Search Documents

By P. Barnes

The object of this paper is to make a brief comparison of the outlines of several forms of ports for steel-melting turnaces, in reference chiefly to the proper mixture; of the gas and air, and to the direction in which the flame is thrown down into the interior of the furnace. In the illustrations on the accompanying plate, Fig. 1 shows a form of port designed by M, Pernot, of St Chamond, France. This is used with the dome roof preferred by him fur the revolving bottom that bears his name. From No. 1 has been derived No. 2. This is shown on the plans of Mr. A. L. Holley, and from them three large furnaces have been built and put into operation by the Springfield Iron Company. Fig. 3 shows an outline proposed by Messrs. Richmond & Potts for the Pernot furnace. In this the ports are brought in under an arched roof of nearly the ordinary form, instead of over the top of the roof, as with the dome of M Pernot, Fig. 4 shows a furnace as built by Krupp of Essen, Prussia, for fluid refining, or " washing "-—to use the briefer French term. in this the gas and air come into contact in broad sheets one above the other, Fig. 5 shows the form used by Messrs. Richmond & Potts

Jan 1, 1881

Jan 1, 1907

Jan 1, 1956

I-Mine Ventilation A C. CALLEN, Chairman E A. HOLBROOK, Vice-chairman H I. SMITH, Secretary CLARENCE E. ABBOTT ALFRED W. HESSE FRANK H. PROBERT GRAHAM BRIGHT G R. JACKSON GEORGE S RICE THOMAS H. CLAGTETT JAMES F. MCCARTHY E. J RISTEDT OSCAR A GLAESER W. B. PLANK GERALD F. SBERMAN, Coal Mining M D COOPER, Chairman HOWARD N EAVENSON JOHN A GARCIA THOMAS D THOMAS CHARLES ENZIAN JAMES W PAUL C M YOUNG JOHN J. RUTLEDGE Physiological Studies R R. SAYERS, Chairman C. L. BERRIEN W. D. BRENNAN A. J. LANZA

Jan 1, 1923

By I. Zaplatynskyj, G. C. Kuczynski

SINCE the excellent studies of metal powder compaction executed by Kamm, Steinberg, and Wulff, no work on the subject has appeared in the technical literature. Kamm et al. were the first to investigate quantitatively the distribution of density in a powder compact, as a function of pressure, height and diameter of the die, powder particle size, etc. For this purpose they devised a very ingenious method. They inserted a thin lead grid into a die and then filled the die with powder. During cold pressing, the lead grid -moved downward. Due to its deformability it followed closely the downward descent of the adjacent powder. The die was then radiographed and, from the deformations of the grid openings measured on the radiographs, the density in the vicinity of each opening was evaluated. Their findings led them to the conclusion that the friction on the side walls of the die is a major controlling factor of the density distribution inside the cold pressed powder compacts. However, it is difficult to conduct tests similar to those of Kamm, Steinberg, and Wulff in a processing plant laboratory, which usually lacks the necessary expensive radiographic equipment. The purpose of this note is to describe a method which makes it possible to determine the density distribution in green powder compacts with the same accuracy as the lead-grid method but which is far simpler and faster and requires only standard laboratory equipment. Instead of using a lead grid, the hardness at selected points of the sectioned compact is determined. If the relationship between hardness and density is known the density distribution is readily obtained. This relationship is easily found from measuring hardness and densities of thin compacts. In such compacts the density, for all practical purposes, is constant throughout. The method was tested on a Plast nickel powder, grade FlA-A20, kindly supplied by Plast Metals Co. Thin compacts (height to diameter ratio 0.2) were pressed in a single action cylindrica1 die at various pressures. The density of the compacts was determined by weighing and by measuring the height and diameter with a micrometer. Subsequently the Rh hardness was determined. Up to ten readings were taken on each specimen. The difference in hardness readings on each compact was never greater than three corresponding to about 0.1 g per cu cm uncertainty in density. By varying the compaction pressure of the samples, a whole scale of densities was obtained allowing construction of a set of density-hardness calibration curves. To test the method several compacts of different height were pressed under varying pressures. Die walls were always well lubricated. After pressing, the compacts were mounted in bakelite and halved by grinding, and hardness readings taken along the diameters of the specimens. The distance between adjacent indentations was about 2.5 mm. After hardness readings were translated into densities, contour maps of densities of the compacts were prepared. One of them is reproduced in Fig. 1. The areas encompassed by the curves are labeled with numbers representing the density in g per cu cm of those regions. In Fig. 2 the same results are re-plotted to emphasize the radial density changes at various depths. The results thus obtained confirm the findings of Kamm, Steinberg, and Wulff kentioned previously. They are recapitulated here briefly. 1—The densest part of a compact pressed from one side is at the outer circumference at the top and the least dense part at the bottom, at the outer circumference. Figs. 1 and 2 show this clearly. 2—The density near the cylindrical surfaces of the compact decreases uniformly with height from top to bottom. 3—The density variation increases with the height to diameter ratio. References R. Kamm, M. A. Steinberg, and J. Wulff: Trans. AIME (1941) 171,'R. p. 439 ;MetaLs Technology (February 1941). R.p. Kamm, M. A. Steinberg, and J. Wulff: Trans. AlME (1949) 180, 2R.P. 694; MetalS Technology (December 1948).

