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By Robert C. Laudon

Spectral reflectance data for 335 minerals, including 228 minimum-maximum combinations for anisotropic minerals giving a total of 563 data sets, have been collected from the literature and combined into a single database. Quantitative color values for x, y, Y, Ad , and Pe referred to ICI standard i11uminant C have been calculated from the spectral reflectance data and are included in the database. The programs plot spectral reflectance curves together with all quantitative color data for each mineral in the database. The plots and data can be directed to a dot-matrix printer such that a databook of quantitative color and spectral reflectance having one mineral per page can be generated for the ore microscopy laboratory. In addition, by sorting the database and grouping the minerals, groups or individual minerals can be plotted on the chromaticity diagram, and this plot can also be sent to a dot-matrix printer. The programs are written in compiled BASICA for an IBM-PC with graphics capabilities and at least 128KB random access memory (RAM). The databases are accessible either through the BASIC programs or through any commercial database system capable of loading and writing to an ASCII format sequential file. The programs and database are available by sending a blank diskette and self addressed, stamped envelope to the authors.

Jan 1, 1987

By Do-Hyeong Kim, Jong-Jin Pak, Jung-Mock Jang, Min-Kyu Paek

"Thermodynamic relations among Mn, Al and N in liquid iron were studied by measuring the effect of Mn on the solubility product of AlN in liquid Fe-Mn-Al-N alloys in the temperature range from 1773 to 1873 K. The critical Al and N contents for AlN formation were determined by the metal-nitride-gas equilibration technique over wide ranges of melt composition and temperature. The effects of Mn on N solubility in Fe-Mn and Fe-Mn-Al melts containing Mn up to 26 mass% were separately determined in the same temperature range. The experimental results were thermodynamically analyzed using the Wagner's formalism to estimate the critical Al and N contents for the onset of A1N formation. The validity was checked by the observation of inclusion evolution in Fe-20%Mn-1.5%Al-0.6%C-0.3%Si-0.012%N melt during cooling and solidification.IntroductionRecently, high manganese steels such as Twinning Induced Plasticity (TWIP) steels have been developed as next generation steels because of their high formability as well as excellent strength and ductility.[1•2l In these steel grades, a large amount of Mn (15-20 mass%) and Al (1-2 mass%) are added to liquid steels, and such high Mn and Al concentration bring the great challenges to the steelmaking and casting processes. Mn significantly increases the N solubility in liquid iron and the AlN inclusions can be easily formed at such high Al concentrations due to high affinity of Al and Mn with N in liquid steels. Although the AlN inclusion is known to be a dominating and considered as a detrimental phase for the hot ductility of steels,l3l thermodynamics of AlN formation in high Mn-Al alloyed liquid steels was not well known.Moreover, the melting point of these steels decreases down to near 1623 K as increasing Mn content up to 20 mass%. However, most of thermodynamic data has been measured at the steelmaking temperature around 1873 K. Even at steelmaking temperature, there are huge scatters in thermodynamic interactions of Mn and Al on N in liquid iron. The nitrogen solubility in Fe-Mn alloy melts has been measured using the Sieverts' method[4l and the samplinij method[5-7J in the temperature range of 1813 to 1973 K. In the authors' recent study,[8•9 the N solubility in Fe-Al alloy melts was measured using the sampling method in the temperature range of 1823 to 1973 K. However, the simultaneous effect of Mn and Al at high concentrations on Nin liquid Fe-Mn-Al-N alloys is still not known. Also, there remains uncertainty about the temperature dependence of the interaction parameter of Mn on N in liquid Fe-Mn alloys. Therefore, it is worthwhile to check the temperature dependence of this parameter at a low temperature near the melting point of Fe-Mn alloys. There have been few studies on the characterization of non-metallic"

