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By L. C. Aycock, J. Hunter, P. M. Lyons

In view of the unfavorable discovery trend that has set in during the past few years, it seems permissible to infer that the large, more easily found crude reserves in Louisiana are now known. Without doubt, many new producing areas will be located, but in the light of development during the past few years the majority of new areas probably will be found at greater depths and from relatively poorer sands. f Although sufficient reserves exist in Louisiana to last at the present rate of production for a considerable period, additional reserves must be found in more intensive development of the presently known structures. In order to ensure the greatest ultimate recovery from such structures, the most advanced technical methods must be employed in their exploitation. Wherever possible, cycling and repressuring plants should be installed. 'here are presently in Louisiana, especially in south Louisiana, a great many fields that contain gas-condensate reservoirs. These reservoirs cannot be produced for their liquid hydrocarbon content under present conditions without wasting an enormous quantity of gas and creating underground waste. Although some of these reservoirs are being produced, such production must be considered in the nature of a salvage operation rather than as a sound economic proposition. Such reservoirs, however, can become profitable ven- tures through the use of cycling and repressuring plants. Cycling operations now operating in Louisiana have increased the ultimate recovery from gas-condensate reservoirs anywhere from 10 to 30 per cent. Cycling operations will also provide a considerable reserve of gas, without which Louisiana cannot hope to develop any program of industrialization. During the past year, Louisiana attained the rank of third among the oil-producing states of this country. With a proper program of exploitation and development, and with emphasis on conservation, Louisiana can maintain this position for a great many years. Production On Dec. 31, 1943, oil and/or gas were being. produced in 52 parishes, or 81 per cent of all the parishes in the state. Thirty-three of the parishes produced oil and gas, 14 produced oil, and 5 produced solely gas. Tensas Parish in north Louisiana and Assumption Parish in south Louisiana formerly contained no producing fields but during 1943 joined the ranks of the producing parishes. Twenty-three new fields, including one rediscovery, were found during 1943-—a rate of discovery almost comparable to that of the preceding year. Eleven of these new discoveries were either gas or gas-condensate fields. Thus, the trend of development in finding new reserves was also comparable to that of 1942. Many reasons of considerable merit have been advanced to account for the discouraging lack of crude-oil reserves found during the past year. None are, however, completely satisfactory.

Jan 1, 1944

By J. Hunter, P. M. Lyons, L. C. Aycock

In view of the unfavorable discovery trend that has set in during the past few years, it seems permissible to infer that the large, more easily found crude reserves in Louisiana are now known. Without doubt, many new producing areas will be located, but in the light of development during the past few years the majority of new areas probably will be found at greater depths and from relatively poorer sands. f Although sufficient reserves exist in Louisiana to last at the present rate of production for a considerable period, additional reserves must be found in more intensive development of the presently known structures. In order to ensure the greatest ultimate recovery from such structures, the most advanced technical methods must be employed in their exploitation. Wherever possible, cycling and repressuring plants should be installed. 'here are presently in Louisiana, especially in south Louisiana, a great many fields that contain gas-condensate reservoirs. These reservoirs cannot be produced for their liquid hydrocarbon content under present conditions without wasting an enormous quantity of gas and creating underground waste. Although some of these reservoirs are being produced, such production must be considered in the nature of a salvage operation rather than as a sound economic proposition. Such reservoirs, however, can become profitable ven- tures through the use of cycling and repressuring plants. Cycling operations now operating in Louisiana have increased the ultimate recovery from gas-condensate reservoirs anywhere from 10 to 30 per cent. Cycling operations will also provide a considerable reserve of gas, without which Louisiana cannot hope to develop any program of industrialization. During the past year, Louisiana attained the rank of third among the oil-producing states of this country. With a proper program of exploitation and development, and with emphasis on conservation, Louisiana can maintain this position for a great many years. Production On Dec. 31, 1943, oil and/or gas were being. produced in 52 parishes, or 81 per cent of all the parishes in the state. Thirty-three of the parishes produced oil and gas, 14 produced oil, and 5 produced solely gas. Tensas Parish in north Louisiana and Assumption Parish in south Louisiana formerly contained no producing fields but during 1943 joined the ranks of the producing parishes. Twenty-three new fields, including one rediscovery, were found during 1943-—a rate of discovery almost comparable to that of the preceding year. Eleven of these new discoveries were either gas or gas-condensate fields. Thus, the trend of development in finding new reserves was also comparable to that of 1942. Many reasons of considerable merit have been advanced to account for the discouraging lack of crude-oil reserves found during the past year. None are, however, completely satisfactory.

