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By R. N. Orava, L. A. Rice

One of the difficulties encountered in the preparation of titanium specimens for transmission electron microscopy is the formation of a surface hydride phase during the thinning operation at ambient temperatures. This necessarily destroys contrast, obscures features of interest, and often leads to misleading results. By cooling the polishing solution to temperatures below 0°C this problem has been overcome in the past.' However, since the cooling procedure is somewhat inconvenient, a technique was developed at this laboratory for thinning titanium at room temperature. The material examined was A-70 grade commercial-purity titanium purchased from the Crucible Steel Co. of America. The mechanical and thermal treatments, described elsewhere,* yielded a recrystallized grain size of 4 to 5 p. A slice, 0.5 mm thick and 1.5 mm wide, was cut from a bulk specimen2 using a diamond cut-off wheel. The sample was then coated with paraffin wax. Two concentric holes, about 0.03 in. in diam, one at each broad face, were scribed through the wax to the surface of the metal. Subsequent polishing for several minutes resulted in a preferentially thinned or "dimpled" region. Thereafter, the wax was removed and the entire specimen polished to the point of breakthrough at the base of the dimple. Polishing was effected chemically in a solution comprised of 30 pct HF and 70 pct HN03 by volume, kept at room temperature (20" to 25OC). The specimens were mounted in a stereo holder and examined at 100 kv in a Philips l00 B Electron Microscope. A micrograph from a foil prepared in this way is shown in Fig. 1. Several points are noteworthy. This electron micrograph shows neither evidence for the formation of a hydride phase due to specimen preparation nor, moreover, any obvious surface contamination in electron-transparent areas of a freshly prepared foil. Localized variations in foil thickness observed in some specimens seem to be a characteristic of this chemical polish but do not seriously detract from foil quality. With care, the lifetime of a good specimen exceeded 2 hr in the beam. On the other hand, the exposure of a sample to air at atmospheric pressure, when still warm from the beam, clearly resulted in the deterioration of a formerly clean area just previously in the field of view. An example in Fig. 2 of a contaminated region reveals features, and "spots", not unlike those observed in much purer material by Yamane and Ueda. Consequently, one can conclude that: 1) titanium can be thinned satisfactorily in a solution at room temperature for transmission electron microscopy; 2) large-scale precipitates, >50A in diam, are absent in commercial-purity, recrystallized, furnace-cooled, A-70 titanium containing about 3800 wt ppm interstitials and the same amount of iron; 3) care must be taken not to attribute surface contaminants to precipitates. The authors are grateful to the Franklin Institute for financial support and permission to publish.

Jan 1, 1967

At 8 o'clock on the evening of Thursday, July 25th, the special train chartered by the Provincial Government for the Institute's use, pulled out of Toronto. Ten parlor cars and two dining cars made up the train. The culinary arrangements were under the personal supervision of Mr. McConkey, of Toronto. [ ] The Hon. Frank Cochrane, Minister of Mines, Lands and Forests, was the efficient host of the party. He was assisted by the Hon. Dr. Pyne, Minister of Education, and by Mr. T. W. Gibson and Dr. W. G. Miller. On arriving at Cobalt, the delegates were met by the following Committee Mr. A. A. Cole, representing the T. & N. 0. Railway; Messrs. R. W. Leonard and D. B. Rochester, deputies from the Cobalt Chamber of Mines ; Messrs. Run¬ning and Martin, from the Cobalt City Council; Messrs. McLeod and Ferland,

Jan 1, 1907

By R. N. Upadhyay, M. Maleki, I. Fatt

Conventional laboratory core analysis tests on samples of two limestone reservoir rocks indicate that about 20 per cent of PV is in dead-end pores. These tests (electric logging formation factor, mercury injection capillary pressure and miscible displacement) were carried out on 1/4-in. diameter test plugs. Test results show a clear dilference between these samples and sandstone or homogeneous limestone reservoir rock. Although the amount of dead-end pore space can be only roughly estimated, the presence of such pore space seems clearly indicated. Pressure transient studies also show presence of deadend PV. Although they do not give quantitative results, pressure transient data yield a reasonable estimate of the size of the neck connecting dead-end pores to the main flow channels. INTRODUCTION Equations conventionally used to describe reservoir flow behavior contain the implicit assumption that all connected pore spaces contributed to both porosity and permeability. Several authors3-7 have pointed out the changes in pressure transient behavior and in electric log interpretation that may result if this assumption is incorrect and, instead, dead-end or cul-de-sac pores are present. There is a need for laboratory tests that can detect presence of dead-end pores in core samples. With such information on hand the petroleum engineer can make more rational use of the mathematical tools now available for analysis of reservoir flow behavior. This paper describes laboratory studies designed to detect and, if possible, give a quantitative measure of dead-end PV in laboratory-size core plugs. Three reservoir rocks were used, two of which were limestones suspected of having deadend pore spaces and a well-known sandstone, used as a comparison standard, in which there is believed to be little or no dead-end pore space. All the studies were designed to measure the natural dead-end PV; i.e., the pore space which is dead-ended because of rock structure. During multiphase flow in a rock without dead-end pores, some parts of one of the phases can become surrounded by the other, thereby giving (for certain flow behavior) an effective dead-end pV8,9. Such behavior will not be described here.

