Search Documents

By C. S. Parsons

Ore-Testing laboratories are maintained by the Mines Branch, Department of Mines, at Ottawa for the purpose of conducting experimental test and research on ore treatment. Sample shipments of a few hundred pounds to car-load lots of Canadian ores are received on application for experimental tests, and all possible methods of treatment are investigated. Reports are issued to the shipper, containing the results, with recommendations as to the most economical method of treatment. These reports have been of valuable assistance to mining companies in the preparation of plans for the design and equipment of their treatment plants. Investigations have been conducted on ores and metallurgical products from all parts of the Dominion. The ores from practically every producing mine and important mineral occurrence have been investigated in these laboratories.

Jan 1, 1931

By S. Shairp

At the Hudbay zinc pressure leach plant, filtration and washing of the second stage leach slurry takes place on a vacuum belt filter prior to disposal to tailings. Due to periods of poor filterability, laboratory studies were undertaken to investigate the effect of temperature of the filter feed slurry, and to compare filterability to the resulting cake particle size distribution.

Jan 1, 2014

By J. Beland

The Rimouski-Matapedia region is along the southwestern extension of the central Siluro-Devonian synclinorium of Gaspe Peninsula. As in Gaspe about 30,000 feet of Siluro-Devonian strata rest on a "basement" of tightly folded Ordovician rocks. The central synclinorium is divided up into two northeasterly trending belts each of which is characterized by distinctive lithologies and patterns of folding. The northwestern belt is gently to moderately folded and includes lithologies which point to a stable environment. The southeastern belt on the other hand is tightly folded and the lithologies indicate a less stable environment. A marked angular unconformity separates the basement from the Siluro-Devonian cover near the north-western margin of the northwestern belt. At the southeastern margin of the southeastern belt the relationship of cover to basement has not been as-certained because of a fault. The northwestern belt has several features significant in the search for petroleum; the Silurian strata are exposed in broad open anticlines

Jan 1, 1962

By R. L. Bruening, L. Navarro, Izatt. S. R., R. Adiga, R. M. Izatt, N. E. Izatt, A. Sharma, N. R. Patel, B. V. Rao

Bismuth is a notorious contaminant in the electrolytic refining of Cu that can cause cathodes to fail to meet ASTM International standards and not be suitable for use in Cu rod and other downstream products. Bismuth can significantly decrease electrical conductivity, decrease the mechanical strength of the annealed wire, retard recrystallization, and sometimes induce hot shortness during the hot rolling process in the production of rod. As a result, the control of Bi in the refinery tankhouse must be carefully managed. This paper describes how SuperLig® Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT) is being used for Bi removal at the Birla Copper Dahej Copper refinery. The operation of the SuperLig® MRT Bi removal plant is described and data on Bi removal efficiency are presented. INTRODUCTION Hindalco’s Cu division, Birla Copper, operates one of the largest Cu refineries in the world at Dahej, Gujarat; India. The main feed for this refinery is produced at the company’s smelter. Due to its massive production capacity, this operation mainly relies on imported Cu concentrates resulting in a variety of metals being carried out as impurities in the Cu anodes because pyrometallurgical technologies alone are not enough to remove them to the extent required. Metal impurities found in Cu ores include Fe, Zn, As, Pb, Bi, and Sb. During electrorefining, less noble metals dissolve in the electrolyte gradually increasing their concentrations creating the need for electrolyte control mechanisms that remove these impurities with varying degrees of success (Wang, 2004; Navarro et al., 2013.) Bismuth is one of the most significant impurities in a Cu refinery because it has the lowest ASTM product specification. This situation is critical because the Bi potential is very close to that of Cu making it possible to plate in the Cu cathode directly. Also, Bi can precipitate at high concentrations causing floating slimes and reduction of current efficiency (Ballinas, San Miguel, Munoz, & Gyves, 2003). Production of high purity cathodes from feed stock containing a diverse range of metal impurities becomes a major challenge in the refining of Cu (Izatt et al., 2015). In this work, the purification strategy followed by Birla Copper for the removal of Bi using a separation process based on MRT is presented, outlining the loading and stripping performance of SuperLig®83 and the benefits of using MRT over other lower selectivity methods where hazardous materials are produced instead of high purity products.

