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By C. A. Heberlein

The present war in Europe seems to have stimulated the demand for quicksilver. In July last, the price ranged around $35 per flask of 75 Ib., while to-day it seems to fluctuate between $47.50 and $50. The use of quicksilver in the form of fulminate, containing 70 per cent., and as corrosive sublimate, containing 73.8 per cent., must be extensive and a further market advance may be expected. With such an advance, some revival in quicksilver mining may be looked for, particularly in California, where many abandoned properties exist. What can be done with low-grade quicksilver ores under favorable conditions, particularly with low mining cost, may be seen from the following description of the Oceanic mine, near San Luis Obispo, Cal. Its operations date back to 1876, when rich sand ores were discovered. In three years 7,400 flasks of quicksilver were produced, but since then the deposit has been worked only sporadically . Until two years ago various attempts had been made by the Oceanic Quicksilver Co. to mine the more refractory "mud rock," which was encountered lying beyond the " sand rock." Mud and sand rock in varying quantities were treated together, with poor results, but operations were successful with sand rock of fair percentage. About two years ago, when all the sand rock had been exhausted, Murray Innes purchased the Oceanic mine. He found large quantities of low-grade mud rock, varying from 6 to 8 Ib. of quicksilver per ton, which at the prevailing low price of quicksilver demanded very cheap mining costs, in conjunction with high but cheap metallurgical extraction. At that time the extraction of quicksilver from mud rock ranged between 40 and 50 per cent., as far as I am able to learn. Mining The low cost of mining was the principal consideration, since, with mercury at 50c. per pound, the total gross value of the ore did not exceed

Jan 1, 1915

By Frank M. Brewster

The handling of congealing oils and paraffin is a serious problem in the Appalachian fields, particularly because the small amount of oil produced per well makes the removing of paraffin a very costly operation per barrel. Few operators realize or have any means of knowing just how much production is lost on account of paraffin depositing over the face of the sand and plugging the pores of the sand; but where paraffin has been removed the production increases indicate that this loss has been considerable. Many operators believe that paraffining is confined to the tubing and pumping equipment, but it is evident that the most serious damage occurs on the face of the sand and a short distance back in the pores. This paper is an attempt to disseminate information on methods and processes in use in the Eastern fields for combatting losses of production and operating difficulties caused by deposition of paraffin in the pores, on the walls, on the tubing and on other pumping equipment. Mills1 covers this subject so thoroughly that excerpts, abstracts and quotations from his work have been used freely in this paper. Nature oF Paraffin Mills states: "The so-called paraffin that collects in oil wells, and in the pores of the producing sands immediately around the wells, is generally made up of amorphous wax or uncracked paraffin, asphalt, or other gummy hydrocarbons mixed with more or less water, oil and inorganic silt. Some of the samples of this paraffin collected from oil wells in different fields and examined by the Bureau of Mines contains as much as 20 per cent. by weight of water and inorganic silt, whereas other samples are composed entirely of waxy hydrocarbons and oil. The inorganic silt accompanying this 'paraffin' is mostly fine sand, clayey materials, common salt and finely disseminated precipitates of calcium and magnesium carbonates. Sulfates of calcium, barium and strontium are less common constituents of paraffin.

Jan 1, 1928

By V. E. McKelvey

The Phosphoria formation of the northwestern states presents a stimulating challenge to workers in every field of mineral technology. In addition to its large reserves of phosphate, the formation has been found to contain important amounts of fluorine and several metals, such as vanadium, nickel, and molybdenum. Because these minor metals in the Phosphoria do not have their usual glitter, concentrations of them are not easily discovered nor appraised. Like the phosphate itself, production of these metals very likely can be achieved only through use of costly chemical methods, for their mineralogy precludes treatment by the usual methods. In addition, in much of the area the containing rocks lie in complexly folded and faulted structures, which complicate mining and increase its cost. Yet the chain of research necessary to establish what elements are present; their geographic and stratigraphic distribution and reserves; the most suitable methods for recovering them; the combination of beds which, when ruined and processed, will yield the greatest recovery of the most valuable elements; and the methods most adaptable to their profitable extraction may well lead to the development of an important mineral industry and may make possible a significaut reduction in the cost of fertilizer this in itself would be an achievement of momentous importance—and at the same time make the nation more self-sustaining in critical materials. Although this research has great

