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By S. F. Shaw

IT IS generally recognized that the natural gas absorbed in petroleum plays the leading r6le in moving the oil through the sands to the well and supplies the energy that delivers the oil to the surface when the wells are flowing. It is the purpose of this paper to note the amount of oil that could be lifted by this gas if 100 per cent. efficiency were obtained and the efficiencies actually obtained in the use of this gas. An article in MINING AND METALLURGY,' stated that in a Wyoming field, with a pressure of 300 lb. per sq. in., there would be absorbed 65 cu. ft. of gas per barrel, or 1.55 cu. ft. per gal. of oil. The writer does not know if data have been obtained, by experiment, for pressures beyond those indicated in this article, therefore, for the purpose of illustration, he has projected this curve to obtain figures for pressures greater than 300 lb., although probably experiment will show that the extended line is not quite correct.

Jan 1, 1926

By T. B. Massalski, Horace Pops

Martensitic transformations were observed by optical metallography and electrical-resistivity measurements during cooling at cryogenic temperatures of the bcc pr-phase Au-Zn alloys. The com-position dependence of the MS, MF, AS , and AF temperatures have been determined. It is concluded that the martensitic platelets which grow mainly in the lengthwise direction and which are associated with a very small temperature hysteresis are "thermoelastic" martensite. In some cases the observed structure seems to have no definite crys-tallographic habit or consists of a mixture of- plates and broad transformed areas. THE majority of the bcc /3-phase alloys in systems of copper, silver, and gold with zinc and cadmium are unstable at low temperatures and undergo a transformation upon further cooling into another structure. A large number of such transformations are martensitic. The composition dependence of the Ms temperatures has been determined and reported for CU-~n,' Ag-Cd,' and AU-C~~ alloys. The 50 at. pct ordered Au-Zn p' alloy has been reported by Jan and pearson4 to transform martensitically at 58°K in connection with their study of the de Haas-van Alphen effect The p' phase in the Au-Zn system has the ordered CsC1-type structure. The phase field is shown in Fig. 1: it has the typical V shape which is characteristic of all copper-, silver-, and gold-based binary /3-phase alloys. There appears to be no a priori reason why the transformation should be limited to the equiatomic composition and the availability of a cryogenic stage for optical metallography5 has permitted studies down to the liquid-helium temperature of a series of alloys in this system. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Predetermined weights of 99.999 pct pure gold and zinc were melted and cast under a partial atmosphere of helium in sealed quartz capsules. Thorough mixing of the molten metals was achieved by vigorous shaking, followed by a rapid quench into a brine solution. All ingots were homogenized at 640°C for 4 days. The loss in weight was usually less than 0.04 wt pct and was assumed to be due to

