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By Stephen L. Bolivar, Susan H. Balog, Thomas A. Weaver

A data-classification scheme was developed to detect potential uranium mineralization in the Montrose l º x 2º quadrangle, Colorado. The methodology developed is a rapid and efficient method of resource evaluation on a reconnaissance scale. The necessary techniques were developed and refined to digitize, integrate, and register various large geological, geochemical, and geophysical data sets for the Montrose quadrangle, Colorado, using a grid resolution of 1 km. All data sets for the Montrose quadrangle were registered to the Universal Trans- verse Mercator projection. The data sets include hydrogeochemical and stream sediment analyses for 23 elements, uranium-to-thorium ratios, airborne geo- physical survey data, the locations of 90 uranium occurrences, and a geologic map (scale 1:250 000). Geochemical samples were collected from 3965 locations in the 19 200 km2 quadrangle; aerial data were collected on flight lines flown with 3-5 km spacings. These data sets were smoothed by universal kriging and interpolated to a 179 x 119 rectangular grid (each grid block is 1 km2). A mylar transparency of the geologic map was prepared and digitized. All possible combinations of three, for all data sets, were examined for general geologic correlations by utilizing a color microfilm output. Subsets of data were further examined for selected test areas. A classification scheme for uranium mineralization, based on selected test areas in the Cochetopa uranium district, is presented. Areas favorable for uranium mineralization, based on this scheme, were identified and are discussed.

Jan 1, 1982

By P. W. Bridgman

IT is characteristic of most scientific investigators that they are not satisfied with the discovery of new facts, no matter how curious or unexpected, but that along with the factual discovery there is a constant effort to understand It appears that. one's interest in, and satisfaction with, the discovery of an array of news experimental facts is enormously increased if one has at the same time a theory or hypothesis guiding one's expectation of what sort of new experimental discovery may lie around the corner Conversely, as a theoretical physicist one's satisfaction with his theory is greatly enhanced if along with the development of the theory can go the discovery of new experimental facts, confirming or perhaps modifying the theory as it grows Of course, there have been long and stretches in the history of physics in which new data of unquestioned ultimate importance ham e piled up, without much inspiration or illumination in the way of understanding For 50 years spectroscopy had such an and history, but how irksome this was felt to be is plainly shown by the almost audible relief that greeted the first success by Bohr in injecting understanding into the situation, and by the fresh rush of experimenters into this field when the prospect of understanding had once been offered The investigations in the field of high pressure, which have occupied me for a long time,1 until the last few years have been in very much the Same sort of situation as spectroscopy before the advent of Bohr A great many kids, of data were collected for a great many solid and liquid substances, and there could be no question of the importance of these data, because the uniform change of dimensions produced by hydrostatic pressure is perhaps the simplest conceivable type of alteration to which a body can be subjected But except for a few isolated flashes, there was no theoretical illumination, so that it had to be to a large extent the enthusiasm of the collector that kept me going However, within the last few years the wave-mechanics theory of solids has progressed so rapidly that

Jan 1, 1938

By H. Y. Yancey, B. M. Bird

During the past four years the experimental work in coal washing carried on by the U. S. Bureau of Mines and the University of Washington has been devoted mainly to the development of special methods for the tabling of fine sizes of coals that are difficult to wash. One important outgrowth of this investigation has been the application of hindered-settling classification to coal tabling. Although used for many years in ore dressing, the term "classification" as used here may be new to many readers. It may be defined as the separation obtained when a bed of particles is held in a uniform state of suspension in an upward current of water, either continuous or pulsating, just sufficiently strong to keep the bed in a mobile condition. A common example of this type of separation is a jig in which there is no suction stroke. When the hindered-settling classifier is used with the coal-washing table, the fine-size raw coal, instead of being fed direct to tables, as is the prevailing practice, is first fed to the classifier and grouped, according to the rate of settling against the upward current of water, into perhaps six separate products. After dewatering, each of these except the sixth, a refuse product, is elevated to a seperate feed bin arid washed on a separate table. This paper gives a brief discussion of the basis for the use of hindered-settling classification of a table feed; a description of the experimental work; a comparison of the results obtained with and without classification; and a discussion of the application of the classifier in commercial coal washing. Basis for Use oF Hindered-settling Classification of Table Feed Although theoretical reasoning might be used to justify treating a table feed by hindered-settling classification,l the simplest method of demonstrating the need of such a step before tabling is to show the