Jan 1, 1967

By E. A. Breitenbach

A computer program has been developed to afford rapid and complete quantitative log analysis for exploration and production decisions. The computation consists of automatic selection of tops and bottoms of porous intervals from the digitized data, and then point-by-point calculations within each selected interval. Nearly all log types can be analyzed. This paper presents the calculation techniques found to be appticable to machine evaluation and gives examples of their use. INTRODUCTION As the quantitative interpretation of well logs entails repetitive use of charts and equations, it is natural that digital computer programs would be written. A Universal Log Interpretation Computer Program (ULICP) has been developed to afiord rapid and complete analysis for exploration and production decisions. Application of this program enables the log analyst to: (I) apply rapid quantitative log analysis for exploration and production decisions on either a field, a well or on a single zone basis; (2) apply concepts of interpretation requiring detailed numerical analysis; (3) analyze all porous intervals on each log, rather than a few selected zones, and complete the analysis in less time than previously required. Computations are reported for every digitized point in each zone; (4) use empirical techniques applicable to a given area as an integral part of the computation; (5) experiment with the empirical coefficients and exponents in the interpretation equations to find the best possible solution; and (6) automatically plot both the original and computed data to scales analogous to the field prints. The primary utility of a log interpretation program stems from its ability to do an overwhelming amount of work with very little man-power. If a calculation procedure or thought process can be formalized to the extent that step-by-step logic can be written, a computer program can be developed that follows this logic. The major question is one of economics. A feasibility study of the costs for such a program indicates that digital processing is economical primarily as a means of increasing the productivity of the log analyst. In effect, the probability of missing productive intervals in any well, because of a lack of time to do detailed calculations, is greatly reduced. The nucleus of ULICP is programmed to compute large sections of a suite of logs by selecting zones automatically and then performing all pertinent computations on a data point by data point basis within each zone.'.' An entire suite of logs can be processed in this manner with very little manual intervention. Sufficient programming logic is available so that each log analyst can request computations pertinent to his area. These requests are made by simple additions or deletions of information on the input header cards. Hence, the log analyst is always in complete control of the computation process. The evaluation of a suite of logs requires pre-editing, digitization, computation, presentation of results and interpretation. Work by the log analyst is reqilired only in pre-editing and interpretation. Thus, he is allowed more time for comprehensive interpretation, rather than calculation. For continuity, the discussion of ULICP is organized sequentially: pre-editing, digitization, computation and presentation of results. DISCUSSION PRE-EDITING The extent of pre-editing prior to computation is dependent on the format of the original data. For analog prints, it requires inspection, correlation and editing of the logs, plus the entering of required data an special forms. For digitized data such as magnetic tape field recordings, only the special forms are necessary. The process for analog prints will be given here. The inspection and correlation process involves the selection of sections for digitization and the correlation of the traces to a common depth. To decrease the cost of digitization, traces that exhibit large variations in shale formations can be redrawn to a non-zero baseline. The next step is to enter all pertinent data on the input header cards. The header cards presently used for ULICP are presented as Figs. 1 through 6. Cards 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Fig. 1) are defined as the Main Header Cards. They describe the particular well for output identification and give basic information. Cards 5 through 15 (Figs. 2 through 6) are defined as the Block Header Cards. As such, they define the log types and the interpretation parameters for the block of data immediately following. Cards 1 through 10 are required for every computer run. Cards 11 through 14 pertain only to nuclear logs. Card 11 is required if any nuclear log is supplied, and cards 12 through 14 are required only when gamma-ray, density or neutron log data, respectively, are supplied. Card 15 (Fig. 6) must be supplied when cross-plot calculations are required. Either two- or three-component

Jan 1, 1967

By G. W. Brock

Experiments in the form of aging of overstrained tension specimens and elevated temperature tension testing, have been carried out on recrystallized arc-cast molybdenum. The aging behavior of molybdenum was found to be strongly dependent on the degree of plastic strain present in the lattice: the reason for this being the low solid solubility for the common interstitial elements in molybdenum. GEORGE W. BROCK, formerly Research Associate, Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, University of Illinois, Urbana, III., is Research Associate, Department of Engineering Sciences, IBM Research Center, Yorktown Heights, N. Y. Manuscript submitted January 19, 1961. IMD THE term strain aging is familiar in connection with the recovery of the yield point in mild steel after tensile overstraining, and there are other instances where it is known to exert an appreciable effect on mechanical properties. For example, steel exhibits a greater tensile strength at mildly elevated temperatures than at room temperature and serrated stress-strain flow curves occur under certain conditions. It has been known for a number of years that the phenomenon of strain aging is directly connected with the presence of carbon and nitrogen in the lattice; and extremely small amounts of either element are sufficient to produce the effect. In this study, the aging behavior of overstrained tensile specimens of recrystallized molybdenum has

