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By N. P. Goss

Asterism appearing in X-ray Laue diagrams is an extremely sensitive index of changes in the internal structures of individual grains of polycrystalline metals. It indicates the existence of various forms of subboundary structure or subdivision within the grain. The present viewpoint is that the grain is made up of lattice blocks having substantially the same size and shape.l-4 When these blocks all assume exactly the same orientation, the crystal is perfect and asterism is absent. Cleaves and Thompson5 observed that the hardness of iron is virtually constant over a range of grain sizes. It is quite possible that the subboundary structure caused this, and that the latter is just as important as grain size itself. While the experiments reported here are not conclusive, they do support this viewpoint. Metals can, under certain conditions, be prepared entirely free from asterism, but this preparation does not necessarily require long heating or slow cooling, as will be shown here. In this paper a distinction is made between mosaic and distorted grain structures but the difference is only a matter of degree. In a previous paper9 it was shown that the grains can become distorted even during heat-treatment. The block structure exists inherently, even in a perfect crystal; the size and shape of these crystallites, or lattice blocks, varies, depending upon a number of factors. Goetz, for example: has shown that a metal before crystallizing from the molten state must go through a paracrystalline phase with oriented groups of atoms about 10-l4 to 10-l5 c.c., or 10-15 cm. in size. These crystallites, or blocks, appear to survive the most drastic cold-working, for it has been shown, and more elaborately by Wood's recent work," that cold-working cannot reduce the size of these crystallites smaller than of the order 10-5 cm. The interesting correlation brought out by the experiments of Goetz and Wood is that the block size after severe cold-working is of the same order of magnitude as the groups that formed in the metal just before crystallizing from the molten state. The work of Ewald and Rennenger17 and the now classical experiments of Darwin and James12,13 all strongly suggest the existence of a periodic structure of crystal. lites smaller than the grain itself. Related to this effect is the appearance of veinlike markings in the microstructures. Ammer-man and Kornfeld,16 in their experiments, did not observe any evidence of veining in specimens of alpha iron annealed below A3 and believed that veining was not due to impurities in the iron, as Northcott16 suggested; veining was observed by them only in specimens annealed above A3. Hanemann,16 Schrader and Tangerding found that annealing in hydrogen did not diminish veining and so it could not be caused by oxides. They concluded that veining was due to a slight difference in the orientation of ferrite lattice blocks. This viewpoint is well supported by the evidence presented here.

Jan 1, 1941

By N. P. Goss

Asterism appearing in X-ray Laue diagrams is an extremely sensitive index of changes in the internal structures of individual grains of polycrystalline metals. It indicates the existence of various forms of subboundary structure or subdivision within the grain. The present viewpoint is that the grain is made up of lattice blocks having substantially the same size and shape.l-4 When these blocks all assume exactly the same orientation, the crystal is perfect and asterism is absent. Cleaves and Thompson5 observed that the hardness of iron is virtually constant over a range of grain sizes. It is quite possible that the subboundary structure caused this, and that the latter is just as important as grain size itself. While the experiments reported here are not conclusive, they do support this viewpoint. Metals can, under certain conditions, be prepared entirely free from asterism, but this preparation does not necessarily require long heating or slow cooling, as will be shown here. In this paper a distinction is made between mosaic and distorted grain structures but the difference is only a matter of degree. In a previous paper9 it was shown that the grains can become distorted even during heat-treatment. The block structure exists inherently, even in a perfect crystal; the size and shape of these crystallites, or lattice blocks, varies, depending upon a number of factors. Goetz, for example: has shown that a metal before crystallizing from the molten state must go through a paracrystalline phase with oriented groups of atoms about 10-l4 to 10-l5 c.c., or 10-15 cm. in size. These crystallites, or blocks, appear to survive the most drastic cold-working, for it has been shown, and more elaborately by Wood's recent work," that cold-working cannot reduce the size of these crystallites smaller than of the order 10-5 cm. The interesting correlation brought out by the experiments of Goetz and Wood is that the block size after severe cold-working is of the same order of magnitude as the groups that formed in the metal just before crystallizing from the molten state. The work of Ewald and Rennenger17 and the now classical experiments of Darwin and James12,13 all strongly suggest the existence of a periodic structure of crystal. lites smaller than the grain itself. Related to this effect is the appearance of veinlike markings in the microstructures. Ammer-man and Kornfeld,16 in their experiments, did not observe any evidence of veining in specimens of alpha iron annealed below A3 and believed that veining was not due to impurities in the iron, as Northcott16 suggested; veining was observed by them only in specimens annealed above A3. Hanemann,16 Schrader and Tangerding found that annealing in hydrogen did not diminish veining and so it could not be caused by oxides. They concluded that veining was due to a slight difference in the orientation of ferrite lattice blocks. This viewpoint is well supported by the evidence presented here.