Jan 1, 1957

By James Norman, E. W. Gieseke

SPODUMENE is a lithium-bearing pyroxene, and is an important source of lithium compounds. Because of its high alumina and lithia content. it might be a desirable constituent of glass batches. The use of spodumene in ceramics will undoubtedly increase, as it has been shown that a mixture of the proper proportions of this mineral with soda feldspar and potash feldspar has a much lower maturing temperature upon firing than has any one of the three components.1 The mineral spodumene seldom occurs as pure mineral, but ordinarily with feldspars, mica and quartz. All spodumene-bearing rocks tested contained these minerals as gangue. Small amounts of iron and manganese oxides also were present, usually as stains on the silicate grains. Mica associated with the spodumene carried a considerable amount of lithia. This was discovered in flotation tailings, which, although virtually free of spodumene grains when examined microscopically, showed 0.4 to 0.5 per cent Li20 on chemical analysis. The lithia content of micas picked from the North Carolina spodumene rock was variable. Some samples contained little lithia, others more than 3 per cent. In 1938, under the supervision of Oliver C. Ralston, [t] the Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the Tennessee Mineral Products Corporation, undertook to study the beneficiation of North Carolina spodumene by froth flotation. The Bureau had previously published investigations on the beneficiation of spodumene.2, 3 The methods described in the second publication3 did not give good results with badly weathered spodumene rock, so that more thorough investigation of the subject was warranted. STUDY OF METHOD OF FLOTATION SEPARATION Most of the work on concentration of spodumene was done with rock from near King's Mountain, North Carolina. Rock from two

Jan 1, 1940

By H. H. Otto

COMPARED with 1939, the year 1940 has seen no material change in the production of anthracite. Many factors seem to indicate a stabilized anthracite production of approximately 50 million tons per year. The present war has stimulated demand in the Cana¬dian and New England markets, which were formerly furnished with a portion of their needs from Great Britain and other European countries. Neither has there been any material change in the "bootleg coal" situation. This problem is more serious in the Southern anthracite field than in the Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton areas. One reason for this is the nearness of the Southern field to the large anthracite markets in Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, and Harrisburg. During the past year no new large

Jan 1, 1941

By J. H. Wernick, S. Geller

A number of new AB, compounds, in which A is a rare earth or yttrium atom and B is Al, Mn, Fe, Co, or Ni, having the cubic MgCu, structure (Laves phase) are reported. In most of the compounds, the interatomic distances are normal; the lanthanide contraction is observed. However, in the compounds CeB2, B = Fe, Co, Ni, Ce appears to have a valence substantially greater than three; in CeAl2, Ce appears to be trivalent. These results are interpreted as vesulting from an energetically more favorable situation for the 4f electron of Ce to be lost to the 3d band of Fe, Co, nnd Ni. Evidence for the existence of homogeneitj! ranges in these compounds is presented. THE purpose of this paper is to report on the crys-tallographic investigations of a large number of new compounds, Table I, with the MgCuz structure (cubic Laves phase). It is a part of a continuing study of the magnetic properties and structures of binary systems involving the rare earths. In a previous paper' some of the magnetic properties of such systems were reported briefly. We have also reported2 a number of compounds of the CusCa type. The compounds were prepared by induction melting in Argon atmosphere of mixtures of stoichiomet-ric amounts of the constituent elements.* For most of the compounds fused alumina or silica crucibles were used as the containing vessel; graphite crucibles were used to prepare CeA12, NdAl2 and TbA12. X-ray powder photographs were taken with CrKa radiation and the use of Straumanis-type Norelco cameras of 114.6 mm diam. The compounds AB2 belong to space group Fd3m-Ol with 8A in a): (000; 01/2 '/2;3) + 000-; b % XA and 16B in dl: (000; oVa %; 3) + 5/87; % %; 7e % Vs\£>. Because the intensities of the reflections on the powder photographs of the different compounds are similar, relative intensities were computed only for DyMnz for CrKa radiation, Table 11. In the calculation of intensities, the Thomas and umeda3 atomic scattering factors, corrected for dispersion,4 were used. The agreement between observed and calculated intensities leaves little doubt that DyMnz has the MgCuz structure. Crystallographic data for the ABz compounds are given in Table JII. Twelve of these compounds have been reported by other authors. A comparison of the published results with our work is given in Table W.* ers of elements of lower purity, to peritectic reactions in some cases, and to the presence of homogeneity ranges in these alloys, so that melting losses would still result in single phase alloys. The possibility of existence of homogeneity ranges in these compounds was investigated systematically only for GdMnz. At room temperature, the solid solution range is between