Jan 1, 1962

By M. C. Fuerstenau, A. M. Gaudin

A homogeneous suspension is viewed by X-rays. The radiation density seen, affords a measure of the extra absorption due to the solids contained. This radiation density, at a predetermined depth, varies with time. The chart of this relationship gives the desired determination. s it is frequently necessary to know the distribu-rt tion of particle sizes in various products used in industrial applications, a number of means have been devised for these determinations. Some of them include direct microscopic measurement, screening of product, extraction of samples from a settling slurry, air and liquid elutriation, adsorption of gases and liquids, and light absorption. The absorption of light as a means for particle size analysis has been known and employed for some time. X-ray absorption has not received the attention that light has enjoyed primarily because of the complex and costly instrumentation involved with X-rays. In 1954, Brown and Skrebowskil suggested the use of X-rays for this type of determination but did not supplement their suggestion with experiment. In 1958, the authors conducted size analysis experiments on suspensions of quartz with the Trans-viewer: an X-ray unit specifically adapted for sedimentation research, and Rossa conducted experiments in a similar manner in 1959 with a stable gamma emitter, AmZ4l, on suspensions of uranium oxide. To illustrate the applicability of X-ray absorption for analyzing particle size distributions, an essentially mono-energetic and well collimated X-ray beam was used as a source. The beam was made mono-energetic by placing a zirconium filter before the counting window together with feeding the pulses from the proportional counter into a reverter, a device capable of discriminating against pulses of various heights. The sketch in Fig. 1 shows the collimation arrangement in more detail. As shown, the X-ray beam was collimated by inserting a 3/8-in. ID pipe into one of the ports of the X-ray tube and further by two small steel plates with slits 3/32-in. wide and 1/2-in. long placed in front of the window of the Geiger-Mueller (G-M) tube. One of the plates was located 1/2 in. and the other 2 1/2 in. from the window of the counter; both plates were contained in an aluminum holder mounted on the box containing the G-M tube. This type and degree of collimation should eliminate any intensity due to scattered radiation; the transmitted intensity would then be solely a functior. of the absorption by the suspension at that level. Experimentally, homogeneous suspensions of finely ground quartz were prepared, Daxad (a sulfo-nated compound made from wood) was added as dis-persant, and the transmitted X-ray intensity measured as a function of time at a fixed depth in the suspension. In more detail, the experimental procedure involved the following: 1) measuring the transmitted X-ray intensity through the Daxad solution at a predetermined position or settling depth in the absence of solids, 2) placing a known amount of dry solids into the vessel and agitating thoroughly, 3) measuring the transmitted X-ray intensity at time zero (i.e., immediately upon cessation of stirring), and 4) measuring the transmitted X-ray intensity as a function of time (a 10-sec counting interval being chosen and counting being started 5 sec before the desired time). Since a linear relationship exists between percentage solid in a slurry and the logarithm of transmitted intensity for a homogeneous material, the cumu-

Jan 1, 1961

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

THROUGH the years much interest has been centered in attempting to develop a direct method of iron-ore reduction, to replace or supplement the present indirect blast-furnace process. It would not be difficult to produce a list of more than 500 patents dealing with the direct production of iron and steel, but the few of this type of process that have proved successful do not produce in competition with the blast furnace; they produce special products. A survey of the literature reveals that the equilibrium conditions for the reduction reactions (iron oxides with carbon monoxide and with hydrogen) have been fairly well established but that data on the rate of reaction are discordant, although the general effects of the variables are known. This dissertation deals with the rate of reduction of a magnetite concentrate with hydrogen. The following variables have been studied: bed depth, gas velocity, particle size and temperature. The behavior of a single particle was also studied. LITERATURE Two general factors should he considered in a study of reduction of iron oxide: (1) equilibrium relations, and (2) rate of reaction. The first factor, equilibrium, has received the attention of many investigators and the equilibria Fe3O4-FeO-H2-H2O, Fe304-FeO-CO-CO2, FeO-Fe-H2-H2O, FeO-Fe-CO-CO2 are fairly well established. Of the second factor, the rate of reaction, much less is known. Data are comparatively scarce and there is very little concordance. The discordance probably results from the large number of variables influencing the reactions. However, the general effect of the variables is known. Among these variables are temperature, gas velocity, particle size, porosity, gas composition (distance from equilibrium), presence of impurities, greater or less prevalence of side reactions, and even design of the apparatus itself. Wetherill and Furnas1 published an excellent paper in 1934. They point out that any one or more of five processes (the chemical reaction, diffusion of the reactant through the gas film, diffusion of the reactant through the solid phase, diffusion of the reaction product through the solid phase, or diffusion of the reaction product through the gas film) may be the slow process, and thus the rate-controlling process. It is regretted that the work of these authors was limited to experiments at one temperature, and that the range of gas compositions was limited. Langmuir2 has shown that heterogeneous reactions take place at phase boundaries.