Jan 1, 1941

By John Eash

DURING recent years nickel has had an increasingly important role as an alloying element in the copper-tin bronzes. Nickel additions not only produce better casting alloys but also make alloys whose properties can be varied by precipitation hardening; thus leading to increased commercial application of copper-nickel-tin alloys. Recent investigations have indicated a decrease in the solubility of tin in the alpha phase as the annealing temperature is lowered and as the nickel content is increased within certain limits. A further change caused by the nickel additions is produced in the excess phase of the copper-tin bronzes. The alpha plus delta eutectoid is replaced by a clear precipitated constituent in the alloys containing up to 15 per cent tin and not less than 1 per cent nickel. This paper has a dual purpose. The first is to present a new determination of the alpha-phase boundary in alloys containing from 0 to 20 per cent nickel, together with the liquidus and solidus temperatures above that field. The second purpose is to give the equilibrium conditions existing in alloys exceeding the alpha phase containing up to 31 per cent tin and 5 per cent nickel, so that the disappearance of the alpha plus delta eutectoid constituent may be explained. After considering the earlier investigations of the related alloy systems and the experimental procedure used in this investigation, the alloys will be discussed in groups as separate quasibinary systems containing constant amounts of nickel. The systems considered contain 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 and 20 per cent nickel. The straight copper-tin system was reinvestigated in order to establish a foundation on which to build the remaining material. The 1 per cent nickel alloys studied give the relations existing in the region of the eutectoid transformation between the copper-tin system and the 2 per cent nickel copper-tin system which has been investigated in detail. The thorough examination of the latter system was made since 2 per cent of nickel is representative of the commercial additions to the cast bronzes and also because it is sufficient to produce

Jan 1, 1932

By David J. Mack

THE structures and properties of the copper-aluminum alloys have been the subject of much study since the classic investigation of Carpenter and Edwards1 focused attention on the engineering utility of these alloys. It was recognized at an early date that the metallographic structures developed in the aluminum bronzes were similar to those developed in steels, both in the annealed and the rapidly cooled state. Most investigators have been concerned with the acicular, martensitic-like structure formed from the ß solid solution upon rapid quenching; the transformation of the ß under equilibrium cooling to a lamellar eutectoid having been relatively neglected. With the introduction in 1930 by Davenport and Bain2 of the isothermal transformation technique for studying eutectoidal decompositions, a new field was opened. Although an enormous amount of work has since been done on the isothermal transformation of steel, study of structurally analogous systems has been almost totally overlooked. The outstanding exception was the prize-winning paper† of Smith and Lindlief3 who investigated the decomposition of the ß phase in copper-aluminum alloys by isothermal methods. This was followed in 1934 by Wasserman's reviews of available information on analogous transformations in eutectoid alloys. Since that time no comprehensive study of isothermally transformed eutectoids analogous to steel has appeared, although many valuable contributions have been made to an understanding of the structures developed in such systems. Important papers have been published by Kurdjumow, Gridnew and co-workers, 5-17 Obinata,18,19 Greninger,20,21 and others .22.28 The work to be described in this paper was an out-growth of preliminary studies on the isothermal transformation of a eutectoid aluminum bronze, after it became apparent that the alloy under study was reacting somewhat differently than the similar alloy used by Smith and Lindlief. PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTS The material used in this study was a high purity aluminum bronze especially prepared by Ampco Metal, Inc. It analyzed: Copper-88.o7 pct, Aluminum-11.89 Oct, Iron-0.02 pct, Manganese-0.01 pct, Others-Balance. Although some disagreement exists on the exact composition of the eutectoid, this alloy was believed to be of essentially eutectoid composition even though some pro-eutectoid* delta particles existed in the microstructure of furnace cooled specimens. Specimens transformed isothermally at temperatures slightly below the eutectoid showed relatively large amounts of pre-eutectoid delta, but as will be shown later, this results