Jan 1, 1965

By M. E. Nicholson

IT has been suggested by a number of investigators, I including Hume-Rothery and Raynor,' that certain intermediate phases in metal systems take on interstitial crystal structures because of an appropriate ratio of radii of the two atoms. If the size factor is an important parameter in determining whether or not an intermediate phase will have an interstitial structure, then it would appear reasonable that the relative sizes of interstitial atoms should have a direct relation to their solubilities in interstitial compounds. It was on such a basis that Petch,' in his discussion of the cementite structure, concluded that nitrogen is the only possible element which could replace carbon. Recent X-ray studies by Jacka indicate that the solid solubility of nitrogen in cementite is negligible. If this is the case, then on the basis of size factor it would not be expected that any element can replace carbon in FeaC, since according to Schwarzkopf and Kieffer4 the covalent atomic radii of nitrogen, carbon, and boron are 0.71, 0.76, and 0.87A, respectively. Nevertheless, Vogel and Tammann in 1922 indicated that a quasi-binary relation exists between the interstitial compounds FeaC and Fe2B and that the solid solubility of boron in FeaC at approximately 1150°C is 1.4 pct B by weight. Because of the apparent disagreement between theory and experiment, the solid solubility of boron in FeaC has been reinvestigated. In addition, the influence of boron on the saturation magnetic moment (per gram) and Curie temperature of cementite was determined. Experimental Procedure A series of Fe-B-C alloys which varied in boron content from 0 to 5.4 wt pct B were prepared by arc melting a 50-g ingot using carbonyl iron, Ache-son AUC graphite, and Cooper grade A boron for starting materials. The composition of these alloys is listed in Table I and shown graphically in Fig. 1. The samples represented by the solid circles were used for X-ray analysis and Curie temperature measurements; by the squares, samples used for quantitative metallography; and by the triangles, samples used for saturation magnetic moment measurements and Curie temperature measurements. After arc melting and subsequent quenching from 1000°C, so that all phases in the resulting microstructure were brittle, one half of the 50-g ingots were pulverized until a powder was obtained which was less than 100 mesh. These powders were then homogenized in evacuated Vycor capsules at 1000°C for 24 hr and water quenched. Although the homogenized powder had sintered somewhat, it was suitable for saturation magnetic moment and Curie temperature determinations, for which the 60 to 100-mesh fraction of the powder was used. For X-ray analysis the homogenized powder was crushed again until a 300-mesh powder was obtained. After crushing, the powder was mixed with Alundum of approximately the same grit size to prevent sinter-

Jan 1, 1958

Feb. 5. Society for Applied Spectroscopy, 6 pm, supper, Tosca's; 8 pm, meeting, Socony-Vacuum Training Center, 63 Park Row, New York. Feb. 6, AIME, Chicago Section, Chicago Bar Assn., 29 S. La Salle St., Chicago. Feb. 18-21, AIME, annual meeting, Hotel Statler, New York. Feb. 19, Michigan College of Mining and Technology, alumni reunion, Skytop Room, Hotel Statler, New York. Feb. 21, AIME, Utah Section, Newhouse Hotel, Salt Lake City. Feb. 28, Bituminous Coal Research, Inc., annual meeting, Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago. Mar. 3-7, ASTM, spring meeting and committee week, Hotel Statler, Cleveland. Mar. 5, AIME, Chicago Section, Ladies' Night, Chicago.

Jan 1, 1952

By P. G. Shewmon, W. M. Robertson

The derivative of the surface tension with orientation, ??/??, for copper has been measured over the entire unit triangle. This derivative or torque term was determined from the variation of the dihedral angles at the intersection of twin boundaries and free surfaces. High-temperature anneals in graphite with a hydrogen atmosphere gave torque terms of 0.097 at (111), 0.066 at (100), and 0.0257 at (110). A variation from -36oto +23oC in the dew Point of the H2 had no effect on these values, nor did a change from 99.98 to 99.999 pct Pure copper. The removal of graphite from the system decreased ??/?? slightly. Considering the surface near a low-index plane to be smooth except for occasional steps, the free-energy increment per cm of step is calculated, and it is shown that the observed variation of ??/?? is consistent with a random distribution of steps and an interaction energy between steps. Integration of ??/?? gave the relative values of y at (100), (110), and (111) as comPared to ymax: (Y111/Ymax) =0.974, (Y110/Ymax) =0.996, (y100/Ymax) = 0.983. The ratio of the surface tension of coherent twin boundaries to the surface tension of the free surface was found to be (yT/ys) = 0.027 * 0.011. In a crystalline solid the surface tension y (surface free energy per unit area) depends on the orientation of the surface relative to the crystallographic axes of the crystal. Measurements of this variation of y with surface orientation have been reported for metals only within the last few years. Consider the grain boundary groove shown in Fig. 1. Here the three surfaces are all normal to the plane of the paper, and each has a different surface tension, y1, y2, and y3. If the system is at equilibrium, the total surface free energy must remain unchanged for a slight vertical displacement of the intersection (points A, B, and C are kept fixed). As shown by Herring,' the following equation is obtained:

Jan 1, 1962

By A. C. Wallace

THE development of the natural resources of any district of any magnitude, inevitably gives rise to many problems off title, usually due to the greatly enhanced value of the land. The development of the mining industry in the Quapaw Agency has been no exception to this general rule. Our problems, how-ever, have not been many or particularly serious. The Quapaws were allotted and patents issued by the United States Government in 1895. These patents contained a restriction against alienation for a pe-riod of twenty-five years. The effect of the restric-tion was to prevent the Indian from selling, leasing, or in any way encumbering his land. The Govern-ment, in a paternalistic spirit, sought to teach the Indian thrift and industry and to insure him a place of residence. This is evidenced by the first Leasing Act passed by Congress, which permitted only incom-petents and those physically disabled to lease their land for either agricultural or mining purposes. The able-bodied Indian was denied the right to lease. It soon became apparent to the Government, how-ever, that this was a mistaken policy, and in 1897 a General Leasing Act was passed by Congress and it was under this act that the mining industry in the Quapaw Agency was developed. The act, reads as follows: "That the allottees of land within the limits of the Qua- paw Agency, Indian Territory, are hereby authorized to lease their lands, or any part thereof, for a term not ex-ceeding three years, for farming or grazing purposes, or ten years for mining or business purposes. And said al-lottees and their lessees and tenants shall have the right to employ such assistants, laborers, and help from time to time as they may deem necessary: Provided, That when-ever it shall be made to appear to the Secretary of the Interior that, by reason of age or disability, any such allottee cannot improve or manage his allotment properly and with benefit to himself, the same may be leased, in the discretion of the Secretary, upon such terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by him. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this are hereby repealed." It was the interpretation of this Act that gave rise to our first serious problems. It will be noted that the Act says that "allottees of land" within the limits of the Quapaw Agency are authorized to lease their land. Thus, the first question was presented by the use of the term "allottee," and the question was as to whether or not Congress intended to limit the Quapaw Indian to the leasing of his own allotment or did Congress mean that the term "allottee" was synonym-ous with "Indian" and intend to give the Indian a right to lease both his allotment and his inherited land and was an Indian without an allotment an "allottee" even though he was a member of the Qua-paw tribe and the owner of the Quapaw land by in-heritance, and not being an allottee, could he lease his inherited Quapaw land under the authority granted in this Act?

Jan 5, 1928

By P. T. Carter, A. B. Murad, H. B. Bell

N. A. Gokcen (Michigan College of Mining and Technology, Houghton, Mich.)—The activities of silica, represented in Fig. 5 for the systems MnO-SiO2 and CaO-SiO2, are in disagreement with the established binary phase diagrams. At Ns102 = 0.50 in MnO-SiO2, and at Ns102, = 0.65 in CaO-SiO2, each binary system is saturated with respect to silica at 1550°C, and therefore as102, is unity in each case. The curves for as102 (FeO-SiO2) and as102, (MnO-SiO,) should nearly co-

Jan 1, 1953

By Zárate G. E.

Practical and statistical considerations concerned with the sampling, sample preparation and chemical analysis of precious metal ores are reviewed. The principal requirements related with the characteristics of sample cutter, sample preparation, equipment and methods are discussed. The main errors introduced in the different stages of the sampling systems are defined. The application of statistical techniques to evaluate these errors to determine the ore grade variation and to design the number of increments needed to get an accurate assay are presented. Finally, results obtained with the application of this method to gold and silver ores are analyzed and some recommendations are given.

Jan 1, 1984

By L. D. Mullins, H. B. Bradley

Numerous articles have appeared in the literature citing the application of the potentiometric analyzer to cycling operations. Specific information obtainable by a potentiometric analysis, as noted by various investigators, includes: 1. Pattern sweep efficiency for various injection and production rate programs. 2. Injected fluid breakthrough time at production wells. 3. Optimum production and injection rates. 4. Prediction of injection and/or production well locations. 5. History of advance of the in-jected-produced fluid interface. 6. Ultimate life of the reservoir. 7. Ultimate reservoir production. This note describes a procedure for predicting pressure distribution in a gas-condensate reservoir by using the potentiometric analyzer to obtain potential distribution data on an analog model of the reservoir and then applying Muskat's' equations. The method relates the volumetric weighted average datum pressure to the mean potential in the model.