Jan 1, 1961

By John B. Myers

VERMICULITE is a name used to describe micaceous material that exfoliates when heated. It is hydrated magnesium-aluminum-iron silicate. The chemical composition, color, physical appearance, and degree of exfoliation vary. COMPOSITION, PROPERTIES, AND ORIGIN Vermiculite has the characteristic micaceous structure of basal cleavage and readily splits into thin laminae, which are soft, pliable, and inelastic. The monoclinic crystal faces are often marked by triangular lines at 60° and 120°. Hardness is 1.5; specific gravity, 2.2-2.7; luster pearly to greasy; colors, amber, bronze, reddish brown, dark green, and black. Feel is soapy, particularly when wet. When heated it exfoliates by expanding at right angles to the cleavage into long wormlike pieces (the name vermiculite is from the Latin veamiculari, to breed worms). This important characteristic of expansion is believed to be a mechanical separation of the layers when the contained water is converted into steam. Warping of the unit layers may also contribute to the expansion. The increase in bulk volume of commercially prepared material is 8 to 12 times but individual flakes may increase in size more than this. Pure vermiculite is a distinct mineral and has the structural formula (OH), (Mg,Fe)3 (Si,Al,Fe)4 010.4H20. It rarely occurs in this pure form, but generally as a mixed mineral of varying structure. One explanation is that the mixed material is composed of unit layers of inter-stratified pure vermiculite and biotite. The essential difference between the two is that unit cell structure of vermiculite contains a layer of water molecules whereas the biotite cell contains potassium instead of the water. The water content of the mixed vermiculite is less than that of pure vermiculite but more than that of biotite. Pure biotite does not expand when heated. If the proportion of biotite layers in a vermiculite is too high it will adversely affect the degree of exfoliation. Within a given deposit, the great mass of material may approach a definite com-position with local areas of greater biotite content. It is not uncommon to find also small pockets of pure biotite but these are generally segre-

Jan 1, 1949

By J. Hunter

LouisiaNa ranks fifth among the oil-producing states. In 1941 the state-wide production was slightly in excess of 118,000,000 bbl. of crude oil and conden-sate—an increase of 15,000,000 bbl. over the total production for the year 1940. During 1941, south Louisiana produced approximately 90,900,000 bbl. of oil, while north Louisiana produced approximately 27,000,000. South Louisiana, therefore, produced about 3¼ times more oil than north Louisiana. During the past year, 574,800,000 M cu. ft. of natural and casinghead gas were produced in Louisiana; thus 1941 gas production exceeded the 1940 production by 104,900,000 M cu. feet. Completion records for the year 1941 show that 1512 wells were completed in or adjoining producing fields. These wells, which were drilled to extend known producing areas or were located within producing areas, are not considered as wildcat wells. Of the total number of field wells drilled, 1152 wells found production; the remaining 360 were junked or dry and abandoned. This means that 76 per cent of the wells drilled were successful. Considering the precarious nature of oil-field development, this percentage of new producing wells is exceedingly satisfactory. Of the total number of field welis com-pleted as producers, approximately 86 wells found new and distinct producing sands. During the past year, 30 new fields were found. Four parishes—namely, Caldwell, Catahoula, Orleans, and Natchitoches— entered the ranks of oil-and-gas-producing parishes in the state during that period. This brings the total number of oil-and-gas-producing parishes in the state up to 48. Thus, 75 per cent of the parishes in Louisiana now contain one or more oil and/or gas fields. Although sufficient data are not available to list the addition reserves found in Louisiana during 1941, it is felt that such reserves undoubtedly exceed twice the total production for that year, or at least 200 million barrels. In reserves, therefore, Louisiana ranks third among the various oil-producing states. South Louisiana Although 16 new fields were found in south Louisiana, the outstanding developments in that part of the state were not limited to new discoveries. In fact, most of the increase in reserve in that area has been most consistently accumulated through extensions of known producing sands and through the finding of new sands in already productive fields, especially at depths below the presently producing sands. Since data concerning most of the new extensions and sands are too extensive for discussion here, the more important developments arc briefly outlined below: Abbeville, Vermilion Parish.—Production extended ½ mile to the west. Anse La Butte, St. Martin Parish.—New oil sand discovered at 9400 ft., thus extending production to east flank. West flank defined by dry holes. Barataria, Jefferson Parish.—New oil sand discovered on east side of field at 7620 ft. New