Jan 1, 1930

By T. K. Prentice

ABSTRACTED AND REVIEWED BY E. W. DAVIS,* MEMBER A.I.M.E. THE January-February number of the Journal of the Chemical Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa is made up entirely of a discussion of Ball Wear in Cylindrical Mills. Following the principal paper by T. K. Prentice are several remarkably pertinent and carefully prepared discussions. Few persons in this country would be likely to see this publication, and since the information presented is new and of current interest, it seems desirable to abstract and review this publication for the benefit of the members of the A.I.M.E. The purpose of the investigation is stated in the first two paragraphs of Prentice's paper, as follows: Early in 1941, The Chamber of Mines Steel Products, Limited, initiated a series of tests under semi-working scale conditions to determine, if possible, those physical and chemical properties of a ball which make it resistant to wear when used in a cylindrical mill as a grinding medium, with the primary object of incorporating those beneficial qualities in the balls being produced at their works. This paper describes the tests carried out and discusses the results obtained. From these results it was possible to formulate a new theory relating to ball wear in cylindrical mills. This theory is presented in the second portion of this paper. PRACTICAL BALL-MILL TESTS IN A CYLINDRICAL MILL Part I of the paper begins with a discussion of the methods used for the manufacture of grinding balls in South Africa. The following paragraph is of particular interest. The cast steel ingots, 4 ¼ - in. square by 3 ft. 6 in. long, are re-heated in a gas-fired sloping stationary-hearth furnace and then rolled in a six-pass continuous mill into 2 5/8 in. round billets. Some of these billets are then removed and cut into suitable lengths for forging into 4 in., 3 ½ in., 3 in. or 2 ½ in. balls by means of three Drop and two Beché hammers, but the greater number, whilst still at about 1,000 ºC., pass directly into a set of scroll rolls which produce, in an ingenious manner, finished 3 in. balls direct from the 2 5/8 in. billets. Except in special cases, all balls are allowed to cool in the atmosphere and are not water quenched. Details of the Tests In order to enable the reader to evaluate properly the results and conclusions in the rest of the paper and in the discussions following the paper, most of the information presented by the author under this heading is quoted: ….. The testing unit was a nominal 30 in. diameter and 18 in. long centre discharge Denver Ball Mill. The ore pulp to the ball mill comprised a small portion of the normal feed to one of the fourteen City Deep 5 ft. 6 in. X 22 ft. tube mills, and the grinding media consisted of the balls under test plus other balls to give the desired load. The running time of the test-mill was divided into approximately equal periods of five days 13 ½ hours each. The usual procedure was to examine and make up the load

Jan 1, 1944

By John S. Sumner

The various electrode arrangements used in induced polarization (IP) surveying can be classified according to the geometry of the electric field being measured. The simplest geometry (Wenner, Schlumberger, gradient) is the parallel or plane-wave electric field, while the three-array and pole-dipole array measure the field about a point current electrode. In the dipole-dipole array the characteristics of a dipolar field are approximately measured. The drill hole arrays employ variations of these fundamental geometries, depending on the objectives of the survey. This report compares the relative advantages and disadvantages of each of the commonly used surface and drill hole IP electrode arrays. Factors of each array that are considered are signal-to-noise ratio, EM coupling rejection, speed and cost, and resolution of polarizable bodies. It is concluded that certain arrays are better suited for different exploration objectives and for different geological conditions. Also the type and capabilities of the IP surveying equipment and method limit the choice of arrays.