Jan 1, 1958

By Mario L. Villa

Another increase in production and the discovery of new pools arc the outstanding developments of the year 1937. Production in 1937 totaled 16,354,706 bbl., compared to 15,457,953 bbl. in the previous year, an increase of 5.8 per cent, of which 5 per cent was due to the Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales (Argentine Governnlent Oil Fields) and 0.8 per cent t,o private companies. Table I shows that the most important gain in output was obtained in zone B of Comodoro Rivadavia, partly offset by a 5.7 per cent decrease in the Neuqu6n district. The fields of Salta and Mendoza show an increase of 4.4 and 39.1 per cent, respectively. The determination of bottom-hole pressures was started by Yaci-mientos Petroliferos Fiscales (Y.Y.F.) in Comodoro Rivadavia and

Jan 1, 1938

By A. H. Tousley

The cement industry is on the horns of an economic dilemma. Within the last ten years, its over- capacity in the United States has varied from 139- 127% of demand (Fig. 1). The most direct effect of this is seen in cement prices, which reached a peak in 1960, retreated steadily through 1966 and only recently climbed back to the 1960 level again. With prices in a slump and production costs estimated to be up almost 30%, there has been a steady drain on cement profits. Since 1960, labor costs have increased 86% while fuel costs have risen 18%. Meanwhile, customer service costs have also soared owing to the competition for cement customers and the wider variety of available cement products. This search for sales advantage has in turn led to a higher Blaine number, which means more grinding and hence bigger mills, more power, and, once again, higher costs. New plants as well as expansions and revisions to existing plants are also costing more owing to higher

Jan 1, 1971

?AARONSON, ALFRED E, .Vice-Pres, Mid-Co Petroleum Co , Mid-Co Bldg, Tulsa, Okla '18 ABADIE, EMILE R, Min Engr - Box 927, Porterville, Cal '76 ||ABADILLA, QuiRiCo A, Student, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo. '20 ABBOTT, CLARENCE E, Gen'l Supt, Iron Mines Div, Tenn Coal, Iron & R R Co , 1405 Minnesota Ave, Bessemer, Ala. '04 ABBOTT, Louis BENJAMIN, Chief Engr, Consolidation Coal Co-, Elkhorn Div, Jenkins, Ky '15 ABBOTT, ROBERT R Met. Engr, Peerless Motor Car Co, Cleveland, Ohio. '12 ABE, ASAKA Fujita Min Co, Dojima, Osaka, Japan '14 ABEEL, GEORGE H, JR, Cons Min Engr, 633 St Paul Ave, Los Angeles, Cal '18 ABEL, ALBERT E, Mgr., Pittsburgh Dist, Valley Mould & Iron Corpn, 28th St & R R Ave, Pittsburgh, Pa '19 ABEL, W D, Min. Engr. 3897 Sacramento St , San Francisco, Cal. '19 ABELL, 0 J, Pres & Treas, Abell-Howe Co, 332 South Michigan Ave, Chicago, Ill '19 ABERNATHY, G E Willow Springs, Mo '20 ABEY, HIROSHI, Min & Met Engr, Arakawa Mine, Mitsubishi Co, Senpoku-gun, Akitaken, Japan '17