Jan 1, 1944

By C. E. BOCKUSD

WHEN Mr. Bain asked me to lunch with you he requested that I say a few words as to how the Institute could be helpful to the bituminous coal industry. I feel like saying, "Thank you, what have you?" I do not want to trace in detail the story that is old already to many of you. On the other hand it does take some little stage-setting to illustrate what is the matter in the bituminous coal industry, a trouble that must some day be cured. There has been something over a century of bituminous coal production as a real business in this country. True, Joliet and Marquette discovered coal in Illinois in 1673, according to published accounts of their travels, and shortly thereafter Father Hennepin also found Illinois coal in 1689. Coal was mined near Richmond in 1750, and Richmond shipped coal to New York and Philadelphia in 1789. But it was not until 1838 that the production of bituminous coal in this country totaled a yearly output equal to the minimum for one class A mine today, for that was the first year that production exceeded 200,000 tons.

Jan 1, 1930

By Thomas F. Donnelly

The Province of San Cristobal is situated on the south side of the island of Santo Domingo about 25 miles west of Santo Domingo city, the capital of the republic. The copper mineraliza,tion is found about 8 miles north of the town of San Cristobal,. in the section known as Bucaro Hill; in San Francisco Hill; on the Nigua River; and on the Jaina River. The district is reached by automobile from Santo Domingo city over an excellent road for 25 miles to San Cristobal, and then, by horseback 6 or 8 miles up the Nigua River to what is locally known as "Camp

Jan 1, 1916

By Ralph C. Holmer

IN the field of mineral exploration, 1956 can be looked upon as the International Geochemical Year. This is not because of unusual developments in geochemical prospecting but rather because of the world-wide effort in geochemistry and the realization that geochemistry is now an established exploration method. Use of mining geophysics has continued to increase. Those extensively employing exploration techniques indicate that developments of the past few years have permitted better programming of methods, from reconnaissance to location of drill- holes. There is greater diversification of methods- reliance is not placed on results of one. However, it is realized that often it is more economical to drill an anomaly than to conduct additional expensive geophysical surveys

Jan 2, 1957

By G. W. Crane

WHEN ore was discovered on the Tintic Standard property in the spring of 1916, new developments were immediately started both north and south of that property, on the supposition that in East Tintic the ore would be found to occur in northerly trending channels, similar to those so characteristic of the older camp. But 9 years of developments have failed to establish the existence of such a channel. This is due undoubtedly to important differences in the geology of the two camps, that were not recognized, and is indicative of the danger in the general tendency toward interpreting the geology of East Tintic too strictly in terms of that of the older camp. It should not be forgotten that while the two sections have had practically the same geological history, the net results of a long series of geologic processes have developed in them conditions that differ so widely and in so many particulars that the necessity of regarding them as essentially different districts seems apparent. In an effort to emphasize this fact, this paper is devoted chiefly to a comparison of the geological conditions as found in the two camps and is addressed more particularly to those familiar with the geology of the Tintic district. Following a short description of the several ore discoveries and of the Tintic Standard mine is a brief discussion of the evidence of ore channels in East Tintic. For my information regarding the Tintic Standard mine, I am indebted to the courtesy and generous assistance of Messrs. Wade and Snow of the Tintic Standard Mining Co.

Jan 9, 1925

By C. E. MacQuigg

In this paper it is impossible to more than touch on many of the commercial alloys of iron, chromium, and carbon, therefore the discussion is confined to the properties of some of the less well-known alloys with upwards of 20-per cent. chromium. The discussion has been based largely on the strictly engineering aspects of the alloys. Chromium has well-defined effects when added to the iron-carbon system. These effects depend on the amount of chromium added and on the composition of the iron-carbon alloy to which the addition is made, i.e. whether low- or high-carbon steel, cast iron, etc. In the case of the low-carbon steels, the chromium addition, when not in excess of several per cent., appears to exert an influence on the properties by its influence on the critical range. In the higher chromium alloys, the physical properties are influenced chiefly by the formation of new complexes, such as iron-chromium solid solutions and, with higher carbon contents, iron-chromium carbides of great hardness. Examination of the published data1 on the critical range phenomena of chromium-bearing steels up to several per cent. chromium indicates an agreement on the following points:

Jan 1, 1923

By C. E. MacQuigg

In this paper it is impossible to more than touch on many of the commercial alloys of iron, chromium, and carbon, therefore the discussion is confined to the properties of some of the less well-known alloys with upwards of 20-per cent. chromium. The discussion has been based largely on the strictly engineering aspects of the alloys. Chromium has well-defined effects when added to the iron-carbon system. These effects depend on the amount of chromium added and on the composition of the iron-carbon alloy to which the addition is made, i.e. whether low- or high-carbon steel, cast iron, etc. In the case of the low-carbon steels, the chromium addition, when not in excess of several per cent., appears to exert an influence on the properties by its influence on the critical range. In the higher chromium alloys, the physical properties are influenced chiefly by the formation of new complexes, such as iron-chromium solid solutions and, with higher carbon contents, iron-chromium carbides of great hardness. Examination of the published data1 on the critical range phenomena of chromium-bearing steels up to several per cent. chromium indicates an agreement on the following points:

Jan 1, 1923

By Norman B. Pilling, George P. Halliwell

The effects of lead and tin up to maximum contents of about 0.1 per cent. each, in the presence of oxygen between 0.04 and 0.30 per cent., have been studied. Tin is retained efficiently in the oxidized condition, whereas lead is not. An approximate relation between the lead-oxygen and tin-oxygen contents is deduced which, if observed, permits the presence of these elements without detrimental effect. Excess of lead beyond this limit affects ductility and rolling properties adversely and an excess of tin correspondingly diminishes the conductivity. It is shown that copper carrying a combined lead and tin content of several hundredths per cent., yet fully equal in quality to electrolytic wirebar, may be produced under commercial conditions. Tin is not normally found in more than bare traces in current grades of American electrolytic copper, and lead is rarely found to more than a few thousandths per cent. In the electrolytic refining of copper these metals do not present great difficulty in separation and their presence in any considerable amount in copper that has been refined by this method need not be tolerated. On the other hand, the effect of these elements is not entirely academic, as a considerable tonnage of scrap copper liberally contaminated with them has been reclaimed by the fire-refining process into metal with a residual lead and tin content of several hundredths per cent., yet having excellent working properties and fully equal in quality to current grades of electrolytic wirebar. Such copper has been found entirely suitable for use in the manufacture of electrical apparatus. In the absence of oxygen, tin is known to depress the conductivity rapidly, and lead to impair ductility and the rolling properties, yet the effects of these metals on commercial grades of copper—i. e., copper containing from 0.03 to 0.10 per cent. of oxygen—apparently has not received systematic attention. Occasional reference is made to the fact that in the presence of oxygen lead may be tolerated, yet Addicks says,1 in regard to overpoling: "The unstable condition can be controlled by adding certain substances, notably lead, in small quantities, but as mere

Jan 1, 1926

By R. E. Head, E. L. Tucker

In the metallurgy of precious metals, it has been standard practice for years to use cyanogen compounds, so it was but natural that early investigators in the field of flotation should consider these compounds as possible flotation reagents. In Australian Patent 9508, of 1913, alkali cyanides were described as suitable reagents for the separation of heavy sulfide minerals, the reagents being employed either in an alkaline or neutral circuit. In U. S. Patent 1236501, of 1917, to John M. Tibbet, the use of cyanide in conjunction with soda ash or lime is described. One of the claims of this patent reads, "An improvement in the cyanide process for the treatment of ores comprising, mixing the ore with cyanide solution and oil and alkali: emulsifying the oil in the presence of the ore, the alkali and the cyanide solution, floating a portion of the values in the pulp by producing gas bubbles in the mixture and removing the values floated." More recently, Sheridan and Griswold, in U. S. Patents 1421585 and 1427235, describe a somewhat similar process and have successfully introduced it in the mill of the Timber Butte Milling Co. U. S. Patent 1429544, of 1922, to Stevens, describes the use of double cyanides of copper, zinc, and lead. The success of cyanide as a reagent in the differential flotation of lead and zinc sulfides in highly complex ores is proof that these patents have a solid foundation. Although the technique of their application to particular ores has been worked out in many cases, no one, so far as is known, has attempted to describe the nature of the action of the cyanide or to determine the ideal conditions for its application. It was the purpose of the present investigation to gather information on these points. Naturally this would have been an exceedingly ambitious program had the attempt been made to study the effect of cyanide

