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By J. R. Thoenen, M. C. Malamphy, G. K. Dale

The beginning of the war and the events leading up to it precipitated a near crisis in the aluminum industry. Demands for the metal reached proportions far beyond the prewar production capacities and, in addition, the submarine menace seriously curtailed the importation of bauxite from South America, hitherto a chief source of high-grade ore. The situation required an intensive search for domestic ore to augment the reserves and in October 1941 Congress directed the Department of the Interior to investigate the extent, mode of occurrence, and quality of bauxite in the United States. In December of that year the Bureau of Mines and the Geological Survey began the search for bauxite in Arkansas, where more than go per cent of the domestic ore had been produced and where the greatest amount of bauxite was known to occur. The program involves the geophysical and geological investigation of the Arkansas bauxite region and the core drilling of areas considered favorable for the occurrence of bauxite deposits. Cores taken from the bauxite-kaolin zone are sampled and analyzed in the Bureau of Mines laboratory in Little Rock. The information from each of the deposits discovered is then assembled, the bauxite is graded with respect to its possible utility, tonnage estimates are made, and the whole is presented in the form of a war minerals report. Thirty-eight new bauxite deposits had been discovered and investigated at the end of the calendar year 1944, and the presence of several others had been indicated by the drilling. More than 5000 holes had been drilled throughout the bauxite region, and more than 60,000 chemical analyses had been made of samples taken from the bauxite-kaolin zone. A study of the chemical analyses led to certain general conclusions not only with regard to the chemical composition of Arkansas bauxite, but also with regard to its component minerals. Charts and diagrams based on these conclusions have been developed for practical use by the Bureau of Mines: (I) to serve as a check against laboratory analyses, (2) to present tonnage estimates of ore bodies based on mineral composition, (3) to illustrate the relationship of tonnages of bauxite to the alumina, silica, and iron content, and (4) to serve as a control for mining operations by providing a means for quick estimates of the value of the ore from a partial analysis of its chemical constituents. The use of charts and diagrams similar to those discussed in this paper-- is not new. The use of the trilinear diagram for studying the ultimate analyses of coals as of proposed by Ralston in Bureau of Mines Technical Paper 93 (1915) showed that the various ranks of coal fell in different areas on the diagram and that volatile matter, calorific value and other properties could also be plotted by the use of contours. A considerable subsequent literature, largely on classification of coals, has accurnulated since then, showing the utility

Jan 1, 1948

By J. R. Thoenen, M. C. Malamphy, G. K. Dale

The beginning of the war and the events leading up to it precipitated a near crisis in the aluminum industry. Demands for the metal reached proportions far beyond the prewar production capacities and, in addition, the submarine menace seriously curtailed the importation of bauxite from South America, hitherto a chief source of high-grade ore. The situation required an intensive search for domestic ore to augment the reserves and in October 1941 Congress directed the Department of the Interior to investigate the extent, mode of occurrence, and quality of bauxite in the United States. In December of that year the Bureau of Mines and the Geological Survey began the search for bauxite in Arkansas, where more than go per cent of the domestic ore had been produced and where the greatest amount of bauxite was known to occur. The program involves the geophysical and geological investigation of the Arkansas bauxite region and the core drilling of areas considered favorable for the occurrence of bauxite deposits. Cores taken from the bauxite-kaolin zone are sampled and analyzed in the Bureau of Mines laboratory in Little Rock. The information from each of the deposits discovered is then assembled, the bauxite is graded with respect to its possible utility, tonnage estimates are made, and the whole is presented in the form of a war minerals report. Thirty-eight new bauxite deposits had been discovered and investigated at the end of the calendar year 1944, and the presence of several others had been indicated by the drilling. More than 5000 holes had been drilled throughout the bauxite region, and more than 60,000 chemical analyses had been made of samples taken from the bauxite-kaolin zone. A study of the chemical analyses led to certain general conclusions not only with regard to the chemical composition of Arkansas bauxite, but also with regard to its component minerals. Charts and diagrams based on these conclusions have been developed for practical use by the Bureau of Mines: (I) to serve as a check against laboratory analyses, (2) to present tonnage estimates of ore bodies based on mineral composition, (3) to illustrate the relationship of tonnages of bauxite to the alumina, silica, and iron content, and (4) to serve as a control for mining operations by providing a means for quick estimates of the value of the ore from a partial analysis of its chemical constituents. The use of charts and diagrams similar to those discussed in this paper-- is not new. The use of the trilinear diagram for studying the ultimate analyses of coals as of proposed by Ralston in Bureau of Mines Technical Paper 93 (1915) showed that the various ranks of coal fell in different areas on the diagram and that volatile matter, calorific value and other properties could also be plotted by the use of contours. A considerable subsequent literature, largely on classification of coals, has accurnulated since then, showing the utility