Jan 1, 1942

By Wilbur H. Somerton

W. H. Somerton is to be commended for his application of the methods of dimensional analysis in combination with the results of laboratory drilling tests to obtain a significant formula for the rate of penetration for the process of rotary drilling. This formula is shown to be a consequence of a more general formulation developed by the discussor as a result of his investigations of the basic action of most methods of rock drilling by mechanical means—the momentary loading of a chisel-shaped tool on the surface of the rock at the bottom of the hole. Some of the author's conclusions are re-examined in the light of this general formulation. DRILLING RATE FORMULA The author selects a minimum number of the most significant variables associated with the rotary drilling process to set up his two dimensionless parameters. Only one variable is associated with the geometry of the bit —the bit diameter, D; only one variable is associated with the properties of the rock pertinent to drilling— the drilling strength, S; and only two independent variables are associated with the conditions of operation the weight on the bit. F, and the rate of rotation, N. The dependent variahle of interest is, of course, the rate of penetration, R. The results of the author's drilling tests show that the variable R that appears in the dimensionless parameter, RIND is approximately proportioned to the square of the variable, F, that appears in the other dimension-less parameter, F/D2S. This establishes the functional relationship between these two simple parameters that leads to the formulation of a third dimensionless parameter, RD1T2/NF1. This last parameter is a significant one for the rotary drilling process, in general, although the author properly limits the validity of his equations to his present test conditions. The author realizes that the numerical value of this parameter, C, is not a constant but may be a function of one or more additional dimensionless groupings of the many other variables associated with the rotary drilling process, e.g. some dimensionless measure of bit wear. The author's parameter is shown to be a special case of a more general dimensionless parameter, developed by the discussor. that is applicable to practically all methods of rock drilling by mechanical means, namely. RD2S/P. P is the rate at which mechanical work is done on the rock, and S is the drilling strength, a term originated by the discussor. S is defined as the ratio of energy input to the rock to the volume of rock broken

By Harry V. Welch

Early in the development of the art of metallurgy, it was noted that a distinct difference existed in the character, collection possibility and health hazard of the "smoke" from lead furnaces and those from copper plants. Zinc-plant fumes, although not so detrimental to health, were closely allied in nature to those of the lead works. In Cottrell plants, there are sufficiently distinct differences in operation and amount of construction between those for lead and copper to justify their consideration under separate headings; therefore, while the application of the process at copper-reduction works was covered by the writer some two years ago in the Transactions1,† this discussion will confine itself more distinctly to "fume" collection. General information on the process has been presented in numerous articles and by many authors: Cottre112, Schmidt3, Bradley4, Anderson6, Labbe6, Shiga7, Rathbun8. "Fume" may be defined as material, metal or nonmetal, elemental or compound, evolved as a vapor from a furnacing or chemical reaction and condensing, chilling or reacting within the gas stream to yield a solid form, and in this definition liquid particles are solids in a sense as distinguished from gases or vapors. Such condensed particles are of minute form, on the order of "smoke," and, for example, on the order of a few hundredths of 1 micron (1 micron = 1/25,000 in.) to perhaps 3 microns, with agglomerates, in relatively small proportions of many particles. Metallurgically typical fume products are lead compounds, oxides, carbonates and sulphates; elemental zinc, more commonly encountered as a fume particle of zinc metal with a surrounding "skin" of zinc oxide; arsenic, both metal and oxide and some of its more complex salts such as added sulphates as found in flue dusts; antimony, more particularly its oxide forms; and elemental sulphur, sometimes a troublesome product, in Dwight-Lloyd sintering-plant fumes. These products, particularly the elemental or lower oxide forms, have relatively appreciable vapor pressures at the existing operating temperatures as reported by Welch and Duschak9, Ingold10, Johnstonll, Millar12,13.

Jan 1, 1937

By Marvin L. Kay

In the spring of 1950, just two years after the inauguration of the domestic uranium program by the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, the company entered the uranium mining and milling business through a newly formed subsidiary, Climax Uranium Co. This was the first venture into a new field of mining for Climax, which became the first old-time mining company, other than the vanadium producers, to become active in the embryo uranium industry. Twenty-five years earlier, Arthur Bunker, president of Climax Molybdenum, organized and operated the U. S. Vanadium Co. at Rifle, Colo. With this background, he viewed the budding industry of the Colorado Plateau with much interest. Upon its formation, the new subsidiary entered into a con- tract with the U. S. Government and the potential uranium-vanadium properties of Minerals Engineering Co. were assigned to Climax Uranium Co. Funds for the construction of a processing plant and working capital were advanced by Climax Molybdenum Co. The old sugar mill building of the Holly Sugar Co. in Grand Junction was leased to house the extractive plant. Construction of facilities, which were based upon a new process developed for the treatment of both uranium and vanadium ores, was completed and the mill was placed in operation early in 1951. Subsequent to that time several alterations were made and the capacity of the plant increased. In terms of recoveries, the plant has proved to be one of the most efficient on the Colorado Plateau