Jan 1, 2014

By Ryszard Prajsnar

During copper production in shaft and flash smelting processes at KGHM Polska Miedz S.A., lead bearing material of sulfide, sulfate, and oxide character is generated in forms such as slime from shaft furnace gas handling systems, converter dusts, and dusts from an electric furnace for copper removal from flash smelting slag. These materials are polymetallic concentrates of Pb, Zn, and Cu, with As, Cl, and Cd as impurities. Shaft furnace slime, containing. about 50% PbS and 15% bituminous substances, is the main lead-bearing material. At the Glogów copper mill, a new plant was commissioned in June 2001 to process 80,000 tonnes per year of lead bearing materials to produce 26,000 tonnes per year of crude lead. The plant consists of a feed conditioning system, three (3) rotary rocking furnaces with a capacity of sixteen (16) tonnes of lead feed fired with natural gas and oxygen-enriched air containing up to 45 vol% O2, and a gas handling system. The gas handling system includes a post-combustion chamber, a gas cooling chamber with Cl neutralization, gas mixing chamber, bag filter, and dry limestone scrubbing system for SO2 removal. The lead-bearing feed is smelted with five (5) wt% Na2CO3 and thirteen (13) wt% iron scrap at a temperature of 950 to 1050°C for three (3) hours. The smelting process consists of four (4) stages; feed drying, firing of gaseous hydrocarbons and solid coal from the feed, lead reduction from slag, and separation of molten products. The flow rates of natural gas and oxygen to the burners are controlled to ensure combustion of the bituminous material in the furnace. The process produces crude lead bullion containing (wt%) 0.1 to 0.5% Cu, 0.02 to 0.5% As, 0.05 to 0.07% Bi, 0.1 to 0.5% Sb, and 0.1 to 0.6%Sn. The process also produces a mixture of sodium silicate slag, Fe-Zn-Pb-Cu-S matte, and Fe-As speiss containing (wt%) 5 to 10% Pb, 2 to 6% Cu, 10 to 15% Zn, 1 to 3% As, 10 to 15% S, 0.5 to 3.0% Cl, 2 to 4% K, 4 to 7% Na, 20 to 30% Fe, and 5 to 10% SiO2. The dust is made up of PbO, ZnO, PbSO4, and PbCI2, KCI, and NaCI with a chemical composition (wt%) of 35 to 50% Pb, 5 to 15% Zn, 3 to 6% As, 4 to 8% Cl, 2 to 5% K, and 2 to 5% Na. The construction of the new lead production plant at the Glogów copper mill will process both current lead-bearing materials as well as lead-bearing material that have been stockpiled over the last fifteen (15) years to give a significant improvement in protection of the natural environment.

Jan 1, 2002

By Jinrong (Patrick) Mang

Three of the most challenging problems in phosphate beneficiation are discussed: flotation efficiency, resource conservation and environmental impact. Some new flotation machines offer the opportunity of reducing power and reagent consumption significantly, while increasing specific capacity many fold. Efficiency might also be improved dramatically by replacing the "double float" process with a single-collector scheme. Model based software control is a powerful tool for improving overall plant efficiency. Recovery of phosphate values from the phosphatic clays could extend phosphorus reserve life significantly. phosphate recovery from the slimes might be achieved by sizing-flotation, selective flocculation and bioleaching. Reducing the volume of phosphatic clays produced is another key stop to minimizing phoephate logs. Such a reduction may be realized by floating at finer cut size. Although an ideal' dolomite separation process is yet to be developed, a cationic flotation process may prove to 'be economically feasible. Loss of phosphate in the desliming stage is the major problem with most of the flotation schemes for removing dolomite.

Jan 1, 1995

By Asmo Vartiainen

Background of Direct-to-Blister Flash Smelting is discussed; especially slag chemistry relating to copper solubility, slag fluidity and impurity behavior. In December, 2000, Mini-pilot Flash Smelting test runs were carried out at Outokumpu Research Oy to produce blister copper from Chilean concentrate and white metal and from a mixture of them. Tested slag types were iron silicate slag, ferrous calcium silicate slag and calcium ferrite slag with different slag compositions and different concentrate/white metal ratios. The test runs were successful. The fluxing effect of copper oxide was clearly demonstrated and ferrous calcium silicate slags remained fluid on a very wide liquidus range. The distribution of arsenic between ferrous calcium silicate slag and blister copper is much higher than between iron silicate slag and blister copper. This successful test run with the new slag type offer new possibilities in Direct-to-Blister process design.

Jan 1, 2003

By Rajesh K. Mishra

The person in charge of Environmental Affairs in a small business has many higher priority projects (such as making money to meet the employee? payroll etc.) than filling out and filing the regulatory forms. It is but. natural to think that these affairs can be managed? by playing ignorant until audited by the regulatory -state and federal agencies. Truth is to. the contrary; generally, it is too late by then. The fines and legal costs even for failing to file the regulatory forms could deliver a serious blow to the financial well-being of a small business. Forms and reports under SARA Title III are not hard to complete., but they are time consuming. In this paper we will discuss the information and data compilation procedures, simplification of some legal terminology into simple technical language, and tips that help in filling out the forms?. Some actual case 'histories of EPA fines will also be reviewed.

