Search Documents

By Norman Weiss

The need for more efficient utilization of labor in the metal-mining industry has been the subject of several recent editorials in the mining press, and one attractive possibility for such improvement lies in the designing of future milling plants particularly with economy of manpower in mind. We are accustomed to think of mill design as the selection and coordinated arrangement of process equipment, but if labor is to be efficiently utilized it must be given early consideration in planning the new mill. There are three good reasons for economizing in labor: (I) to reduce costs, not only in the form of wages but also in housing, hospital, welfare, and other obligations that a company accepts when a new man is added to the payroll; (2) to prepare for recurrent periods of manpower shortage, during which a well-designed plant can manage to get along with skeleton crews; (3) because a milling plant that must depend upon an inordinately large labor force for its operation and maintenance is certain to be inefficient in other respects, for many of the shortcomings in design that make necessary the excessive use of labor are generally not corrected merely by having too many men. A simple example of this is a poorly designed ore-feeding system : if this is inadequate to the extent that one man must be constantly unclogging feed chutes, it may help the situation to put two men or three at this task instead of one, but the feed rate will still be inconstant. First of the factors that affect labor saving is the location of the mill. This is often determined by transportation costs alone, and as a result the mill may be placed close to the mine regardless of the nature of the terrain. The designer must then adapt his layout to the conditions, favorable or not. This happens often at small properties, where capital investment may seem more important than operating expense. In most instances, however, a mill site carefully selected for the advantages it gives the designer in laying out the plant is the most economical in the long run, even if it involves a slight increase in cost of ore haulage. Given some freedom of choice, the design engineer may be able to find just the piece of ground that provides the proper gradient for the needs of the flowsheet, permits installation of essential yards and trackage, and perhaps supplies an excellent site for a tailing dam. Further justification for having placed the mill not too close to the mine sometimes emerges only years later as an opportunity to treat ores from other properties. When it is known from the beginning that the new mill will serve a number of scattered mines, a free choice of mill site is naturally stimulated. The most important single factor in limiting the labor requirements of a mill is its materials-handling system for bring-

Jan 1, 1947

By M. A. Torcaso, P. Raimondi

The distribution of the oil phase in Berea sandstone resulting from increasing and decreasing the water saturation by imbibition was investigated Three types of distribution were recognized: trapped, normal and lagging. The amount of oil in each of these distributions was determined as a function of saturation by carrying out a miscible displacement in the oil phase under steady-state conditions of saturation. These conditions were maintained by flowing water and oil simultaneously in given ratios and by using a displacing solvent having essentially the same density and viscosity as the oil. A correlation shows the amount of trapped oil at any saturation to be directly proportional to the conventional residual oil saturation Sor The factor of proportionality is related to the fractional permeability to the water phase. Part of the oil which was not trapped was displaced in a piston-like manner (normal part) and part was eluted gradually (lagging part). The observed phenomena are more than of mere academic importance. Oil which is trapped may well provide the fuel essential for forward combustion and thus be beneficial. On the contrary, in tertiary recovery operations, it is this trapped oil which seems to make current techniques uneconomic. INTRODUCTION A typical oilfield may initially contain connate water and oil. After a period of primary production water often enters the field either from surrounding aquifers or from surface injection. During primary production evolution and establishment of a free gas saturation usually occurs. The effect and importance of this third phase is fully recognized. However, this investigation is limited to a two-phase system, one wetting phase (water) and one non-wetting phase (oil). The increase in water content of a water-wet system is termed imbibition. In a relative permeability-saturation diagram such as the one shown in Fig. 1, the initial conditions of the field would be represented by a point below a water saturation of about 35 per cent, i.e., where the imbibition and the drainage curves to the non-wetting phase nearly coincide. When water enters the field the relative permeability to oil decreases along the imbibition curve. At watered-out conditions the relative permeability to the oil becomes zero. At this point a considerable amount of oil. called residual oil, (about 35 per cent in Fig. 1) remains unrecovered. Any attempt to produce this oil will require that its saturation be increased. In Fig. 1 this would mean retracing the imbibition curve upwards. In addition, processes like alcohol and fire flooding, which can be employed at any stage of production, involve the complete displacement of connate water and an increase, or imbibition. of water saturation ahead of the displacing front. Thus, in several types of oil production it is the imbibition-relative permeability curve which rules the flow behavior. For this reason a knowledge of the distribution of the non-wetting phase, as obtained through imbibition, whether "coming down" or "going up" on the imbibition curve, is important.

