Search Documents

THE IRON HUNTER. By Chase S. Osborn, pp. 316, Ills. 10. The MacMillan Company, New York. 1919. An autobiography, the story of a Hoosier boy who fought his way to manhood and power through early misfortune and poverty, from street urchin and newsboy, to editor and author; from lumberjack and dock walloper to statesman and Governor of Michigan. The reader has the measure of the man in the first chapter, a dramatic recital of how the fighting boy editor cleaned up a lawless mining camp of 40 years ago. The thread of the narrative is the author's life-long devotion to outdoor living, ex-ploration and travel. Residing in Sault de Sainte Marie, Mich., in the heart of the Lake Superior country, he took his delight and, incidentally, found his fortune in prospecting the north woods for iron ore; eventually, extending his travels to the continents and many of the islands of the world, he discovered what, he believes-to be a great iron range in Madagascar. In this book there is plenty of anecdote, a great deal of wholesome social and po¬litical philosophy and some interesting sidelights on the characters of some of the author's prominent contemporaries in the political life of Michigan. The style is direct and animated, flavored and illuminated with the vernacular of Hoosierdom and the woods country of the North. The author levies on the vocabulary of the sciences and the classics for many a noun and adjective and, with Rooseveltian license, now and then coins a word. The reader's interest will be gripped from cover to cover, albeit he may occasionally need a dictionary. R. C. A.

Jan 11, 1919

COUNCIL OF SECTION DELEGATES E H Stevens, Chairman James W Halley, Vice-Chairman George J Donaldson, Secretary The Peoples Natural Gas Co 140 Stanwix St Pittsburgh 22, Pa EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE H R Wardwell, J G Evans, H R Bianco, Harry Campbell

Jan 1, 1955

By Sid T. Killan

The utilization of the reducing power of blast-furnace gas can be estimated by applying two rectifying calculations to the gas analysis. A resulting corrected CO/CO2 ratio varies inversely with furnace production. Directions for calculating the corrected CO/CO2 ratio are given, and a corrected CO/CO2 ratio is compared with actual furnace production. THE inadequacy of the normally accepted CO/CO, ratio as a measure of blast-furnace performance and furnace efficiency was discussed following the presentation of the paper by H. F. Dobscha.' In this outstanding example of careful observation on large scale blast-furnace operation, the changes occurring with beneficiated ores were: 1—A net gain in tonnage of 21.2 pct. 2—A decrease in net coke of 15.3 pct. 3—A decrease of 1.9 pct in the CO/CO, ratio. In this great change in furnace performance, the CO/CO, ratio proved itself worthless. The discussion of the inadequacy of expressing furnace performance and efficiency by the CO/CO, ratio led indirectly to the calculations forming the basis of this paper. At that time Dr. T. L. Joseph said: "We must consider difference in CO, from the stone in the two cases when we talk about the ratios of CO/C02." This statement is used for the second of the two CO/CO, ratio corrections forming the basis of this paper. The research work in attempting to find out why the furnaces could op-erate so differently with practically the same CO/CO, ratio lead not to the answer sought but, after a shift to the gaseous phase in the research work, the proof that the normal CO/ CO, ratio was outmoded and a new corrected ratio should replace it. To be of any value, any new corrected ratio should express approximate furnace efficiency and give an idea of practical furnace performance to be expected. This the normal CO/CO, ratio has failed to do. However, in the absence of anything better, some credence has been attached to the normal CO/CO, ratio. As far as the writer can ascertain, the present paper is the first attempt to change or improve the normally accepted index of

Jan 1, 1952

By C. M. Smith

HOWARD N. EAVENSON, acting for the last time as president of the Institute, presided at the annual business meeting on Tuesday afternoon at 4 o'clock. He spoke briefly of his visits with Local Sections last fall, and read a scholarly address on "Mineral Fuels and Civilization," scheduled for early publication in these columns. Karl Eilers presented the Treasurer's report, showing last year's income to be $134,967.44, compared with expenses of $133.266.51. Comparable figures for 1933 were $121,689.90 and $115,462.60. The Institute's peak income was in 1923 about $208,000. Newell G. Alford read the report of the Membership Committee showing 750 new members elected and placed on the rolls in 1934, compared with 328 in 1933. Losses by resignation last year were 81, compared with 262 in 1933; and 691 were suspended for non-payment of dues, compared with 747 the year before. Total membership, including 579 Student Associates, was 7742 at the end of 1934. Applications for membership have been coming in freely the last few months.