Jan 1, 1942

By J. Hunter

LouisiaNa ranks fifth among the oil-producing states. In 1941 the state-wide production was slightly in excess of 118,000,000 bbl. of crude oil and conden-sate—an increase of 15,000,000 bbl. over the total production for the year 1940. During 1941, south Louisiana produced approximately 90,900,000 bbl. of oil, while north Louisiana produced approximately 27,000,000. South Louisiana, therefore, produced about 3¼ times more oil than north Louisiana. During the past year, 574,800,000 M cu. ft. of natural and casinghead gas were produced in Louisiana; thus 1941 gas production exceeded the 1940 production by 104,900,000 M cu. feet. Completion records for the year 1941 show that 1512 wells were completed in or adjoining producing fields. These wells, which were drilled to extend known producing areas or were located within producing areas, are not considered as wildcat wells. Of the total number of field wells drilled, 1152 wells found production; the remaining 360 were junked or dry and abandoned. This means that 76 per cent of the wells drilled were successful. Considering the precarious nature of oil-field development, this percentage of new producing wells is exceedingly satisfactory. Of the total number of field welis com-pleted as producers, approximately 86 wells found new and distinct producing sands. During the past year, 30 new fields were found. Four parishes—namely, Caldwell, Catahoula, Orleans, and Natchitoches— entered the ranks of oil-and-gas-producing parishes in the state during that period. This brings the total number of oil-and-gas-producing parishes in the state up to 48. Thus, 75 per cent of the parishes in Louisiana now contain one or more oil and/or gas fields. Although sufficient data are not available to list the addition reserves found in Louisiana during 1941, it is felt that such reserves undoubtedly exceed twice the total production for that year, or at least 200 million barrels. In reserves, therefore, Louisiana ranks third among the various oil-producing states. South Louisiana Although 16 new fields were found in south Louisiana, the outstanding developments in that part of the state were not limited to new discoveries. In fact, most of the increase in reserve in that area has been most consistently accumulated through extensions of known producing sands and through the finding of new sands in already productive fields, especially at depths below the presently producing sands. Since data concerning most of the new extensions and sands are too extensive for discussion here, the more important developments arc briefly outlined below: Abbeville, Vermilion Parish.—Production extended ½ mile to the west. Anse La Butte, St. Martin Parish.—New oil sand discovered at 9400 ft., thus extending production to east flank. West flank defined by dry holes. Barataria, Jefferson Parish.—New oil sand discovered on east side of field at 7620 ft. New

Jan 1, 1942

By W. T. Burns

Attempts were made in 1908, at the Great Falls Works, to produce ingots direct from the Butte precipitate by smelting the material in a reverberatory refining furnace. The ingots produced in this manner averaged 99.4 per cent. of copper and 0.40 per cent. of arsenic and antimony. The copper content being considered too low, it was decided to cast the copper into anodes and to treat the anodes in the electrolytic plant. No. 1 Furnace, in which the precipitate was treated, was a regular cathode refining furnace previously employed in making wire bar, cake, and ingot from electrolytic cathodes. The hearth of the furnace was 24 by 12 ft., having a capacity of 100,000 lb. of cathodes. The furnace was coal fired, and the copper was dipped by means of trolley ladles. The average composition of the furnace charges was as follows: Per Cent. Peer Cent. Copper. Precipitate,..........7.5.3 40 to 80 Purification cathodes,.....1.9 92 Refinery slag (oxide slag),.. 10.1 50 to 60 Electrolytic cathodes,... 2.1 99.9 Precipitate anode scrap,.... 3.1 99.0 Scrap copper,.........7.5 99.2 100.0 The slag from this furnace amounted to 46 per cent. of the total amount charged and was of the following average composition: Per Cent. Cu..............16.86 SiO2.............34.7 FeO.............18.8 A12O3.............13.0 CaO.............9.4 MgO.............2.7 S............... 0.47 As..............0.11 Sb...............0.006 Ag, oz per ton.....0.18