Jan 1, 1965

By R. T. Murrill

BLOCK-SIGNAL and dispatching systems have been in use on surface railways for years, but only recently have they been applied to underground mining conditions. Formerly, all ore was moved underground by hand tramming; the surface openings were numerous and fairly close to the ore being mined. As the tramming distances increased, animals were brought into service. Then came the locomotive, and since its introduction, haulage lines have gradually been reduced to fewer levels and to fewer surface openings until more than 20,000 tons are being handled daily on one level in some of the larger mines. Under the, se conditions many trains must use the same-tracks, and signal systems have become necessary. In some cases it has been found more advantageous to use train dispatchers than to install signal devices. The dispatcher may be simply a flagman at a busy point or he may have mechanical signals to operate at more distant points. At the inspiration mine, Inspira-tion, Ariz., the station is equipped with a switch-con-trol board, whereby the dispatcher throws electrically all track switches in a certain block, which gives him complete control over all trains passing through that block. In a few cases, dispatcher stations are established in connection with a signal system.

Jan 2, 1922

By Maurice E. Peloubet

This discussion of accounting will describe the statements and the information that the accounting system produces, from the point of view of those who use such systems rather than of those who prepare them and who do the detail and technical accounting work. In any well organized mine, quarry, or other enterprise exploiting a mineral deposit, no matter how small, some clerical and accounting work must be done. Miners and other employes must be paid, supplies must be purchased and issued, and various tax and information returns, which even the smallest enterprise must file, have to be prepared. In this chapter it is assumed that the enterprise has employes of this type and that they understand the fundamentals of record keeping and accounting. It would be impossible here to give sufficiently full explanations to enable a man with no previous clerical and accounting training to set up and operate an accounting and cost system for even the simplest extractive operation. Rather, we shall hope first, to tell the investor and the operator, from the chief engineer or president down to a subforeman, what to expect from the accounting statements and records and how to use this information in his daily work; and second, that it will enable the man with some knowledge of accounting or bookkeeping, but with little or no experience in any extractive industry, to set up and operate a satisfactory system for a mine or other extractive enterprise. For readers who wish to go further, the bibliography at the end of this chapter contains many references. The emphasis has, therefore, been placed on the statements to be produced and the purposes for which they are to be used rather than the underlying books and records. These are, with a few exceptions which will be described later, essentially what might be found in any industrial enterprise and would probably, in the extremely small enterprise, consist of handwritten journals, ledgers, analysis books, payroll books, and stores ledgers. In the larger enterprise, various types of mechanical accounting would be introduced in proportion to the complexity of the operation.

Jan 1, 1959

On Feb. 16, 1948, the Board of Directors of AIME authorized the publishing of "Technical Notes" in METALS TECHNOLOGY. The purpose is to provide prompt publication of wry short items of the following general types: 1. Results of short investigations which do not warrant a paper. 2. The conclusions of extensive investigations of insufficient general interest to justify a regular paper. 3. Conclusions arising in the course of an investigation, which, because of interest to others in the field, the author wishes to present prior to completion of the investigation. 4. Pertinent factual comment (not mere argument) on the subject matter of previous "Notes." Such Notes will be subject to the approval of the Auxiliary and AIME Publications Committees, but can be handled more promptly than regular papers because they need not be referred to readers. The recommended maxi- mum length is 500 words; notes in excess of 1,000 words will not be considered for this type of publication. A graph or photograph may be included as part of the note when particularly illustrative. As with regular papers, contributions to the new section should be submitted to the Secretary of the AIME.