Jan 1, 1935

By W. P. Sykes

THIS investigation was undertaken primarily to establish the relations existing between temperature and mechanical properties in molybdenum, nickel, and an aluminum-copper alloy. Molybdenum (m.p. 2500° C.) was chosen because it is partly similar to tungsten and partly similar to the common ductile metals. Also it is known to furnish, by proper treatment, a desirable material to use in studying relation of grain size and physical properties. The molybdenum used was of the quality that is drawn into wire 0.003 in. in diameter for use as filament supports in incandescent lamps; chemical analysis shows less than 0.1 per cent. of impurities. Nickel belongs to the same class as iron. Its melting point is 1450° C. and an allotropic change at about 370° C. results in a loss of magnetism above that temperature. This feature made nickel doubly valuable for the purposes of these tests. The nickel used was obtained from the Driver-Harris Co. as 0.090 in. (2.3-mm.) wire, annealed; analysis showed 99.8 per cent. nickel and 0.150 per cent. iron. Aluminum is one of the low melting-point metals. Some tensile tests at elevated temperatures have been reported by Bengough but the possibility of learning more with the low temperature and sensitive apparatus available recommended this metal. The samples marked Al are an aluminum-copper alloy; they contained 3 per cent. copper, 0.42 per cent. iron, and 0.21 per cent. silicon. The presence of the copper somewhat complicates the analysis of the results; but the action of copper in aluminum has been studied so that its influence might have been foretold, in part at least. The material and analyses were furnished by the Aluminum Castings Co. The nickel wire, which was deformed at 400° C., was drawn under a bath of molten lead and through a die, which also was immersed in the bath. A thermocouple was suspended in the molten metal to indicate

Jan 1, 1921

By Walter Fuchs

It is now generally conceded that coal is the product of deposition and transformation of debris of forests and swamps.29 Ample data are available to illustrate the metamorphosis of biochemical substances through biological action; other data show the progressive regional metamorphism existing in coal beds;25 and numerous examples of change effected by intrusion of igneous dikes into coal deposits have been established.23 However, often the relative importance of the biological and the geological factor in determining the character of the various natural coals is a debatable question. Since both biological and geological factors are ever present in nature, the problem, at first glance, would appear to resemble certain probability problems: specifically the simultaneous toss of two coins, with the biological factor as heads and the geological as tails. The probability is 2:I for the combined effect of both factors, as compared to the exclusive effect of either one, if the a priori probability is the same for each factor. This condition can be analyzed by a thermodynamic treatment of data, which may be obtained from a consideration of pertinent biological, chemical, geophysical and geological facts. Synopsis of Biological and Chemical Facts The biosphere is not sterile; i.e., microorganisms are always present. Microor- ganisms have been established in the ocean deep, under the ice of the polar regions, in the sand of the deserts, and in swamps far below the surface. The various biological media may be acid, neutral, or alkaline, and they may or may not be readily accessible to air. Microorganisms are encountered almost everywhere, except where the temperature is not within the range tolerable by microbial life. Of course, with changing conditions, the type of microorganisms will change. All chemical products of life—proteins, fats, carbohydrates, lignins, waxes, resins— may serve as a habitat of microorganisms. In the decomposition of a medium, some microorganisms macerate organic matter mechanically and remove certain constituents for their own nutrition; others decompose a large part of the organic matter but may leave certain constituents undecomposed. Some attack only certain specific ingredients of the organic matter. All of them build up cell substance. The nitrogen content of the medium largely determines the degree of decomposition. Below 1.7 per cent nitrogen, growth of microorganisms and hence decomposition of organic material is retarded; consequently organic material will accumulate.17,32 Such accumulations of organic material may give coal eventually. Coals differ in type and rank. The nature of the original vegetation and the conditions attending the transformation of the accumulated debris determine the type of coal such as bright, splint, cannel, and algal or boghead coals. Chemical analysis of representative samples of a given type of