Jan 1, 1914

By John D. Morgan

Uncertain world conditions of the present time require that this country be prepared to meet: 1) all out nuclear war with attack on the U. S.; 2) limited wars; 3) political, economic, and/or pyschological warfare. Our present position as a major world power derives in large measure from our free institutions and great industrial productivity, and this productivity in turn depends on a continuing flow of raw materials-metals, minerals, fuels, and agricultural products. The U. S., with only about 6 pct of the world's population, uses from one to two thirds of the world's annual supplies of most metals and minerals. The U. S. strategic materials stockpiling program is designed to enhance our national security position: as stated in the preamble of the Stock Piling Act, to decrease and prevent wherever possible a dangerous and costly dependence upon foreign nations for supplies of strategic and critical materials in times of national emergency.

Jan 8, 1960

By P. Chiotti, J. T. Mason

Metallographic, thermal, X-ray, and vapor-pressure data were employed in establishing the Ce-Zn phase diagram. Nine compounds and three eutectics were observed. The eutectic compositions in weight percent zinc and temperatures are 10 pct and 495"C, 37 pct and 795°C, and 56 pct and 810°C. Three of the compounds, CeZn, CeZnn, and CeZne.5, melt congru-ently at 825°, 87.505°, and 980°C, respectively; the other six compounds, CeZns, CeZns.67, CeZn4.5, CeZn5.25, CeZn,, and CeZnll, decompose peritectically at 820°, 840°, 870°, 885", 960°, and 795"C, respectively. The compound CeZn5.25 is an AB5 type with a small range of composition which lies on the zinc-rich side of the 1 to 5 stoichiometry. Zinc vapor-pressure data obtained by the dewpoint method were employed in calczilating the thermodynamic properties of both the liquid alloys and solid compounds. The data for the A critical review of the information available on the Ce-Zn system up to 1960 has been given by K. Gschneidner, Jr.' Of particular interest is the work by J. schramm2 who investigated the region between 55 and 100 wt pct Zn and reported a CeZn,, compound which decomposes peritectically at 785"C, a CeZn, compound which melts congruently at 972"C, and five temperature horizontals at 79@, 817", 840", liquid alloys were fitted to the relation from which the relation was obtained by integration. In these relations F XS is the excess partial molal free energy, N is atom fraction, and the constants c and d have the values c = (-22,000 + 7.0T) and d = 6171,000 + 74.0T). Relations for the standard free energy of formation for the solid compounds were derived from the data. At 973°K the enthalpy in kilocalories per gram-atom z)aries from —11.3 for CeZnz to —8.21 for CeZn~l and the free energy in the same units varies from —7.1 joy CeZn, to -3.82 for CeZn11. and 942°C in the region between 55 and 75 wt pct Zn. No attempt was made to identify other features of the system. I. Johnson and R. yonko3 used a fused-salt cell to measure the electromotive force between pure cerium and an alloy consisting of zinc-rich liquid in equilibrium with CeZnll. Solubility data for cerium in zinc has been reported by J. Knighton et u1 .4 Johnson and Yonko give the following equa-. tions for the mole fraction of cerium in zinc and the standard free energy of formation of CeZnll:

Jan 1, 1965

By Morris Cohen, Robert C. Ruhl

The phases in Fe-C alloys over a wide composition range have been studied after splal quenching from the liquid state. Binary alloys containing 0 to 5.1 wt pel C as /cell as a large number of ternary Fe-C-Si alloys with 2.5 to 5.0 wt pct C and 0.3 to 5.1 wt pct Si were attlong those sludied. Olher Fe-C-X alloys, zcilh X being Co, Cr, ,Wn, Ni, and Ru , were also inrestigated after splat quenching. At high carbon contents, a new hcp phase (designaled 6 phase, but different from e carbide) is retained upon splat quenching. The .fraction of this phase varies up lo 97 pcl for a Fe-4.K-1.9% alloy. The composition of the E phase ranges from about 3.8 10 4.8 wt pet C, and the corresponding laltice parameters increase linearly ulith carbon content, while the c/a ratio remains essentially conslc~nl. The E phrtse appears to he a solulion of carbon in E iron, the latler being nornially found only at high pressures. It is deduced that the unit cell of the E phase corresponds to the formula Fe12C3, and llzal il is relaled to tlie ordered slruclures 0.f 6 iron carbide and c iron nilride. The E phase is compared and contrasted to the olher known carbides and nitrides of iron and nickel. An exlrapolaTion of the atomic volume 1,s carhon conlent of /he E pllase lzcts giz.en a neu7 estitnale jor /he alomic volume of E iron, 11.30 cu A, a1 atmospheric pressure and temperature. Other alomic volume relalionships lead to /he co~zpositioti Fe2.iC tor E iron carbide, /he unit cell fortr~ula being -Fe2rClo The E phase undergoes a lulo-slage decomposition upon healing, .forrning firsl rnarlensile plus E carhide, a/ler 1 hr at 140" lo 200°C, slid then ferr ite Plus cementile, after 1 lir a1 330" to 460°C. A1 carbo,l contents between 1.5 and 3.0 LC/ pcl, (he predo.wirzar/t plzase alley quenching is fcc austenite. The retained carbon content of this phase increases with itlcreasing silicon in certain concentration ranges, reaching a maximum of 2.37 wt pct C itz a Fe-2.6C-4.OSi alloy. This is the highest carbon conten1 reLaitled in austenite to date. These high-carbon aus-tenites can be partially tm?zsforttled lo tnartensile hy severe deformation in the temperature range of — 190 to -50°C. TECHNIQUES for splat quenching from the liquid state have been utilized in numerous recent investigations to produce metastable phases in a variety of alloy systems. Among the several ways of splat quenching, the shock-tube method appears to yield the highest cooling rates1-3, 7, 8 and was adopted here. Estimated cooling rates attained in the present experiments ranged from 10' to 10 80Cper sec.' As a part of a research program on interstitial al- loy phases, the Fe-C system was selected for splat-quenching studies. It was hoped that splat quenching would allow high metastable supersaturations of carbon to be retained in solution. Also of considerable interest were the conditions governing the occurrence of the various intermediate phases upon solidification. The alloys investigated included both binary Fe-C compositions as well as six ternary Fe-C-X alloy systems. The known phases in the Fe-C system are summarized in Table I.* Only the ferrite and graphite are ent investigation.14 and is described in detail herein Table II summarizes corresponding data on Fe-N phases, which are also of interest here because of their similarity to the Fe-C phases. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES Alloys were prepared by melting the elements. 99.9 pct purity, in an inert gas nonconsumable electrode arc furnace. The buttons. weighing about 5 g. were remelted twice. were then fragmented. and their interior surfaces were examined for uniformity: if any doubt existed. they were remelted again. Chemical analyses were performed on all the alloys. the accuracy being about k0.05 wt pct. At high temperatures, carbon-containing alloys react with alumina crucibles as follows: If the atmosphere in the splat-quenching furnace does not contain sufficient carbon monoxide the alloy can be depleted of carbon and contaminated with aluminum. Calculations and experimental observations showed that 50 to 100 torr CO partial pressure effectively blocked the above reaction in all the alloys investigated. The splat-quenching equipment in Figs. 1 and 2 provides for evacuation and back-filling with CO-Ar mixtures. The furnace is capable of operation up to 1650°C. and the gettering action of the graphite heating element reduces the oxygen partial pressure in the furnace atmosphere to below 10-5 torr, thus preventing oxidation of the specimens.

Jan 1, 1970

By Richard P. Gerwels

Minas de Matahambre, a copper mine located 100 miles southwest of Havana, Cuba, has produced 10 million tons of copper ore since it was first opened up in 1913. During the mid-1950's the mine was producing approximately 1000 tpd and had attained a depth of 3600 ft. As shown in Fig. 1, the property contains three shafts: the No. 1 shaft, 2100 ft deep and located 2000 ft south of the No. 2 shaft, provided service to the 2100 level; the vertical 3600-ft No. 2 shaft handled all production to the 3400 level; the No. 3 shaft on the northeasterly fringe of the mining area was in a semi-active status.