Jan 1, 1948

By Alfred H. Hesse, Edwin T. Myskowski

The development by the U. S. Bureau of Mines of a process for purifying manganese by electrolysis has stimulated interest in manganese alloys. While recent publications have shown some alloys of manganese and copper to possess rather unusual properties, none have included information on tensile properties, which have an important bearing on the usefulness of the alloys. Manganese-copper alloys can be heat-treated, since the single phases that exist at high temperatures may be retained by quenching. According to Persson,1 when quenched alloys containing from about 30 to nearly IOO per cent manganese are reheated, alpha manganese is precipitated (Fig. I). Calculations based on Persson's X-ray data indicate that this decomposi-tion is accompanied by a change in volume of as much as ; per cent. The reason that this large volume change has not been noted probably is the slow rate at which equilibrium is reached by these alloys. In an investigation on hardening by cold-work and heat-treatment, Dean and Anderson3 found that quenched alloys increase in hardness with manganese content and that high-manganese alloys harden very slowly with cold-work, while high-copper alloys harden much more rapidly. Heat-treatment has little effect on manganese-copper alloys containing less than 40 per cent Mn, and affects those alloys containing more than 40 per cent in accordance with their manganese content and heat-treating temperature. Dean and Anderson4 also found that cold-work increased electrical resistance of alloys containing from 50 to 80 per cent Mn, and that heat-treatment of alloys containing from 40 to 96 per cent Mn altered the electrical resistance considerably. Dean, Anderson and Potter6 have shown that the high vibration damping capacity that characterizes manganese-copper alloys containing 40 to go per cent Mn is affected by cold-work and heat-treatments. Highest vibration damping capacity at low stresses was obtained by heating for 2 hr. at 450°C. (842°F.) after quenching from solution temperatures. Preparalion of Alloys.—The alloys for these tests were melted in a 17-lb. basic-lined high-frequency induction furnace using electrolytic manganese, grade A ingot copper and a 70-30 CU-Mn master alloy (69.80 per cent Cu, 0.12 Fe, 0.04 Si, 0.006 S, 0.07 C, balance Mn). The manganese was heated slowly to expel excess dissolved gases and melted before the addition of copper. No fluxes or covers were used. The melts were cast in tapered iron molds and the ingots were reduced go per cent when forged to 1/2-in. rounds. These rods were given 2-hr. solution treatments at temperatures that depended upon the composition (Table I). Tensile Tests.—The tensile specimens, 0.313-in. diameter (1.25-in. gauge length),

Jan 1, 1942

By Edwin T. Myskowski, Alfred H. Hesse

The development by the U. S. Bureau of Mines of a process for purifying manganese by electrolysis has stimulated interest in manganese alloys. While recent publications have shown some alloys of manganese and copper to possess rather unusual properties, none have included information on tensile properties, which have an important bearing on the usefulness of the alloys. Manganese-copper alloys can be heat-treated, since the single phases that exist at high temperatures may be retained by quenching. According to Persson,1 when quenched alloys containing from about 30 to nearly IOO per cent manganese are reheated, alpha manganese is precipitated (Fig. I). Calculations based on Persson's X-ray data indicate that this decomposi-tion is accompanied by a change in volume of as much as ; per cent. The reason that this large volume change has not been noted probably is the slow rate at which equilibrium is reached by these alloys. In an investigation on hardening by cold-work and heat-treatment, Dean and Anderson3 found that quenched alloys increase in hardness with manganese content and that high-manganese alloys harden very slowly with cold-work, while high-copper alloys harden much more rapidly. Heat-treatment has little effect on manganese-copper alloys containing less than 40 per cent Mn, and affects those alloys containing more than 40 per cent in accordance with their manganese content and heat-treating temperature. Dean and Anderson4 also found that cold-work increased electrical resistance of alloys containing from 50 to 80 per cent Mn, and that heat-treatment of alloys containing from 40 to 96 per cent Mn altered the electrical resistance considerably. Dean, Anderson and Potter6 have shown that the high vibration damping capacity that characterizes manganese-copper alloys containing 40 to go per cent Mn is affected by cold-work and heat-treatments. Highest vibration damping capacity at low stresses was obtained by heating for 2 hr. at 450°C. (842°F.) after quenching from solution temperatures. Preparalion of Alloys.—The alloys for these tests were melted in a 17-lb. basic-lined high-frequency induction furnace using electrolytic manganese, grade A ingot copper and a 70-30 CU-Mn master alloy (69.80 per cent Cu, 0.12 Fe, 0.04 Si, 0.006 S, 0.07 C, balance Mn). The manganese was heated slowly to expel excess dissolved gases and melted before the addition of copper. No fluxes or covers were used. The melts were cast in tapered iron molds and the ingots were reduced go per cent when forged to 1/2-in. rounds. These rods were given 2-hr. solution treatments at temperatures that depended upon the composition (Table I). Tensile Tests.—The tensile specimens, 0.313-in. diameter (1.25-in. gauge length),