Jan 1, 1947

By B. J. Nelson, F. N. Rhines

STUDIES upon the rates of oxidation of copper alloys containing small quantities of the alloying elements1,2 have shown that steady growth of the scales at predictable rates is limited to a small concentration range and to oxidation at temperatures above 600°C., whereas unpredictable and erratic oxidation behavior is found with alloys containing larger additions and at low temperatures. The latter effect appears to be associated with modifications in the geometric disposition of the oxides. At low concentrations of the baser elements in copper, simple oxidation behavior is typified by the formation of two distinguishable zones of oxidation: (I) a subscale composed of discrete particles of the oxide of the alloying element embedded in substantially pure copper and (2) an external scale composed of cuprous oxide (with a very thin layer of cupric oxide on the outside) containing particles of the alloying element distributed throughout, but most profusely near the metal surface (see Fig. 2, top). Where this type of structure obtains, the process of oxidation is believed to be implemented, and its rate controlled, by the diffusion of the reacting elements through a continuous matrix phase; i.e., through the alpha (metallic) phase of the subscale and alloy and through the cuprous oxide of the external scale. Copper is presumed to diffuse outward through the cuprous oxide layer to the external surface, where it reacts to form more cuprous oxide.3 Oxygen is delivered at the oxide-metal interface in the form of cuprous oxide, which may either react with the alloying element to deposit its oxide at the inner limit of the external scale or dissolve in the pure copper that remains at the surface of the metal after it has become depleted in its oxidizable alloying elements. Both oxygen and the alloying element are pictured as diffusing through the metal, the oxygen inward and the alloying element outward. Where the two diffusion streams meet in sufficient concentration the oxide of the subscale is precipitated. If the oxygen pressure in the surrounding atmosphere is just below the pressure necessary to maintain cuprous oxide undecomposed, no cuprous oxide can be formed; some of the oxide of the alloying element may form upon the external surface, if its decomposition pressure is below that of cuprous oxide, and a normal subscale appears. This condition is achieved experimentally by enclosing the alloy with cuprous oxide together with an excess of copper. At temperatures from 600°C. downward, the precipitated oxides tend to accumulate at the grain boundaries of the alpha phase where a relatively small volume establishes a partial barrier to the diffusion of the reactants. Similarly, large volumes of precipitated oxides tend to deposit in various patterns that may be expected to hinder the diffusion of the reactants in the

Jan 1, 1943

Jan 1, 1978

By AIME AIME

The following changes of address of members have been received at the Secretary's office during the period of Mar. 1 to May 1, 1908. This list, together with the list in Bi-Monthly Bulletin, No. 20, March, 1908, therefore, supplements the annual list of members corrected to Jan. 1, 1908, and brings it up to the date of May 1, 1908. The names of Members who have accepted election during March and April, 1908 (new members), are printed in italics., By a simple method of cutting out these names and addresses, and pasting them directly over the corresponding names in the annual list of members, the record can be kept practically up to date and the value of the list correspondingly increased. For this purpose the changes of address have been printed only on one side of the page. The names of new members, being in italics, are readily distinguished from the others, and can be pasted in approximate alphabetical order on the margins of the pages of the list.

Jan 5, 1908

By Edgar Kidwell

To any one acquainted with the practical conditions surrounding the mining engineer and mine-manager, especially in this country, the presentation to the American Institute of Mining Engineers of a paper on the above subject will need no explanation. The members of this profession are continually called upon to design and erect, both above and underground, structures which involve the use of beams. Not to mention the various buildings connected with large mining operations, I need only refer, in support of this statement, to trestles, derricks, headworks, etc., on the surface, and to timbered stations and other spaces of large span in the mine-workings. Notwithstanding the rapidity with which iron and steel are replacing wood in the construction of large buildings, there will always be cases in which the use of metal will be unadvisable. Especially will this be true in districts remote from large cities. Works of temporary character will continue to use timber. High freight-charges, the liability of delays in delivering iron, and the temporary character of many of the structures, will for many years to come make it advantageous for the mines west of the Mississippi and on Lake Superior to construct their buildings almost exclusively of wood. The timber-resources of the country are decreasing so rapidly that already the engineer finds difficulty at times in obtaining beams of large size. This difficulty will steadily increase, and will force the constructor to resort more frequently to built-up beams, such as have long been used in Europe, owing to the difficulty of obtaining there such large sizes of timber as have

Jan 1, 1898

By Susasn Leiter

THAT oxygen in copper has been a source of trouble is well known and that that trouble has been real in the commercial world has been shown by Fuller.1 Moore and Beckinsale's paper2 at the annual meeting of the Institute of Metals in London, 1921, called forth considerable discussion. Prof. T. Turner expressed the opinion that it was not necessary to have cuprous oxide present in sufficiently large quantities to form either globules or seams in order to produce a bad effect if the copper were gassed. This brought up the question of the solubility of oxygen in copper and the authors desired to know whether there were any evidence of such solubility, because their experience was that whenever there was any oxygen in copper it was present in the form of free cuprous oxide, .which was practically always in the form of globules. Later Hanson, Marryat, and Ford3 stated that for all practical purposes cuprous oxide may be regarded as insoluble in copper. However, they found particles of the eutectic to coalesce to form much larger particles. They suggested that cuprous oxide was actually slightly soluble in copper, for it was diffi-cult otherwise to understand the mechanism by which such coalescence could take place. W. E. Ruder, in discussing that paper, said that his experiments had led him to conclude that a slight solubility must exist to allow for the ready coalescence of oxide particles, but conductivity tests convinced him that that solubility was very small. Nevertheless, there appeared to be a state of admixture of oxide with copper that closely resembled a colloidal mixture which at first was mistaken for a true solution and which usually existed at the grain boundaries.