Jan 1, 1973

By H. Biloni, B. Chalmers

Metallographic studies of the segregation of solute in and near the surfaces of chill-cast alloys have shown that, under sufficiently severe conditions, nucleation on the cold mold surface is followed by the formation of a disc of solid of the same composition as the liquid. This disc is surrounded by two concentric rings in which the concentration first decreases and then increases. The discs and rings are surrounded by a region in which arms of low solute concentration separate regions of high concentration. These arms start at the periphery of the outer ring and are initially radial; they make a gradual curved transition from the radial direction to a crystallographic direction. A normal dendritic substrcture is established beyond the position at which the arms have become crystallographically aligned. When the cooling is less severe, the disc becomes less irregular in shape and has a concentration minimum at the center. The term "Predendritic" is proposed for these transitions. A qualitative explanation is outlined for the phenomena observed at the surface and in the equiaxed region of the ingots. It is well-established1-' that the normal mode of solidification for alloys under most conditions is dendritic. A characteristic of dendritic solidification is the growth of rods or plates in specific crys-tallographic directions. The remaining liquid solidifies later, usually with a higher concentration of solute than the original liquid. Very little is known, however, about the transition from a crystal nucleus until the dendritic pattern is established. It is clear that there must be a transition because the nucleus is much smaller than the characteristic spacings found in the "steady-state" structure. And it also seems clear that the initial conditions must be important since the undercooling existing during the nucleation of the grains has a remarkable influence upon the grain size4 and the segregation pattern. The present paper reports a study of the micro-segregation in regions where crystals have nucleated, and the conclusions that can be drawn regarding the early stages of growth, in connection with the details of the solidification process. Aluminum of 99.993 purity, A1-Cu alloys containing 0.5 to 20 wt pct Cu, and Pb-Sn alloys with 5 wt pct Sn were cast and examined metallographically at the as-cast surface, close to the surface, and in the interior after casting. The alloys were cast from controlled temperatures against surfaces at different temperatures ranging from room temperature to approximately the liquidus temperature of the alloy. The surfaces were, in various experiments, graphite, stainless steel, copper, and aluminum. The methods used for metallographic examination were as follows. 1) The Nomarski phase contrast interferometer6 was used to obtain information on the topography of the as-cast surface. 2) The distribution of any solute present in A1 99.993 pct and copper in the A1-Cu alloys was studied by the anodic film technique originated by Lacombe and Mouflard7 and previously applied in the study of the solidification of aluminum by Biloni.8 The electropolished surface of the specimen is anodized under controlled conditions so that the thickness of the oxide film and therefore the interference colors under white light are sensitive to the local composition. This technique was applied to the as-cast surfaces and to metallographically prepared surfaces from the interior. 3) If in Al-Cu alloys, the surface is anodically oxidized for several minutes, instead of seconds as in the color-film technique, the copper segregation is outlined by a different level with respect to the matrix. This method is less sensitive but complementary to that for the color films. 4) The distribution of copper revealed and mapped by the metallographic techniques was confirmed by electron probe. 5) In samples with high concentration of copper, evidence for the copper distribution could be seen optically after electropolishing.

Jan 1, 1965

By F. H. Parsons

At the time that converting or bessemerizing of copper matte first began to be practiced by the smelters in the copper industry, converters were lined by tamping the flux, usually siliceous ore, into the steel shell. About 1910, practice in several plants had demonstrated the superiority of a basic lining of nonfluxing material and the addition of flux through the mouth of the converter. Adoption of the new method by nearly the entire industry followed. Basic linings are made of refractory "magnesite" brick manufactured, usually, from imported dead-burned magnesite. Either the linings are laid up in the shell dry or the bricks arc bonded with some mortar dictated by the preference of the user. Foreign, usually Austrian, magnesite was the main source of supply for these bricks, although there were domestic sources, but it was not until costs began to rise a few years after the first use of basic linings that these domestic sources were investigated to any great extent. Exigencies created by the World War necessitated the use of the domestic magnesite during this period, but the brick manufacturers reverted to the use of the foreign product after the war, because the impurities therein made a brick with a better fire bond than the purer domestic magnesite. Therefore the domestic product became available at a favorable price for any metallurgical process that permitted its use. The United Verde converting practice using magnesite linings has resulted in a high consumption of magnesite because of the zinc content of the low-grade matte. It was realized that the cost of these linings represented a large portion of the cost of converting, and an investigation was started to find means by which these costs might be lowered. In the neighboring state of California rather pure magnesite was being mined and treated for the market. The product, however, was purposely made to simulate the dead-burned grain magnesite product from foreign sources by the addition of fluxing impurities before burning. It was learned that this dead-burned California grain magnesite could be laid down in Arizona at a price one-third that of the same tonnage of "magnesite" brick manufactured from foreign magnesite. It was also learned that at least one California producer was ready to supply the market with periclase, which was a grain magnesia produced by burning the

Jan 1, 1934

Jan 1, 1881

By R. E. Rowlands, I. M. Daniel

An experimental study is discussed of the state of strain, deformation and fracture around lined and unlined cylindrical cavities in rock under biaxial compressive static loading. The specimens were limestone plates 36 in. high, 24 in. wide and 3 in. thick with a 4 in. diameter hole unlined or lined with hydrostone and aluminum liners. The ratio of horizontal to vertical applied stress was one-third. Experimental techniques used were strain gages, differential transformers and photoelastic coatings. Strain distributions were plotted along the horizontal axis of symmetry for various levels of applied stress. The agreement with theory was good at low stress levels but appreciable deviations occurred at higher levels and near the hole. The experimental strain concentration factor was nearly the same, slightly higher and appreciably higher than the theoretical value for the hydrostone-lined, unlined and aluminum-lined specimens, respectively. Failure modes were splitting along a vertical plane for the unlined and hydrostone-fined specimens, compressive (shear) failure for one unlined specimen and splitting with radial cracking for the aluminum-lined specimen. In the latter, a maximum tensile stress of more than three times the uniaxial tensile strength existed at the interface with the liner at the time of fracture,