Jan 1, 1942

By Edwin A. Sperry

In 1892 I tested an ore, which was peculiarly difficult to treat, on several concentrators then in general use, including t,he Frue-vanner, the Luhrig table and the Cornish buddle. Owing to the character of the ore it had to be crushed- to a very fine state of division, and the results obtained were far from satisfactory; a large proportion of the values was lost in the slimes, which indicated the necessity of a very careful sizing before dressing. Even after reworking some of the slime-tailings, the results, in my opinion, were not as good aa those which might be obtained on a table designed more especially for the handling of slime. Although the subject of slime-concentration has occupied the attention of many engineers who have threshed the field quite thoroughly, the results obtained in my work led to a careful

Jan 1, 1904

By Joseph E. Worthington

Many thousands of years ago when our earliest ancestor first swung out of a tree, picked up a rock, and threw it at what he hoped might be his lunch, the minerals industry, in a manner of speaking, was born. It was then a very long step indeed to the primitive metal industry of our early civilizations, for we know that precious metals were accumulated and some metal objects were produced several thousand years ago. Prospecting, or "exploration" to use the modern euphemism, consisted of little more than outcrop examination and the use of a gold pan, and it probably did not change much from our earliest civilizations until relatively recent times. In a general sense, all the early explorers of North America were also prospectors, for mineral wealth was certainly one of the goals of the first pioneers and settlers. The earliest pioneers didn't do too badly either, for they discovered copper and iron in various places in the Appalachians and Michigan, gold in the Southeast Piedmont and many mineralized areas in the Southwest. In most places these were outcropping ores or gossans, and the prospecting was incidental to the arduous task of ekeing out a living in a new land. It was the explosive discovery of rich placer gold deposits at Sutter's Mill in California that caught the public fancy and precipitated the establishment of prospecting as a full-time occupation. After the end of the Civil War in 1865, full-time prospecting became an important occupation and continued as such for almost three generations. Prospectors equipped with picks, shovels, gold pans and four-footed transportation swarmed all over what are now our Western States, discovering thousands upon thousands of mineral showings-and certainly most of today's large mining districts. Our vigorous western mining industry is a tribute to the courage and persistence of these men. The techniques of these picturesque prospectors, however, were essentially the same as those of their predecessors-examination of every outcrop and assiduous use of the gold pan. The great increase in discovery at this time was therefore due to increased activity rather than to different techniques. An important result of this in- creased prospecting was the growth of interest in geology. It was during this period that the U.S. Geological Survey began to grow. Many of the major mining districts were mapped, and geological studies and projections began to have an impact on further ore discovery. Ore search and development gradually became more geologically oriented and the geologist became a fixture in most mining camps by the 20th century. The development of mass-mining techniques in the early part of the century also changed exploration concepts.

Jan 1, 1971

By Takahide Wakamatsu, Douglas W. Fuerstenau

Contact angles on alumina are related directly to the adsorption of alkyl sulfonates at the solid-water interface and thus are strongly controlled by the pH of the solution, the concentration of surfactant, and the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. As the pH of the solution is increased above the point of zero charge, sulfonate adsorption ceases and alumina remains hydrophilic. However, in neutral and acidic solutions, contact angles increase markedly in magnitude when the adsorbed sulfonate ions form hemimicelles at the solid-water interface. Under a wide variety of solution conditions, a limiting value of the contact angle is attained at the point of reversal of the zeta potential. Finally, contact angle phenomena are empirically correlated with the sulfonate adsorption density through the work of adhesion.

Jan 1, 1974

By T. W. Healy, M. S. Moignard

The use of electrokinetic or zeta-potential phenomena in studies of the properties of mineral sulphides has increased greatly over recent years. This review aims to examine and discuss the body of literature on the subject of electrokinetic properties of sulphides in a comprehensive and critical manner. Although the review covers the period from 1925 to 1975, it is only in the past ten years that researchers have been fully aware of the implications and problems of chemical reactions, notably oxidation and precipitation reactions, on the surface properties of sulphide minerals. These papers are discussed in more detail than the earlier publications. A table containing a list of determinations of iso-electric- points and points-of-zero-charge of mineral sulphides, and the methods employed in obtaining these results, is presented.