Jan 1, 2019

By N. D. Wineinger, J. Jodouin

"An Independent Electricity System Operator Industrial Accelerator Program (IESO IAP) case study was completed for a mine in Ontario, Canada by SRK Consulting, Inc. The purpose of the study was to analyze the ventilation system to determine whether and which system improvements could reduce the overall electrical power demand of the mine. Financial incentives are offered by the IESO IAP grant program to help cover the capital costs of these improvements. This study included the completion of a full mine ventilation survey as well as measurement of a full suite of electrical parameters of the surface and underground ventilation fans. After these measurements, a base ventilation model was created and established as the system baseline. Changes to the ventilation system were modeled, and their effects on the power demand were projected. The results of the study showed that several improvements were possible which may significantly improve the efficiency of the ventilation system and reduce mine electricity demand.INTRODUCTIONIn 2017, a ventilation study was conducted in accordance with the Independent Electricity System Operator Industrial Accelerator Program (IESO IAP) at a mine in Ontario, Canada. The IESO IAP is designed to assist eligible transmission-connected Canadian companies operating in Ontario to fast track capital investment in major energy conservation projects. The program will provide financial incentives to encourage investment in innovative process changes and equipment retrofits to reduce electricity consumption on the provincial system and to help companies become more competitive by positively impacting their bottom line. There are now four initiatives under the Industrial Accelerator Program:1. Retrofit2. Process & Systems, including Small Capital Projects3. High Performance New Construction4. Energy Managers – a new initiative under the Industrial Accelerator ProgramWithin the program, companies may propose energy saving changes to their current systems where applicable and appropriate. Companies may then be awarded funding to implement the proposed changes. The program allows partial financial compensation to implement certain energy saving changes that would otherwise not be considered due to high capital costs. For larger projects, such as underground mine ventilation systems, a detailed engineering study must be submitted. This study must detail each energy saving change or measure, its savings, and calculate the financial incentives using the IESO IAP Payment Structure. The payment structure for a project is an amount equal to the lowest of the following (Independent Electricity System Operator, 2015):"

Jan 1, 2019

By W. M. Armstrong

THE GROWTH of the major iron and steel industries on this continent and in many European countries was based on the use of as-mined, high-grade, lump iron ores and on the availability of metallurgical coking coals. The modern coke-fired blast furnace was developed for such materials and is one of the most efficient of ail pyrometallurgical processes. Most of the impure pig iron produced by blast furnaces was converted to refined steel by the Bessemer process in the years prior to 1900 but, when large quantities of low-cost steel scrap be-came available, the more flexible open hearth process was adopted by most large steel producers on this continent. Although this pro-cess has many desirable metallurgical features, the thermal efficiency is low, the capital cost is very high, and the method of charging scrap steel is inefficient by modern standards of material handling. In recent years several conditions have arisen which have stimulated the development of many new pro-cesses and the re-examination of the existing smelting and steelmaking techniques.

Jan 1, 1958

By Ming’an Wei, Qifu Duan, Jianmin Wu, Lusheng Zhou, HMR Group Limited / HMR Technology Canada Ltd., Wenjian Wu

"The development and industrial applications of magnetic liners have been around for decades. A Swedish company Skega first introduced rubber magnetic liners, and then followed by the Chinese invention of metal magnetic liners. Traditionally, both liners were used in secondary ball mills and regrind ball mills for industrial applications, especially for ores containing magnetic materials. Mostly steel balls or equivalent forged steel balls, usually below 60 mm in diameter, were used as grinding media. With the development of mineral resources over the years, SAG mills and larger ball mills have become the dominating components for comminution circuit design. Due to the development of larger diameter ball mills and thus larger ball charge diameter (up to 80mm) especially in non-ferrous metal mining operations, the application of magnetic liners have been very limited. Based on “Magnetism theory” and the development of new materials, the HMR Group Limited has been conducting researches on examining the structures of magnetic liners, associated materials and magnetic circuits which led to the invention of the Nano Alloy Steel Magnetic Liner (NSML). Recently, NSML had a successful application in a 5.5 m diameter × 6.5 m ball mill at the Erdenet Copper Mine in Mongolia. The NSML successfully handled a ball size up of to 80 mm, while achieving a service life of nearly 24 months, which is almost 3 times wear life of the original manganese steel liners.INTRODUCTIONDuring the development and utilization of mineral resources, mineral processing is an indispensably operation. The effective separation of various useful minerals depends on sufficient monomer dissociation of minerals in the ores. The crushing and grinding operation is prior operation of mineral processing. Ball mills are used in different concentrators. As the main consumption parts of mill, liners have been studied constantly. As a new kind of liners, magnetic liners besides can meet the requirement of production, and also have characteristics with maintenance-free, saving energy and increasing efficiency. So the magnetic liners are worth to be spread and applied world widely."