Jan 1, 1942

By Walter Fuchs

It is now generally conceded that coal is the product of deposition and transformation of debris of forests and swamps.29 Ample data are available to illustrate the metamorphosis of biochemical substances through biological action; other data show the progressive regional metamorphism existing in coal beds;25 and numerous examples of change effected by intrusion of igneous dikes into coal deposits have been established.23 However, often the relative importance of the biological and the geological factor in determining the character of the various natural coals is a debatable question. Since both biological and geological factors are ever present in nature, the problem, at first glance, would appear to resemble certain probability problems: specifically the simultaneous toss of two coins, with the biological factor as heads and the geological as tails. The probability is 2:I for the combined effect of both factors, as compared to the exclusive effect of either one, if the a priori probability is the same for each factor. This condition can be analyzed by a thermodynamic treatment of data, which may be obtained from a consideration of pertinent biological, chemical, geophysical and geological facts. Synopsis of Biological and Chemical Facts The biosphere is not sterile; i.e., microorganisms are always present. Microor- ganisms have been established in the ocean deep, under the ice of the polar regions, in the sand of the deserts, and in swamps far below the surface. The various biological media may be acid, neutral, or alkaline, and they may or may not be readily accessible to air. Microorganisms are encountered almost everywhere, except where the temperature is not within the range tolerable by microbial life. Of course, with changing conditions, the type of microorganisms will change. All chemical products of life—proteins, fats, carbohydrates, lignins, waxes, resins— may serve as a habitat of microorganisms. In the decomposition of a medium, some microorganisms macerate organic matter mechanically and remove certain constituents for their own nutrition; others decompose a large part of the organic matter but may leave certain constituents undecomposed. Some attack only certain specific ingredients of the organic matter. All of them build up cell substance. The nitrogen content of the medium largely determines the degree of decomposition. Below 1.7 per cent nitrogen, growth of microorganisms and hence decomposition of organic material is retarded; consequently organic material will accumulate.17,32 Such accumulations of organic material may give coal eventually. Coals differ in type and rank. The nature of the original vegetation and the conditions attending the transformation of the accumulated debris determine the type of coal such as bright, splint, cannel, and algal or boghead coals. Chemical analysis of representative samples of a given type of

Jan 1, 1942

By J. R. Linney

THE Eastern Magnetite Industry produced approximately 7,850,000 long tons of crude ore in 1945 from which was obtained approximately 3,650,000 long tons of shipping product or a ratio of 2.10 to 1. Lack of skilled or experienced miners was the greatest handicap. Veterans returning to work improved the underground labor shortage in some localities but as a whole the labor shortage was keenly felt throughout the industry. One cannot now predict what may be accomplished in 1946 but barring major steel strikes a worthwhile improvement can be expected. At the Richard mine of the Richard Ore Co., the shipping product for the year amounted to approximately 124,650 long tons of concentrate and lump ore. Crude-ore production was 160,600 long tons. The average analysis for lump ore was 63 per cent iron and for concentrates 66.05 per cent. The Warren Foundry and Pipe Corp. at their Mt. Hope mine produced 73,000 long tons of lump ore averaging 59.5 per cent and 57,000 long tons of concentrate averaging 67 per cent. The total mine hoist was approximately 209,000 long tons. Operations were commenced through the new Leonard shaft on Jan. 18; the Brown shaft through which operations had been conducted since 1912 caved beyond repair on Sept. 26. No one was injured but pumping facilities were somewhat disrupted. In order to reach designed capacity a total of 400 men will be required with 300 underground. Due to shortage of labor all operations in 1945 were concentrated on the 1700 level. As fast as men can be hired and trained development of the 2100 and 2500 levels will commence. Mt. Hope has a consider-