Jan 1, 1976

By S. C. Sun, John A. L. Campbell

Objective of the ittvestigation was to determine the electrokinetic differences, if ally, of anthracite lithotypes and thus establish the feasibility of making a coqlstituent separation by froth flotation or other surface-dependent processes. The elec-trokinetic properties were determined by streaming potential methods. In addition, chemical and physical analyses of the lithotypes were made to establish nonsubjec-tive parameters for their diflerentiation. Electrokinetic results indicate a difference in the characteristics of the lithotypes. The isoelectric points of 4 anthracites and 12 lithotypes were obtained. It was suggested that the relative flotation rates of the lithotypes were pH dependent and that the maximum flotation rate of anthracite occurs in an acidic circuit. Although there has been an increased interest in the electrokinetic properties of coal,' research on the subject is still in an early stage of development."' To the authors' knowledge, no electrokinetic studies have been made on coal lithotypes, particularly anthracite litho-types. This paper presents the results of an investigation of the double layer properties displayed at the anthracite/water interface (whole coal and lithotypes) as determined by streaming potential methods. It is hoped that this investigation and related future investigations will provide correlations from which the surface properties of any coal can be predicted and then related to surface-dependent processes such as froth flotation and flocculation. Another aspect of this research, undertaken to determine the physical and chemical parameters necessary for anthracite lithotype differentiation, was previously published.? The number of parameters involved, lithologic, organic and inorganic, and the wide divergence of these parameters within an individual coal limits the practical utilization of the results; however, the result? are of value and of interest in guiding theoretical developments. Keeping the limitations in mind, the results are analyzed in terms of their application to froth flotation processes and are used to indicate the feasibility of making a lithotype separation by flotation. Experimental Procedure Prior to discussing the experimental work per se, it would be of value to establish an understanding of anthracite lithology. Anthracite Lithology: Coal seams display two different modes of variation, rank and type. A coal's position in the continuous series ranging from peats through anthracites determines its rank. The rank of the material under consideration is anthracite. The different bands of coal which constitute a coal seam are distinctly contrasted in regard to physical properties and chemical composition. These megascopic bands are the coal types and are termed lithotypes., A megascopic examination of 11 anthracites revealed three distinct, homogeneous, lithotypes. The classic description of bituminous coal lithotypes as proposed by Stope" was found to be quite adequate for recognizing the three lithotypes in anthracite, namely vitrain, durain, and fusain. The term vitrain describes the brilliant constituent of coal; durain describes dull coal; and fusain is the term applied to fossil charcoal. The anthracites studied were generally found to contain 60-80% vitrain, 10-30% durain, and 1-10% fusain. A complete description of the physical characteristics and chemical composition of the studied lithotypes can be found in a previous publication.' Sample Preparation: Nine of the anthracites used in the investigation were from Pennsylvania, one was from Russia, and one from Wales. Table 1 shows the various designations and sources of the employed anthracites. The letter V, D, or F added to the whole coal designation indicates respectively the vitrain, durain or fusain lithotype of that coal. The samples were carefully collected to avoid contamination. To insure against oxidation, the samples were obtained as fresh as possible and stored under nitrogen or water. Generally a representative sample of the seam and samples containing high concentrations of one or another of the petrographic constituents were secured for each coal. Pure lithotypes were prepared by manual separation and selection. The pure lithotypes and representative samples were ground to —35 mesh and screened to 35 x 48 mesh. The 35 x 48-mesh fraction was then passed over a magnet to remove iron contamination, washed with doubly