Jan 2, 1926

By T. G. Nilan

Steels containing 0.4 and 0.8 pet C have been transformed isothermally at pressures up to 34 kbuv. Decomposilion mechanisms are so intimately related to phase equilibvia that, as the equilibria shift under high pressure, the microstruclures of the decomposition producls change, maintaining at pressure the same correspondence between a given phase equilibrium and a given microstructure as a1 1 atm. A bainitic unicvo-structure occurs in these steels at high pressure that IS observed only at 1 aim abole 1.4 pct C. This strrrcl111,e 1s ruliorzalized in terms of the effect of pressure on the transformation to lower bainite. The pressuve depetlderlce of the kinetics of pearlile formation is descrihed by an absolute rule theory amalysis. The activation volume for the transformation is 7 cu cm per mlole, which is indicative of a phase-interface transformation-rate cotntrol mechanism. This fortmulation, when expressed in terms of known solule effects on the energelics of tvansformation, gives promise of explaining the effects of alloying elemenls on hnrden-abilily, particularly that of 'coball. KINETIC processes in solids are functions of the primary thermodynamic variables of state: composition, temperature, and pressure. Until the development of high-pressure techniques' that permitted the generation of sustained high pressure at high temperatures, metallurgical studies of such reactions were largely limited to isobaric conditions at atmospheric pressure. The data so obtained, and theoretical deductions based on these data, were necessarily incomplete For the particular case of austenite decomposition, a knowledge of the phenomenology of the reaction in terms of all the state variables should lead to a clarification of the process. This deeper understanding should facilitate a decision between conflicting theories that have been proposed to rationalize these phe- nomena. An analysis, derived from an understanding of the transformation mechanisms, may aid in the optimization of alloy steel development. The first studies of the effect of pressure on transformations in steel were made by Kulin et al. in 1952.' In a study of the influence of applied stress on mar-tensite formation in a 30 pct Ni steel, they found that the martensite start (M,) was depressed 8°C per kbar* by hydrostatic pressure. Jellinghaus and Friedewold3 were apparently the first to investigate the effect of pressure on isothermal transformations above the Ms. They found that the bainite transformation rate in a 1.2 pct C, 3.8 pct Mn steel was reduced by a factor of 3 by a hydrostatic pressure of 4 kbar. In both of these investigations,2,3 the M, of the steels studied was below room temperature. Austenitizing and quenching were done at atmospheric pressure, followed by the decomposition of the metastable austenite under pressure. The maximum temperature at pressure in the bainite study3 was 350°C. Until the advent of the present high-pressure devices, it was not possible to conduct isobaric high-pressure heat treatments from austenitizing through isothermal decomposition and quenching. The exploitation of high pressure as a variable in metallurgical studies was greatly advanced by the apparatus and techniques developed by Hall4 and co-workers. Utilizing these techniques, Radcliffe et a1.5 and Hilliard6 etermined the pressure dependence of phase equilibria in the Fe-C system. Hilliard and cahn7 examined the pearlite transformation rate in an AISI 1080 steel and also in a high-purity 0.92 C Fe-C alloy at 1 atm and at 34 kbar and found a 700-fold reduction in rate at pressure in the 1080 steel but only a fivefold reduction in the high-purity alloy. In agreement with the shift of phase equilibria under pressure, the microstructures were hypereutectoid at 34 kbar pressure, whereas they are eutectoid at 1 atm. Determination of the effect of pressure on carbon diffu-

Jan 1, 1968

By J. T. Pardee

INTRODUCTION PLACER is a Spanish word, the definitions of which include "an extensive bank of sand or gravel" and "a place where currents of water deposit particles of gold."l The term, probably first used in the western hemisphere by Spanish or Mexican gold miners, is now generally applied to all detrital deposits that yield valuable minerals by washing. In the Western States placer products other than gold, including the silver alloyed with it, are chiefly sapphires, produced in Montana, and platinum alloys recovered in California and Oregon. During the war tungsten ore (scheelite) was obtained from placers in the Atolia district, California, and a number of diamonds have been found in the Sierra Nevada gold belt. Small amounts of stream tin have been produced in the Black Hills of South Dakota and a little monazite sand in the Boise Basin. Idaho. Magnetite, chromite, ilmenite, zircon, and other useful minerals are more or less abundant in the beach placers of the Pacific coast and in the heavy residues of placer mining elsewhere, but the problems of profitably separating and marketing them remain to be solved. Minerals of lead, quicksilver and other metals occur in many of the placers and although not plentiful enough as a rule to be worth recover-ng, their presence has, in several instances, led to the discovery of valuable lodes, notably at Leadville, Colorado. Historical summary.-In New Mesico, Arizona, and Southern California, placer gold was mined by Mexicans and Spanish priests in the first half of the 19th century or earlier. With these exceptions history of placer mining in the Western States begins with Marshall's discovery of gold in northern California in 1848. During the next twenty years placers were found in all of the principal mining districts that are known today. The richer deposits were soon mined out but a relatively large production was maintained from the leaner deposits chiefly by hydraulic