Jan 1, 1923

By Frederick Laist

The ores received at the Washoe Smelter come almost entirely from the mines in Butte and contain the following minerals : Chalcocite, Cu2S; covellite, CuS; chalcopyrite, CuFeS2, (trace); bornite, Cu3FeS3; enargite, Cu3AsS4; malachite, Cu2CO4 + H2O (trace); pyrite, FeS2; sphalerite, ZnS; rhodo-chrosite, MnCO3, (less than 1 per cent.); rhodonite, MnSiO3, (less than I per cent.). The country-rock of Butte is of the granite family and is a quartz-monzonite containing a little less silica than typical granite. It is made up of the following rock-minerals in approximately the proportions indicated: Minerals. Composition. Per Cent. Quartz SiO2 20 Andesine 1/2 NaAlSi3O8; 4 CaAI2Si2O8 42 Orthoclase KA1Si308 23 Hornblende 1/2 Ca(MgFe)3Si4O12; & (MgFe)2(AlFe)4Si2O12 6 Biotite (HK)2(MgFe)2A12Si3O12 9 Titanite CaTiSiO5 0.1 Apatite (CaF)Ca4(PO4)3 0.05 Magnetite (FeO)(Fe2O3 0.15 Pyrite FeS2 0.02 99.32 The main country-rock (quartz-monzonite) is cut by dikes of aplite, a granite having the following composition: Quartz, 30; andesine, 20; orthoclase, 45; ferro-rnagnesian minerals, 3; pyrite, 0.1; total, 98.1 per cent. Closely associated with the copper-deposits are dikes and bodies of " Modoe" porphyry, technically known as quartz-

Jan 1, 1913

By M. C. Udy, P. C. Rosenthal

THE use of minute boron additions to steel has been given considerable attention in recent years. Comparisons made between boron-free and boron-containing heats of otherwise identical analysis have indicated, beyond a doubt, the potent effect of boron for increasing hardenability. The actual hardenability increase has been expressed as a multiplying factor, or in terms of the percentage of other alloying elements boron might replace, The present study presents the results of a systematic survey of. the use of boron as an addition to two types of alloyed steels and as a replacement for various percentages of molybdenum in these steels, Both cast and wrought steels of the two basic compositions were prepared. Molybdenum, because of its scarcity at the time the investigation was started, was selected as the element to be replaced by boron. Attention was also given to the effects of boron on other properties of the steels, particularly their notched-bar toughness, to investigate other advantages or limitations of this element as an alloy addition. EXPERIMENTAL WORK Steels Investigated The two basic compositions used in this survey of boron as a replacement for molybdenum are given in Table I. The cast steels were higher than the wrought steels in silicon content to improve the casting quality. [ ] Each of these base steels, both cast and wrought, was made with molybdenum contents of o, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, or 0.40 per cent, the total comprising 20 steels. In addition, each of these 20 compositions . was prepared with boron additions in amounts of 0.0015, 0.003, and o,006 per cent as ferroboron; and in amounts of 0.002 and 0.005 per cent as two com¬mercial intensifier alloys, designated alloys A and B. The boron-treated steels totaled 100, and the entire series 120, Test Procedure Each steel was melted as an individual heat in a 50-lb., magnesia-lined induction furnace. Ingot iron scrap or mixtures of ingot iron and steel scrap were used for melting stock. Deoxidation was carried out in the furnace with o.10 per cent aluminum. The aluminum addition was

Jan 1, 1946

By B. I. Routh

A STUDY of the effects of temperature on the gel strength of drilling muds is a natural outgrowth of the present era of deep drilling. The control of the gel solids' is now considered important because it affects the wall-building qualities; the suspension of weighting material; the removal and release of sand, cuttings, and gas; and the control of cav-ing formations. With regard to the effect of temperature on gel strengths Herrick2 states: "Temperature variation within ordinary limits does not have much effect on yield points." Lewis, Squires and Thompson3 investi-gated one clay and found no marked change with temperature in either yield point or mobility. Reed4 found that potassium bentonite showed a great increase of gelation with increase in temperature and qualitatively there occurred a marked increase in viscosity upon heating. The apparatus used in these experiments consisted of a Stormer viscosimeter, Marsh funnel viscosimeter, rectangular and cylindrical shearometers, Mudwate hydrometer, and other minor laboratory equip-ment. The various methods of measuring viscosity and gel strength have been extensively described by Evans and Reid.5