Jan 1, 1948

By Sanai Nakabe

Japanese wartime economy demanded domestic cobalt production. This paper describes a process operated for two years at the Besshi mine and smelter on extremely low grade (0.1 pct Co) pyrite concentrates obtained from copper ore. 'The steps in the process were roasting, leaching, precipitation, reduction fusion to crude cobalt, and finally refining by electrolysis to 99+ pct. COBALT ore deposits in Japan are all small and of poor grade. In the past, a small amount of cobalt has been produced from the best portions of a few of these deposits, and very little production is expected in the future. In addition to these lean cobalt ores, cobalt is present in the cupriferous pyrite which is fairly abundant although of low grade, as is shown in Table I. Considerable cobalt is expected from these deposits because of their extent. Cobalt cannot be exclusively recovered economically from ore of this type; however, if means could be devised to recover it as a byproduct of copper production, a fairly large production at reasonable cost could be expected from Japanese sources. It was along this line that the research work was done. Selection of Suitable Process The process for extracting cobalt differs from ore to ore according to their composition. The difficulty in cobalt metallurgy arises from the fact that chemically cobalt resembles many such common metals as Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn, associated with it in the ores. In the present case the most serious difficulties were: 1—Extremely low grade ore, 0.1 pct Co. 2—The large proportion of iron accompanying cobalt and its close similarity in chemical behavior. 3—The fairly large proportion of zinc and manganese and their chemical similarity to cobalt. The recovery of cobalt oxide as a byproduct of the hydrometallurgy of copper had been attempted in Japan but was stopped after a short period because it proved uneconomical. The literature disclosed no method for the recovery of cobalt from cobaltiferous copper pyrite and it was therefore necessary to devise a new process. The following basic principles were considered in selecting the process: 1—A major alteration in copper production methods should not be necessary. 2—The first step should be the extraction of cobalt leaving the large quantity of iron unaffected. For this purpose wet metallurgy would be preferred.