Jan 1, 1933

By S. E. Maddigan, B. R. Zimmerman

MOST metallurgists are well acquainted with the contributions already made to the study of metals by the use of X-rays. On the one hand, the radiographic method is constantly becoming of increasing importance as a nondestructive testing procedure, while on the other hand the techniques of X-ray diffraction have made important contributions to the fundamental knowledge in studies of phase diagrams, stress conditions, and so forth. A new, and as yet insufficiently appreciated, tool exists in the application of microradiography to alloy structures. This new procedure in many respects bears the same relation to microscopic investigations as does macroradiography to the gross inspection of metal surfaces. However, where macroradiography is used ordinarily to determine the soundness of the metal structure, this new method can be used not only to investigate micro-un- soundness but also to examine the distribution of the constituent elements within the body of the alloy. When combined with the normal procedures of microscopy, this offers a technique of great potential power. It is intended in this paper to present a few examples of copper-base alloys demonstrating the additional knowledge obtained from the microradiographic method. The detection of micro-unsoundness is demonstrated in Fig. I for a sample of cartridge brass as cast. The sample appeared quite sound when viewed under the microscope, but in reality was thickly populated with minute voids. This application of the method conforms in every way to conventional large-scale radiography and has been used to facilitate production of metal for vacuum devices.1 The true potentialities of the technique are revealed by comparison of Figs. 2a and 2b, which are respectively a- photomicrograph and a microradiograph of a cast alloy of 80 per cent Cu, 10 per cent Sn, 10 per cent Pb. The remarkable difference in appearance provides some concept of the additional information this method may yield when used as an auxiliary to microscopic studies. Fig. 2a shows two phases of the copper-tin system plus segregated lumps of lead. Fig. ab, on the other hand, shows with exceptional clarity the actual dendritic growth of the metal crystals during solidification. The practice of microradiography depends upon the laws of absorption of X-rays. This subject has been reviewed thoroughly in recent papers,1,2,3 but for clarity a brief resumé will be given here. As is well known, when a beam of X-rays is transmitted through a layer of homogeneous material, the intensity is reduced according to the relation:[ ]

Jan 1, 1944

By H. B. Pulsifer

ABOUT 15 varieties, or modifications, of the best magnesium available were prepared and subjected to etching tests, then examined for microstructure. Of the 30-odd etching reagents that were tried, nearly half, mostly ammonium salts, etched the metal satisfactorily. The surfacing and etching of magnesium is shown to be a very simple and quick operation. The density and hardness of magnesium were determined. The most interesting new observations relate to the finding of the hexagonal etch figures, the crystal laminations, and the fact that the metal is plastic, cold, when restrained or quickly deformed. Under slowly applied pressure cold metal deforms slightly, then shears to fracture without plastic flow. The chief structural features of magnesium are presented in two reduced photographs and 30 photomicrographs. MATERIALS TESTED There are only two sources in the United States from which new metal can be procured: the American Magnesium Corpn. and the Dow Chemical Co. No pronounced structural or property differences in the metals from these two companies were disclosed by the work of this investigation. The following materials were obtained from the manufacturers: 1. Massive crystals of distilled metal (American Magnesium Corpn.). 2. Rods of hot-extruded metal, ½ -in. squares and 5/8-in. rounds (American Magnesium Corpn.). 3. Sheet magnesium, 0.005-in. thick (American Magnesium Corpn.). 4. Cast stick metal, 1 3/8-in. dia. (Dow Chemical Co.). 5. Magnesium-aluminum alloy, hot-rolled plate, ½ in. thick (American Magnesium Corpn.). From these materials, were prepared: 6. Sections from a furnace-cooled ingot made from distilled crystal. 7. Cold-strained pieces from (6), (4) and (2). 8. Pieces cold-squeezed to fracture from (6), (4) and (2). 9. Hammer-struck pieces from (6), (4) and (2). 10. Steam-hammer struck pieces from (6), (4) and (2). 11. Sections from furnace-cooled ingot of the magnesium-aluminum alloy.