Jan 1, 1950

By William E. Milligan

SELENIUM and tellurium occupy adjacent positions in the odd division of group VI of the periodic table immediately below sulfur, with atomic numbers 34 and 52 and with atomic weights of 78.96 and 127.61 .† A recent investigation has indicated the figures in Table 1 as the order of natural abundance of their isotopes. [ ] Experimentally, as a result of bombardment, many additional isotopes have been produced and studied. They are characterized by a relative short half-life. The elements of group VI in the periodic table are of great in-

Jan 1, 1953

By D. K. Crampton

NEARLY everyone who has not had the benefit of study in the field of metallurgy subscribes to a persistent and enthusiastic belief in the legendary lost art of hardening copper. This of course supplies a perfect introduction to a chapter of information on copper and its alloys, since the dissipation of fallacies and superstitions affecting an art probably constitutes the best method of getting at its real substance. Metals are hardened, but also embrittled, by a plurality of impurities. In the modern technology of copper-base metal products, we are familiar with a great host of materials, passing from one extreme of dead soft copper better than 99.9 pct pure, which in the form of wire about as thick as a match will stand hundreds of full twists in a 12-in. length, to an alloy containing less than 3 pct of alloyed substance possessing the strength of pretty good steel and capable of manufacture into razor blades, should we suddenly be deprived of steel; certainly a much better material for this purpose. Every copper alloy known to primitive man lies in some inter- mediate position and the ancient bronzes that have been found all over the world wherever an early civilization existed are usually contaminated by such impurities as sulfur, oxygen, antimony, arsenic, iron, or other materials, so that they could not possibly conform to any modern intelligent specification insuring the best combination of useful properties in alloys of their type and would go

Jan 1, 1953

By Samuel S. Arentz, Dorsey A. Lyon

Introduction % •................. 789 The Present Sources of Zinc ..:.......... 791 Zinc Ores.................. 791 Lead-Zinc Ores................. 793 Loss oF Zinc at the Mine.............. 793 Present Method oF Extracting Zinc From Ores....... 795 Class oF Ores Suited to Zinc Retort Smelting....... 795 Concentration Processes Used for Treating Zinc Ores .... 795 Hydro-Mechanical Processes............. 795 Electro-Mechanical Processes............. 796 Flotation Processes............... 797 Losses of Zinc in Lead and Copper Blast-Furnace Smelting .. 798 Possible Future Sources oF Zinc Supply.......... 800 The Problem oF the Metallurgist and the Present Status of New Processes................. 801 Introduction A great deal of attention has recently been given to the metallurgy of zinc, and much of that which has been said and written on this subject has been in the nature of a criticism. For instance, we are quite accustomed to hearing it said that the metallurgy of zinc has stood still, that it is antiquahed, out of date, etc. We are, however, inclined to agree with George C. Stone1 when he says that, although there have been no such spectacular and radical changes as were worked in the metallurgy of copper and iron by the introduction of converters, there has nevertheless been a decided and marked progress in the metallurgy of zinc, and especially during recent years. However, it must be admitted that, due to the fact that the chemistry of zinc is so different from that of the other metals, the retort process is the only process by which zinc is produced commercially; and, moreover, that losses which occur in the zinc industry— that is, in the mining, milling, and smelting of zinc ore—are very great, for it is stated2 that probably less than 50 per cent. of the zinc mined, even

Jan 1, 1915

The earliest reference to coal in Tennessee is that by Dr. Walker in 1750 (see p. 18) where he saw it near the present site of Middlesboro. The next reference found is in 1798 when Morse stated, "some of these mountains, particularly in the, Cumberland, or Great-Laurel Ridge, are the most stupendous piles in the United States. They abound in ginseng and coal."' There must have been many places where it was seen in that interval, but nearly as long a time elapsed before Morris, in 1834, said that "fine beds of stone-coal exist in both East and Middle Tennessee."2 In a description of the Dover Iron Works, on the left side of the Cumberland River, a few miles above Dover, in Stewart County, it was said that "80 hands were employed in digging and transporting stone coal" and that the "plant had been running at least since Oct. 2, 1834."3 While doubtless coal had been used locally, this is probably the first use of it commercially in the state. The consumption of stone coal was 4,000 tons per year. In this same geological report openings of coal are mentioned near Battle Creek, Marion County, and in Bledsoe and Rhea Counties, where it was being used locally by blacksmiths; some other places were being worked near the turnpike road from Kingston to the Crab-Orchard, the product being hauled three miles to the Tennessee River and loaded in barges; farther west in. White County several outcrops were found. In Fentress County, several pits had been opened, the coal being sent down the Obey and Cumberland Rivers, and openings were also seen in Morgan, Anderson, Roane, Warren, Hamilton and Franklin Counties. The writer had hoped to publish an account of the iron works in the state but was unable to obtain the necessary information. He was told by an old iron-master, Mr. E. Embree, that

