 ppm C; and 115 ppm N. The carbon used was of two types: 1) "National Special Graphite Spectroscopic Electrodes," and

Jan 1, 1960

By Richard Paul Seelig

THE following review covers published information on pressing of metal powders at room temperature. Only those operations are considered which occur between the time the powder is filled into the cavity and the compact is ejected from the die. Thus, this review does not concern hot pressing, coining or sizing feed or flow problems, commercial presses nor designs. It was also necessary to disregard to a large extent the effect of pressing on subsequent operations and on properties after sintering. The pressing operation is considered independently in its function to compact loose metal powder into useful shapes which can subsequently be handled. There are some comments by the writer in connection with a few of the findings quoted in the literature in order to stimulate thought and discussion. The selection of references quoted in the text is in some cases arbitrary although an attempt was made to favor papers containing novel ideas, techniques or results which may stimulate future research. In order to enable the reader to check further into the subjects mentioned, the original, rather extensive, bibliography is appended even though not all the references are touched on in the printed version of this review. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The equipment used by various workers, for example a die design created by Bridgman,22 is very interesting. The die insert has a conical external surface. The vertical pressure exerted on the punch transmits itself to the die which in turn is pushed harder into its tapered retainer. Thus, the higher the pressure exerted on the punch, the higher also the pressure exerted inwards on the die inserts. In as much as this pressure counteracts the internal pressure from the compact the two stresses balance each other so that it is possible to obtain tremendous pressures without breaking the die. The die collar was made from an oil hardening tool steel, heat treated to a tensile strength of some 300,000 psi. The die was closed at the bottom by a plug made from special tool steels. Bridgman found that there is no steel which will withstand a compressive stress of 700,000 psi without continuous slow flow or immediate fracture. Therefore, the only material suitable for use in the pressing punch was sintered carbide. In view of the ingenious design it was possible to use special tool steel as die material. Jones22 raises the question whether this method of pressing has practical application in powder metallurgy. Al- though these tremendous pressures cannot readily be utilized without many special precautions, the tapered die and retainer idea is believed to be useful even for lower pressures. Bridgman, himself,8 calls attention to the fact that the properties

Jan 1, 1947

By Robert Lee, Jeff Corace, Rob Cyr

Blasting in the heart of the historic Byward Market District of Canada’s capital, Ottawa, presents a unique set of challenges. The obvious difficulties arising on projects requiring blasting within 3 m (10 ft) of 125 year old buildings in various states of disrepair have been encountered and successfully dealt with countless times before. The complexities increase exponentially when tenuous property boundaries, unknown structural details, litigious histories and the need for encroachment agreements lead to individuals with competing interests all able to impact the same operation. Blasting on three projects in the Market was started in early 2005 after months of negotiation. Ultimately, the potential for the projects to proceed hinged on the ability to successfully disseminate blast data to the various stakeholders. As part of the agreements drawn up, property owners demanded immediate notification of the measured vibration levels with contract provisions including clauses such that any exceedance of the USBM criteria immediately triggered project shut down and complete blasting program redesign, and approval by all parties. With stakeholders located in various cities and, in some instances, on various continents, a conventional attended monitoring strategy would not satisfy the requirements. In response to the critical reporting need, Explotech Engineering Ltd. installed unattended monitoring stations around the sites, all incorporating wireless telemetry. After each blast, data was automatically transferred from the monitoring stations to a web-linked server via the wireless network, where it was immediately available to project stakeholders through a password protected website. The solution required a unique blend of data acquisition, telemetry, database, and security technologies, all married to produce a reliable system that was easy to maintain and use. While these types of systems were originally developed for use as permanent monitoring networks in operating mines and quarries, monitoring professionals are increasingly benefiting from the technology on temporary building projects that have typically been the realm of attended monitoring strategies. Globally, this has emerged as a solution to provide more timely access to data for stakeholders, and to minimize the legal exposure from multiple violations of vibration limits. As this trend is likely to continue, the regulated vibration control industry is likely to see a continued shift in technology development to leverage wireless networks and the Internet to continue to improve data transfer, archiving and distribution.

Jan 1, 2006

This is the second of a series of reports on properties of commercial motor fuels made pursuant to a cooperative agreement between the Cooperative Fuel Research (C.F.R.) Committee and the Bureau of Mines of the Department of the Interior. The first report gave data on motor gasolines sold during the winter of 1935-36.3/ These gasoline surveys report results of inspections, in oil-company laboratories, of samples of gasoline obtained by representatives of oil companies from service-station pumps in marketing areas throughout the country. In the present survey are presented inspection data on 239 samples of regular-price gasoline, 166 samples of premium-price gasoline, and 157 samples of third-grade gasoline, a total of 562 samples collected during the summer of 1936.

Jan 1, 1937