Jan 1, 1952

By S. A. Spachner

An analysis of the powder patterns of the omega transition phase in three binary titanium alloys containing 8 pct Cr, 13 pet Mo, and 15 pet V, respectively, showed that all could be indexed on an orthorhombic unit cell. The unit-cell dimensions were all quite similar. There is evidence for the occurrence of more than one transition phase in Ti-Cr and Ti-V alloys. FOLLOWING the discovery of a new brittle phase in certain titanium-chromium alloys by Frost, Parris, Hirsch, Doig, and Schwartz,' named ? by these investigators, much interest has developed concerning the identification of alloy systems in which this phase exists, kinetics of the transformation in such systems, and the crystal structure of the ? phases appearing. Omega has been found in alloys of titanium-manganese, titanium-molybdenum, titanium-iron,' and titanium-vanadium.' In the present work, a study was made of the powder patterns of the ? phase occurring in alloys of Ti-8Cr, Ti-13Mo and Ti-15V in an effort to obtain a basis of comparison for ? phases appearing in these different alloys. Comparison of Alloys for ?-Phases Two hundred mesh powders of Ti-8Cr, Ti-13Mo and Ti-15V were prepared. A portion of powder sufficient for three x-ray powder specimens was placed in a Vycor tube, evacuated to less than 0.1 µ pressure, filled with argon, and sealed. The tubes were then heated to 900°C, held at this temperature for 30 min, and water-quenched. Following this transformation to the ß phase, the specimens were quenched in lead or solder pots, held at the desired temperature for varying lengths of time and water-quenched. The heat-treatments used and the phases identified are listed in Table I. The intermediate water quench was used in lieu of direct downquenching from 900°C to the bath temperature desired to circumvent the possibility of transformation of the powder specimen from ß to (ß + a) while it was being moved from the homog-enization furnace to the lead bath. To check the possibility that upquenching to the bath temperature might bring into play a different mechanism than downquenching to this temperature, resistivity measurements were compared on Ti-8Cr rod specimens which were transformed isothermally at 400°C by downquenching from the solution-treatment temperature and those which were transformed at 400" C by upquenching ß specimens from room temperature. The results are shown in Fig. 1. No difference in transformation mechanism was noted. It soon became apparent that sufficiently detailed Debye-Scherrer photograms of the ? phase in the alloys which were to be used could not be obtained by the use of copper radiation. Although satisfactory photograms of ß and ß + a phases were obtained with this radiation, the ? phase appeared to exhibit mild fluorescence, making interplanar spacing computation virtually impossible. Molybdenum radiation appeared to offer promise in cutting down this fluorescent effect, the mass absorption of titanium for molybdenum radiation being 23.7 in contrast to 204 for copper radiation. The reduction in the accuracy in determining the location of the photo-gram lines caused by the shorter wave length of molybdenum characteristic radiation did not appear to be a significant factor. Utilizing a camera of 57.3 mm radius, best results were obtained for exposure times ranging between 30 and 40 hr. Tube potential

Jan 1, 1959

By Amos Bowman

In the last two years I have had an opportunity to study the conditions of gold-mining in the far northwest of the Pacific coast —in Cariboo district, British Columbia. That country joins Alaska

Jan 1, 1887

At the University Club, New York, Jan. 23, Chairman George E. Hale and other officers of the National Research Council, gave a dinner to officers of the national engineering and other societies. About thirty persons were present, including officers of the National Research Council, the four Founder Societies, American Society for Testing Materials, Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., Illuminating Engineering Society, United Engineering Society, and Engineering Foundation. Letters were received from the Western Society of Engineers, which also had been invited. Gano Dunn, vice-chairman of National Research Council, was toastmaster. The proposed permanent organization of the National Research Council and possible methods of connection with the national engineering societies, either directly or through Engineering Foundation, were outlined. It was suggested that not only the four Founder Societies be represented in the Engineering Division of National Research Council, but also that the other national engineering societies be admitted to membership. It was proposed that the Engineering Division should have a chairman who should be an engineer of wide reputation and of the highest professional attainments who should devote his whole time to the establishment and development of the Division. Methods of organizing industrial research were discussed. At a subsequent meeting of the National Research Council, an invitation was issued to each of the national societies to form a research committee encouraging that committee to become active in the promotion of research within its respective field. Due recognition is to be given each committee in the general organization of the National Research Council. Dr. H. M. Howe, in a very interesting and comprehensive address, told of much important work that had been clone by the various sections of the Research Council, as that of mechanical engineering in developing the often rather nebulous devices for helping win the war and putting them in such form that they could be of direct use to the military service. The section on metallurgy, till lately under Bradley Stoughton and now under G. H. Clevenger, did much valuable work in the improvement of helmets and body armor and made very extensive ballistic tests with refractory steels for this purpose. Important work was done in investigating the fatigue of metals and results of great moment were achieved. The committee on ferro-alloys, under J. E. Johnson, Jr., did important work in effecting economy of manganese in steel manufacture with a view to reducing the necessity for importation of manganese ore, thus releasing ships for other purposes. , The section on electric welding has accomplished valuable results in the development of electric welding for ships, a new branch of industry of very great promise.