Jan 1, 1971

By Michael Tenebaum

IN a previous investigation1 the authors studied the effect of pressure on the reduction of iron ores by hydrogen. With hydrogen as a reducing agent, the rate of reduction was increased substantially by increasing the pressure from 1 to 2 atmospheres. The results with hydrogen prompted the present study of the effect of pressure on reduction with carbon monox-ide and with mixtures of carbon monoxide and nitrogen. FEATURES OF REDUCTION PROCESS The gas stream in the lower part of the blast furnace always contains sufficient concentrations of reducing gases to complete reduction provided sufficient time is allowed for the reaction to proceed. Reducing gases react immediately with the iron oxide on the surface of lumps of ore. However, as the unreduced surface recedes from the easily accessible exterior of the lump, the reaction proceeds by virtue of the diffusion of the gases into and out of individual pieces. The rate of diffusion of gases, which undoubtedly plays an important role in the reduction of iron ores, depends on several factors, most impor-tant of which are: (1) molecular weight or density, (2) pressure, (3) tem-perature, (4) concentration gradient. Thus, the rate of reduction of a lump of iron ore at any temperature will depend not only on the specific reaction rate but also upon: (1) available surface of unreduced iron oxide, (2) rate of diffusion of the reducing gas to the reacting surface, (3) rate of effusion of the gaseous products of the reaction from the reacting surface, (4) adsorption of the gases on the reacting surface.

Jan 1, 1939

By T. A. Read, S. W. Kitchen, H. I. Fusfeld

At the present time most artillery cartridge cases are used only a single time. Since the process of reshaping a fired cartridge case so that it may be used again is much simpler and cheaper than the original manufacture of the case, it is clear that important savings could be effected if such re-formed cases were used in place of new cases. Extensive use of reconditioned cases has been hindered in the past, however, by the deterioration of the brass which may occur in the period of time between the first firing and the reconditioning of the cartridge cases. This deterioration sometimes results in a dangerously high incidence of firing splits in groups of reconditioned cartridge cases. It appears that the mechanism of the deterioration is the season cracking of the brass, for season cracks, of varying degrees of severity, may frequently be found in the cartridge cases after their return from the field. There are, of course, severe practical limitations to the extent to which fired cartridge cases can be protected from corrosion under battle conditions, particularly since the powder residue in the case is itself corrosive. The present paper describes a rapid method of testing the sidewalls of artillery cartridge cases for the presence of season cracks. This method has been developed specifically for use in connection with the reconditioning of fired cases, and makes it possible to carry out 100 per cent inspection. This new method of inspecting cartridge

Jan 1, 1945

By O. C. Baptist

The Umiat oil field is in Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 between the Brooks Range and Arctic Ocean in far-northern Alaska. The Umiat anticline has been tested by 11 wells, six of which produced oil ; however, [lie productive capacity and recoverable reserves of the field are subject to considerable speculation because of unusual reservoir conditions and because several wells appear to have been .seriously damaged during drilling and completion. Oil is produced at depths of 275 to 1,100 ft; the depth to the bottom of the permanently frozen zone varies from about 800 to 1,100 ft, .so that most of the oil reserves are in the permafrost Reservoir pressures are estimated to range from 50 to 350 psi, increasing with depth, and the small amount of gas dissolved in the oil is the major source of energy for production. Laboratory tests were made on cores under simulated permafrost conditions to estimate oil recoverable by solution-gas expansion from low saturation pressures. The cores were also tested for clay content and susceptibility to productivity impaiment by swelling clays and increased water. content if exposed to fresh water. The results indicate that oil can be produced fronz reservoir rocks in the permafrost and that substantial amounts of oil can be produced from depletion-drive reservoirs by a pre.s.r~lrr drop of as little as 100 psi below the saturation pressure. Freezing of formation water reduces oil productivity much more than that due to increased oil viscosity: Failure of we1ls drilled with rtuter-base mud to produce is attributed to freezing of water in the urea immediately surrounding the wellbore. Swelling clays apparently contributed very little to the plugging of the wells. INTRODUCTION Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 lies between the Brooks Range and the Arctic Ocean in northern Alaska. The Umiat oil field is located in the southeastern part of the Reserve and is about 180 miles southeast of Point Barrow (the only permanent settlement in the Reserve and the primary supply point for drilling of the wells at Umiat). Eleven wells were drilled for the U. S. Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves, between 1944 and 1953 to test the oil and gas possibilities of the Umiat anticline. Six of these wells produced oil in varying quantities and the best one pumped about 400 B/D.' Estimates of recoverable oil range from 30 to 100 million bbl. The main oil-producing zones are two marine sandstone beds in the Grandstand formation of Cretaceous age: these are referred to as the upper and lower sands. Good oil shows were found throughout the sand settions in the first three wells drilled on the structure, but the highest rate of oil production obtained on any 01 the many tests was about 24 BOPD. These first wells were drilled with conventional rotary methods using water-base mud; later wells were drilled either with cablc tools using brine or rotary tools using oil or oil-base mud. These experiments were successful as is shown by comparing the oil production from Well No. 2 with that from No. 5. These two wells are only 200 ft apart and are located at about the same elevation on the structure. Well No. 2. drilled with a rotary rig using water-base mud, was abandoned as a dry hole after all formation tests were negative. Well No. 5. drilled with cable tools and reamed with a rotary using oil, pumped 400 BOPD which was the maximum capacity of the pump and less than the capacity of the well. These field results indicated that the producing sands were extremely "water sensitive" and it was assumed that the cause of this sensitivity was the presence of swelling clays in the sands. Because of the very unusual reservoir conditions and the difficulties encountered in completing oil wells in the permafrost. the Navy asked the U. S. Bureau of Mines to make laboratory studies under simulated permafrost conditions to assist them in estimating the production potential of the field and the recoverable reserves. These tests were designed to determine the cause of the plugging of wells in the permafrost and to test oil recovery from frozen sand by solution-gas expansion with the oil gas-saturated at very low pressures. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS AND PROCEDURES Samples Analyzed Core samples were analyzed that represent the lower sand in Umiat Well No. 7, the upper sand in No. 3. and both the upper and lower sands in No. 9. These sands should be productive in all of the wells because of their location on the structure. Core samples from