Jan 12, 1960

By R. E. Powers, E. H. Kinelski, H. A. Morrissey

A group of 17 American blast-furnace sinters, an American open-hearth sinter, an American iron ore, and a Swedish sinter were used to evaluate testing methods adapted to appraise sinter properties. Statistical calculations were performed on the data to determine correlation coefficients for several sets of sinter properties. Properties of strength and dusting were related to total porosity, slag ratio, and total slag. Reducibility was related to the degree of oxidation of the sinters. THIS report to the American iron and steel industry marks the completion of a 1949 survey of blast-furnace sinter practice sponsored by the Subcommittee on Agglomeration of Fines of the American Iron & Steel Institute. The use of sinter in blast furnaces, sinter properties, raw materials, and sinter plant operation have been reported recently.1,2 After preliminary research and study," test procedures were adapted to appraise the physical and chemical properties of sinter to determine what constitutes a good sinter. During the 1949 to 1950 plant survey each plant submitted a 400-lb grab sample to research personnel at Mellon Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa. A 400-lb sample was also submitted from Sweden. In addition, 2 tons of group 3 fines iron ore were obtained from a Pittsburgh steel plant. The following tests were performed on the iron ore sample and on the 19 sinter samples: chemical analysis; impact test for strength and dusting; reducibility test; surface area measurements, B.E.T. nitrogen adsorption method; S.K. porosity test; Davis tube magnetic analysis; X-ray diffraction analysis for magnetite and hematite; and microstructure. Results of these evaluations are discussed in this paper and supply a critical look at testing procedures used to determine sinter quality. Sinter Tests and Results Each 400-lb grab sample of sinter was secured at a time when it was believed to represent normal production practice at each plant. It was not possible to use the same sampling procedures throughout the survey; consequently samples were taken from blast-furnace bins, cooling tables, and railroad cars. These were very useful for evaluation of test methods, since they were obtained from plants with widely divergent operations. With the exception of Swedish sinter and sinter sample N, which were produced on the Greenawalt type of pans, all survey sinters were produced on the Dwight-Lloyd type of sintering machines. Sinters submitted for test were prepared in identical manner by crushing in a roll crusher (set at 1 in.), mixing, and quartering. To secure specific size fractions for tests, one quarter of the sample was crushed in a jaw crusher and hammer mill to obtain a —10 mesh size. The remainder was screened to obtain specific size fractions. The group 3 fines iron ore was dried and screened and samples were taken from selected screen sizes to be used for various tests. Prior to testing, each ore sample except the —100 mesh fraction was washed with water to remove all fine material and was then dried. This iron ore, a hematitic ore from the Lake Superior region, was used as a base line for comparing results of tests on sinters. The iron ore did not lend itself to impact testing, since it was compacted rather than crushed in the test, and no impact tests are reported. However, the iron ore was subjected to all remaining physical tests to be described. Chemical Analysis: Table I presents chemical analyses performed on the survey sinter samples. Included in this table are data obtained from determination of FeO and the slag relationships: CaO + MgO and total slag (CaO + MgO + SiO, SiO2 + Al2o3 + TiO2). The percentage of FeO was used as an indication of the percentage of magnetite in the sinter. It was believed that slag relationships could be correlated with sinter properties. During initial determination of FeO great disagreement arose among various laboratories, both as to the results and the methods of determining values. Table I lists the values of FeO resulting from the U. S. Steel Corp. method of chemical analysis,' which reports the total FeO soluble in hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids (metallic iron not removed) with dry ice used to produce the protective atmosphere during digestion. Use of dry ice was a modification required to obtain reproducible results. In this method, the iron silicates and metallic iron are believed to go into solution and are therefore reported as FeO. This is important, for in the study of the microstructure of sinters, glassy constituents suspected of containing FeO as well as crystallized phases of undetermined identity which may also contain FeO have been observed. Strength Test by Impact: In evaluating sinter quality, one of the properties stressed most by blastfurnace operators is strength. This strength may be described as the resistance to breakage during handling of sinter between the sinter plant and the blast-furnace bins. It is also the strength necessary to withstand the burden in the blast-furnace. After