Jan 1, 1992

By H. K. Fouad, L. A. Guirguis

The starting mill strip solution· for this study· is an ammonium uranyl tricarbonate solution of pH 8.2 containing 20g uranium/liter, after a DEPA/TOPO extraction process from sulfuric acid leaching liquor. To the first portion of the concentrated acidified strip solution, hydrofuoric acid is added at 95°C in reduced condition to obtain uranium tetrafluoride. The second portion of the uranyl carbonate strip is subjected to a precipitation step by admixing 0.3 volume of non-solvent precipitating agent such as acetone per volume of uranium. ·Uranium oxide (U30 8) is obtained from this precipitate by calcination for half an hour at 800°C in air. The third portion of the strip solution is neutralized to a pH 6.5 with sulfuric acid to precipitate iron and other contaminants. The solution is further acidified to a pH 1.85 with continuous air bubbling to remove CO2, followed by H2Ch precipitation at pH 3.5 to obtain uranyl peroxide. The latter is reduced by stannous chloride to obtain uranium trioxide dihydrate UO3. 2H20. Identifications, characterization· and purity of these products are carried out by complete chemical analyses, Scanning electron microscope study, tap density determination, X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopic investigations. The achieved results agreed well with that of the published data for these nuclear grade purity products.

Jan 1, 2000

By Devon A. Hannan

Thermodynamic modeling calculations were undertaken for the recovery of mercury from HgTe using a vacuum retort reactor. However, discrepancies were noted in the available thermodynamic data which introduced uncertainty in the model results. Consequently, a series of transpiration experiments were first undertaken on the thermal decomposition of HgTe into an inert carrier gas stream according to the following reaction: HgTe(s) Hg(g) + Te(s) From the measured weight loss of the HgTe samples, the Gibhs free energy change for the above volatilization reaction was determined as a function of temperature. The experimentally determined Gibbs free energy values were found to be approximately 30% larger (more posi-tive) than the values available in databases such as HSC Chemistry. By conducting a second-law analysis on the experimental data, the heat of formation of HgTe at 298.15 K and the en-tropyat 298.15 K were determined, which then formed the basis for a new database for the modeling calculations. The results of this study showed that HgTe was more stable at elevated temperatures than was generally indicated in the literature. The new database is given in a for-mat for direct insertion in HSC Chemistry. Using the new database, modeling calculations were conducted to examine the effects of the re-tort pressure and the molar ratio of purge gas to HgTe on the volatilization of mercury from HgTe. A diagram is presented that shows the minimum temperature for 100% volatilization of mercury from HgTe as a function of retort pressure for different molar ratios of purge gas (N2) to HgTe. For example, it was found that the minimum temperature for 100% volatilization could be decreased by 175 K, at a retort pressure of 0.05 bar, if the molar ratio ofN2 to HgTe is increased from 1.0: 1 to 100.0: I.

Jan 1, 2003

By E. Ozberk

The copper and nickel smelting industries are important contributors to the technical and economic well-being of Canada while some of the smelters are among the largest sources of sulphur dioxide emissions in Canada. A review of the operations in six smelters - Falconbridge Limited, Falconbridge, Ontario; Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co. Limited, Flin Flon, Manitoba; Inco Limited, Copper Cliff, Ontario and Thompson, Manitoba; Noranda Mines Limited, Horne Division, Noranda, Quebec and Gaspe Mines Division, Murdochville, Quebec - have shown that about 80% of the total sulphur input to these smelters was emitted to the atmosphere in 1980. A simultaneous review of the existing and emerging technologies which can directly or indirectly reduce the sulphur dioxide emissions indicated that it is possible to reduce the emissions to below 20% of the sulphur input to these smelters. This can be achieved by varying degrees of modifications to the smelting operations and installing sulphur fixation facilities at significant costs which may increase the metal production costs. This would consequently make the competitiveness of the Canadian copper and nickel producers more difficult in the already tough world metals market.