By R. E. Zimmerman

THE separation of fine sizes of coal from its impurities by means of various flotation methods has become of increasing importance in the coal industry. This, no doubt, will be even more so in the future as the quantity of high grade coal is depleted, particularly that used for metallurgical purposes. The purpose of this paper is to describe and report the results of research work done under the auspices of the Pittsburgh Coal Co. to determine the amenability of their bituminous fine sizes of coal to flotation, to investigate the value of various reagents and factors affecting their use, and compare the results between froth flotation and bulk oil flotation. Compared with the preferential flotation of complex minerals, or ores, the flotation of coal is comparatively easy. However, this statement should not lull one into the feeling that there are no special problems involved. For instance, the separation of coal from pyrite in high sulphur coals is still far from being 100 pct successful. Size consist has considerable effect on reagent consumption and recovery. Other factors will be described and finally it must be remembered that in the flotation of coal a low priced material is being treated and thus economic considerations govern more closely its application than is generally the case in treating other minerals. As a result of the research work done by the Pittsburgh Coal Co. on the flotation of coal, it was concluded that it was practical to clean the -48-mesh coal commercially by froth flotation and after several different types of flotation units and circuits were investigated by means of pilot plants, large scale units were installed at their Champion Nos. 1, 4 and 5 Preparation Plants for the cleaning of -48-mesh slurries. These large scale operations have been recently described by D. H. Davis. 1 C. P. Proctor and C. B. Carlson2 in their chapter on Froth Flotation of Coal in the AIME Seeley W. Mudd series book on Coal Preparation describe some of the practical applications of our Pittsburgh Coal Co. laboratory work in actual plant practice as well as summarizing part of the investigational work. The author presents this paper, however, as a supplement to their reports, and records the basic research accomplished in the laboratory investigational work as well as the results of experi¬ments using bulk oil flotation. In presenting this work the author wishes to state much more work must be done in applying the principles of flotation to cleaning coal, especially in view of recent studies and practices in other mineral beneficiation fields. METHODS OF CONDUCTING LABORATORY TESTS The bulk of the research work was conducted in the laboratory of the Champion No. r Preparation Plant. This plant has elaborate facilities for sampling and analyzing coal and proved to be an admirable location