Aug 1, 1955

By Sidney Sigel, J. Gardner Brooks, Irvin R. Kramer

In 1942 Grossmannl proposed that the hardenability of a steel may be calculated from its chemical composition by considering the base hardenability associated with its carbon content and grain size and multiplying this base by factors for each element present. Since Grossmann's original publication, several investigaton2-6 have reexamined the multiplying factors for the individual elements and in general have found that the multiplying principle is valid. However, some of the individual factor curves developed have been in poor agreement. Inasmuch as the carbon-factor curve obtained by Grossmann was dependent Lipon the factors for all the other alloying elements present in the steel, it logically followed that his results were in need of correction in the light of the new data available for manganese, silicon, and the other alloying elements. Furthermore, in order to avoid the possibility that errors in the manganese, silicon, or other curves might influence the carbon-factor curve, investigation of iron-carbon alloys containing little or no manganese and silicon was necessary. That the effect of carbon on hardenability was greater than indicated by Grossmann is shown by a comparison of the diameters of completely hardened rounds of iron-carbon alloys with the ideal critical diameter calculated from Grossmann's factors. These alloys have a greater hardenability in a finite quench than predicted by Grossmann's factors for an infinite quench (Table I). Among the other important variables that were in need of further investigation were the effect of deoxidation practice on the grain-size correction curves and the effect of stable carbide-forming elements on the depth of hardening. Most Of the work by Kramer, Hafner, and Toleman4 was done on silicon-killed steels. It was not known whether Gross-mann's grain-size correction curves, determined on aluminum-killed steels, was valid when applied to steels with different deoxidation practice. More data on the

Jan 1, 1947

By J. Gardner Brooks, Sidney Sigel, Irvin R. Kramer

In 1942 Grossmannl proposed that the hardenability of a steel may be calculated from its chemical composition by considering the base hardenability associated with its carbon content and grain size and multiplying this base by factors for each element present. Since Grossmann's original publication, several investigaton2-6 have reexamined the multiplying factors for the individual elements and in general have found that the multiplying principle is valid. However, some of the individual factor curves developed have been in poor agreement. Inasmuch as the carbon-factor curve obtained by Grossmann was dependent Lipon the factors for all the other alloying elements present in the steel, it logically followed that his results were in need of correction in the light of the new data available for manganese, silicon, and the other alloying elements. Furthermore, in order to avoid the possibility that errors in the manganese, silicon, or other curves might influence the carbon-factor curve, investigation of iron-carbon alloys containing little or no manganese and silicon was necessary. That the effect of carbon on hardenability was greater than indicated by Grossmann is shown by a comparison of the diameters of completely hardened rounds of iron-carbon alloys with the ideal critical diameter calculated from Grossmann's factors. These alloys have a greater hardenability in a finite quench than predicted by Grossmann's factors for an infinite quench (Table I). Among the other important variables that were in need of further investigation were the effect of deoxidation practice on the grain-size correction curves and the effect of stable carbide-forming elements on the depth of hardening. Most Of the work by Kramer, Hafner, and Toleman4 was done on silicon-killed steels. It was not known whether Gross-mann's grain-size correction curves, determined on aluminum-killed steels, was valid when applied to steels with different deoxidation practice. More data on the