Jan 1, 1983

By H. Conrad, K. Jung

"The effect of an external electric field E=5(+) kV/cm applied during the solution heat treatment at 500°-550°C of three commercial Al-Mg-Si alloys (AA6061, AA6022 and AA61l1) on the asquenched resistivity Pw and hardness H.,NULL, w was investigated. It was found that the field gave a significant increase in Pw and in Hv,w, for AA6022 and AA6111, but had no clear effect on AA6061. Thermodynamic analysis gave that the effect of the field on AA6022 and AA6111 was to reduce both the enthalpy ?H, and entropy ?H, of solution. Considering the chemical composition of the three alloys it appears that the influence of the field may depend on the amount of Cu plus excess Si present in the alloy.IntroductionKlypin and Soloviev [1, 2] were the first to report that the application of an external electric field during solution heat treatment (SHT) of Al alloys gave an increase in the as-quenched resistivity and hardness. They attributed these effects of the field to an increase in solubility of the alloying constituents during the SHT. More recently Liu and coworkers [3, 4] also reported an increase in the as-quenched resistivity of Al-Li alloys with application of an electric field during SHT. Further, the present authors [5] found that the application of an electric field during the SHT of the commercial Al-Mg-Si alloys AA6022 and AA61i1 increased their as-quenched resistivity and hardness. Their thermodynamic analysis of the results indicated that the field decreased both the enthalpy ?H, and entropy ?S, of solution."

Jan 1, 2004

By Lloyd Robert Nelson

The historical progression in installed electric furnace smelting capacity of some 1650 calcium, chromium, manganese, nickel and silicon ferro-alloys furnaces is reviewed. Key increases in the inherent installed electrical capacity, often achieved through uprating furnaces, are identified. Possible factors facilitating such advances are explored, including: specific process engineering and pyrometallurgical enhancements (e.g., improved control over the consistency, size and chemical form of raw materials, extents of preheating and pre-reduction delivered into the furnace; and patterns of feed distribution); furnace electrical configuration (AC or DC; immersed, submerged-, shielded- or open-arc); form of electrode (graphite, self-baking or composite); furnace configuration (circular or rectangular; closed or open and 1-, 3- or 6- electrodes); better engineering and equipment designs (e.g., high-intensity cooling) and state of furnace electrical and metallurgical control systems. A view is presented on the prevailing state of evolution of the Mega-scale in ferro-alloy smelting and opportunities for still further improvements.

Jan 1, 2014

By Liyuan Chai, Qin Liu, Bing Peng, Jia Wang, Qiang Zhang

"Electrolytic Manganese Residue (EMR) was used as the main material to prepare cementing material activator for the utilization of the residue from electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) or electrolytic metallic manganese (EMM) production. The effects of chemical activation, thermal activation and mechanical activation on retarding activity and excitation activity of EMR were investigated according to the setting time and activity index of EMR-slag cementing material. The results showed that the EMR exhibited good activating performance after being ball-milled for 18 min and then treated for 1-2 hours at temperature range of 350-450 ?. The optimal properties of cementing material activator were achieved at the weight percent ratio 30 : 3 : 5 of EMR/Ca(OH)2/cement clinker.IntroductionMany hazardous industrial solid wastes such as blast furnace slag, fly ash, steelmaking slag, chromic slag and electrolytic manganese residue [1] are generated n China and their amounts increases every year. The accumulation of the solid wastes during past years is very huge and they could be hardly recycled effectively as a sustainable resource. 2.35 billion tons of industrial solid wastes have been produced up to now [2]. It is estimated that they would exceed 3.3 billion tons by the end of 2015 [3]. On the other hand, the quick development of Chinese infrastructural construction needs more cementing materials. The production of traditional building materials consumes lots of natural resource such as clay and limestone and discharges at least 1 ton CO2 and other pollutants per ton clinker [4]. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new types of cementing materials instead of clinker [5,6]."

Jan 1, 2012

By S. Sugiyama, M. Kiuchi

"New metal working processes, such as the mashy-state mixing, mashy-state forging, mashy-state rolling and mashy-state extrusion are developed and applied to manufacture the so-called particle reinforced metals, fiber reinforced metals, particle reinforced cladding metals and so forth. These metal-ceramics composites are made of metal sheets, metal powders, ceramics particles and ceramics fibers. The mashy-state processes are also used to work those composites into bars, wires, tubes, plates, sheets, machine parts and other products. The working conditions necessary to manufacture sound composite products are clarified and the mechanical properties of the products are investigated. Through the investigation, it becomes clear that the mashy-state processes are useful and effective to manufacture metal-ceramics composites. It is al so known that these processes may be applied in various ways to development of new metal matrix compounds. IntroductionThe so-called metal-ceramics composites and processes to manufacture them are now being widely investigated in order to comply with increasing demands for new materials with novel and excellent mechanical properties and functions. The metal-ceramics composites are expected to have superior characteristics with respect to the elastic modulus, hardness, anti-wear resistance, high temperature strength and other mechanical properties to those of conventional metallic materials.The present authors ha v e been investigating into new metal working processes which are based upon the characteristics of metals and their alloys in the mashy-state. In the mashy-state, the metal (or alloy) includes both of the solid and liquid components. According to the fact that the partial melting takes place and the liquid component usually exists at grain boundaries, the metal in the mashy-state has quite different mechanical properties from those of the metal in the solid-state. Because of that the bonding force among grains is very weak due to the partial melting occurred at grain boundaries, the mashy metal has distinctively low flow-stress and high deformability. The mashy metal splits into grains or particles and sticks to others very easily. It is so soft as to be stirred up just like a lump of sherbet, but it is sufficiently viscous to be mixed up with other materials, such as ceramics particles and ceramics short-cut fibers."