Jan 1, 1928

By Howard N. Eavenson

From the Pittsburgh coal bed in the four states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and West Virginia has been produced an output that, at mine prices, represents a greater value than any other single mineral deposit in the world has yielded.12 While this distinction may in a few years pass to the gold reef of the Witwatersrand, it is possible that eventually, owing to the tremendous reserves still remaining, the ultimate yield of the Pittsburgh bed will be greater than that of any other known single deposit. Considering its importance, not a great deal has been written of its early history and development as a whole; most of the accounts have been of limited localities, or, at the most, of the area within a single state. In "Coal through the Ages" the writer mentioned some references to its early history, but this study will deal not only with its history but with the character of the bed, where and why it was first developed, and its effect upon the states in which it is found. It has not been the intention to write a detailed history of the development of the seam in each locality, as neither time nor inclination were available for doing such work, but only to show the influences that tended to hasten or retard such development. In general the historical matter ends about 1830, when geological surveys began to be made. Some of the maps show data available only since that time, and the sections about coal preparation and coking have been extended to the present time to show the changing conditions. It is believed that the early history includes all published records, and many more sources than those shown in the bibliography were consulted. It is quite likely that some references to coal in this area may be found in the unpublished papers of some of our early soldiers and colonizers, which exist in several libraries, and it is hoped that some future * Dedicated to Dr. Thomas S. Baker, President Emeritus, Carnegie Institute of Technology, whose labors in promoting the International Coal Conferences and in establishing the Coal Research Laboratory have done much in showing the industry how science can be of help to it. Manuscript received at the office of the Institute Feb. 15, 1938.

Jan 1, 1938

By Howard N. Eavenson

From the Pittsburgh coal bed in the four states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and West Virginia has been produced an output that, at mine prices, represents a greater value than any other single mineral deposit in the world has yielded.12 While this distinction may in a few years pass to the gold reef of the Witwatersrand, it is possible that eventually, owing to the tremendous reserves still remaining, the ultimate yield of the Pittsburgh bed will be greater than that of any other known single deposit. Considering its importance, not a great deal has been written of its early history and development as a whole; most of the accounts have been of limited localities, or, at the most, of the area within a single state. In "Coal through the Ages" the writer mentioned some references to its early history, but this study will deal not only with its history but with the character of the bed, where and why it was first developed, and its effect upon the states in which it is found. It has not been the intention to write a detailed history of the development of the seam in each locality, as neither time nor inclination were available for doing such work, but only to show the influences that tended to hasten or retard such development. In general the historical matter ends about 1830, when geological surveys began to be made. Some of the maps show data available only since that time, and the sections about coal preparation and coking have been extended to the present time to show the changing conditions. It is believed that the early history includes all published records, and many more sources than those shown in the bibliography were consulted. It is quite likely that some references to coal in this area may be found in the unpublished papers of some of our early soldiers and colonizers, which exist in several libraries, and it is hoped that some future * Dedicated to Dr. Thomas S. Baker, President Emeritus, Carnegie Institute of Technology, whose labors in promoting the International Coal Conferences and in establishing the Coal Research Laboratory have done much in showing the industry how science can be of help to it. Manuscript received at the office of the Institute Feb. 15, 1938.

Jan 1, 1938

By H. B. Pulsifer

This paper outlines a method for rapid production of flat,, granular surfaces on many of the medium hard alloys. Grinding wheels and fabrics on wheels are not used; the purpose is accomplished by rubbing on emery papers and on fine abrasives heaped on hand boards. The advantages of chromic acid in the solutions for etching nickel and copper alloys are explained. Steels may require an additional step in the mechanical smoothing owing to the lack of an ideal etchant. Chloric acid is a rapid etchant for steel. Thirty-six photomicrographs illustrate the steps in smoothing and the clearness with which structures can be rapidly exposed. New structures in low-carbon steels are announced. After a little practice, many materials can be finished within two or three minutes. CUPRONICKELS In the previous papers on the metallography of copper and magnesiurn which the author has presented to this Institute there has been an attempt to demonstrate the advantages of minimizing the mechanical work of surfacing and depending more on chemical means; the present paper continues the research into a still wider field. It is obvious that the success of a chemical method for smoothing and etching depends almost entirely on the use of a suitable reagent. The etchant must remove the surface granulations and outline the structures. A very special type of reaction between reagent and metal must be displayed. Promiscuous corrosion or the intensification of the attack about local couples formed by impurities or components must not be in evidence. There are several reagents that etch highly polished nickel and copper alloys very well. Acidified ferric chloride solutions, concentrated and dilute nitric acid solutions, and nitric and acetic acids in acetone have been used to good advantage for the purpose. However, if they are expected to etch rather deeply—that is, smooth as well as characterize— the results may be far from satisfactory. Advantages of Chromic Acid In a protracted series of experiments it has been found that the addit,ion of chromic acid may be of the most surprising benefit. The function