Jan 3, 1919

By H. H. Podgurski, F. N. Davis

In silver alloys containing less than 0.2 wt pet Cu. the reaction 9 + 1/2 0, = CuO(s) was found to proceed to equilibrium between 700o and 808oC. From measurements of the equilibrium dissociation pressures of the CuO at several temperatures, the differential heat of solution and the activity coeflicients for copper in silver were calculated. These values were found to be in reasonable agreement with those calculated from data appearing in the literature. A metastable "copper oxide" with an atom ratio of oxygen to copper as high as 1.7 was formed by internal oxidation at 300°C of these same dilute Ag-Cu alloys. No anomalous behavior was noted in the temperature dependence of oxygen solubility in silver. The solubility minima between 300" and 800°C reported several years ago can be accounted for, at least in part, by reactions with trace impurities, such as copper. Cold-worked siloer exhibits an enhanced permeability to oxygen. THIS investigation was undertaken because of our interest in interactions between solute and lattice defects in metals. The reason for the choice of the O-Ag system for study is the anomaly in the solubility of oxygen in silver reported by Steacie and Johnson1 in 1926, specifically that isobars between 100 and 800 Torr show solubility minima at 400°C. It was also claimed that the copper impurity in the silver was not responsible for the minima. Recently, Eichenauer and Müller2 proposed that surface adsorption might have been responsible for this solubility anomaly, but no adsorption isotherms are available to check the pressure and temperature dependence observed at the low temperatures. Surface-tension measurements on silver made by Buttner, Funk, and udin3 suggest that a considerable fraction of a monolayer of oxygen exists on silver at 922°C and at an oxygen pressure of 150 Torr. To account for the pressure sensitivity reported by Steacie and Johnson1 at 300°C, the oxygen bound to the surface at 922°C cannot be considered relevant; the existence of a surface layer at 300°C characterized by a lower energy of binding would be required to explain the effect. All of our attempts to detect an interaction of this type with surface sites have failed. In this investigation we have not been able to associate the dissolution of oxygen in silver with a dislocation interaction. Evidently, severely cold-worked silver does not contain a sufficient number of trapping -sites for oxygen. Indeed, our work shows that oxidation of trace impurities in the silver was probably responsible for Steacie and Johnson's results. In addition, we have been able to establish the nature of the reaction with copper impurity in silver by thermodynamic considerations. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Measurements of both the internal oxidation rates and the solubility were made volumetric ally in a system equipped with a gas burette, a mercury manometer, a McLeod Gage, and a mass spectrometer. The silver and the silver-alloy samples were protected from contamination by mercury vapor from our pressure gages by suitably placed refrigerated (-78°C) traps. Silica reaction vessels were employed for experiments performed above 500°C. Spectroscopically pure gases were used in this investigation. The highest-purity silver used in the solubility measurements was 99.999 pet. By chemical analysis 2 ppm of Cu were found in this silver. The two Ag-Cu alloys used in this research were made up to 0.14 and 0.15 wt pet Cu starting with 99.999 pet Ag. An unexpected source of error was discovered in the course of the work. At temperatures near 800°C silver distilled from the hot silica reaction tubes into cooler regions of our system. Although the weight loss of silver from the sample was not important in itself, oxygen was being consumed by the silver distilled into the cooler part of the system to form a stable oxide phase from which the oxygen was not recovered. In a separate experiment conducted to determine the necessary correction, losses between 0.2 and 0.3 cu cm (stp) of 0, in 24 hr were measured at 810°C. On the assumption that the flux of silver from the vessel to form Ag2O de-

Jan 1, 1964

By Paul W. Jeran, Vladimir Adamek

Characteristics of surface deformations i.e., sub¬sidence, inclination, curvature and horizontal strains, are evaluated, based on information obtained by direct field measurements over three longwall panels in the Northern Appalachian Coalfield. Surface deformations have been precomputed using Bals' and Knothe's theories. The results have been compared with Bureau of Mines field data to evaluate the applicability of the two theories to the U.S. min¬ing conditions. Measured horizontal movements and the resulting horizontal strains differ as much as 300 percent from precomputed values. Topography has no detectable effect on vertical movements but appears to have substantial effect on the development of horizontal strains. The horizontal deformations computed from our field measurements generally exceed the limits used in other countries to protect surface structures.