Jan 1, 1947

By H. L. Riley, B. W. Gandrud

AS far as the present writers know, this system of flotation has not been used elsewhere in this country, but in the last couple of years it has been introduced, with minor variations, at one plant in England and one in Wales.' The system has been described and discussed in a number of publications.2-5 The following is quoted from an abstract of the latest of these,5 a paper presented at an International Conference on Industrial Combustion in 1952. On the basis of experience to date with the commercial plants, it is believed that the kerosene-flotation process incorporates all the necessary elements to make it greatly superior to anything else now available for treating of fines in wet processes of coal preparation. Additional study and investigation are still needed, however, to determine if certain phases of the process can be improved to such an extent as to make it generally satisfactory and acceptable to the industry. Further improvements will be needed with respect to the capacities of the flotation cells and the reagent consumption. The situation referred to above explains why an investigation is being made of the possibilities of achieving better cell capacities. Results obtained from this investigation, which is still in progress, are believed significant with regard to both cell capacity in general and the relation of cell design to cell capacity in particular. Commercial equipment now being used in a laboratory-type investigation should have performance characteristics similar to those of the larger machines. Equipment and Procedures: All flotation tests have been made in a standard Denver sub-A 24x24-in. unit cell of 12-cu ft volume. Cell modifications to make it more suitable for the tests were an adjustable front-wall section for varying cell depth and a perforated scraper-drag assembly for removal of the float product. There is also an apron dry-coal feeder, a gravity-feed water supply, reagent feeders, and a centrifugal pump that feeds the mixture of coal, water, and reagents into the flotation cell. A wattmeter connected into the drive-motor circuit records the power requirements of the impeller throughout each run. Dry coal, water, and reagents are all fed through a pan-type intake to the feed pump. A Sturtevant blower was set up to furnish air for supercharging. A centrifugal pump with a garbage-can intake provides for disposal of refuse flow to an outside settling tank. Figs. 1 and 2 show the flotation cell; Fig. 2 also illustrates the blower for supercharging. For purposes of this investigation, the percentage by weight of the feed coal recovered in the float product under a standard set of conditions has been considered as the criterion of cell capacity. The authors realize that such a criterion may be somewhat unorthodox, as the term cell capacity is usually understood to refer to feed input and ordinarily takes into account the ash analyses of the float product and refuse. However, the word capacity is flexible enough so that Webster gives one definition as maximum output, a definition which seems to justify, at least partly, acceptance of the above criterion. It has been the authors' experience in the Birmingham district that the ash-reduction efficiency of the coal-flotation process is generally satisfactory and that the only real problem is to increase the rate of float recovery so that the feed rate to any given bank of cells can be increased without undue loss of coal in the refuse. Originally it was planned to operate the flotation cell to simulate continuous operation during sampling periods. It was assumed that operating for reasonable time with feed coal, water, and reagents turned on would stabilize conditions so that the weight of float coal discharged during a fixed time interval would be an accurate measure of the rate at which the coal was being floated. It developed, however, that this supposition was erroneous. The float coal, caught for fixed time intervals and weighed, gave widely varying results in duplicate runs. Efforts to correct this trouble failed, and it was decided to try to operate on a batch-test basis, whereby all the float coal produced during a run on a known weight of feed coal would be caught in tubs, dewatered, and weighed. This method gives consistent and reproducible results, with total float product weight rarely varying by more than 3 or 4 pct on duplicate runs. The standard test procedure is as follows: A 132-lb sample of dry feed coal is weighed and placed in the feed hopper. The feeder is adjusted for a rate of 800 lb per hr. Feed water and reagents are turned on, and the feed and refuse pumps are started. One minute later the impeller is started. Six minutes are allowed for the cell to fill up with the water-reagent mixture. The feed of dry coal is started at the end of this 6-min period. One minute later the float-coal removal drag is started. The float coal is caught in one tub for the first 6 min after the flow of feed coal starts. Tubs are then changed, and the float coal is caught in a second tub until the feed coal runs out, when the tubs are again interchanged to catch the float coal for the remainder of the run in the first tub. The cell is kept running for 3 min with the water and reagents on after the feed stops to allow residual float coal to be removed. At the end of a test the wet float coal in both tubs is weighed and the total weight recorded. The product in the second tub is used for moisture determination and screen-size analyses. When the

Jan 1, 1956

By Edward N. Trump

EXTENSIVE beds of rock salt occur in New York, Michigan, Kansas, and Texas. Wells are drilled through the beds, cased, and equipped with a suspended center tube. By circulating water through such a well, the soluble saline is dissolved and a brine produced. Operation of a well results ordinarily in the formation of an inverted conical cavity in the saline, inasmuch as the dissolving action of the fresh water is more rapid at the top of the bed than at the bottom. Under continued operations, the side wall of the cavity becomes so flat that a blanket of mud is deposited thereon and if the bed is overlain with shale or a soft rock caving follows. Three methods of operating wells have been employed-the "Tully plan," "the Detroit plan," and "the Trump plan." Both the Tully plan and the Detroit plan involve the formation of the aforesaid conical cavity with constant caving of shale above and deposition of mud on the side wall; the Trump plan was developed to avoid both these circumstances and thus materially prolong the life of a well. Details of the three plans follow. THE TULLY PLAN In the Tully plan, the water passes down the annular space between the casing and the center -tube, the brine rising in the center tube (Figs. I and 2). An inverted conical cavity is formed, the side wall of which relatively soon becomes so flat that it is blanketed by mud and impurities from the rock salt; this blanket limits dissolving action to the perimeter of the base of the cone, situated at the top of the saline bed. Caving of the overlying strata follows, and the total production of brine from the well is comparatively small. THE DETROIT PLAN In the Detroit plan, the water passes down the center tube, the brine rising in the annular space between the center tube and casing (Figs. I and 2). Initially, this flow forms a pear-shaped cavity in the bottom of the salt bed, but this cavity soon changes in shape to that of an inverted cone, as under the Tully plan, with the attendant disadvantages inherent in that plan. Application of the Detroit plan is limited to salt beds 300 ft. thick as a minimum. This depth of bed is necessary to prevent fresh water of lower specific gravity than the brine from rising in the