Jan 1, 1948

By A. W. Hesse

The trend of American construction toward permanence and longevity is noticeable in the more recent coal plant installations; also, the policy of many coal operators has changed from seeking to obtain the desired tonnage from several plants of small capacities to designing a single installation to produce the whole amount. The mine openings and plant of the Nemacolin mine of The Buckeye Coal Co., are located on the Greene County side of the Monongahela River, 73 miles south of Pittsburgh. The map (Fig. 1) shows the general location, also the Lambert syncline. This syncline partly accounts for the selection of the site; the other reasons were the possibilities of rail and river shipments. Two shafts and a slope were sunk to the coal, work starting on all three in the second half of the year 1917. The air shaft was sunk to a depth of 243 ft. and completed in February, 1918; the slope was completed in November, and the skip shaft was stopped at a depth of 21 ft. below the coal, then the concrete lining was stopped 8 ft. above the coal August, 1918. Work on the skip shaft was resumed May, 1923, and sunk to a depth of 60 ft. below the coal by September, but it was not until May, 1924, that the lining was poured. Max. Min. WateR Water during after Sinking, Crouting, Depth or Cu. Yd. Cu. YD. Gal. per GaL. per Opening Size Length Excav. Conc. Min. Min. Air shaft..... 20 ft. diam. 251 ft. 8 in. 4788 1902 475 2 Slope........ 11 it. by 19 it. 1 in. 857 ft. 11500 5200 50 2 Skip shaft.... 32 ft. 8 in. by 12 it. 8 in. 296 ft. 6042 2293 300 3 Fig. 2 shows sections of these openings. The surface plan shows the relative positions of the openings. Coal was first hoisted from the air shaft May 7, 1918, and entry driving was continued; but the coal had to be stored, as the railroad had not been extended from Crucible to Nemacolin. As soon as the slope was driven to the coal and the linings concreted, the entries were driven along projected lines to connect with those advancing from the air shaft, and skip shaft. As soon as the underground connections had been made between the two shafts, the hoisting by buckets was inaugurated at the skip shaft and construction on the fan at the air shaft started.

Jan 1, 1927

By John C. Sawyer

A brief review is given to show that catastrophic oxidation of stainless steel in the presence of lead oxide is similar in many respects to catastrophic oxidation as caused by MoO3 and V2O5, Experimental data are presented to show that lead oxide accelerates the normal oxidation process of stainless steel by chemically altering the normally protective oxide film formed on the base metal. Data are given to show that similar reactions occur during oxidation of stainless steel in the presence of MOO3,and V2O5. THE mechanism by which pure metals oxidize at high temperatures has been the subject of intensive research for many years and much has been accomplished towards understanding the processes involved. The mechanisms by which alloys oxidize have also been investigated, but due partly to the fewer number of investigations and partly to the complexity of the oxide systems present, available knowledge is not as extensive as with pure metals. When oxidation processes are further complicated by atmospheres contaminated with sulfide, halide, or oxide vapors, the knowledge of fundamentals becomes meager or altogether lacking. Thus, it is not surprising to find that the catastrophic oxidation of stainless steels in metal oxide vapors of MOO, and V2O5 is not a well understood phenomenon despite the fact that a number of investigations have been undertaken. The literature in dealing with the subject of catastrophic oxidation is primarily concerned with the effects of MOO3 and V2O5, but does mention that other metal oxide vapors, one of which is lead oxide, appear to promote a similar type of accelerated oxidation. While this latter effect is virtually unknown, the deleterious effect of lead oxide is of considerable commercial importance, as it is believed to be one of the fundamental reasons for exhaust-valve failure in gasoline engines. For this reason studies have been in progress for many years attempting to better understand the mechanism involved. Modern exhaust-valve alloys"2containing 20 to 25 pct Cr plus nickel and/or manganese are in effect high-grade austenitic stainless steels exhibiting ex- cellent oxidation resistance in air at exhaust valve operating temperatures of 1100° to 1700°F; yet these same alloys are prone to corrode during engine service because of the conditions attending their operation. These conditions are such that the valves become coated with deposits of complex lead compounds mainly derived from gasoline additives of tetraethyllead, ethylene dibromide, and ethylene dichloride. Literature searches3-7 and discussions with various investigators show that considerable difference of opinion exists as to the nature of the lead-bearing deposits found on the surface of exhaust valves and the atmospheres to which they are subjected; yet, all seem to generally agree that corrosion, a gradual transformation of alloy to nonmetallic products of corrosion, is a consequence of the presence of lead compounds. This majority opinion seems to be substantiated by laboratory engine tests which show that corrosion does not occur to any appreciable extent when lead-free fuels are used. The first observations of catastrophic oxidation reported in the literature were probably made by pfeil,8 but it was Leslie and Fontana9 who undertook the first detailed study of the phenomenon. Their work was chiefly centered on the acceleration of oxidation which took place when stainless steels containing more than 3 pct Mo were heated in air with restricted circulation. These investigators reported that the presence of other oxides near the surface would further accelerate the rapid oxidation which occurred. While they recognized that the effect was attributable to the presence of molybdenum, it was Rathenau and Meijering" who emphasized the fact that the presence of molybdenum in the alloy was incidental to the presence of MOO3 vapor in the atmosphere surrounding the specimens. Evans,11 as well as Cunningham and Brasunas 12 studied similar

Jan 1, 1962

By K. Adam

Grinding in steel mills adversely affects the flotation of pyrrhotite. The electrochemical nature of inter action between pyrrhotite and active metals was investigated by contacting pyrrhotite with platinum at different applied potentials. Flotation tests, scanning electron microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were wed to examine the surface properties of pyrrhotite. The formation of hydroxide or oxide and sulfate species of iron through the oxygen reduction reaction at the cathodically polarized surface of pyrrhotite was shown to be the mechanism responsible for the reduced floatability of pyrrhotite.