Jan 1, 1982

DR FRANK DAWSON ADAMS Montreal, Canada HENRY STURGIS DRINKER Bethlehem, Pa PROF HATON DE LA GOUPILLIERE Paris, France SIR ROBERT A. HADFEILD London, England HERBERT C. HOOVER Leoben, Austria ROBERT W. HUNT Chicago, ILL JAMES FURMAN KEMP New York, N.Y. PROF HENRI LOUIS LE CHATELIER Paris France EZEQUIEL ORDONEZ Mexico City, Mexico ALEXANDRE, POURCEL Paris, France RICHARD H, RICHARDS Boston Mass. JOHN E. STEAD Middlesborugh, England PROF DIMITRY CONSTANTIN TSCHERNOFF St Petersburg, Russia CHARLES D WALCOT Washington D.C.

Jan 1, 1923

By Grafton M. Thrasher

For the proper discussion of this subject it is necessary to incorporate in this paper the substance of part of an article published by me in Metallurgical and Chemical Engineering for January, 1915. Several years ago, while I was chief chemist for a malleable-iron company, it occurred to me that the mere regulation of silicon was not sufficient to produce the desired degree of chill. But only after repeatedly encountering this fact in both open-hearth and air-furnace, as well as cupola metal, was I led to regard variation in the total carbon as the principal cause of disturbance; and I resolved to determine the total carbon as well as the silicon in every heat, and by a carefully prepared test piece to gauge the approximate degree of chill. The test piece selected was a round plug, 2 in. in diameter and 12 in. long, cast on end

Jan 1, 1916

By S. Usui, I. Iwasaki

The adsorption mechanism of dodecylammonium acetate (DAA) on mercury in potassium fluoride solutions at natural, near neutral pH was investigated. Difler-ential capacity combined with electrocapillary measurements on a dropping mercury electrode were found to provide a sensitive and reliable approach. A shift in the electro capillary maximum (or the point-of-zero-charge) towards positive polarization of the surface due to the adsorption of amine indicated a specific affinity of dodecylammonium ion for mercury surfaces. The amine was shown to adsorb competitively with potassium ion on mercury. Through correlation of the adsorption density of the amine, calculated from the thermodynamic analyses of the electrocapillary curves, and of the diflerential capacity curves, the adsorbed state and the orientation of the amine at the interface were considered. The similarities and the differences in the adsorption behavior of the amine on mercury and on such ionic solids as quartz, silver sulfide, and silver iodide were evaluated. With the promise of flotation providing a cheap and large-scale process for the upgrading of low-grade ores and magnetic concentrates, the iron ore industry has made a sustained search over the years for a flotation reagent of general applicability and high selectivity. Having shelves full of commercial reagents already on hand and anticipating more, both the users and the suppliers are in need of an experimental approach sensitive enough to differentiate the individual characteristics in each group of reagents. Therefore, the adsorption behavior of various flotation reagents on mineral surfaces from aqueous solutions has been a subject of much investigation. The current view of adsorption based on the electrical double-layer theory is formulated on the assumption that certain ions in solution act as potential-determining ions. Their concentrations fix the potential drop across the double layer and their adsorptions govern the surface charge.' Two methods used to study the adsorption