Jan 1, 1988

By M. Waladan

The top submerged lancing Sirosmelt system has been developed through laborator.y scale testwork and pilot plant trials for recovery of zinc from ISF slag. The effects of the process variables of gas injection rate, method of coal feeding, and temperature on zinc fuming rates were studied in the laboratory. It was found that the rate of zinc elimination was dependent on all of these variabl.es. The rate of zinc removal from slag was independent of zinc content of slag down to approximately 1.5% Zn, below which the rate was proportional to zinc content in slag. Pilot plant trials were carried out to evaluate a proposed process and results followed predictions from the laboratory scale tests. A comparison of the proposed process with conventional slag fuming operations is made and it is shown that the process has a number of advantages which have a significant impact on the economics of zinc slag fuming.

Jan 1, 1990

By . Menad Gaballah I

Three samples of solid wastes generated by the non ferrous metallurgy were characterized. These residues contain up to 42 % of valuable metal compounds ( Cu, Pb and Zn ) and 23 %of toxic compounds t As, Hg, Cd and Se ). These sample were subjected to thermal treatments between 200 DC and 800 °C in controlled oxidizing. reducing and chlorinating atmospheres. Up to 99 % of As, Cd, Hg and Se were eliminated from these industrial wastes. Cu, Pb, and Zn compounds were concentrated in the treatments' residues of these samples. A Global Decontamination Factor' GDF ' was defined to measure the efficiency of the elimination of toxic elements and the recovery of valuable elements for a specific sample submitted to a given treatment. It seems that the thermal treatment in a reducing atmosphere was the most efficient in decontaminating these solids and the concentration of valuable elements. a.

Jan 1, 1995

By Brajendra Mishra

Molten Salt electrolytic processes offer unique opportunities to extract and refine metals where gaseous or metallothermic reduction, hydro metallurgical extraction and aqueous electrolytic methods are thermodynamically constrained. Production of aluminum and magnesium by molten salt electrolysis are well known commercial processes. Several other reactive metals, such as lanthanides and actinides, as well as beryllium and calcium, make use of molten salt processing for extraction and refining. This presentation describes the science of molten salt chemistry and electrochemistry for winning and refining of several metals. In addition, recovery of metals from waste process salts by molten salt reduction as well as oxidation have been discussed. Material issues in design of molten salt reactors have been included. Various applications have been presented through case studies. Experimental data have been included to justify the suitability as well as limitations of these specific processes.

Jan 1, 2003

By Jorge A. S. Tenorio, Chuanwei Zhuo, Joner O. Alves, Yiannis A. Levendis

"The disposal of wastes is a serious environmental problem, since available landfill space is dwindling. Their treatment by pyrolysis or combustion has merit, and the corresponding fuel or power production is of technological interest. However, such processes need a rigid control of emissions. This work addresses the gaseous light hydrocarbons (LHCs) generated during sequential pyrolysis and partial oxidation of unserviceable tires, PET bottles, com wastes (DDGS) and sugarcane bagasse in a two-stage laminar-flow horizontal furnace, kept at 1000 °C. Gas chromatography was used to identify and quantify the components of the emitted gaseous light hydrocarbons. The results showed that the biomass residues generated the highest emissions of aliphatic hydrocarbons, whereas PET generated the most aromatic hydrocarbons. When stainless steel meshes were inserted in the exhaust flow, it was found that hydrocarbon emissions were curtailed; as such meshes catalyzed partial conversion of these carbon-bearing gases to carbonaceous nanomaterials.IntroductionLight hydrocarbons (LHCs) are volatile organic compounds, consisting of hydrogen and carbon with low molecular weight; the most common species are methane, ethane, propane, butane, etc. LHCs are valuable since they are a very important energy resource. However, uncontrolled release of light hydrocarbon gases to the atmosphere should be avoided [l, 2]. In this work, a development is presented for the evaluation of LHCs generated during the controlled pyrolysis/combustion of several wastes in a two-stage laminar-flow horizontal furnace. Samples of unserviceable tires, post-consumer PET bottles and waste residues from the bioethanol industry (DDGS and sugarcane bagasse) were burned. A catalyst system, consisting of stainless steel screens, was tested for its effects on the gaseous emissions."