Jan 1, 1942

TWO American students entered the École des Mines in 1856, Joseph Lesley of Philadelphia and Thomas Egleston of New York. Lesley remained there only one year, but Egleston completed the whole curriculum and received, in 1860, the certificate given to foreign students in lieu of the official appointment and degree awarded French students. Returning home he received, in 1861, an appointment by Secretary Henry of the Smithsonian Institution to sort, label, and arrange the collections of mineralogical and geological specimens which had been brought to Washington by the various government exploring expeditions in the West. Thomas Egleston, born in New York City on Dec. 9, 1832, was the son of Thomas Jefferson Egleston, who came to New York from Massachusetts some time before 1829. The first American ancestor of the family had settled near Dorchester in 1630. T. J. Egleston and Joseph Battell established an iron-merchandizing business* at 166 South St., New York, which prospered exceedingly; so much so that when Thomas J. Egleston died, July. 12, 1861, his estate had a book value of over $500,000. Since an older brother was expected eventually to take over this business, Thomas, who had a liking for science, went to Yale, where he completed the regular four-year course in 1854, and then remained another year for advanced work in chemistry under Silliman. One biographer says he went to Europe, early in 1856, on account of his health. It was the custom at that time for wealthy young men to make a tour of Europe after completing their academic education. Whatever the precise reason, he began scientific work at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris but soon trans-

Jan 1, 1941

By R. T. Hukki

IT is no great exaggeration to say that present grinding practice and economics are largely determined by lining design. A record of outstanding liner wear can be achieved with any liner surface pattern that will positively lock the outer layer or layers of grinding media. With no slippage, lining wear is bound to be slight. At the same time, popular practice calls for tumbling loads of about 50 pct of mill volume to obtain maximum grinding capacity. Innumerable parallel grinding investigations have verified that optimum speed for such a mill lies within 70 to 85 pct of theoretical critical speed. If the mill is speeded up to 100 pct of critical, little or no grinding can be accomplished. Earlier Work on Supercritical Grinding: First investigations concerning grinding at supercritical speeds seem to be very old. Remarkable work on the subject has been performed by White,1 and his experiments have been described and summarized by Richards1 White's contributions seem to have passed unnoticed by Fahrenwald, 2,3 whose extensive experiments have been well presented, yet apparently very little appreciated. Additional work on grinding at supercritical speed has been reported, e.g., by Lewenson and Tscherny,4 USSR; Anselm5 and Grunder,6 Germany; and Rose and Evans,[6] Great Britain.

Jan 5, 1958

By H. A. J. Wilkens, H. B. C. Nitze

At the Atlanta meeting of the Institute in October,' 1895, some brief remarks were made by Mr. Wilkens on the above subject. It is the object of this paper to set forth the substance of these previous statements, embodying therewith additional information gained since that time, and a brief illustrated description of the method and means of the separation.* Lack of time will unfortunately not allow as complete a resume of the subject in all its phases, especially those relating to the scientific side of the question, as its novelty and importance would warrant, so that even this paper must be considered a preliminary one. It is hoped that at some future meeting of the Institute we may find an opportunity of presenting supplementary data of interest. The paradoxical title above used requires some explanation. The term " non-magnetic material " is applied to such substances as have heretofore been considered non-magnetic in the arts, more especially in the practice of ore-concentration. Scientifically, it has been shown by Faraday, Plucker, Wiedemann and other physicists that magnetism is an inherent property common to all substances, solid, liquid and gaseous, i.e., all suhstances are either attracted or repelled by the poles of a magnet, although ill the great majority of cases the manifestation of this