Jan 1, 1985

By E. A. Gulbransen, W. S. Wysong

THE behavior of tungsten and its surface oxides in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres and in high vacua at elevated temperatures is a question of considerable technical importance. The use of tungsten as a metal or as an important component in alloys in high temperature oxidizing atmospheres has been limited because of the unprotective nature of its oxide film and the volatility of its oxide. This paper will present results of a microbalance study1,2 of the following problems: (I) the oxidation behavior in the temperature range of 25 to 550°C (2) the reduction with pure hydrogen of thin oxide films formed on tungsten, and (3) the volatility of thin oxide films on tungsten. Tungsten is an interesting metal to study for the following reasons: (1) although the oxide to metal volume ratio is greater than one, the oxide is not considered protective, (2) the metal readily oxidizes at temperatures from 300° to 550°C (3) the oxides W02 and WO3 are reduced at temperatures as low as 500°C. by hydrogen, and (4) the oxide W02 is volatile at temperatures from 800 to 1100°C. LITERATURE The oxidation of tungsten in its thin film range has not been studied critically. In the thick film range Dunn3 has made the only systematic study. He found the oxidation rate to obey the parabolic rate law in the temperature range of 700 to 900°C. The temperature variation of the oxidation rate constant was found to follow an exponential law of the Arrhenius type. An inflection was noticed in the temperature plot of the rate law constant at 850 to 900°C. This was attributed to a phase change in the oxides. Scheil4 has studied the oxidation rate at 500 and 700°C over long periods of time and found a linear rate law. This result was interpreted as evidence for the presence of a nonprotective film. Pilling and Bedworth5 analyses of the oxide volume to metal volume ratio would indicate that a compact protective film should form. McAdam and Geil6 have studied the oxidation of tungsten in the thin film range using the interference color method. A parabolic rate law was found. Their curves showed that tungsten oxidizes faster than nickel but more slowly than iron. The lattice structures found in the oxidation of tungsten surfaces have been studied by Hickman and Gulbransen.7 They have reported that W03 is the stable oxide in contact with the metallic substrate up to approximately 600°C while W02 forms first at 700°C. Hägg and Magneli8 have recently reported a study of the lattice structures observed in the tungsten oxides using the X-ray diffraction method. In addition to an a-phase W03 and a d-phase W02, they reported the existence of two new phases. A ß' phase, homogeneous between

Jan 1, 1947

By H. W. Gillett

WE hear much in these days about "tailor-made" steels. Farseeing executives have sensed the demand for metals of improved and special properties, with those properties deliberately built into the steel in order to fit it for a particular use or group of uses. They have set their metal-lurgists at work to produce what the customer needs, even though the tonnage required may not, at least at first, be great. As the metal-lurgists bring out such metals, the products are advertised and the customer becomes increasingly conscious that he no longer has to take "ready-made" steel as the only thing available, whether it fits his needs or not, but that there are plenty of steelmakers ready to serve his specific needs with a tailor-made steel. Of course this is nothing new in the realm of rather highly alloyed steels to be heat-treated. The automotive industry demanded and got such steels long ago. Indeed, one could not design a modern car using only non-heat-treated carbon steel, since an engine of present horsepower would be so heavy that the gasoline required merely to lug the engine itself around would be absurd. Many different alloy steels and many different heat-treatments are required to produce the fine gradations of properties and the strength per unit weight that are needed in each particular part. Aircraft designers, of course, count a high strength-weight ratio in the materials used as Article I in their constitution, and they too, and in outstanding degree, require tailor-made alloys. Aircraft and automobiles may be considered as the tail coats and Tuxes of the metallurgical tailors. Nowadays there is also a demand for business suits, in the form of high-strength alloys to reduce dead load and so increase payload, all through the transportation industry. We hear most about weight-saving design and materials in respect to the railroads, with the spectacular new high-speed passenger trains and the prosaic freight car. The latter sounds especially sweet to steel-mill ears, because it means tonnage. While most of us think of these developments, and of the engineering acceptance of high-strength materials as "new," the fundamentals are of almost hoary antiquity. It is the widespread availability of a variety of materials and their general acceptance that are new.