Jan 1, 1938

By C. A. Stetefeldt

Metallurgical processes cannot be conducted successfully With out the aid of analytical chemistry. The great perfection of Iead smelting in the West, for instance, has only been accomplished by the analysis of ores, fluxes, slags and all products of the furnace. Ores are mixed and fluxed to obtain a slag of desired composition. Account is even taken of the composition of the ashes obtained from the coke. The " muscular " smelter has left the field forever! This state of affairs has been induced by sharp competition, i.e., by a com plete separation of the industries of mining and reducing ores, not by the liberality and wisdom of directors and stockholders to pro vide laboratories and engage chemists, or by their love for scientific investigation. It would be considered absurd, at present, to run a lead-smelter, a blast-furnace for pig-iron, or a Bessemer plant without the assist ance of a well-equipped laboratory and a chemist; but it is con sidered quite sufficient to provide amalgamation- or lixiviation works merely with a crude assay-office, and an assayer who is paid less than a laborer in the mill. In my opinion, this will change in the near future. By the ex clusion of Mexican lead-ores, and their growiring scarcity in the West, smelters have been forced to raise their charges on so-called dry silver-ores, and cannot handle the latter now in such unlimited quantities as formerly. The inevitable result must be that the sur plus of these dry silver-ores, especially those of low grade, will be reduced by processes cheaper than smelbing; and here the introduc tion of lixiviation has an excellent field, provided the muscular lixiviator has an able chemist for an assistant. It is to be regretted that so little analytical work has been done in lixiviation. We know almost nothing of the composition of roasted ores before and after lixiviation; of the constitution of the first wash water and of lixiviation-solutions after prolonged use; of the chemistry of sodium and calcium sulphides; of the col-hposition

Jan 1, 1892

By J. F. Stiehr, R. L. Sanford, T. L. Myers

This paper summarizes the development of a Directory of Computer Programs Applicable to US Mining Practices and Problems. The directory is funded by the US Bureau of Mines and includes a sampling of computer usage in operating and manufacturing companies, consulting firms, computer companies, research organizations, universities, and various US government agencies. General references to computer applications throughout the mining industry are discussed as well as the availability of programs to interested organizations or individuals.