Jan 1, 1926

By S. B. Twiss, P. R. Basford

The relationship between areas of iron powders, briquettes, and sintered compacts and tensile strength has been determined. It has been found necessary to distinguish between two types of areas which exist in such powders—a macroscopic area due to the shape and size of particles and a microscopic area due to pores and cracks in the surface. Only the macroscopic area, specifically the area due to particle irregularity, contributes to tensile strength; the microscopic area cannot be forced into contact with adjacent particles ond does not participate in bond formation. Of the two methods of area measurement employed in this study—permeability to liquids and gas-phase adsorption—only the former is useful for determining the roughness factor. A measure of this roughness, (area measured by permeability to liquid) -f- (orea of powder with the same size distribution, but made up of spherical particles), is shown to be uniquely related to tensile strength at constant density. The other important factors in determining the strength of sintered-metal compacts are the density and presence or absence of surface oxide. THE manufacture of metal parts by the process of powder metallurgy is an important and rapidly growing industry. Progress has been rapid and continuous, largely because of the excellent research in the field. Nevertheless, the process remains inherently complex and empirical. Several investigators have shown that the properties of the final compact must depend on many variables; namely, shape,' size distribution,"-" nd compositiona of the original particles, the pressure necessary to compress to the desired density, the density of the compact, the time and temperature of sintering, and so on. Through the application of some new techniques to the study of powders and compacts, and the correlation of a number of observations of known variables, the present paper attempts to clarify and simplify the underlying theory of the powder-metallurgy process. Any theory must start with the obvious fact that the strength of a compact, its most useful property, is due to the formation of welded areas between adjacent particles, and attempt to deduce what effect other variables will have on (a) the area and (b) the intrinsic strength of these welds. Such welded areas can be demonstrated by electron micrographs, as in Fig. 1. It was believed that (a) could be most directly studied by means of surface-area measurements on the original powders and on the compacts made from them; the area decrease should be related closely to the welded area. A representative group of eleven iron powders from commercial sources, and made by a variety of processes, was chosen for this study. In addition to the surface-area measurements, correlations were established between the tensile strength and all the known variables which might possibly affect it. The results are quite unexpected. They indicate that the situation is much simpler than the authors had anticipated. The strength of the sintered compact is determined, indeed, by no more than three variables; viz., the irregularity of the original particles, the density of the compact and, in exceptional cases, the amount of surface oxide. All three had been recognized previously as having some effect on the tensile strength, but in the absence of the special techniques and interpretations to be developed here, there could be no suspicion that they were the only relevant variables. Materials and Methods Material—All the iron powders were commercial products obtained from the Amplex Division of Chrysler Corporation. Powders A, B, C, and J were very pure electrolytic iron. Powder D was made from oxidized scrap reduced by heating with an excess of cast iron. Powder E was a high-grade iron ore reduced by hydrogen. Powder I was prepared by atomizing molten cast iron in an air blast, quenching the droplets in cold water, and crushing the coarse powder. Mill scale (oxide) is added and the mixture heated to reduce the high carbon content. The other powders were all prepared by reduction of iron oxides, such as mill scale. They

Jan 1, 1959

For four years your Committee has been engaged in the study of problems connected with the educational preparation of professional geophysicists. The Present report represents the conclusions drawn from the investigations and deliberations undertaken since it was first organized. These studies have shown that the evolution of geophysics has proceeded along lines that differed from those marking the advance of classical geology. The latter science developed as a descriptive one, dealing with directly observable terrestrial phenomena, and the elementary, rational explanations that could be offered therefor. The fact that these phenomena were also chemical and physical in nature was seldom given more than passing acknowledgment. During the last half century, however, a new approach to problems of terrestrial phenomena has become of greater significance. This new attack has come through the sciences of physics and chemistry, as the people trained therein have investigated the facts of the earth as problems in their respective sciences. This development has been chiefly at the hands of European investigators, and European universities have long recognized it by establishing departments or institutions of geophysics. In the universities of North America, their arbitrary departmentalization into fields of physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, etc., has prevented the academic recognition of such domains of science as geophysics and geochemistry. In consequence, the development of these subjects in the United States has been largely at the hands of nonacademic institutions, while the universities themselves are evidently in a state of confusion as to how the subject should be handled. In some places an attempt to teach geophysics is made in the physics department, in others in the geology department, in some in the engineering school, and occasionally as a cooperative effort; a Department of Geophysics is seldom found in North America. In some instances, proper academic plan. ning has been precluded by interdepart. mental jealousies, or by lack of appreciation of the significance of the subject. For the background upon which these conclusions are based, the reader is referred to reports previously issued or SPonsored by Your Committee. The "First Report of the A.I.M.E. Mineral Industry Education Division's Committee of Geophysics Education, 1939," summarizes the replies received to question-