Jan 1, 1929

By H. B. Pulsifer

This paper outlines a method for rapid production of flat,, granular surfaces on many of the medium hard alloys. Grinding wheels and fabrics on wheels are not used; the purpose is accomplished by rubbing on emery papers and on fine abrasives heaped on hand boards. The advantages of chromic acid in the solutions for etching nickel and copper alloys are explained. Steels may require an additional step in the mechanical smoothing owing to the lack of an ideal etchant. Chloric acid is a rapid etchant for steel. Thirty-six photomicrographs illustrate the steps in smoothing and the clearness with which structures can be rapidly exposed. New structures in low-carbon steels are announced. After a little practice, many materials can be finished within two or three minutes. CUPRONICKELS In the previous papers on the metallography of copper and magnesiurn which the author has presented to this Institute there has been an attempt to demonstrate the advantages of minimizing the mechanical work of surfacing and depending more on chemical means; the present paper continues the research into a still wider field. It is obvious that the success of a chemical method for smoothing and etching depends almost entirely on the use of a suitable reagent. The etchant must remove the surface granulations and outline the structures. A very special type of reaction between reagent and metal must be displayed. Promiscuous corrosion or the intensification of the attack about local couples formed by impurities or components must not be in evidence. There are several reagents that etch highly polished nickel and copper alloys very well. Acidified ferric chloride solutions, concentrated and dilute nitric acid solutions, and nitric and acetic acids in acetone have been used to good advantage for the purpose. However, if they are expected to etch rather deeply—that is, smooth as well as characterize— the results may be far from satisfactory. Advantages of Chromic Acid In a protracted series of experiments it has been found that the addit,ion of chromic acid may be of the most surprising benefit. The function

Jan 1, 1929

By Hertha Freche

THE diffusion of magnesium and silicon from the core into the high-purity coating of Alclad sheet is important commercially, and led to the use of a duplex product for the study of diffusion by means of spectro-graphic analysis of successive layers. It has been found that in the duplex materials the diffusion of magne-sium from an undersaturated aluminum-magnesium alloy into its high-purity aluminum coating is approximately of the same order of magnitude as the diffusion of silicon from a saturated aluminum-silicon alloy into its high-purity aluminum coating. However, if magnesium and silicon are both present in the alloy in the ratio of Mg2Si they appear to diffuse in the approximate ratio of this compound. Finally, if the alloy contains silicon in excess of the amount required by magnesium silicide, the amount of diffused silicon in the high-purity aluminum coating will also be in excess. The interdiffusion of metals in the solid state is of both scientific and technical interest, because it is helpful in the study of the alloy structure and in the solution of problems pertaining to the strength and surface condition of the fabricated product. W. C. Roberts-Austen1 carried out the first quantitative determination of the coefficient of diffusion of gold into lead. This classical experiment was followed by a series of investigations on the diffusion of metals and nonmetals in iron and steel and in nonferrous metals and alloys. Recently the diffusion of copper in coated strong aluminum alloys was investigated by A. Burkhardt2. This appeared to be the first published investigation on the diffusion of metals into aluminum.