Jan 1, 1971

By M. A. Dayananda, R. E. Grace, P. F. Kirsch

Ternary diffusion experiments were carried out at 750°C with vapor-solid diffusion couples in single-phase copper-rich Cu-Zn-Sn alloys. The Philibert-Guy method was used to calculate intrinsic diffusion coefficients at compositions corresponding to the plane of inert markers imbedded in the diffusion couples. Inter diffusion coefficients were determined at common composition points of intersecting diffusion paths. Intevdiffusion coefficients were also obtained at compositions corresponding to maxima in the tin concentration pvofiles Relations between the interdiffusion coefficients and the expansion of vapor-solid diffusion couples are described in detail. Such relations permit the calculation of constant interdiffusion coefficients in binary couples from expansion data directly. In ternary couples expansion data provide an additional constraint on the interdiffusion coefficzents. ThE phenomenological analysis of diffusion in ternary solid solutions has been developed extensively, and various approaches taken in the determination of diffusion coefficients have been reviewed recently by Guy et al.' Finite,' semi-infinite,3 and infinite4 diffusion couples have been used in studies of ternary diffusion, but most of the work has been done with infinite diffusion couples. Semi-infinite diffusion couples3 (vapor-solid couples) have been used to determine both intrinsic and interdiffusion coefficients in the Cu-Zn-Mn system, in which two diffusing species, zinc and manganese, were supplied from the vapor phase. If only one component has a sufficiently high vapor pressure to be supplied from a vapor source, vapor-solid diffusion couples may still be used. In this case the boundary conditions at the gas/solid interface may be governed by partial equilibria rather than by virtually complete equilibrium between the phases. In the present work diffusion measurements were carried out at 750°C with vapor-solid couples of Cu-Zn-Sn alloys. Only zinc was transported between the vapor source and the diffusion disks, because the vapor pressures of both copper and tin are at least 108 lower than that of zinc. Both intrinsic and interdiffusion measurements were made at several compositions. A secondary objective was to relate expansion of the diffusion couples with the interdiffusion process. Such measurements for binary couples yield average values of the interdiffusion coefficients over composition increments. In ternary diffusion couples ex- pansion data provide an additional constraint on the interdiffusion coefficients. COMPOSITION-DEPENDENT INTRINSIC AND INTERDIFFUSION COEFFICIENTS As shown by Philibert and GUy5 the determination of intrinsic diffusion coefficients in a ternary system requires two independent diffusion couples containing marker planes with identical composition. In the case of vapor-solid couples such a requirement torresponds to two couples set up with the same vapor source exposed to two diffusion disks of different composition. Inert markers placed initially on the disk surfaces become imbedded during diffusion. If the pair of couples exhibits appreciable marker burial with marker planes of virtually the same composition, the intrinsic diffusion coefficient may be evaluated at the composition of the marker planes. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the concentration of of a Cu-Zn-Sn ternary vapor-solid couple after diffusion of zinc from a vapor source into a binary Cu-Sn alloy. The areas, Ai correspond to the cumulative intrinsic fluxes of the three diffusing species across the marker plane:5 where Ji is the intrinsic flux of component i, t is the diffusion time, and D3i are the intrinsic diffusion coefficients. For the determination of interdiffusion coefficients a pair of diffusion couples with intersecting diffusion paths is needed. At the composition point of intersection (C1, C2) the coefficients are evaluated from the equation:3

Jan 1, 1969

[Appalachian Petroleum Section: James M. Kimbrough, chairman; John H. Adair, first vice-chairman; Walter L. Diddle, second vice-chairman; Byron M. Finch, secretary-treasurer. Balcones Section: Robert V. West, chairman; Frank W. Jessen, first vice-chairman; Zane V. Morgan, second vice-chairman; Brantley G. Myers, secretary-treasurer. Meets 4th Wed., Petroleum Club (San Antonio) or Terrace Dining Room (Austin) Billings Petroleum Section: Charles B. Evans, chairman; L. M. Lyon, first vice-chairman; Gordon E. Lansford, second vice-chairman; Fred. A. Haddenhorst, secretary-treasurer. Meets 3rd Tues., Billings Petroleum Club. California Coastal Section: Robert L. Richardson, chairman; David K. Hayward, first vice-chairman; W. Jackson Bransford, secretary; William N. Harwell, treasurer. Meets 3rd Thurs., Pierport Inn, Ventura. Caracas Petroleum Section: Edwin A. Moo re, chairman;. Jose Cirigliano, vice-chairman; Frank B. Davis, secretary; Robert N. Powers, treasurer. Meets 2nd Tues., Caracas Theater Club.]

Jan 1, 1961

By J. B. Caine

THE investigation outlined in this paper was carried on at the plant of the Sawbrook Steel Castings Co., Lockland, Ohio. EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE In the study of the effect of temperature, heats were made with the Sawbrook company's standard practice, using multiple slags, the only difference' being that the heats were tapped at two temperatures; one group between 2960° and 3040°F and the other group between 3200° and 3250°F. Slags were weighed throughout the heat at each slag change and after the heat was poured. Only the significant slag weights, those of the total slag and the finishing slag, have been reported.