Jan 1, 2016

By I. I. Inculet, M. A. Bergougnou, J. D. Brown, R. M. Quigley, D. K. Faurschou

"Coal from Hat Creek, B. C., has been successfully beneficiated to remove ash while retaining calorific value by a dry electrostatic separation process using a fluidized bed for triboelectrification. Two samples of Hat Creek coal used in the beneficiation experiments have been characterized particularly with respect to their mineral and clay content. The calorific value recovery exceeds the simple dry coal recovery because of the heat lost in altering the clay minerals of the ash fraction during burning. Recoveries and ash contents of the beneficiated coal are comparable to recoveries by water washing, but the dry process avoids the potential water pollution problems.IntroductionProposals have been made which suggest an interim Canadian coal production target for the end of the century which will require a four- to fivefold increase over the 1977 production. This implies a nominal annual growth rate of about 6070 to achieve a production rate of 115 to 140 million tonnes/year. Whether or not this target is realistic, it is becoming increasingly evident that coal must be utilized more fully on a world-wide basis. The crisis in Iran has provided the latest stimulus to renewed interest in Canadian coals for domestic use and export.The emerging new era of coal utilization for fuel and chemical feedstock will not, however, generally tolerate the level of coal technology which prevailed prior to the availability of abundant cheap oil and natural gas. Economic, environmental and resource management considerations will necessitate, for example, the use of improved methods of beneficiating coal. Continued development and application of conventional processes, principally aqueous, involving heavy media and cyclones will solve many of the problems. However, less conventional processes may be preferable or necessary in certain applications."

Jan 1, 1980

By E. S. Moore

In order that a logical conclusion may be reached regarding the possible occurrence of commercial iron deposits in Canada it is necessary to consider some important producers found elsewhere on this continent. A study of such deposits reveals the fact tl:~at a number of distinct types are producing large tonnages of ore. These types may be classified according to origin and occurrence as follows: (1) Bedded sedimentary deposits. (2) Contact metamorphic deposits. (3) Residual ores. (4) Lenses in metamorphic rocks and m some cases of uncertain origin. In addition to the types listed there are other deposits which have contained or do contain considerable ore and they either have not been worked on a large scale or they have been nearly exhausted. These include the following types: (1) Magmatic segregations. These are mostly titaniferous magnetites. (2) Dikes of magnetite of igneous origin. (3) Bog and lake ores in glacial drift. (4) Black sand placers.

Jan 1, 1925

By Y. Mudryk, D. Paudyal, K. A. Gschneidner, V. K. Pecharsky, M. Khan

"Rare earth intermetallic compounds are utilized commercially as magnetic and battery materials, electron gun electrodes, etc. Several of these intermetallics will be briefly discussed. There are many other rare earth intermetallic compounds which are not utilized industrially but have unusual properties which are of fundamental interest and may have future technological applications. Several of these materials are discussed as well.INTRODUCTIONTens of thousands of rare earth intermetallic compounds exist, but physical properties (primarily their magnetic behaviors), other than their crystal structures have been measured for only a small percentage of these materials. Among these are the commercially important compounds: Nd2Fe14B, and the SmCo5 – Sm2Co17 family – well known high strength permanent magnets; (Tb0.3Dy0.7)Fe2, Terfenol-D, a giant magnetostrictive material; LaNi5Hx a critical component of the rechargeable Ni metal hydride batteries; and LaB6 an electron emitter. There are, however, many other intermetallic compounds which are not utilized industrially, but none-the-less, exhibit interesting, and sometimes, exotic physical properties which are of fundamental interest and may have some future technological significance. These include: the giant magnetocaloric effect compounds Gd5Si2Ge2 and La(Fe13-xSix)Hy; the RCu and RAg families of ductile intermetallics; the mixed intra-lanthanide (R,R')Al2 compounds in which magnetic transitions disappear and reappear as one R is substituted for by R'; and GdNi which exhibits large dilations along two crystallographic directions and a larger contraction in the third direction at the Curie temperature resulting in zero volume change as GdNi orders magnetically via a second order phase transition.COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT INTERMETALLICSNdFeB Permanent MagnetsThe Nd2Fe14B permanent magnets were discovered in 1984 independently in the USA and Japan. It is a ferromagnet and with proper heat treatment and processing Nd2Fe14B is the strongest near room temperature permanent magnetic material known today. This intermetallic compound is utilized as a permanent magnet in many applications, such as electric motors (e.g. the modern automobile contains up to 35 electric motors), spindles for computer hard disc drives, microphones and speaker magnets for cell phones and other audio equipment, direct drive wind turbines, actuators, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) units. There are two kinds of NdFeB permanent magnets – bonded and sintered. The bonded magnets have a lower magnetic strength than the sintered magnet. The highest strength magnets are obtained by small substitutions of Dy (up to a maximum of 10%) for Nd, because Dy can significantly increase the coercivity and thus the energy product (a measure of the magnetic strength or hardness). The bonded magnets account for about 12% of the NdFeB market (~82 metric kt per year, containing ~20 kt/a of Nd). The NdFeB permanent magnet market is growing at a rate of about 15% per year. (Burzo & Kirchmayr, 1989; Kobayashi & Hirosawa, 2001; Coey, 2011)."