Jan 1, 1946

By G. M. Yocom

Blowing acid Bessemer converters with oxygen-steam produces steel of below 0.002 pct N2 content. This method of blowing, combined with a dephosphorizing treatment in the steel ladle, results in low-carbon steels of low nitrogen and low phosphorous (under 0.035 pet) contents, which has physical properties equivalent to open-hearth steels of similar analysis. Using a 50-50 mixture of oxygen and steam, the refinitzg rate is increased 25 pct over blowing with natural air, and scrap charge increased from 3 to 10 pet. Bottom life is normal with proper tuyere area and arrangements, fumes are decreased, yields increased, and hydrogen content is normal. THE acid Bessemer plant at the South Works of Wheeling Steel Corp., consists of two 15-ton bottom blown converters with a monthly capacity of 57,000 N.T. The product of the shop is skelp billets for continuous welded pipe and slabs for ordinary drawing and forming quality sheets. Approximately 50 pct of ingot production is regular Bessemer steel of natural Phos content and the remainder is a dephosphorized grade of steel made by a special treatment of the blown metal as it is poured into the steel ladle. The low Phos grade of steel has certain advantages over the higher Phos grade but since both grades were produced by blowing natural air, the N2 content was in the range of 0.015 pct which limited its application. In 1954 it was decided to explore the possibilities of blowing with a steam-oxygen mixture for the production of steel of both low N2 and low Phos contents. The necessary equipment was installed to operate one converter in this manner and early in 1955 an experimental run of 160 heats was made by blowing with a steam-oxygen blast and excluding natural air entirely. During this period the proper operating techniques were established, such as blast pressures, steam-oxygen mixtures, valves and instrumental control equipment, tuyere arrangement in the bottoms, blowing times and production rates, and a thorough study made of the final steel quality. Also during this experimental period the dephosphorizing practice was improved by the use of a tap hole below the lip of the vessel. This provided a clean separation of the acid converter slag and blown metal which made the dephosphorizing treatment more effective. The results of this experimental run dictated further development of this practice and a second run of 720 heats was made in 1957. The quality features and conversion cost results were in line with expectations and accordingly a 400-ton per day oxygen plant is now being installed. The plant is scheduled for completion in September of this year. This will provide sufficient oxygen to operate both vessels on steam-oxygen blast and delete natural air blowing entirely. The steel will then be below 0.002 pct N2 bar content and the dephosphorized grades will be between 0.015 and 0.040 pct Phos. STEAM-OXYGEN BLOWING The steam for the process is fed to the plant at 220 psig pressure through a 6-in. line. The high-purity oxygen is compressed to 200 psig and conducted through an 8-in. line. The oxygen from the main line is valved down to 100 psig and passed through a steam heated heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is regulated to supply oxygen at 300°F to the steam-oxygen mixing station. It is essential that the incoming oxygen be held at this temperature to avoid condensation of the steam with resulting excessive erosion of the clay tuyeres in the vessel bottom. Oxygen is admitted to the mixing chamber by a 6-in. hydraulically operated valve driven by the ratio control regulator on impulse from the flow of steam. Steam is admitted to the steam-oxygen mixture station through a 2 1/2-in. hydraulically driven valve. The ratio control regulator acts to increase or decrease oxygen input as the steam flow increases or decreases with changing positions of the Blower's control lever. The important point to note here is that steam flow always precedes the oxygen flow as a safety measure. The control valves have sufficient capacity to afford protection should blow pipe trouble develop. A 50-50 mixture for these 15-ton heats demands an oxygen flow of 3800 standard cu ft per min along with 317 lb of steam. The Blower's stations is provided with an indicating blast pressure gage, and indicating steam and oxygen flow meters. Signal and warning lights indicate the valve positions and line pressures. A control room at the real of the Blower's pulpit room houses the ratio control and pressure regulators, as well as the various meter bodies. The hand actuated wheels used to change the conditions are mounted on a panel on the front of the meter control house. The recording steam and oxygen meters used for totalizing and accounting purposes are also mounted on this panel.