Jan 1, 1947

By H. De Cizancourt

France.—Pechelbronn remains about the only producing field, 41 per cent of the 1937 output of 496,525 bbl. being mined by shaft and 59 per cent produced from pumping wells. At present Gabian has only a very small production. During 1937 there was no private undertaking for petroleum research. Only the Office National des Combustibles Liquides has done any drilling, unsuccessfully, at Pezenas and Frangy-Chilly. Algeria.—No new research has been made and Tliouanet, a small acreage pool that has been declining for several years, gave only 2193 bbl. in 1937. Morocco.—The SociCt6 Chhrifienne des Petroles continues active work. First tests of production made on the Jurassic structures of the Tselfat and Bou Draa must be mentioned for 1937. In connection with these tests, which have yielded 16,495 bbl., 14 new wells have been located

Jan 1, 1938

YOU must know, my Messer Bernardino, that all things in this world made by art or produced by Nature are made only for their own specific purpose. If there should be any that perchance should fail therein, they would be useless and imperfect, and those are in a state of imperfection that should have it and have not yet arrived at it. Thus, in short, when you have dug out the ore with so much labor and extracted the metals, when you have made from copper (in addition to other works) guns that are ready for military service and have then put them on

Jan 1, 1942

PRESIDENT BENJAMIN B. THAYER,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST PRESIDENTS JAMES F. KEMP,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. CHARLES F. RAND,2 NEW YORK, N. Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT SIDNEY J. JENNINGS,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE,1 NEW YORK, N. Y.. SECRETARY EMERITUS ROSSITER W. RAYMOND, NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY BRADLEY STOUGHTON, NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 10, 1914

By W. F. Hergert, L. H. Banning

Experimental production of Al-Si alloys, containing from 33 to 55 pct Al, by direct reduction of aluminum silicates in a three-phase arc furnace is described. Advantages of a smelting technique utilizing hogged wood waste as part of the reductant and for temperature control are discussed. WORK on the problem of producing aluminum by smelting has been in progress since the middle of the eighteenth century. Early work met with little success and in 1782 Lavoisier, an eminent French chemist, expressed the belief that alumina could not be reduced by carbon. It was almost a century later when the Cowles brothers developed a process for the production of aluminum alloys by reducing alumina coincident with the reduction of other metal oxides. In practice, the other metal oxide was usually copper. In 1907 it was first shown that alumina alone could be reduced by carbon at a temperature of 2200°C. The metal produced was volatilized and lost or recombined with the oxides of carbon formed in the reaction.' For a number of years after the Cowles brothers abandoned production of Cu-A1 alloys because their product was not commercially competitive with the aluminum produced by the Hall process, there was little interest in thermal reduction processes. After World War I interest in such processes was renewed and a number of patents were issued on processes for the production of A1-Si alloys.' , "he function of the silicon in these processes was the same as the function of the copper in the Cowles brothers process, namely, to prevent the reduced aluminum from recombining with the oxides of carbon and to promote absorption of the aluminum vapors set free at the high temperature required for the reduction reaction. The advantage of using silicon in place of copper for this function is that silicon has a higher boiling point (2600"C) than copper (2310"C) and its oxides, combined with aluminum oxides, occur in nature in almost unlimited quantities. No A1-Si alloys have been produced commercially in the United States, as far as is known. However, considerable experimental smelting of aluminum silicate materials has been done by the TVA at Wilson Dam, Ala.' The most extensive development and commercialization of the electrothermal production of A1-Si alloys took place in Germany before and during World War II.V he furnaces used in the

Jan 1, 1956

PRESIDENT. CHARLES F. RAND,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST PRESIDENTS. CHARLES KIRCHHOFF,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. JAMES F. KEMP,2 NEW YORK, N. Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT. BENJAMIN B. THAYER,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. TREASURER. GEORGE C. STONE,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY EMERITUS. ROSSITER W. RAYMOND NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 5, 1913

PRESIDENT BENJAMIN B. THAYER,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST' PRESIDENTS JAMES F. KEMP,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. CHARLES F..RAND,2 NEW YORK, N. Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT SIDNEY K. KENNINGS,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY EMERITUS ROSSITER W. RAYMOND, NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY BRADLEY STOUGHTON NEW YORK, N. Y

Jan 6, 1914