Jan 1, 2012

By W. M. Armstrong, John A. H Lund

The paper describes an investigation of some of the tensile properties of single crystal vanadium, poly-crystalline vanadium and polycrystal-line tantalum, in the range of: W°C to -196°C. Techniques employed in the preparation and testing of specimens are discussed in detail. Some results of determinations of the temperature dependence of yield stress and ductility are given, and discussed in terms of the Cottrell-Bilby Theory of yielding. At subnormal temperatures, all the body-centred cubic transition metals in the Periodic Table exhibit; a) the "yield phenomenon" in tension, b) a strong temperature and strain rate dependence of yield stress, and c) a large decrease or complete loss of ductility. The yield phenomenon (existence of an upper and lower yield point) has been explained by Cottrell and Bilby ( 1) in terms of the dislocation-locking effect

Jan 1, 1961

By Tim Deans

This paper will address methods to manage hydraulic hose and coupling inventory so that parts will be available to build assemblies for the vast majority of equipment with as little inventory as possible. Topics also to be covered will include some basic hose assembly tagging techniques that will help keep equipment running by tracking problem hoses and building ?band aid? kits, having problem hoses premade in stock, and inventory usage tracking (one of the biggest problems for any inventory manager is knowing which couplings have been used so they can re-order). Cradle to grave tracking of hydraulic and industrial hoses insures reliable service of vehicles and ethical disposal of old hoses and couplings. With accountability for disposal of hose products that may contain chlorine (neoprene tube material in some hydraulic hoses) and carbon black that will be scrutinized more closely in the future, a proactive approach should be adopted in order to minimize maintenance facility problems.

Aug 1, 2013

By R A. Stevenson

The purpose of this paper is to outline a recent development in ground fault protection. The paper deals with the A problems of both grounded and ungrounded systems, with regard to hazards to personnel and equipment, and shows that the increased sensitivity and speed of operation of this new detector results in increased safety to personnel and reduced stresses on equipment, and permits the detection of leakage currents before they become serious faults. The detector can be applied to all distribution systems, either A.C. or D.C., up to 15 kv., and the detector itself can be tested at regular intervals without interrupting line circuits. T HERE is always controversy among engineers as to whether distribution systems should be grounded or ungrounded. There are many experi-enced engineers on both sides of this controversy, and each have valid reasons for their choice

Jan 1, 1964

By Owen Owens, W. P. Armstrong

Abstract- The process of arriving at the size and grade of: (a) a newly-discovered body of mineralization, (b) a potential ore resource, (c) an orebody proposed for mining, or (d) the ore reserves in a mine, requires fundamental geological, and geometrical determinations as well as physical and chemical analyses. This paper outlines geological and geometrical features considered critical, in the authors' experience, in realistic reserve determination. These are discussed under the headings "The Four Cs". They include the Character, type or nature of the mineralization; the Continuity of various types of mineralization in the deposit; various key concerns in the Calculation besides the mathematics; and the Classification section which refers to basic considerations in classifying a mineral estimate. It is suggested that the responsibility for the calculation of a Resource or Reserve should be that of a geologist experienced in the ore type under review. Further, it should be the responsibility of the board of directors of the company owning the deposit to ensure that a sufficiently experienced person is chosen to carry out the process.