Jan 1, 1962

By Richard Paul Seelig

THE following review covers published information on pressing of metal powders at room temperature. Only those operations are considered which occur between the time the powder is filled into the cavity and the compact is ejected from the die. Thus, this review does not concern hot pressing, coining or sizing feed or flow problems, commercial presses nor designs. It was also necessary to disregard to a large extent the effect of pressing on subsequent operations and on properties after sintering. The pressing operation is considered independently in its function to compact loose metal powder into useful shapes which can subsequently be handled. There are some comments by the writer in connection with a few of the findings quoted in the literature in order to stimulate thought and discussion. The selection of references quoted in the text is in some cases arbitrary although an attempt was made to favor papers containing novel ideas, techniques or results which may stimulate future research. In order to enable the reader to check further into the subjects mentioned, the original, rather extensive, bibliography is appended even though not all the references are touched on in the printed version of this review. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The equipment used by various workers, for example a die design created by Bridgman,22 is very interesting. The die insert has a conical external surface. The vertical pressure exerted on the punch transmits itself to the die which in turn is pushed harder into its tapered retainer. Thus, the higher the pressure exerted on the punch, the higher also the pressure exerted inwards on the die inserts. In as much as this pressure counteracts the internal pressure from the compact the two stresses balance each other so that it is possible to obtain tremendous pressures without breaking the die. The die collar was made from an oil hardening tool steel, heat treated to a tensile strength of some 300,000 psi. The die was closed at the bottom by a plug made from special tool steels. Bridgman found that there is no steel which will withstand a compressive stress of 700,000 psi without continuous slow flow or immediate fracture. Therefore, the only material suitable for use in the pressing punch was sintered carbide. In view of the ingenious design it was possible to use special tool steel as die material. Jones22 raises the question whether this method of pressing has practical application in powder metallurgy. Al- though these tremendous pressures cannot readily be utilized without many special precautions, the tapered die and retainer idea is believed to be useful even for lower pressures. Bridgman, himself,8 calls attention to the fact that the properties

Jan 1, 1947

By C. H. Jr. Herty

ALMOST every metallurgist who has given the Howe Memorial Lecture has had a personal contact with the distinguished gentleman to whose honor this hour is devoted. Unfortunately for me, such personal contacts were not possible. However, in the preparation of a thesis on the open-hearth process, one of my earliest tasks was to make a survey of the literature, and it was from Professor Howe's Metallurgy of Iron and Steel that I drew a number of references to previous work which formed the foundation for my reading. In his volume there is such a complete exposition of the then current thought on the subject of slags and on their role in the elimination of phosphorus from steel that I feel no hesitation in discussing in this Howe Lecture the subject of "Slag Control." In the present era of close specification, the drive for uniformity of product, and the close inspection of the product and of the cost sheet, the utmost efforts must be made to control the steelmaking variables to the best advantage of the steel producer. One of the major variables is the slag in the furnace and its effect upon the composition and quality of the metal. What advantages are to be gained from slag control? In the broad sense the advantages must be tremendous, because the very foundations of good steel melting are based on "shaping up" the slag to a point where, with proper temperature, the heat is ready for the final additions. Every melter works toward these ends through his experience with innumerable heats of steel. The elimination of undesirable constituents such as phosphorus and sulphur is entirely a matter of slag composition and physical nature, a point well known for over half a century. The role played by the slag in assisting in proper heat transfer from roof and flame to the steel has been equally well known. In more recent years there has come the problem of oxygen control in the more accurate gaug-ing of additions for making high-grade rimmed steel for the new strip mills, and in the deoxidizing additions for grain-size control and cleanli-ness of forging steels, both carbon and alloy. In this problem the oxidiz-ing characteristics of the slag are of prime importance.

Jan 1, 1940

By M. N. Shetty, A. C. D. Chaklader

RECENTLY, it has been demonstrated that a considerable densification and interparticle bonding can be achieved if a pressure is applied to a powder compact while the material of the compact is undergoing either a decomposition reaction' or a polymorphic transformation.' The term "reactive hot pressing" has been coined to identify this process in which a phase change is combined with pressure to achieve interparticle bonding. This process is based on a principle which postulates that there is an enhanced reactivity and mobility of the molecular species at the phase-transformation temperature and this effect is utilized for interparticle bonding in powder compacts. This note summarizes the results obtained in an attempt to utilize this technique to produce ceramic-metal composites. In this case, a decomposition reaction of a compound (which after decomposition yielded an oxide) was used to achieve interparticle bonding in ceramic-metal composites. The reactive hot pressing was carried out in a Phillips induction heating unit, using either a graphite or a high-temperature steel die which functioned as both the susceptor and the hot-pressing component. The die was heated to the desired temperature in a helium atmosphere. All cermets produced by this technique were based on alumina as the ceramic phase. Different metal phases such as iron, copper, and chromium were used to study the effect of varying the metal phase on the properties of the composite. a Mono-hydrate (Boehmite) was mixed with different proportions of metal powders (-325 mesh) in dry condition in a mortar and pestle. No special precautions were taken for proper mixing. The mixtures were then compacted into a cylindrical form having an approximate dimension of 1 cm in diameter and 1 cm in height. For this compaction an ordinary