Jan 1, 1897

By Robert Pring

IN addition to the humanitarian aspects of a dust-control program, certain economic benefits are becoming more fully recognized and now furnish a greater incentive to the mill operator to eliminate the dust from his plant. It is well known that a favorable working environment promotes increased efficiency and improves the morale of em-ployees, with a consequent decrease in labor turnover rates. One progressive mining company estimates its direct and indirect labor turnover costs at from $40 to $50 per man; for skilled labor, such as machine operators, the cost may approach $100 per man. While these figures may not be typical of every plant, they do indicate a potential savings in operating costs. Dust signifies waste; its elimination de-creases maintenance costs of mechanical and electrical equipment; its recovery is often justified from the standpoint of values contained in the collected material, although in large-scale milling operations handling low-grade ore this may not be an important factor. Perhaps the most significant trend in industrial sanitation is that dust-control equipment and procedures are becoming recognized as integral parts of the mill flow-sheet. Exhaust ventilating systems are now afforded equal care in design and mainte-nance to that given other machinery more closely related to the process,

Jan 1, 1940

By James B. Duke, Ernest W. Greene

An idea of what is meant by "Ultrafine Minerals Or Slimes" as used in the title can be had by an examination of Fig. I. Particle size distributions are presented for a crude kaolin clay, a coarse fraction and a fine fraction. The crude kaolin as mined was blunged with water, degritted through a 325-mesh Tyler screen, and dispersed with sodium silicate. The dispersed crude was then centrifuged in the laboratory into the coarse and fine fractions shown in the figure. The distribution curves were obtained by the well known sedimentation technique of Casagrande' using a long arm centrifuge to obtain equivalent spherical diameters down to 0.2 microns on the finer fraction. Fig. 1 shows the coarse fraction kaolin to be 50% finer than 3 microns, while the crude kaolin is 50% finer than 1.4 microns, and the fine fraction 50% finer than 0.6 microns. For comparison 53 microns on the horizontal scale would represent Stokesian diameters which would just pass a 325- mesh Tyler screen, taking into consideration the Andreasen sieve correction factor of 1.22 X the screen opening.' Another helpful comparison is the surface areas, which in square meters per gram, are 0.044 for 53 micron particles, 0.77 for 3 microns, 1.65 for 1.4 microns, and 5.0 for 0.46 micron particles. Fig. 2 is an electron micrograph of a similar fine fraction kaolin showing the hexagonal plate- like particle shapes.

Jan 10, 1962

By F. W. Lake, H. A. Brett

With each year bringing the exploration of deeper and deeper producing horizons in the effort to maintain production, the problem of lifting the oil to the surface is continually becoming more difficult. Flowing and gas-lift wells eventually decline to such a point that pumping is necessary. The increasing loads on sucker rods resulting from deeper pumping operations are approaching the ultimate strength of the rods with consequent reduction in the factor of safety. With this diminishing factor of safety, the vibratory stresses causing fatigue, crystallization, and ultimate fracture become more important. These vibratory stresses are the result of varied pumping conditions which, if properly understood and investigated, may be eliminated to a great extent. To accomplish this purpose, a recording dynameter has been developed which gives an indicator card showing the actual load on the polished rod at each point of the pumping cycle. Recording Dynamometer The instrument consists of a dynamometer head of the piston and cylinder type filled with castor oil, and a recording device, the movable card holder being connected with the dynamometer through a system of levers and the hollow spring gage connected with the fluid chamber of the dynamometer by a high-pressure flexible tube. The dynamometer head is hung from the beam with an ordinary hanger and lugs on the cylinder, while the piston is attached to the polished rod. The movable card holder actuated through levers moves in a vertical direction pro-portionate to the movement of the polished rod. The recording arm of the hollow spring gage inscribes on the card the pressure at all times. Thus by proper scales, the indicator card gives the load on the polished rod at all points in the pumping cycle. Fig. 1 shows the hookup of the recording dynamometer at a pumping well.