Jan 1, 1993

By R. Clarkson

"Free gold particles occur in many base metal and precious metal mines throughout the world. Due to the high density and malleability of gold, large circulating loads of free gold particles can build up over time in grinding circuits. This gold is often deposited in unintended traps throughout the mineral processing system.These unidentified free gold deposits represent a serious security risk as well as an inaccessible inventory of gold. Deposits of free gold particles often remain undetected by mine management until they are accidentally discovered while repairing mill equipment.Nuclear tracers have been used to determine the free gold recovery efficiency of gravity recovery equipment, drills, and sampling equipment (Clarkson, 1994, 1995; Walsh and Rao, 1986; Walsh and Kelly, 1992). In November, 1993, the author inspected the grinding circuit at La Mine Doyon in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec and made recommendations to recover coarse gold and to eliminate gold traps from the circuit. In 1995, the author salted mineral processing circuits with radioactive gold particles. The gamma and X-ray radiation from gold’s nuclear isotope (Au198) were detected through steel, in pipes, and in moving equipment using scintillometers. The radiotracers proved to be a safe, rapid and accurate method of identifying gold traps and improving security.Nuclear TracersWhen particles of gold are placed in a nuclear reactor, some of the gold atoms (Au197) absorb another neutron in their nucleus to form gold’s radioactive isotope (Au198). In the process of radioactive decay, this isotope emits high energy gamma rays and X-rays which are easily detected (even through steel) with scintillometers.Radioactive gold (Au198) has a very short halflife of 2.7 days. At the relatively low activity levels used for tracing, the particles remain detectable with a small hand-held scintillometer for about 10 to 14 days. After 14 days the irradiated gold is close to background levels and within two months it is essentially non-radioactive. The radiation has no effect on the recovery characteristics of the gold particles. The gold radiotracers are very safe due to their very low level of radiation, short half-life, and their inherent physical and chemical stability. However, the use and possession of even mildly irradiated gold is strictly licensed and regulated."

Jan 1, 1997

By K. S. Raja, B. Pesic, S. Kshetri

"We investigated the electrochemical corrosion behavior of commercial permanent magnetic material (NdFeB alloy) in 0.1 M NaH2PO4 solution (pH:4.75) containing 0 – 1000 ppm of chloride at room temperature (298 K). The material was evaluated in magnetized and demagnetized condition with different surface preparations such as: Ni-Cu-Ni coated, uncoated (bare), and anodized (in fluoride containing ethylene glycol at 60 V for 15 minutes to form a thick nanoporous oxide surface). The nickel coated magnetic sample showed reasonable pitting corrosion resistance up to 100 ppm chloride addition. The uncoated samples showed passivity in chloride free phosphate solution. Chloride additions caused pitting and the pitting protection potential was equal to the corrosion potential with 100 ppm chloride addition. Demagnetization did not alter the electrochemical polarization. However, the passive film formed on the magnetic sample showed higher charge carrier density than the film formed on the demagnetized sample. INTRODUCTIONSintered NdFeB permanent magnets exhibit excellent magnetic properties such as large energy product [(BH)max > 450 kJ/m3], high saturation magnetization (1.6 Tesla), and high coercivity (1.2 – 2.08 x 106 A/m) (Sugimoto, 2011). However, the NdFeB magnets are prone to corrosion attack because of the presence of Nd-rich intermetallic phases, such as Nd4Fe (Jurczyk & Jakubowicz, 2000). Nd-rich and B-rich intermetallic phases are distributed in a matrix of Nd2Fe14B tetragonal ferromagnetic compound in a permanent magnet. Generally, several types of Nd-rich phases are present in the magnet with Fe:Nd ratios ranging from 1:1.2 to 1:7. The volume fractions of Nd-rich and B-rich (Nd1+xFe4B4 type) phases are about 10% and 7% respectively (Li, Ma, Li, & Wang, 2011) . Among these intermetallic phases, Nd-rich phase has the most active electrochemical potential. Therefore, dissolution of this phase occurs in preference to other phases by galvanic corrosion when exposed to moisture. Since Nd-rich phases are present at the grain boundaries of the Nd2Fe14B matrix, corrosion leads to disintegration of the magnet."