Jan 1, 1971

By A. J. M. Ross, R. G. Wayland

The Homestake mine is situated in Whitewood mining district, in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota, in the city of Lead, Lawrence County. The entire property, comprising 557 lode claims with a total area of 3343 acres, is held under United States Patent. The older claims were 300 by 1500 ft. under local regulations, the newer ones 600 by 1500 ft. The Homestake was discovered April 9, 1876, by Moses and Fred Manuel, and Jake Harney, who were drawn into the northern hills, from the Custer placer district, by news of the discovery of rich placer deposits in Deadwood Gulch. They located a number of additional lode claims and, in a short time, the whole country was covered with locations. The Manuel brothers built an arrastre the following winter and took out $5000. The next year the Homestake lode was sold to Senator George Hearst and associates, who organized the Homestake Mining Co. Other companies were formed to exploit other groups of claims and at one time fivc companies were operating on this deposit, the Father DeSmet, the Dead-wood-Terra, the Caledonia, the Highland, and the Homestake Mining Co. These companies, however, have been merged into the Homestake Mining Company. The first stamp mill, known as the "Eighty Mill," commenced operation on July 12, 1878, and production has been nearly continuous since that time. Geology The orebodies of the Homestake are found in an intensely folded and altered bed of dolomitic limestone occurring in a series of ancient rocks believed to be of Archean age, belonging to the Keewatin series. The Keewatin series is estimated to be 20,000 ft. thick and is made up essentially of quartz mica schists, garnet schists, quartzites, slates, and some green schists, probably derived from basic igneous rocks. The dolomitic limestone bed has a thickness of 40 to 60 ft. The great width of ore, as much as 400 ft. in some of the stopes, is due to the folding, wherein the bed is repeated. In other cases the bed is stretched and pinched out. Dikes of Tertiary rhyolite cut across the country and, in places, sills overlie the

Jan 1, 1925

By F. Keller, A. H. Geisler

ALTHOUGH the subject of precipitation from solid solution appears to be one of the more profitable fields in metallurgy for study with the electron microscope, few comprehensive studies have yet been made. Occasionally electron micrographs have been published that illustrated alleged precipitation in various alloys, but frequently the apparent size, shape and distribution of the particles do not fully agree with those expected from theory or from observations of the precipitate when the particles have grown to a size resolvable with the light microscope. The presence of a Widmanstätten pattern for submicroscopic precipitate particles has been demonstrated for only a few aged alloys.1 The initial problem has been the development of suitable techniques for applying the transmission-type instrument to a field that has been inherently associated with reflection-type microscopes. The various techniques have been the subjects of numerous publications, and instead of describing them individually here it will suffice to say that the oxide film method has proved to be the most satisfactory method yet found for studying the microstructure of aluminum alloys with the electron microscope. This method has the definite characteristic advantage that the actual surface layer of the specimen is examined and not a plastic or silica replica. Doubtless suitable methods for forming and removing the oxide film could be developed for alloys of other metals. The purpose of this report is to point out the characteristics of the oxide film method that have been observed during the studies of numerous aged aluminum alloys and to present the results of these studies. PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS The oxide film method for preparing specimens of aluminum alloys for examination in the electron microscope has been described in detail previously.1,2 Briefly, the procedure consists of preparing the metallographic specimen, forming the film by anodic oxidation and removing the film from the prepared surface of the oxidized specimen. The specimen is polished according to the usual procedure for microscopic examination.3 The specimen may then be etched to remove flowed metal but etching to attack the alloy constituents or to leave them in relief as in the replica processes is not necessary. Electrolytic polishing is not generally recommended. Deep-etched specimens are used frequently, however, since they provide information that is not revealed by polished specimens and frequently present the same information more clearly than do the polished specimens. The surface preparation of specimens to be deep-etched is not important, since specimens that have been subjected to the first wet polishing operation are generally used, but frequently the as-rolled surface is suitable. These specimens are then etched using a suitable macroetching reagent.

Jan 1, 1946

Officials of the State Department have expressed their hope that a considerable number of technical men will take the examination for consular service. The Department recognizes that the interest of the United States will be served best if technical men are made available through these examinations for vacancies at points where their training will be of special value. Industrial engineers who have passed the con-sular examination will be assigned to industrial centers of Europe or South America. Mining engineers, chemists, electrical engineers, etc., will be assigned to industrial centers requiring special training.