Jan 1, 1936

By Rex B. McLellan

A simple model for dilute interslitial solid solutions is set up which enables a solubility equation for the equilibrium between the solid solution and the gaseous solute to be deduced. This solubility equation is used to estimate the partial thermody -namic functions of Ag-O and Fe-N dilute interstitial solid solutions from the measured equilibrium between these solutions and the gas phase. It is shown that the partial excess entropy of the solute atom in solution is a vibrational entropy which is due Principally to the oscillation of the interstitial atom and does not arise from electronic or elastic interaction between the solute atoms and solvent matrix. In this work measurements of the equilibrium between dilute solid interstitial solutions and a gaseous phase are used to deduce the important thermody-namic functions of the solid solution with the aid of a theoretical solubility equation formulated from a knowledge of the thermodynamic functions of the gas and a simple model for the solid solution. The quantity of principal interest which is deduced from the equilibrium data is the change in vibrational entropy occurring when a solute atom (u) is placed in an interstial site in the solvent (u) lattice. This paper forms part of a more general study in which the properties of condensed phases are deduced from measurements of the equilibrium between the condensed phase and a gas. Previous investigations have dealt with the equilibrium between krypton and liquid metals,' a pure metal and its vapor,' and dilute substitutional alloys and the vapor,3 and the subject has been popularly reviewed by McLellan.4 In the latter investigation3 the vapor pressures of very dilute Cu-Ag and Cu-Au alloys were measured with a Knudsen cell technique over a large range of temperatures and the analysis of the vapor-pressure data showed that the relative partial excess entropies were large and positive [ds= -Sudk = 30 for Au-Ag alloys and 150 for Cu-Au alloys; these values should be compared to unity, the value assumed for these exponentials in the quasi-chemical theory of solutions]. For many interstitial solutions experimental data is available for the equilibrium between the solution and a gaseous phase, and this can be used to deduce the vibrational entropies of the solute atoms in solution. The general method employed is to calculate the chemical potential of the solute atoms in the gas and equate this to pi, the chemical potential of solute atoms in the solid, which is deduced from a simple model set up for the dilute interstitial solution (in which the solute atoms act as bound oscillators in interstitial sites). This enables a theoretical solubility equation to be set up. In the case of Ag-O and Fe-N solid solutions the solubility c, is found to vary with temperature according to a relation of the type, where PU2 is the pressure of the O2 or Np molecules. Essentially, the theoretical solubility equation enables the parameter A(T), which gives the vibration entropy, and the parameter AH, which gives the energy of solution of a solute atom, to be estimated from the measured variation of solubility with temperature. The solutions treated are dilute enough to enable solute-solute interactions to be neglected so that the partial energy and excess entropy of solution E, and GS are not functions of composition and the configurational entropy is that of a random solution. Large positive values have been found for sxSu this quantity has not been given sufficient consideration in recent work on interstitial solutions and it is felt that the partial thermodynamic quantities of very dilute solutions should be understood before the thermodynamics of concentrated solutions can be fully appreciated. EXPERIMENTAL DATA 1) The Silver-Oxygen System. The measurements of Steacie and Johnson,= using silver foils, indicate that there is a pronounced minimum in the solubility vs temperature curve for O-Ag solutions. Eichenauer and Miiller6 have recently redetermined the solubility of oxygen in silver using a method developed in the investigation of metal-hydrogen systems.7 The solubility determinations were carried out on compact specimens of differing shapes and sizes and the results indicate a much lower solubility than was obtained by Steacie and Johnson with no minimum at 400°C. Subsidiary experiments showed that the erroneous results of Steacie and

Jan 1, 1964

By T. E. Leontis, J. P. Murphy

During the last few years, the trend in the aircraft and automotive industries has been toward higher and higher operating engine temperatures. This has created considerable interest in the effect of temperature on the properties of alloys. In the magnesium field, it has been recognized for many years that the addition of cerium imparts high strength and good resistance to creep at elevated temperatures. Beck,' in his treatise on magnesium, has summarized the work of German investigators. This includes the unpublished data of Menking, showing the increase in strength and hardness of extruded alloys containing 2 to 20 per cent Ce at temperatures from 20' to 300°C. (68" to 57z°F.) and the results of Vosskiihler, who demonstrated the improved resistance to creep of alloys containing 6 per cent Ce plus 2 per cent Mn and 0.5 per cent Ce plus 2 per cent Mn at 150°C. (302°F.). Wellinger and Kei12 have also reported the creep properties of a forged magnesium-cerium-man-ganese alloy at 200' and 250°C. (392' and 482°F.). Haughton and Prytherch have determined the tensile properties of various forged magnesium alloys containing cerium, cerium plus manganese, cerium plus calcium, cerium plus nickel, cerium plus nickel plus manganese, and cerium plus cobalt plus manganese at temperatures up to 290°C. (554OF.). Magnesium-cerium alloys have been used in some commercial applications. It is reported that an alloy containing 3 per cent Ce plus 0.5 per cent Mn plus 0.5 per cent Ca is being used on a forged impeller in Great Britain. Two forged parts made from an alloy with a nominal composition of 5 per cent Ce and 2 per cent Mn have been found on the German BMW-8o1D aircraft engine. These two forgings consist of a supercharger impeller and a rear cam-follower guide. In this country, several types of pistons have been made experimentally in both the cast and the forged conditions from an alloy containing 6 per cent Ce plus 2 per cent Mn and in the cast condition from an alloy of magnesium plus 10 per cent Ce. The cast pistons have been tested in various types of internal-combustion engines, with promising results. This paper presents the results of an extensive investigation on the properties of various cerium-containing magnesium alloys in both the cast and the forged conditions. Data are presented to show the beneficial effects of increasing amounts of cerium on the mechanical properties of magnesium at at temperatures' The effects of heat-treatment on the properties of these alloys and the attendant changes in the microstructure are discussed. The alloys investigated most extensively are

Jan 1, 1946