Jan 1, 1946

For four years your Committee has been engaged in the study of problems connected with the educational preparation of professional geophysicists. The Present report represents the conclusions drawn from the investigations and deliberations undertaken since it was first organized. These studies have shown that the evolution of geophysics has proceeded along lines that differed from those marking the advance of classical geology. The latter science developed as a descriptive one, dealing with directly observable terrestrial phenomena, and the elementary, rational explanations that could be offered therefor. The fact that these phenomena were also chemical and physical in nature was seldom given more than passing acknowledgment. During the last half century, however, a new approach to problems of terrestrial phenomena has become of greater significance. This new attack has come through the sciences of physics and chemistry, as the people trained therein have investigated the facts of the earth as problems in their respective sciences. This development has been chiefly at the hands of European investigators, and European universities have long recognized it by establishing departments or institutions of geophysics. In the universities of North America, their arbitrary departmentalization into fields of physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, etc., has prevented the academic recognition of such domains of science as geophysics and geochemistry. In consequence, the development of these subjects in the United States has been largely at the hands of nonacademic institutions, while the universities themselves are evidently in a state of confusion as to how the subject should be handled. In some places an attempt to teach geophysics is made in the physics department, in others in the geology department, in some in the engineering school, and occasionally as a cooperative effort; a Department of Geophysics is seldom found in North America. In some instances, proper academic plan. ning has been precluded by interdepart. mental jealousies, or by lack of appreciation of the significance of the subject. For the background upon which these conclusions are based, the reader is referred to reports previously issued or SPonsored by Your Committee. The "First Report of the A.I.M.E. Mineral Industry Education Division's Committee of Geophysics Education, 1939," summarizes the replies received to question-

Jan 1, 1946

By C. C. Harris

The modern flotation machine is the result of decades of adaptation to a changing environment. In response to falling ore grades, and rising demands, tonnages, and costs, attempts are now underway to expand machine capacity by about an order of magnitude, while at the same time maintaining metallurgical performance and if possible reducing power requirements per unit throughput. Empiricism and rule-of-thumb have guided flotation machine design and scale-up, and a current need is for the development of a fundamental understanding of the subject. Design features of current and some obsolete machines are discussed in an attempt to outline those principles of flotation machine design which are known, and to delineate topics needing investigation. Attempts are made to distinguish between essential machine features required by the physics of the process, those features resulting from speculative theories on the flotation mechanisms, and features which are essentially styling variations. Topics discussed include: flotation mechanisms; tank and impeller/ stator design and dimensions; impeller speed; aeration; power consumption; particle suspension and dispersion; capacity; correlation of design parameters and operating variables; scale-up and scale-down; materials flow; problems in machine design. Design details and operating data for several current machine families are provided in Appendices.

Jan 1, 1976

By W. O. Philbrook, H. W. Hosking, N. B. Melcher

A simple and inexpensive mercury-tracer method has been develohed to study rates and Patterns of gas flow in blast furnaces. A Pulse of mercury is injected into the hot blast, and its arrival at the sampling Point is recorded by an electronic circuit that measures resonant absorbtion of ultraviolet light by mercury vapor in the gas aspirated .through the detecting. cell. A rapidly developing interest in blast-furnace technology in recent years has created a strong demand for precise knowledge of the rates and patterns of gas movement through the stock column. Classical fluid-flow theory cannot supply the desired information because the complexity of the blast-furnace situation precludes the accurate determination of many of the parameters required for solution of the equations. In fact some of the terms employed in fluid-flow treatments become almost meaningless under blast-furnace conditions. The void fraction of the stock column, for example, varies widely from place to place and is affected by the segregation of charge materials, attrition of lumps during descent, and channeling. Gas density varies with changes in local pressure, temperature, and composition, while viscosity varies with temperature and composition. Even if mean values for these functions were acceptable, they would be either impossible or extremely difficult to determine with a high degree of accuracy since the value of the mean for all gas properties would depend upon the flow distribution itself. Attempts to study gas movement by the pitot-tube determination of kinetic pressures have met with little acceptance. Reproducibility of results is extremely difficult to achieve in a situation where alignment of the tube orifice with respect to the flow direction in tortuous channels cannot be guaranteed. Because of these difficulties it would appear that progress can be achieved only with a direct method of measuring gas velocities and determining the shape of flow paths through the stock. The establishment of such a method is described in this paper. SELECTION OF METHOD Direct measurement suggests the use of a tracer by means of which the progress of a "parcel" of gas can be followed through the furnace. Several requirements must be met before any selected material can be considered a suitable tracer. First of all, it must be a substance not normally present in blastfurnace gas or dust; otherwise its presence in a gas sample will have little significance. It should be volatile at temperatures normally existing within the furnace, to ensure that it will travel with the gas, as a gas. It should possess special properties enabling its presence in the gas to be detected readily, and it should not undergo exchange reactions with any material normally present within the furnace, including refractories and coke as well as all components of the metal and slag. Radioactive materials naturally are considered because their radioactivity renders them susceptible to detection. However, of the many radioactive materials available, almost all are eliminated from final consideration by their unsuitability in terms of other properties. Radioactive silicon, carbon, calcium, phosphorus, and many others have been considered and discarded, either because they are not volatile over the whole range of significant temperatures, or because they could be expected to undergo exchange reactions with burden or refractory materials. Others which might be suitable in terms of these properties are eliminated because of a low activity, short half life, or the necessity for fragile counting apparatus. Of the many elements available in radioactive form, perhaps radon is the only one suitable for blast-furnace gas-flow studies. This has been used in several investigations1-4 with considerable success. The use of radiotracers has certain inherent disadvantages. One is the cost. An appreciable sum must be allowed for materials each time a test is made. Also, special methods of handling must be employed, and very often the progress of an investigation must be governed by the availability of isotopes and the delivery arrangements that can be made for them. An advantage is immediately gained if the tracer material can be a substance which can