Jan 1, 1965

By Jack L. Taylor

WITH the exception of the work of Vogel,&apos; and Rolla and Iandelli, very little information has appeared in the literature on titanium binary systems with the rare earth elements. Rare-earth additions to titanium alloys may possibly parallel the beneficial effects on the physical properties of certain steels. Having this in mind, some knowledge of solubility limits and intermediate phases, if any, would be useful. An investigation of the titanium-rich Ti-Ce system was started. Alloy Preparation The iodide titanium from the New Jersey Zinc Co. and the cerium metal from the Institute for Atomic Research Ames Laboratory used in this work were supplied with the typical analysis shown —iodide titanium: 0.0065 pct Mn, 0.0022 pct Fe, 0.0015 pct Cu, and 0.0042 pct Pb; cerium metal: <0.01 pct Fe, <0.03 pct Si, <0.05 pct Ta, <0.02 pct Pr, <0.03 pct Ca, <0.02 pct Mg, with no trace of Nd, La, or Th. The cerium metal, stored in oil, was washed and scraped just before weighing into capped cups machined from iodide titanium. The cold hearth helium-arc furnace described by Schramm et al3 was used for melting. The alloy buttons from the arc-melted cup were cut in two, mounted, and examined. Homogeneous alloys were demounted and rolled to approximately 1/4-in.sq bars. Sections l/8 in. thick were cut from the bar to provide samples. The Ti-Ce alloy buttons analyzed for cerium were of the following composition: 0.19, 0.36, 0.48, 0.61, 1.15, 2.52, 3.06, 3.70, 4.30, 9.20, 14.26, and 18.50 wt pct. Nominal

Jan 1, 1958

By Edwin A. Rides

HISTORICAL ORIGIN OF THE EXPORT CREDIT AGENCIES Almost since the inception of international commerce sellers, having manufactured and/or sold and shipped goods to an overseas buyer, have been obliged to accept the risk that they will not be paid for one reason or another. There are many reasons why payment may not be forthcoming, for example, the goods may be lost at sea, or rejected by the buyer or the buyer nay simply not be creditworthy. These risks were brought into sharp relief as international trading became more sophisticated and the practice of giving credit to buyers gathered momentum. Inevitably enterprises sprang up which offered same mitigation of this exposure, accepting houses and later confirming houses and banks were prepared to assure acceptable credit risks an behalf of the seller, usually by discounting trade paper, and for many years the market ticked over reasonably satisfactorily. However, after the 1914-18 War international trade was at an extremely low ebb and its inherent risks were accentuated to a point where they were often commercially unacceptable. Yet a healthy and vigorous international market was indispensable to recovery of the world economy and a number of governments, led by the United Kingdom, perceived a need to offer their exporters a comprehensive form of insurance, particularly to facilitate the extension of credit to foreign buyers. In the United Kingdom the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) was set up to encourage trade through the provision of export credit insurance. Over the ensuing years others followed suit and now most of the developed trading nations and many developing nations have similar agencies. PRESENT DAY IDLE OF THE EXPORT CREDIT AGENCIES (ECAS ) Traditionally then the BA&apos;s role was to encourage trade through the provision to exporters of insurance against the risks of non-payment by overseas buyers of their goods and services. However, during the 1970&apos;s the manufacturing industries of most of the developed nations found themselves facing severe competition for business, particularly in the developing world. As a result the more aggressive ECA&apos;s began to introduce ancillary forms of cover designed to reduce exporters&apos; risks outside of the credit field. For instance, most of the European agencies now have a form of cover against foreign exchange risks here contracts are denominated in currencies other than that of the exporter&apos;s country. Most of the agencies also provide cover to exporters against the risk of unfair calling of bid, advance payment, performance bonds etc and in certain countries, where high inflation rates were endemic, a form of cover against cost escalation. In certain circumstances it is also possible for an exporter to obtain cover against losses arising as a result of the involvency of a partner in a consortium or joint venture. These are all forms of insurance but, also during the 1970&apos;s, many of the national export credit programmes took a major step away from their original raison d&apos;etre by facilitating the provision of preferential financing terns for the acquisition of capital equipment by an overseas buyer. This new line of business quickly became an important ingredient of major export financing packages and, as we shall see later, turned out to be extremely costly for the countries providing it.