Jan 1, 2011

By G. D. Sandrock

The science and technology of roan temperature rechargeable metal hydrides began about 1969 with the discoveries that the intermetallic Compounds LaNi5 and TiFe could be, conveniently hydrided and dehydrided at roan temperature and modest H2 pressures. Subsequently, this lead to the development of a broad family of REE-containing AB5 hydrides and numerous applications that make use of the extraordinary H2-absorption and reaction-heat properties of these materials. Some of the applications include H2 storage, compression and separation, as well as heat pumping, heat to mechanical energy conversion and electric energy storage. This paper briefly reviews the fundamental phenomenology of metal hydrides, the history of the use of REE's in rechargeable metal hydrides, the practical engineering properties of these materials and the applications that have evolved around them. The rechargeable nickel metal hydride battery, a new vial alternative to NiCd cells, stands at the forefront of the applications.

Jan 1, 1992

By Yasuo Ojima

The mainstream of copper smelting processes in the world today is a combination of Outokumpu type Flash smelting and PS (Pierse Smith) converting process. Presently it can be estimated that about 50% of the worldwide copper production is produced by the Flash smelting process and 80% by the PS converting process. PS converting process due to its operational flexibility and despite its batch character of operation has been widely used in many smelters for more than 100 years. However, an environmental issue has been pointed out related to this process because of the difficulty of handling the fugitive gases. Recently several copper smelters in the world have been newly constructed and others have executed major modification and modernization, The continuous converting process has been applied in many of them instead of PS converting process. This paper compares PS to the emerging continuous converting process and makes a prospect of the future of the copper converting process.

Jan 1, 2003

By K. Morsi, S. K. Kassegne, K. S. Moon, A. Numula

"Current Activated Tip-based Sintering (CATS) is a new process for the powder-based manufacturing of macro, micro and possibly nano-scale features and shapes. CATS enables the selective sintering of powders by localizing current activation conditions through an electrically conducting small tip (either in the stationary or moving mode). This paper presents preliminary experimental results on the CATS of reactive mixtures of Ni/Al powder to form nickel aluminide intermetallics. Preliminary investigations on the effect of current on the reaction characteristics are discussed.IntroductionSpark Plasma Sintering (SPS) has been the subject of intense research over the past decade [1,2, 3,4,5,6]. The process boasts remarkable advantages which include ultra fast heating rates (hence by-passing low temperature non-densifying sintering mechanisms), considerably lower sintering temperatures and shorter sintering times than achieved in conventional sintering. The process is however limited to the generation of simple geometries on the macro-scale. Recently three of the authors conducted work on a novel process ""Current-activated tip-based sintering (CATS)"" [7], where electric current is passed through a conducting tip that is placed or allowed to travel over a powder bed/compact to locally sinter powders. lD, 2D and 3D micro-scale sintered shapes can be generated with the possibility of 3D rapid prototyping on the macro/micro or nano-scale. Although CA TS of single phase powders has been conducted, the CATS of reactive powders has not yet been investigated.The Ni-Al phase diagram contains five intermetallic compounds, AhNi, AhNh, AlNi, AhNi5 and NhAl. Out of these intermetallics, NiAl and NhAl have received the vast majority of scientific and industrial interest [8]. NhAl can be formed by reaction synthesis, where nickel and aluminum reactant powders are heated to a reaction ignition temperature at which the reactant powders are converted to the intended intermetallic product. The reaction is exothermic which gives rise to considerable compact self heating, thus instantaneously raising the compact temperature by several hundred degrees which facilitates sintering [8]. Applying and electric current locally would not only provide for a rapid local reactive sintering, but would generate a number of intriguing scientific investigations. For example, of interest would be, how would the reaction propagation and microstructural/phase evolution be affected by the temporal and spatial temperature and current distributions."

Jan 1, 2011