Jan 1, 1960

By E. A. Anderson, C. W. Siller, Gerald Edmunds

In the pressurc die-casting of zinc alloys it is customary to force the molten alloy under high pressure into a permanent steel die by means of a plunger moving in a bushing that has a clearance on the diameter of the order of 0.002 in. Successful operation of the plunger type of machine requires the presence in the zinc alloy of certain percentages of aluminum. Without these aluminum additions, the normal reaction of molten zinc on ferrous materials causes sticking of the plunger arid a complcte shutdown of the equipment. All of the zinc alloys used for pressure dir-rnsting today contain approximately 4 per cent of aLUminum, which is more than suffieient to make plunger opcration feasible. The clearancc bet,ween the plunger and its bushing is an important matter. As the space bccomes larger, there is a loss in effective metal pressure. Ordinary gray cast iron served fairly well and is still uscd in some machines. However, the rate at which the plunger c1earance. increases with this material is considered by many to be far too great. There is, therefore, a serious interest in finding new matcrinls more: capable of retaining the desired clearance during long periods of use. Today marly die casters are using special materials for plungers and bushings selected by the somewhat expensive and time-consuming test of actual experience. An analysis of the problem reveals two possible end points of plunger. operation: (1) the building up of zinc-alloy plunger-material reaction products in sufficient bulk to cause sticking and (2) rapid solution, wear or erosion, all of which will increase the clearance to an undesirable extent. If neither of these takes place, the pluriger will operatc for a long time, of course.. The authors have developed a laboratory apparat,us in which the action of a plunger moving in a bushing immersed in molten zinc alloy could be simulated closely. Such a machine made possible a more rapid and less expensive survey of the available construction materials and an analysis of the specific alloying reactions taking place in the clearance area.

Jan 1, 1940

By Gerald Edmunds, C. W. Siller, E. A. Anderson

In the pressurc die-casting of zinc alloys it is customary to force the molten alloy under high pressure into a permanent steel die by means of a plunger moving in a bushing that has a clearance on the diameter of the order of 0.002 in. Successful operation of the plunger type of machine requires the presence in the zinc alloy of certain percentages of aluminum. Without these aluminum additions, the normal reaction of molten zinc on ferrous materials causes sticking of the plunger arid a complcte shutdown of the equipment. All of the zinc alloys used for pressure dir-rnsting today contain approximately 4 per cent of aLUminum, which is more than suffieient to make plunger opcration feasible. The clearancc bet,ween the plunger and its bushing is an important matter. As the space bccomes larger, there is a loss in effective metal pressure. Ordinary gray cast iron served fairly well and is still uscd in some machines. However, the rate at which the plunger c1earance. increases with this material is considered by many to be far too great. There is, therefore, a serious interest in finding new matcrinls more: capable of retaining the desired clearance during long periods of use. Today marly die casters are using special materials for plungers and bushings selected by the somewhat expensive and time-consuming test of actual experience. An analysis of the problem reveals two possible end points of plunger. operation: (1) the building up of zinc-alloy plunger-material reaction products in sufficient bulk to cause sticking and (2) rapid solution, wear or erosion, all of which will increase the clearance to an undesirable extent. If neither of these takes place, the pluriger will operatc for a long time, of course.. The authors have developed a laboratory apparat,us in which the action of a plunger moving in a bushing immersed in molten zinc alloy could be simulated closely. Such a machine made possible a more rapid and less expensive survey of the available construction materials and an analysis of the specific alloying reactions taking place in the clearance area.