Jan 9, 1979

By R. W. Fountain, M. Korchynsky

The precipitation phenomena occurring in cobalt-tantalum alloys have been investigated in the temperature range frm 500" to 1050°C by correlating the results of metallographic, X-ray, micro-and macrohardness, and electrical resistivity studies. The property andmacrohardness,changes were found to depend on 1) general precipitation, and 2) lamellar precipitation. Two new intermetallic phases have been identified: 1) a Co3Ta, a metastable ordered face-centered-cubic compound, and 2) a stable ß Co3Ta phase of hexagonal structure. In addition, the previously reported Co2Ta phase was found to exist in two allotropic modifications: the hexagonal MgZn,-type and the cubic MgCu2-type Laves phases. SINCE a large variety of structures can result as a consequence of the decomposition of a solid solution, predictions on the nature of property changes are difficult, if not impossible, to make. For any rational attempt to correlate properties and structures of a precipitation-hardenable alloy, a detailed understanding of the kinetics of decomposition and morphology of phase separation, as well as knowledge of phase relationships, appears to be prerequisite. Information of this type has been accumulated in the past for many alloy systems, both of theoretical and pastforpractical importance.1,2 Although the presence of intermetallic compounds has been reported in cobalt-base alloys,3 the amount of published information on precipitation-hardenable cobalt-base systems is very limited. A survey of the binary phase diagrams of cobalt indicates that cobalt-tantalum alloys might be of interest as typical of other cobalt-base systems in which Laves phases of the A,B type can be precipitated from solid solution. The present work has been undertaken, therefore, to study the kinetics and morphology of the precipitation reaction in this system and to establish a base for a correlation between the structural aspects and properties in this class of alloys. PREVIOUS WORK The only available phase diagram of the cobalt-tantalum system is based on the work of Koster and Mulfinger. According to these authors, the maximum solubility of tantalum in cobalt is about 13 pct (at 1275°C) and. less than 7 pct at room temperature. Tantalum additions lower the temperature of allotropic transformation of cobalt (about 420°C), and at 7 pct Ta, the high-temperature face-centered-cubic modification (ß cobalt) is retained at room temperature. The precipitating phase was originally designated as Co5Ta2 compound (55.2 pct Ta, about 1550°C melting point), but subsequent investigations by wallbaum5" identified this constituent as the A,B-type Laves phase. Wallbaum's data indicate that there are two modifications of this intermetallic compound: one richer in cobalt (Co2.2 Tao.8)of the hexagonal MgNi, type; and another of a higher tantalum content (Co2Ta) of the cubic MgCu, type. On the other hand, Elliott7 found that the cobalt-rich alloy (CO2.10,Tao.~l) was predominantly the cubic MgCu, type at 800°C and a mixture of both the MgCu2 and the hexagonal MgZn,-type Laves phases at 1000°C. At 1200°C, Elliott found only the MgZn, type while at 1400°C, he observed only the MgCu2 type. At the stoichiometric composition, Co2Ta, Elliott reported only the cubic MgCu2-type Laves phase in the temperature range of 600oto 1600°C. The precipitation of the cobalt-tantalum intermetallic compound is accompanied by a marked increase in hardness. According to Koster's4 data, the Brinell hardness of an 8 pct Ta-Co alloy increases from 230 to 340 upon short-time aging at 800°C. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The binary cobalt-tantalum alloys investigated contained 5, 10, and 15 pct Ta. The range of tantalum additions was thus slightly broader than the reported minimum and maximum solid solubility limits of tantalum in cobalt (7 and 13 pct, respectively)4 The alloys were vacuum-induction melted in a magnesia crucible using cobalt rondelles and technically pure tantalum sheet as raw materials. Deoxidation of the melt was accomplished with carbon, and the chemical analysis of the alloys is given in Table I. The effect of isothermal aging treatments on the progress of precipitation was studied on samples cut from cast ingots. These samples were solution treated for 2 hr at 1250°C and water-quenched. Aging was conducted in the temperature range from 500" to 1050°C for periods between 15 min and 1000 hr and followed by water-quenching. To prevent contamination from the atmosphere, all samples were sealed in evacuated Vycor or quartz tubes for heat-treatments. For solution treatment, argon at 0.2 atmospheric pressure was introduced prior to sealing of the capsule to prevent collapse at high temperature, and titanium sponge was placed at one end of the capsule to act as a getter. MACROHARDNESS The effect of aging on Vickers hardness (Dph) of

Jan 1, 1960

By I. Iwasaki, K. Adam

During wet grinding the electrochemical interactions between grinding media and pyrrhotite not only accelerate media wear but also adversely affect the suede mineral's flotation response. A possible remedy of the adverse effects on floatability by applying electric potentials to grinding media was examined. Flotation tests, Auger electron spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to study pyrrhotite surface properties. Although anodic polarization of the steels increased metal loss by corrosion, pyrrhotite flotation recovery was increased. In the case of cathodic polarization, flotation recovery improved somewhat in a narrow range of overpotentials. At higher cathodic overpotentials, however, mineral floatability was progressively lowered although the corrosive wear of grinding media might be reduced.