Jan 1, 2012

By S. Hill

For a mining operation, the determination of the best place to build haul roads is typically done by hand, or with the assistance of rudimentary shortest path optimisation algorithms. Straight line, point to point, modelling of costs is often used with distances multiplied by constants that are based on rise of the road between the points. Failings of this approach are that straight line approximations are notoriously poor as they do not take into account areas where a truck cannot travel. In addition, the rise and fall of the road may vary considerably over the truck journey meaning acceleration/deceleration and varying truck speeds are not taken into account. Lastly, the use of rudimentary optimisation algorithms means properties a truck must obey such as minimum turning circles, line of sight restrictions or even that the truck must travel forward at all times are not taken into account. Thus solutions generated may not be feasible, let alone optimal. In this paper we discuss a state of the art parallel Artificial Intelligence tree search technique for solving haul road location problems. As well as the above properties, factors such as road utilisation, cut and fill, and construction costs are taken into account. The combination of advanced modelling and fast computing and optimisation techniques produces significant benefits both in terms of time to generate roads and cost savings. Preliminary results where this method has been used are discussed.

Aug 1, 2013

By Shin-Kun Ryi

The world nowadays faces many challenges associated with excessive utilization of fossil, fuels, such as poor air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen appears to be an attractive alternative to the conventional, fossil, fuels with better energy efficiency and less environmental, impact. Pd and Pd-based alloy are the most often used membranes for hydrogen separation due to their superiority over other membranes. However, the stability of the commonly-used thin Pd-based composite membranes at high temperatures still, remains a big challenge. In this presentation, we will, report our progress on thin Pd-Ru alloy composite membrane by electroless plating high temperature applications.

Jan 1, 2010

By A. Pawelczyk, D. Hreniak, E. Zych, W. Strek, K. Grabas, A. Ostrowski

"Mongolia is a country rich in rare earth resources. In the experiments carried out samples of the Mongolian ore were processed to obtain a lanthanide concentrate. The concentrate underwent hydrometallurgical processing. At the same time radioactive elements were removed. The lanthanides were obtained in the form of hydroxides that were further processed in order to get concentrated products. As a result cerium, lanthanum and neodymium-praseodymium concentrates were separated in the process. Also a concentrate of remaining elements: samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium and erbium was obtained. INTRODUCTIONAccording to the assessment of the US Geological Survey, Mongolia possesses 16.77 % of the world total rare earth (RE) resources (Daly, 2011); that is the second largest RE reserve in the world, estimated to be 31 million tonnes in terms of rare earth oxides (REO). In the face of Chinese RE trade restrictions, Mongolia emerged as an important economical partner in mining and exploitation of these critical raw materials. This country is recognized as having more than five large RE deposits in the southern provinces. The most important are Lugeengol (Lugin Gol), Mushgia Khudag, Khotgor and Khalzan Buregtei (Eurasia, 2010). The Mongolian government has taken measures to facilitate western investments, nevertheless the country is economically dependent on China, the basic trading partner, particularly where exports are concerned.In the late 1970s Hydromet Kowary Enterprise, Poland, took up, along with the Wroclaw University of Technology, research and technological study on lanthanides recovery from raw materials of Vietnamese and Mongolian origin and from Indian monazite sands (Kowalczyk, 1990; Kowalczyk & Mazanek, 1987; 1990). For that purpose, a rare earth processing plant had been constructed with the capacity of about 10 t/year of hydroxide concentrate. The facility included several technological operations like grinding, flotation, hydroxide concentrate production in the hydrometallurgical processing, particular RE separation, and production of commercial products in form of CeO2, La2O3, Nd2O3, Pr2O3, and misch metal. Additionally work had been carried out in Kowary on the manufacture of yttrium and europium oxides of high purity, which were intended for color TV picture tube production in Poland."

Jan 1, 2012

By J. H. Sokolowski, R. I. MacKay

The level of Si and Cu in the 3xx series of alloys affects the volume fraction of the a-Al dendritic phase and the Al-Si eutectic phase. The volume fraction of these phases in turn affects the feeding conditions during solidification and ultimately the Area Fraction Porosity and Mean Pore Diameter measured in the as-cast structure. This work sets out to establish the relationship between the volume fraction of the a-Al dendritic phase and the Al-Si eutectic phase and the resulting porosity that forms on the Monotonic and High Cycle Fatigue properties. The alloys in question are the Al-9%Si-l %Cu and a Al-7%Si-4%Cu alloys which were cast into V8 performance engine block castings and then heat treated to achieve desired mechanical properties. The engine block castings provided the mechanical and metallographic test samples analyzed for this work.

Jan 1, 2006