Jan 1, 1940

By J. Handin

Triaxial compression tests with independently applied external confining pressures and internal pore pressures show that the ultimate compressive strengths of representative oil well cements are nearly linear functions of effective pressure — the difference between external and internal pressures on the jacketed cylindrical specimens (to 15,000 psi). The strengths are little affected by the test temperature to 350F (not to be confused with the curing temperature). At an effective pressure of 15,000 psi, strengths are in the rage of 30,000 to 50,000 psi, comparable to those of sedimentary rocks under similar conditions. The cements become very ductile even under low effective pressures; permanent shortenings of 30 per cent or more are attainable without rupture. INTRODUCTION Since the pioneering work of Richart, Brandtzaeg and Brown1 on the failure of cement under combined compressive stresses, it has been recognized that ultimate compressive strength is greatly enhanced by the application of confining pressure. More recently, Mc Henry2 showed that the strength of concrete was a linear function of the effective pressure (the difference between the external confining pressure on a jacketed specimen and the internal fluid pore pressure), at least for a range of 0 to 1,500 psi. The effect of temperature had not been investigated, and no previous systematic triaxial compression testing of naterials used for oilwell cementing seems to have been done. The present work was suggested by the late J. hi. Bugbee3 who stated that "consideration of the common application of high-pressure hydraulic fracturing to the initial completion or recompletion of wells, and the large pressure drawdowns in some producing wells, particularly those in abnormally high-pressure gas-condensate reservoirs, raises the question of what is a suitable cement strength for various completions. The intuitive belief exists that cement strength need be no greater than formation strength. Tests should, however, be conducted at downhole conditions." The ultimate compressive strengths of rocks penetrated by the borehole must rise several fold with increasing depth.4 This marked enhancement of strength is due to the influence of the effective pressure, the total weight per unit area of the overburden less the hydrostatic pore pressure. (The effect of temperature due to the geothermal gradients is relatively small for depths to 30,000 ft.) .A significant comparison of the strengths of rocks and cements at downhole conditions requires knowledge of the confined compressive strengths of cements as well. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES The theory and technique of triaxial compression testing are fully discussed in earlier reports.4-6 Briefly, cylindrical specimens 1-in. long and 0.5-in. in diameter are jacketed in thin copper tubes of negligible strength, placed in the test chamber and subjected to an external confining pressure of kerosene and loaded axially by the piston at a strain rate of 1 per cent per minute. Pore pressures of water (or kerosene) are applied independently through the hollow piston and are maintained constant during the shortening of the specimen, Tests at sensibly 0 pore pressure are arranged so that any free water in the cement can escape to the atmosphere. (If egress of water were denied, pore pressure would rapidly attain the value of the external confining pressure because of reduction of pore space.) The test chamber can be heated for high-temperature experiments. Unless otherwise noted, the cement samples were air dried for about a week. Recorded during a test are pore and confining pressures, shortening and axial differential force (total force less the product of the confining pressure and the area of the piston). True stress-strain curves are constructed by dividing the measured differential force by the actual cross-sectional area of the specimen at a given