Jan 1, 1936

By F. W. Jessen, James N. Howell

The accumulation of paraffin deposits in tubular goods has been recognized as a major production problem since the inception of the petroleum industry. This problem is not limited to any particular geographical area nor is it limited to a specific type of crude oil.' Generally speaking, "paraffin" deposition pertains to the deposition of any predominately organic material in flow lines, and possibly even at the sand face, which would hamper the production of oil. In some fields, a continuous effort is required to remove deposits of paraffin and in order to accomplish this, many unique methods have been devised. The best solution to this problem, however, is to prevent the formation of such deposits. One method which has been tried in a number of fields is the use of plastic pipe. The purpose of this investigation is to compare the relative effectiveness of several plastic materials to aid in the reduction or prevention of paraffin accumulations in surface flow lines. COMPOSITlON OF PARAFFIN DEPOSITS By definition, paraffin deposits are those materials which are insoluble in crude oil at the prevailing producing conditions of temperature and pressure. Such deposits1 s usually consist of small particles of petroleum wax intermixed with resins, asphaltic material, and crude oil. They may also contain a variety of foreign materials such as sand, silt, water, various metal oxides, sulfates and carbonates of iron. barium, and calcium. The petroleum waxes deposited in flow strings usually consist of both a "hard" and a "soft" wax fraction. These waxes are largely aliphatic hydrocarbons with smaller amounts of aromatic and naphthenic compounds. Nathan' has classified the hard and soft wax fractions. The aliphatic hydrocarbons present are those of high molecular weight with high melting points. Reistle3 pointed out that these high molecular weight compounds first separate from the oil due to a sharp decrease in solubility as the melting point increases. The identification of the resins and asphaltic materials rests, at present, on an arbitrary solubility procedure. Under certain conditions, materials which are insoluble in pentane (ASTM D-893) are defined as resins and asphalts. Subgrouping of these materials is made on decreasing solubility in benzene and carbon disul-fide. Shock' found some correlation be-tween the solvent response and the pentane insoluble content of paraftins: higher pentane insoluble fractions are less soluble in any of the commonly used commercial solvents. PARAFFIN CONTROL METHODS The methods used in oil fields to prevent and remove paraffin accumulations can be grouped into four general classes: (1) operative methods, (2) physical methods, (3) chemical methods, and (4) combination of any of these. Operative methods attempt to prevent the formation of paraffin deposits while the other methods are concerned primarily with the removal of these deposits. Plastic coated pipe has been used for a number of years to prevent cor- rosion in wells, and in manv instances paraffin deposits have -been greatly reduced. Field observations have indicated that plastic coated pipe not only reduced paraffin accumulation but in some cases eliminated deposition completely; however, data are needed to demonstrate the relative effectiveness of plastic materials. Deposition Apparatus The pipe used to determine the effect of velocity on rates of deposition was %- and 2-in. nominal diameter, and 5 ft in length. Steel, butyrate, rigid PVC, kralastic resin-type plastic pipes, epoxy coated pipe, PVC lined glass fiber pipe, and aluminum pipe were tested. Steel pipe was used as a control. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus showing the relative position of the separate units making up the equipment. In order to facilitate the installation and removal of the test pipes in the apparatus, O-ring seals capable of sustaining pressures of 50 psi were provided at each end. Test pipes were submerged in a cold water bath maintained at or below room temperature by circulating water through copper cooling coils packed in ice. A hot water bath equipped with immersion-type heaters, stirrers, and a thermoregulator was used to maintain the temperature of the oil prior to introduction into the piping manifold. The capacity of the oil reservoir was 30 gal. A 33-gal/min centrifugal pump, capable of producing turbulent flow velocities in the test pipes, was used to circulate the oil through the system when using %-in. pipe; and a 70-galjmin centrifugal pump was used in later tests using 2-in. pipe. A by-pass arrangement made it pos-

By H. A. Bedworth

ALLOYS of copper and silicon have been known for one hundred years or more but the commercial development of this type of alloy has taken place during the past few years. In 1905, Sperry1 proposed the use of copper-silicon alloys for springs and other purposes for which copper-tin bronzes were used. Some attention was given to this proposal at the time but no one succeeded in producing a practical alloy containing more than a fraction of a per cent. of silicon. The equilibrium relations of the copper-silicon system were studied first by Rudolfi2 and later by Sanfourche3 and Corson.4 The constitution of the system has also been recently investigated by Matuyama,5 and in the laboratories of the American Brass Co. by Smith.6 Some of the physical properties of the copper-silicon alloys have been investigated by Norbury7 and by Geiss and Van Liempt.8 Summarizing the results of various investigators of, the constitution of copper-silicon alloys, the solubility reaches its maximum value, 6.7 per cent. silicon, between 721° and 782° C. At 852° C. the solubility is 5.25 per cent., while at 400° C. it is only 4.1 percent. silicon. The copper-silicon alloy begins to get so hard at about 3 per cent. silicon that it is difficult to manage. It was found by Jacobs that the addition of manganese to this alloy considerably improved the working

Jan 1, 1929