Jan 1, 1944

By Ward C. Smith

The industry of producing and processing boron compounds is called the borax industry because the chief product is borax, the decahydrate of disodium tetraborate. For the same reason, it is common to speak of borax mining. Reference to borate mining also is common, and while appropriate where it emphasizes the diversity of borate minerals that are mined in various countries, it is rather unsatisfactory where used in a general sense, because it seems to exclude the important production of borax from brine at Searles Lake, California, and of boric acid from steam vents in Tuscany, Italy. The terms "boron industry" and "boron mining" might seem more comprehensive, but are little used, and this is fortunate because they would be misleading-the element boron is manufactured only in small amounts for special uses, and it is not found free in nature. In most occurrences, boron is combined with oxygen and is in a borate or borosilicate material. The history of the modem borax industry starts with the introduction into Europe of borax from Tibet in the 13th century, about the time of Marco Polo, if not actually by him. The discovery that borax has unique value as a flux in metal soldering and ceramic glazing must have been made at some unknown time much earlier. As a rule, any mineral that has been used so long that its early history is lost must occur in deposits that are easily recognized and worked, and this is undoubtedly true of borax in Tibet. According to meager accounts,9 the borax occurs there in arid mountain basins as surficial crusts that coat the ground about thermal springs and seeps of mineralized water, and as coarser crystals in the bottom muds of shallow pools and lakes. Much the same essential features of surface exposures and minerals easy to recognize and recover characterize most of the deposits later found and worked elsewhere. The borax industry at the present time is faced with rising demands for its products, and consequently is increasing its productive capacity and appraising its borate resources.18 The areas that contain the known borate deposits are most likely to yield additional production, hence their distribution in the world is of interest, and is summarized later in this chapter. Mineralogy The mineral raw materials used by the borax industry include various borates mined in several countries, borax extracted from brines at Searles Lake in California, and boric acid extracted from the steam of vents in Tuscany in Italy. The hydrated borates[$] of chief commercial importance are listed in Table 1, which also shows their chemical composition. The properties of only the four most important borates are summarized here, but detailed descriptions of the borates and the minerals commonly found with them can be found in mineralogy textbooks.41 Ulexite generally forms clusters of silky fibers rather than large individual crystals. A

Jan 1, 1960

By J. J. Kanter

There has been much research and commercial development in recent years in the use of chromium and nickel in steels of various types, including those intended for high-temperature service. By "high-temperature steels" are meant those specifically designed for service at elevated temperatures in steam plants, oil refineries and other industries where high-temperature operations are conducted. This paper is devoted to some preliminary data on the effect of silicon on certain of the most popular chromium-molybdenum steels now being used in quantity by the refining industry and includes a short statement on the influence of copper in steels intended for high-temperature service. Uses of Silicon Next to oxygen, silicon is the most widely distributed and abundant of the earth's substances. Although classed as a nonmetal, it is highly important in the metallurgy of all steels, having been used for years as an efficient and economical degasifier and deoxidizer. Silicon is added to various steels in the form of ferrosilicon, generally at the end of the heat so as to avoid oxidation losses. With acid steels it is added in the furnace (also in the ladle) and generally with basic steels is added in the ladle, so as to avoid reaction with the basic lining through high-temperature acidic reaction with silica, which may be formed by oxidation of the silicon alloy. Several grades of ferrosilicon are available, containing, respectively, 15, 50, 75 and 90 per cent Si. By far the largest tonnage produced is the 50 per cent grade although the 75 and 90 per cent ferro-silicons are used as ladle and furnace additions in the manufacture of steels of high silicon content. The introduction of silicon into steel as an alloying element is well known in connection with high-yield-strength constructional steel for bridges, ships, car construction, etc., and it is also well known as an alloy-

Jan 1, 1938

By J. J. Kanter

There has been much research and commercial development in recent years in the use of chromium and nickel in steels of various types, including those intended for high-temperature service. By "high-temperature steels" are meant those specifically designed for service at elevated temperatures in steam plants, oil refineries and other industries where high-temperature operations are conducted. This paper is devoted to some preliminary data on the effect of silicon on certain of the most popular chromium-molybdenum steels now being used in quantity by the refining industry and includes a short statement on the influence of copper in steels intended for high-temperature service. Uses of Silicon Next to oxygen, silicon is the most widely distributed and abundant of the earth's substances. Although classed as a nonmetal, it is highly important in the metallurgy of all steels, having been used for years as an efficient and economical degasifier and deoxidizer. Silicon is added to various steels in the form of ferrosilicon, generally at the end of the heat so as to avoid oxidation losses. With acid steels it is added in the furnace (also in the ladle) and generally with basic steels is added in the ladle, so as to avoid reaction with the basic lining through high-temperature acidic reaction with silica, which may be formed by oxidation of the silicon alloy. Several grades of ferrosilicon are available, containing, respectively, 15, 50, 75 and 90 per cent Si. By far the largest tonnage produced is the 50 per cent grade although the 75 and 90 per cent ferro-silicons are used as ladle and furnace additions in the manufacture of steels of high silicon content. The introduction of silicon into steel as an alloying element is well known in connection with high-yield-strength constructional steel for bridges, ships, car construction, etc., and it is also well known as an alloy-