Jan 1, 1966

By N. N. Breyer

A specially built "hard" tensile machine with characteristics permitting the precise detertnination of the drop of the load at the yield point has been used to study the magnitude of the yield-point phenotnenon in prestrained martensitic 4340 steel. A new phenonzenon, the appearance of a secondary yield point, has been observed by holding the specimen at constant strain in the plastic region. Furthermore, it has been found that a series of yield-point drops could be introduced by successive constant strain holds in the plastic region. The isothermal kinetics of the development of the secondary yielding point lave been studied at four temperatures: 24° 0° -18°, and -79°C. From the results of the kinetic investigation, equations for the In a previous investigation1 it was shown that, contrary to generally held opinion, steels of medium carbon content, such as 4340, 4140, and 86B30, in the as-quenched martensitic condition, can be cold-drawn through a die with reductions in area of up to 10 pct without cracking. Tensile specimens of 4340 machined from bars quenched and prestrained in this manner exhibited tensile strengths of about 400,000 psi coupled with 30 pct reductions in area. In addition, it was found that each sample of such steels exhibited a yield point in the quenched, cold-drawn condition. Since these studies were conducted on a commercial hydraulic testing machine of a type which is not well-suited to detailed study of yield-point behavior, it was decided to study this phenomenon more thoroughly on a rigid straining machine. In this new investigation, use of such a "hard" machine not only allowed study of the magnitude of the yield-point drop but also revealed a new phenomenon—secondary yielding of the martensite introduced by stopping crosshead motion after plastic deformation of the sample had begun. The present paper is a report of these findings. MATERIALS AND PROCESSING The material used was a commercial 4340 steel of the composition shown below: 0.41 0.80 0.013 0.019 0.31 0.85 1.76 0.28 1 0.42 0.77 0.015 0.024 0.30 0.84 1.69 0.28 0.08 2 1 = Ladle analysis. 2 = Laboratory analysis. Bars of this steel were processed in the following way: 1) machined to predetermined diameters; 2) austenitized at 870°C for 1 1/2 hr; 3) oil-quenched; 4) cooled to -115°C for 1/2 hr; onset and increase in magnitude of the secondary yielding in this temperature region have been found to fit the relationship ?Ys = Atn where ?Ys is the magnitude of the secondary yield Point in psi, t is the time in seconds, and A and n are parameter characteris-tics of the material. Although the occurrence of the primary and secondary yield points could be rationalized qualitatively on the basis of stress-induced ordering of carbon atoms in the stress fields of dislocations, as postulated in an earlier paper, the kinetics of the secondary-yield-point development were interpreted to indicate that the ordering involves more than just single jumps of carbon atoms from high-energy to neighboring low-energy sites. 5) pickled and lime-coated; 6) drawn through a carbide die. The predetermined diameters were chosen so that drawing through the same die gave the various reductions desired. Tensile specimens of 0.252 in. diam with a 1 1/4 in. gage length were then prepared from the drawn bars and tested. In order to study the stress-strain behavior at the yield point in detail, a rigid tensile machine with a high spring constant was constructed. Columns of large cross section (relative to the specimen cross section) constituted the machine frame. A dc motor was used to drive a screw via a gear reducing train and a "crane" thrust bearing. In this relatively simple device small deformations could be observed un-blurred by the slow response and lower spring constant inherent in hydraulic machines.' A strain-gage dynamometer permitted load changes as small as 8 lb to be read. RESULTS Tensile test samples machined from bars in the as-quenched condition with no subsequent drawing and samples from bars with 3.8 pct reduction after quenching gave stress-strain curves typified by those shown in Figs. I and 2. The time lapse between predrawing and tensile testing varied but usually ranged between 3 to 6 days at room temperature. The strain rate during testing was 0.003 in. per in. per min. The as-quenched curve is seen to have a broad serrated maximum whereas the stress on the specimen prestrained 3.8 pct rose linearly to point A, Fig. 2, fell abruptly to B, and then gradually to C. The abrupt drop to B was accompanied by evidence of incipient necking. The drop of the stress at the yield point in the prestrained samples (A to B in Fig. 2) changed with the percent prestrain, as illustrated on Fig. 3. Although the tensile strength increased continuously with the amount of previous cold drawing, the magnitude of the yield point drop first increased—up to about 6 pct prior reduction—and then decreased. Specimens from bars predrawn more than 8 pct broke in a brittle fashion in the elastic portion of the stress-strain curve.

Jan 1, 1967

By N. Tiner

The mechanical properties of magnesium-alloy castings are greatly improved by grain refinement, and at present considerable attention is being paid to methods of obtaining fine-grained castings. One method of achieving this end is the use of proper melting and superheating techniques. These have been employed com-rnercially to a great extent, but no comprehensive study of the subject appears to have been published at present. Numerous investigations found in the literature include some reference to superheating techniques,1"4 and Achenbach, Nippcr and Piwowarsky,% ased principally on thermal analysis, ascribe the grain-refilling action of superheating to the influence of solid foreign particles or dissolved gases present in the melt upon the course of crystallization. The primary purpose of this paper is to present the principal facts concerning the cffect of superheating on grain size of magilesium alloys. .ittempts are also made to explain the experimental results in terms of a general hypothesis. The investigations are limited chiefly to common commercial casting alloys. In order to carry on this work, it was necessary to determine the factors influencing grain size and to develop a proper technique for the preparation of samples. Thc preliminary tests made by the author indicated that the grain size of magnesium alloys resulting from the solidification of a melt is determined by alloy composition, presence of impurities, rate of cooling during solidification, thermal history of the melt and to some extent the structure of the charge used. The rate of cooling is in turn dependent upon the mass of the melt, pouring temperature, and dimensions, properties and temperature of the mold into which the melt is poured. The final grain size of the alloys is still further modified by heat-treatment subsequent to casting. It is not within the scope of the present paper to discuss all of these factors, and it would suffice to note here that when equal amounts of magnesium alloys are prepared from the same alloying materials, melted in graphite crucibles under the same thermal conditions, then cast into graphite molds at a constant temperature, the resultant solids have the same grain size. By maintaining all other factors constant, it is thus possible to vary thermal conditions of a melt and to examine the grain size of resultant castings. Preparation of Samples and Grain-size TestiNg The alloys investigated in this paper were taken from ingots made by Permanente the Or or prepared by the author with pure carbothermic magnesium and necessary alloying elements. Melting was carried out under a flux in a graphite crucible heated uniformly by an

Jan 1, 1946