Jan 11, 1919

By K. M. Rolls, J. Wulff, D. A. Colling

Solid-solution alloys of the Ta- Ti system containing up to 70 at. pct Ti were melted and fabricated into wire. Steady magnetic-field measurements of cold-worked wires at 4.2°K indicate that the resistive critical field increases smoothly with increasing titanium, reaching a maximum of 93 kG (J = 1 amp per sq cm) for a composition of about 50 at. pct Ti. The composition dependence of the resistive critical field indicates it is largely paramagnetically limited for alloys containing more than 35 at. pct Ti. For cold-worked wires the value of the critical current density, Jc , was found to be insensitive to composition changes for compositions in excess of 20 at. pct Ti. It was observed that Jc could be increased by final-size heat treatment at 400°C without altering the value of- the resistive critical field. Experimental data are used to calculate the electronic specific-heat coefficient and the "upper critical field" for the alloys studied. THE effect and importance of metallurgical structure on superconducting properties have been summarized by Livingston and Schadler.1 Specific work on solid-solution alloys such as Nb-zr2-7 and Nb-Ti5-7 have shown that critical current density (Jc) and superconducting transition temperature are structure-sensitive. Berlincourt et al.6,8,9 in their studies of transition-metal alloys find that Ta-Ti alloys remain superconducting at fields comparable to Nb-Ti alloys. 6,8 Transverse critical current tests of a Ta-10 at. pct Ti alloy10 and longitudinal critical current tests of a Ta-25 at. pct Ti alloy1' indicate that such alloys are capable of carrying high currents at intermediate fields (-40 kG). The work reported in the present paper was undertaken to explore the superconducting properties of further compositions in the Ta-Ti alloy system as well as the structure sensitivity of the superconducting properties. I) EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Alloys were prepared by melting tantalum (Fansteel Metallurgical Corp., 99.96 pct purity) and iodide, crystal bar titanium (Foote Mineral Co., 99.92 pct purity) mixtures in an arc furnace on a water-cooled copper hearth using a tungsten electrode. Melting was accomplished in a purified, gettered argon atmosphere at pressures from 250 to 400 Torr. Each alloy was turned and remelted fourteen times to assure complete mixing of tantalum and titanium. Ex- cessive coring in the cast samples was, nevertheless, observed. This was somewhat reduced by annealing in vacuo at 1000°C for 13 hr. The ingots were then machined to 0.250 in. diam, jacketed in Type 304 stainless-steel tubing, and swaged to 0.140 in. diam. They were then drawn to 0.010-in.-diam wire. Alloys containing up to 70 at. pct Ti were readily cold-drawn to wire in this manner. Later experiments showed that oxygen additions up to -3000 ppm could also be cold-worked into wire. Test samples for superconductivity measurements in the 2-in, air-core Bitter solenoids of the M.I.T. National Magnet Laboratory were prepared from 10-in. lengths of 0.010-in.-diam wire, cleaned of residual wire-drawing lubricant. Current contacts were made by clamping clean copper tubing over both No. 18 current lead wire and the ultrasonically indium-tinned ends of the specimen wire.12 Potential leads of No. 32 copper wire were connected to the specimen by ultrasonic soldering in an indium bath. The potential lead separation was about 4 cm, corresponding to the circumference of the Bakelite rod to which the wire was affixed with half-mil Teflon tape. The final specimen configuration is shown in Fig. 1. Specimens were lowered into a liquid helium bath (4.2oK) in a double solenoid dewar and positioned so that the maximum magnetic field was oriented transverse to the wire axis of the gage section. Measurements were made by passing a current through the specimen at a preset solenoidal magnetic field. The current was increased until a 1-pv potential difference appeared across the gage section (1/4 µv per cm). At low magnetic fields, however, it was not possible to use this criterion because power-dissipation difficul-

Jan 1, 1967

By Wm. Metcalf

One point of vital importance has not been touched upon this evening; it is the necessity of having a history of the mode of