Jan 1, 1928

By S. W. Parr, A. R. Powell

FOUR general methods have been used in the study of the decomposition of coal. The first has been directed toward the processes of coal formation, the second has been by means of microscopic studies, the third from the data of destructive distillation, and the fourth has made use of various solvents. Applying these methods to the sulfur of coal, it has been found that the organic sulfur of plant and animal life enters into the formation of coal and remains in organic combination in the final product. The inorganic sulfur is almost entirely combined as iron pyrites and marcasite. The infiltration of hydrogen-sulfide waters is doubtless a large factor in these combinations. Sulfates are found in very small quantities except where free oxygen has entered the coal strata. The mechanical mixing of detritus with the early coal material is another source of sulfur. In this case the sulfur is distributed in microscopic particles throughout the mass. In destructive distillation, a part of the sulfur comes off as hydrogen sulfide and various thiophen compounds, but this furnishes little information as to the nature of the sulfur compounds in the coal itself. The use of solvents has given valuable data concerning the sulfur compounds in coal. Fremyl and later E. Guignet2 noted the action of alkaline solutions on coal after treatment with nitric acid and Anderson and Roberts3 showed the presence of large quantities of organic sulfur in the extract so obtained. In a study of the phenol extract of coal, Parr and Hadley4 found organic sulfur in the soluble organic material. These investigations proved the presence of organic sulfur in coal in addition to the inorganic forms, such as iron pyrites and sulfates. T. M. Drown6 attempted the analysis of the pyritic and sulfate sulfur as distinct from the organic forms by means of sodium hypobromite; no definite proof of

Jan 1, 1920

By John Birkinbine

Modern advances in practically all lines of industrial develo1)ment have occurred in such rapid succession, and have been accepted so readily as accomplished facts, that a retrospect surprises us, by showing how comparatively few of the acknowledged factors of improved conditions may be considered as old. While these advances have not been confined to any country, they have been more pronounced in some than in others, and nowhere more so than in the United States, the population of which, having multiplied nearly three-fold between 1870 and 1910, demanded a proportionately greater increase in materials, supplies, and manufactured products. It therefore appears desirable to discuss mainly conditions in the United States, as concrete evidence of industrial progress throughout the world. Looking backward for but three generations, me mar trace the introduction and developmerit of canal- and steamboat-narigation ; railroad-transportation; artificial illumination beyond that f'urnished by candles and animal-oils; quick communication by mail, and subsequently by telegraph or telephone; the manufacture of iron, beyond forms of small dimensions; the production and utilization of steel in large quantities; the economic use of mineral fuel, oil and gas, etc. The practical coincidence of the fortieth anniversary and the 100th technical meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, offers temptation to recall and compare the conditions of milling and metallurgy in or about the years 1871 .and 1911. A complete résumé would cover phenomenal changes in mining-methods and equipment by which the output of individual exploitations has grown from scores to hundreds and even thousands of units in equal time-intervals. Extension of operations in depth and area, demanding machinery of great power and efficiency, high percentage of extraction, utilization of what

Jan 1, 1912

By W. A. Thatcher

Nearly three years of experience in Spanish Honduras has placed the writer in possession of many facts concerning its resources which may be of interest to the Institute. According to the most trustworthy surveys, Honduras is bounded on the north and east by the Caribbean Sea; southeasterly by the river Segovia (or Wanks), which flows into the Caribbean at a point called Cabo Gracias a Dios (Cape Thanks be to God), long famous as the favorite hiding-place of the celebrated pirate, Morgan ; southwardly by a corner of San Salvador, the Bay of Fonseca, and the Republic of Nicaragua; Guatemala and San Salvador form tile western boundary. It is one of the five republics composing Central America, has a population of about 310,000 and an area of 150,000 square miles, lying between the 13th and 16th degrees of N. latitude, extending from north to south 200 miles, between the Atlantic and Pacific, and 400 miles from east to west, between Guatemala and Cape Gracias a Dios. It is composed of 13 States or Departments, under one common law. The principal resources are valuable woods, hides, rubber, tobacco, coffee, fruit, cattle, silver and gold. It is of the mineral resources of the country that I will speak, calling attention to the most noted mines, and their relative position to Tegucigalpa, the capital. The introduction of foreign capital into the country dates back about eleven years, and to-day there are at least twenty-five well organized companies.