Jan 1, 1985

By M. C. Udy, C. H. Lorig

THROUGH the years much interest has been centered in attempting to develop a direct method of iron-ore reduction, to replace or supplement the present indirect blast-furnace process. It would not be difficult to produce a list of more than 500 patents dealing with the direct production of iron and steel, but the few of this type of process that have proved successful do not produce in competition with the blast furnace; they produce special products. A survey of the literature reveals that the equilibrium conditions for the reduction reactions (iron oxides with carbon monoxide and with hydrogen) have been fairly well established but that data on the rate of reaction are discordant, although the general effects of the variables are known. This dissertation deals with the rate of reduction of a magnetite concentrate with hydrogen. The following variables have been studied: bed depth, gas velocity, particle size and temperature. The behavior of a single particle was also studied. LITERATURE Two general factors should be considered in a study of reduction of iron oxide: (I) equilibrium relations, and (2) rate of reaction. The first factor, equilibrium, has received the attention of many investigators and the equilibria Fe304-FeO-H2-H20, Fe3O4-FeO-CO-CO2, FeO-Fe-H2-H20, FeO¬Fe-CO-C02 are fairly well established. Of the second factor, the rate of reaction, much less is known. Data are comparatively scarce and there is very little concordance. The discordance probably results from the large number of variables influencing the reactions. However, the general effect of the variables is known. Among these variables are temperature, gas velocity, particle size, porosity, gas composition (distance from equilibrium), presence of impurities, greater or less prevalence of side reactions, and even design of the apparatus itself. Wetherill and Furnas1 published an excellent paper in 1934. They point out that any one or more of five processes (the chemical reaction, diffusion of the reactant through the gas film, diffusion of the reactant through the solid phase, diffusion of the reaction product through the solid phase, or diffusion of the reaction product through the gas film) may be the slow process, and thus the rate-controlling process. It is regretted that the work of these authors was limited to experiments at one temperature, and that the range of gas compositions was limited. Langmuir2 has shown that heterogeneous reactions take place at phase boundaries.

Jan 1, 1942

By Blandford C. Burgess

Mica is an orchid among minerals. It is formed in pegmatites, one of the most bizarre of igneous formations, and is exceeded by few other minerals in the perfection it may attain as to size, color, and cleavage. First used for window glazing, as an ornament and article of trade, it has become one of the most essential insulators of electricity, heat, and shock. Most internal combustion engines use mica condensers or capacitors and such machines of war as planes, tanks, and submarines are immobile without it. The original manuscript of this guide was written in April 1943 at the peak of war emergency. It was not used be- cause shortly thereafter a decision was made to buy on a one price basis eliminating differentials for both quality and size. This is now presented with the thought that from the standpoint of preparedness we can only consider an- other war imminent and every effort should he made to set up in usable form the experience gained during the Second World War. Colonial Mica Corp. was set up by Metals Reserve Co. as a wholly owned government agency to encourage production of domestic mica and to purchase it. It soon became the exclusive buying agency for such mica. The writer as Southern Manager called on all the private agencies buying mica to assist in formulating buying policies, methods, and prices.

Jan 1, 1949

KARL A. PAULY,* Schenectady, N. Y.-We are deeply indebted to Mr. Hobart for a record of the actual experience of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co. with electrification. One of the essential features of this test is that it was made under actual operating conditions. In one of the western mining districts I was once discussing the electrification of a large hoist with a mining operator, who told me that they had made a very thorough test and that the results were such as to indicate that electrification was not warranted. When questioned regarding the test, he said that they had called on the mining college in the Territory for assistance, and one of the instructors and a group of students had made the test. They first cleaned the boilers and then operated them at a&apos; continuous load, using the maker&apos;s guaranteed steam consumption per indicated horsepower as a guide in estimating the steam consumption under actual hoisting conditions. Such a test is absolutely valueless. The efficiency of the boilers &apos;is affected by the intermittent demands on the steam. The standby losses, as indicated by Mr. Hobart&apos;s paper, are quite equal to the actual fuel consumption required to do the work; very frequently, also, the cost of repairs is either omitted or underestimated. One noticeable feature of Mr. Hobart&apos;s tabulation is that there is no mention of steam consumption. Intentionally or otherwise, the steam-hoist builders have befogged the question by making a great point of the steam consumption of hoists. The operator is not at all concerned in steam consumption; it is the actual cost of operation that he is interested in, and it is a comparison between the cost of operation of the two systems, all factors being considered, that should determine the choice. The steam consumption, or its determination by test, is only one step in the problem of estimating the fuel consumption, which, in an actual installation, can be directly measured much more accurately, as was done by Mr. Hobart.