Jan 1, 1955

By A. P. Herring, S. F. Ravitz

Manganese dioxide reacts with sulfur dioxide solution in the absence of oxygen to form manganous ion and dithionate ion, together with a small amount of sulfate ion. The effects of SO, concentration, hydrogen ion concentration, stirring speed, and temperature on the rate of the reaction were studied. If it is assumed that undissociated SO2 molecules react rapidly with MnO, at active surface sites and that bisulfite ions react slowly, an equation can be derived that satisfactorily represents the observed reaction rates. For solutions in which the reaction with undissociated SO2 predominates, reaction rates and activation energies estimated from diffusion theory agree well with those found experimentally. Manganese dioxide dissolves readily in aqueous solutions of sulfur dioxide. The nature of the dissolution reaction was first investigated by Gay-Lussac and welter1 in 1819; they identified a new oxysulfur radical, the dithionate ion, S2O6, as one of the reaction products. Since then, the reaction has become a standard method of preparing dithionates in the laboratory and one of the more promising methods of leaching manganese from low-grade ores. In the "dithionate process" developed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines2,3, manganese-dioxide ore is suspended in a solution of calcium dithionate and leached with gas containing sulfur dioxide. The manganese is dissolved and the sulfur dioxide is oxidized according to the reactions:

Jan 1, 1965

By John Jermain Porter

The chief purpose of this paper is to indicate the laws governing the fuel-economy of the cupola, to examine the feasibility of some of the proposals for increasing its fuel-economy, and to show that the conditions limiting fuel-economy here are altogether different from those prevailing in the blast-furnace. The two methods available for studying the thermal efficiency of the cupola and determining the factors limiting fuel-economy are: 1, by the determination of the total heat-balance; and 2, by the application of the theory of critical temperatures. The case selected as an example represents a cupola operating under fairly efficient conditions. The data are as follows : Cupola, GO in. in diameter, 15 ft. high to the charging-door, with a 9-in. lining. Bed-charge, 2,000 lb. of coke and 4,000 lb. of iron. Subsequent charges, 400 lb. of coke and 4,000 Ib. of iron. Total number of charges, 20. There was 800 lb. of coke recovered from the drop, hence the total coke burned is 8,800 lb., or 0.11 lb. of coke per Ib. of iron. Coke contains 90 per cent. of fixed carbon and 2 per cent. of moisture. 300 1b. of kindling-wood is used in lighting. 80 lb. of limestone (95 per cent. of CaCO,) is used per charge, or 0.02 lb. per Ib. of iron. Melting-loss, 4 per cent.; distributed thus : Fe, 3.5; Si, 0.25; Mn, 0.25 per cent. Average analysis of top-gases : CO2, 15.1; CO, 10.0 per cent. Average temperature of top-gases, 1,600" F. Temperature of air and stock charged, 60" F. Dew-point of air, 50 F. The items entering into the total heat-balance and their calculation are as follows: 1. Heat of combustion of fuel.—Total heat evolved = 14,580 x lb. of carbon burned + 7,200 X Ib. of wood burned. Hence B.t.u. per lb. of iron charged =

Jan 1, 1913

By DR. RICHARD RATHBUN

(Washington Meeting, May, 1965.) THE remarks of Dr. Rathbun in his address of welcome render it unnecessary that I dwell either upon the history or aims of the National Museum, and enable me to proceed at once with a brief descriptive outline of the Department for which I am responsible, and this with particular reference to that division devoted to applied geology. The amount of geological material brought together prior to 1876, under the various Congressional acts quoted, was, though valuable, comparatively small. It consisted mainly of the collections made by Professor J. D. Dana and his assistants during the Wilkes Exploring Expedition; by the various geologists accompanying the surveys of the Pacific railroads in 1854-55; the Surveys West of the 100th Meridian under the direction of the Engineering Corps of the Army; the United States geological surveys under direction of Dr. F. V. Hayden ; and the various Land Office surveys. Prior to 1873 there were no paid assistants to care for these collections. They were studied, if studied at all, by " collabrators," so-called, several of whom had offices and even sleeping apartments in the Smithsonian Institution. In the list of these collaborators are found such names as Conrad, Cope, Gabb, Leidy, Lesquereux, Meek, and Newberry. The building now occupied by the National Museum was designed primarily to make room for the great mass of material secured in 1876 at the close of the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. As completed in 1880, it afforded opportunity for expansion and incidental organization on much more practical basis than had previously existed. This found expression in the creation of numerous departments with salaried officials to take charge of the various collections. With the appointment of Dr. George W. Hawes to the position of Curator of Geology and Mineralogy, in 1881, and Dr.

Jul 1, 1905