Jan 1, 1985

By L. C. Brown, S. K. Behera

The diffusion rate in Ag-Sb couples is sensitive to con~pressive load with the width of Ag3Sb, the only phase present in the diffusion zone, increasing with stress up to 800 psi and remaining constant above this. Kirkendall marker experiments show silver to diffuse much faster than antimony in Ag3Sb and incipient porosity may therefore develop at the Ag/Ag3Sb interfnce restricting the transfer of atoms from the silver into the diflusion zone. Application of compressive stress reduces the tendency for porosity to develop and so increases the growth rate. In a recent paper Brown et al.1 observed a significant increase in the thickness of Cu2Te in Cu-Te diffusion couples on application of a compressive stress as low as 20 psi. Similar stress effects have also been observed in the Fe-A1,2 Al-u,3 arid cu-sb4,5 systems. It has been suggested that the increase in growth rates of intermetallic phases in these systems is due to a decrease in the amount of Kirkendall porosity with applied stress. In the present paper, results are presented of the effect of compressive stress on diffusion in Ag-Sb, together with a detailed examination of the Kirkendall effect. The Ag-Sb phase diagram6 shows that antimony has a moderate degree of solid solubility in silver, 5.7 at. pct at 350°C, but that there is essentially no solubility of silver in antimony. There are two intermediate phases— (hcp7) from 8.8 to 15.7 at. pct Sb and Ag3Sb (orthorhombic8) from 21.8 to 25.9 at. pct Sb. EXPERIMENTAL Diffusion couples were prepared from fine silver of 99.95 pct purity and from antimony of 99.7 pct purity. Both the silver and antimony were produced in the form of discs 1/2 in. in diam by approximately $ in. thick, with surfaces ground flat to 3/0 emery paper. Diffusion anneals were carried out in the apparatus previously described.1 A compressive load was applied to the diffusion couple through a lever arm system, with a reproducibility estimated to be ±10 psi. All runs were carried out in a protective hydrogen atmosphere. Following the diffusion anneal specimens were sectioned and polished and the width of the diffusion zone was measured metallographically. Composition profiles were measured using an electrostatically focused electron probe with a spot size of 10 , counting on Sb L radiation. Corrections for matrix absorptiori and fluorescent enhancement9 were not required. S. K. BEHERA, formerly Graducate Student, Department of Metallurgy, University of British Columbia, is now Postdoctoral Fellow, Whiteshell Nuclear Laboratories, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Pinawa, Manitoba. L. C. BROWN, Junior Member AIME, is Associate Professor, Department of Metallurgy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Manuscript submitted June 14, 1968. IMD RESULTS Fig. 1 shows an electron probe traverse of a typical diffusion zone. In all couples examined only one intermediate phase was observed and the composition of this phase, 23 wt pct Sb, was in good agreement with the composition of Ag3Sb, 23 to 28 wt pct Sb. The presence of this phase was confirmed by X-ray diffraction of filings taken from the diffusion zone. The probe traverses showed no detectable solid solubility in either the silver or the antimony although the phase diagram indicates that some antimony, up to 6.5 wt pct pct Sb, should be in solid solution in the silver. However the width of this portion of the diffusion zone would be expected to be very small in view of the low diffusion coefficient in the silver, 4 x 10-l6 sq cm per sec at 350°C, 10 compared with that in the Ag,Sb, estimated as 3 x 10-8 sq cm per sec in the present work, and this region would therefore not be expected to be seen in the probe traverse. Application of stress resulted in a significant increase in the width of the diffusion zone, Fig. 2. At 350°C, the thickness of Ag3Sb increased from 250 at 0 psi to 400 p at the limiting stress of 800 psi, indicating an apparent 150 pct increase in the diffusion coefficient. Similar behavior was also observed at 400°C, indicating that the stress effect is not characteristic of just one temperature. The growth of Ag3Sb at 350°C and at various stresses is shown in Fig. 3. In every case the growth rate was parabolic indicating diffusion control. The kinetic curves all passed through the origin showing that delayed nucleation of Ag3Sb was not responsible for the stress effect and that it was a real growth effect. A series of tests were carried out in which diffusion was allowed to take place at a lower stress following an initial high stress diffusion anneal. Speci-

Jan 1, 1969