Jan 4, 1918

By AIME AIME

A SIDE from the technical sessions held as noted elsewhere, the chairman of the various sub-committees of the Mining Methods Committee, together with a few other specialists, were invited to a conference with President Bradley, which was held on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 20. The general plan of a comprehensive series of comparable papers descriptive of mining practice in various parts of the country, launched by this committee some seven years ago having been adopted by the U. S. Bureau of Mines, the feeling was general that the Committee could safely 1eave.that part of its work in these capable hands and turn its attention to other matters. The plans of the Bureau were presented as below by Charles William Wright of the Bureau.

Jan 1, 1929

By EDWARHD HALSE

Discussion of the Paper of Dr. H. M. Chance, presented at the Lake Superior Meeting, September, 1904. EDWARD HALSE, Puerto Berrio, Colombia, So. Amer. (communication to the Secretary*) : The Taviche mining-district is generally known as a Taviches," being named from the two villages called respectively San Pedro Taviche and San Jeronimo Taviche. It is so called by José G. Aguilera, in his paper on the Geographical and Geological Distribution of the Mineral Deposits of Mexico;&apos; and in published reports by the late N. W. Rudston Read ;2 and by Juan de Dios Villarello.3 The region is a large one, measuring about 24 miles long and 7 miles wide. Dr. Chance, in his interesting paper, tells us very little about the nature of the ores, and, with regard to the geology of the district, contents himself with observing that ? the country, as a rule, consists of eruptive rocks; and no evidences of sedimentary strata appear near the mines.? The latter part of the above statement is hardly correct. The formation is mainly eruptive, being hornblende-audesite of Tertiary age, which is limited on the east by the calcareous (Cretaceous) formation, and on the west by the Huronian rocks of Ocotlan. Limestone is seen close to the Santa Càtarina mine, at the northern end of the region. In the surface-working known as La Cueva, a little northeast of San Pedro, limestone forms the eastern wall of the deposit which consists of spots (moscas) of pyrargyrite in white opaque or transparent quartz. Ill one place the ore is associated with stibnite, and the quartz frequently exhibts a

Sep 1, 1905

By S. LeFevre

, The solution of the housing and sanitation problem in mining communities, keeping in view both economic and humanitarian aspects, demands the best thought of the management of such enterprises. Upon the solution depend the health and comfort of the employee and his family, and as a consequence his contentment and efficiency. The following description covcrs briefly the methods installed for Witherbee, Sherman & Co. The operation of the system has been for about two years under the direct supervision of T. A. Hammond, Land Agent, and I am indebted to him for a compilation of the results. Sanitation The sanitary service covers 238 tenements. The installation cost was about $22 per tenement, as follows: Privy, $15; privy box, $3; proportion of incinerator cost, $2; garbage can, $2. The operating cost is $1 per month for each tenement. In considering the installation of an ordinary village system of water supply and sewerage two difficulties were encountered: First, lack of a sufficient quantity of water; there is no stream large enough, as Mineville is situated very close to the divide between the Lake Champlain and Hudson River watersheds. A storage reservoir was tried, but the only location available, among glacial hills, would not hold water. Second, the expense of digging ditches for the distribution of water and sewer pipes is so great as to be prohibitive; Mineville is built chiefly in a valley covered in the bottom with drift, in this case a combination of boulders and hard pan. Digging in this material costs 80c. to $1 per cubic yard, and pipes must be placed 41/2 ft. down to be below frost. The houses are scattered along 4 miles of streets, the oldest having been built in the original forest 65 years ago. The newer houses have gone up a few at a time wherevcr a clear space could be found and the slopes were not too steep. This has advantages, as it separates the dwellings into

Jan 1, 1915