Jan 1, 1938

By L. P. Davidson

The new electrolytic zinc plant of the American Zinc Company of Illinois commenced operation in April 1941. The simple flowsheet using the standard current density and the economic reasons that dictated it are given herewith. The Evans-Wallower Zinc Co. built an electrolytic zinc plant at Monsanto, 111., in 1929 and operated it for about two years. The plant stood idle from 1932 and was purchased by the American Zinc Co. in 1940. Because of the condition of the , equipment, excepting the motor generator set, a complete rebuilding was necessary. The Fairmont City plant of the American Zinc Co. could treat the leach residues, the purification cake and the skimmings from the melting furnace in its various plants. This possibility permitted a simple flowsheet with good economic results. The flowsheet is shown in Fig. I. The calcined concentrates are leached in mechanically agitated tanks with spent electrolyte and such ferric iron solution as necessary. When the acid has been neutralized and the iron coagulated, the fluid is discharged to settling tanks. The underflow from these thickeners is filtered on a Moore filter; the filter cake leaves the plant for retreatment and the filtrate joins the thickener overflow. Zinc dust is added to this solution until the copper and cadmium are precipitated. The pulp is filtered through shriver presses, which deliver the purified solution to stor- age tanks, and the copper-cadmium-zinc cake is shipped for retreatment snd recovery of these three metals. The purified solution is electrolyzed; the regenerated acid is returned for use in the leaching plant and the cathode zinc, after stripping, goes to the melting furnace, from which it is cast in slabs. The skimmings from the melting furnace are shipped to the Fairmont City plant for reduction to metal in the retort furnaces. The choice of this simple flowsheet was made possible only because of the facilities of the Fairmont City plant. The long leaching period, with high acid content and high temperature which characterize the high-density process, gives a higher zinc extraction but also dissolves more impurities, which must be removed. The same is true to a lesser degree of the multi-step leaching of the western low-density plants. By the sacrifice of some initial extraction, solutid'ns can be obtained that are relatively easy to purify and give good ampere efficiency. This loss in initial extraction is made up in the retreatment of the residues in the Waelz plant. The impurities that accompany the zinc thus extracted are inconsequential when the Waelz product is treated in a distillation plant. It was recognized that this flowsheet would require a somewhat greater amount of sulphuric acid—either as acid or as sulphate sulphur in the calcine—because of poorer washing. The sulphuric acid plant at Fairmont City could deliver 60" BC. acid to compensate for the sulphate loss and the cost would be less than the cost of more intensive washing.

Jan 1, 1944

By Wilbur C. Helt, Joseph J. Yancik

Throughout the history of mankind, the principal use of coal has been to produce heat through combustion. The heat is used in many ways: to warm air space for our comfort; to provide heat or energy to power industrial processes, such as cement and steel production; and to produce electricity. Because it is our nation's most abundant fossil energy fuel, coal in the late 20th century is on the threshold of becoming a significant source for synthetic liquids and gas energy fuels for this country. This is made possible by conversion processes which can change solid coal into various synthetic gases and liquids. These coal-derived fuels are nearly identical to the processed fuels and chemicals provided by natural gas and crude oils, which presently provide almost all the petrochemical feedstocks and energy fuels needed for the residential, light commercial, and transportation markets. A revolution is beginning to take place, not only in the United States, but in many other countries with a return to a coal-based energy economy. Also, new combustion and conversion technologies which are compatible with national health arid environmental goals are rapidly emerging. These technologies will allow coal's use to be expanded not only in its traditional markets, but also to supply markets held by natural gas and crude oil. With the worldwide decline in natural gas and crude oil reserves, coal is being looked upon to meet the energy demand. Because of these new coal conversion technologies, coal will no longer be only a combustion fuel, but a valuable raw material for production of a variety of clean fuels and chemicals. MARKETS FOR COAL: PAST AND FUTURE A simplified diagram of the marketing network for coal is shown in Fig. 1. As shown in this figure, coal is transported to its traditional

Jan 1, 1981

As a representative of the Institute in the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association, which comprises some twenty-three different National Societies, it is proper that I make some report of the progress of the Association to the Institute. The societies represented in the organization are as follows: Association- Representatives, 1916 American Association for the Advancement of Science L. 0. Howard American Chemical Society Charles Baskerville American Electro-Chemical Society F. G. Cottrell American Federation of Labor : A. E. Helder American Forestry Association P. S. Ridsdale American Institute of Electrical Engineers John H. Finney American Institute of Mining Engineers Hennen Jennings American Mining Congress David T. Day American Red Cross Society Maj. Robert U. Patterson American Society for Testing Materials A. W. Gibbs American Society of Mechanical Engineers..... John A. Brashear

Jan 4, 1917