Jan 1, 1882

By O. D. Sherby

In 1938, Kanter' revealed that the steady-state creep rate of low-carbon iron alloys could be correlated by an activation energy expression, where the activation energy for creep, Qc, was found equal to about 90.0 kcal per mole for most of the alloys investigated. He suggested that creep at high temperatures might be controlled by some sort of solid self-diffusion process since the value of Qc was about equal to the known value for self-diffusion, Qd. Correlations were not further attempted along these lines until many years later, when new evidence2-8 was presented suggesting that Qc = Qd for many metals. This equality now appears to be established for ten metals (Al, Pb, Ni, Mg, Cd, In, a Fe, y Fe, Cu, and Au). This experimental fact prompted several investigators to postulate various mechanisms of dislocation motion which would yield an activation energy for creep equal to that for self-diffusion.7-9 Possibly the most accepted theory is that based on dislocation climb7 where a dislocation is envisioned to surmount a barrier by an atom-vacancy exchange process, thereby "climbing" from one slip plane to another. Such a model would suggest that the steady-state creep rate, i, should be directly proportional to the rate of self-diffusion, D, for a given creep stress. In order to more clearly reveal the relationship between creep and diffusion, and to eventually determine the correct model, it would be desirable to obtain data showing correlations between i and D, rather than with a comparison of the temperature coefficients, Q. It has been known for some time that the self-diffusivity of iron atoms is greatly decreased when body-centered-cubic (a) iron transforms to face-centered-cubic (y) iron. This has been ascribed to the more close-packed structure of y iron. The diffusivity ratio at the transition temperature is Da/Dy =350. Correlations of creep data for a and y iron5 reveal that the creep rates under a given stress at the transition temperature differ by about the same ratio (ea/ey 2 200). It would be difficult to reconcile these results on any other basis than that the diffusivity of atoms probably controls creep of iron in some very direct way. No other published data on other allotropic metals appear currently available for further checking such a possible correlation between i and D. Thallium transforms from a hexagonal close-packed (a) structure to a body-centered-cubic (ß) structure at 230°C (503°K) and the self-diffusivities of the two structures have been determined by shirn.10 His results are plotted in Fig. 1 where it will be noted that Dß/Da = 25 at the transition temperature. It would appear desirable, therefore, to determine the creep rates of polycrystalline a and ß thallium at the transition temperature, as well as determine

Jan 1, 1959

By W. H. Bassett

A 10-year, sea-water, corrosion test of tubes of several copper alloys has shown that many alloys withstood attack by solution, pitting, and dezinkification; a 1-year, salt-spray test of sheet-metal specimens of the same composition showed the same results. THE late J. P. Sparrow, chief operating engineer of the New York Edison Co., carried out a series of practical tests on condenser tubes of several copper alloys and reported on the results to the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies at its meeting in' September, 1913. In the preparation of these tubes the senior author had the pleasure of cooperating. Copper-zinc alloys in the proportions of 60-40, 70-30, 80-20, 90-10, and Admiralty metal, which is in effect 70-30 with 1 per cent. of tin, were tried. Monel metal and several copper-nickel alloys, and 8, 5, and 3 per cent. aluminum bronze were also tried. At the time of this report, the aluminum bronze had been in service for 4 1/2 years and seemed to be giving especially good results but later it began to fail and showed no substantial improvement over Admiralty metal. Monel metal was unsatisfactory and the nickel alloys apparently did not give better service than the Admiralty alloy. Previous to the publication of the report, and after considerable discussion, it was agreed that a test where tubes of different kinds could be under laboratory observation would be advisable, so the apparatus described here was set up in The American Brass Co.'s Waterbury Laboratory. This was fitted with tubes of copper, brass, bronze, nickel silver, cupro-nickel and other alloys, and the test started Oct. 11, 1912. Salt water from East River, New York harbor, was barrelled and transported to the laboratory for the test. A fresh supply, completely replacing the water in service, was obtained at the end of each six months period.

Jan 1, 1925

By Gilbert P. Moore

Production in the Argentine in 1930 amounted to 1,415,099.7 metric tons, which converted into barrels of 42 gal., using the factor of 6.29, amounts to 8,909,773 bbl. This is a decrease of 481,613 bbl. from the 1929 production, which was 9,391,386 bbl. The production for 1930 was divided among three fields, as shown in Table 1. Table 2 covers Table 1.—Argentine Oil Production, 1930, by Fields Barrels Comodoro Rivadauia District Government........................................... 4,547,670 Railways Co........................................... 1,314,358 Astra-Eastern......................................... 1,016,024 Anglo-Persian......................................... 365,021 Solano Co............................................. 24,613 Dutch Shell........................................... 6,963 7,274,649 Neuquen District Government........................................... 569,245 Standard Oil-Argentina................................. 659,551 Astra-Eastern......................................... 8,234 Challaco Co. (Sol)...................................... 121,598 1,358,628 Salta District Government........................................... 90,576 Standard Oil-Argentina.................................. 185,920 276,496 8,909,773

Jan 1, 1931