Jan 1, 1892

By Eifu Moriyama

In 1953, Akita Plant, having a capacity of 560 tons per month, was built at Akita city by Mitsubishi Metal Mining Co., Ltd. for the purpose of treatment of the Ikuno and Akenobe Mines's zinc concentrates. Akita city, in whose neighborhood the black ore has been discovered, is located about 500 Km north of Tokyo and faced with the Japan Sea. This plant has been continuously expanded to have the capacity of 7,500 tons per month by the end of 1969. Efforts have been made to mechanize installations and to achieve continuous process. One of the characteristics of Akita Plant is the recent establishment of the residue treatment process. Many processes had been investigated, and finally commercial sulphate roasting of the residue has been carried out since 1965. At Akita Plant, special high grade electrolytic zinc, zinc alloy for die-casting (MAK brand), cadmium, cement copper and sulphur dioxide gas are produced. Sulphur dioxide gas is sent to the next door fertilizer plant to make acid. Table 1 shows production and the average assay of the electrolytic zinc and cadmium in 1969. This plant is divided into four main sections, two subsections, and residue treatment sections: Main sections are: (M-1) roasting section, (M-2) leaching and purification section, (M-3) electrolysis section, (M-4) melting and casting section,

Jan 1, 1970

By Walter H. Voskuil

Illinois supplies coal to seven states in the Upper Mississippi Valley —Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and portions of the Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas. In this same area are marketed large quantities of coal from West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere; fuel oil from the crude petroleum supplies of the Mid-Continent fields, and natural gas from Louisiana, Kansas and the Texas Panhandle. The boundaries of this "Illinois coal-market area" are determined by competition from other coal fields and from other forms of fuel. Within the area so described 90 per cent of Illinois coal is marketed. Thus in the Southwest, an abundance of fuel-oil supplies and natural gas dominates the market almost to the exclusion of coal. The westward movement of Illinois coal in Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas is met by an eastward flow of high-grade coals from Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. In the lake-shore counties of Minnesota and Wisconsin, the market is dominated by Appalachian coals, cheaply carried over the Great Lakes and reaching the ports of Lake Michigan and at the head of Lake Superior. Illinois coals find their largest market in the southern and western sections of these two lake states. Only small quantities of Illinois coals are shipped east of the state line. This market area is occupied entirely by the neighboring coal fields of Indiana and the Appalachian coal fields in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Illinois Coal-makket Area , With these factors in mind, the map of the Illinois coal-market area may be drawn. Within this boundary is the area that is logically and economically served by Illinois coal. However, this area is by no means exclusively dependent upon coal from Illinois mines. The preponderance. of Appalachian coal in Wisconsin and Minnesota has been mentioned. Appalachian coal, also, moves in large tonnages into Illinois itself, particularly the Chicago district. The Iowa and Missouri local coals share the market with imported coal from Illinois; throughout the market area, fuel oil and natural gas are important factors in the total energy supply.

Jan 1, 1936

By Emory Kemler

The problem of determining the most desirable operating conditions of an oil-well pumping unit, the selection of the proper material and size of sucker rods, and the design of the pumping unit, requires that the sucker-rod loads be known with a reasonable degree of accuracy. In production practice, it is also desirable to know the effects of operating speeds and strokes on a plunger motion, as well as on the rod loads. For a particular well, data on rod loads can be obtained by measuring the load in sucker rods with a dynamometer. This method is not satisfactory because it does not permit the various factors to be investigated independently. It is also impossible to measure the plunger motion simultancously with rod motion under operating conditions. The mathematical solution is impractical because of the simplifications that have to be made to get a solution and the tremendous amount of numerical work that is necessary after such a simplified solution has been attained. This paper shows how analogies and models can be applied to the solution of these problems. The loads set up in a sucker-rod string during the ordinary pumping cycle are made up of the weight of the rods, force required to accelerate the rods, weight of the oil and force required to accelerate the oil on the upstroke, rod friction, stuffing-box friction, plunger friction, friction of the oil in the tubing and rods, arid friction loss through the valves. The problem of determining the sucker-rod load is further complicated by the fact that the long oil column and the sucker-rod column act as springs, which affect the transmission of the polished-rod motion. A further complication is the fact that the motion cannot be transmitted at a speed greater than that of the velocity of sound in the material, and this means that there will be a time lag in the transmission in the motion, as well as a modification of its magnitude and a phase displacement.

Jan 1, 1936

By J. T. Burwell, J. Wulff

As is well known, the alloys of iron containing 18 ± per cent chromium, 8* per cent nickel and less than 1.2 per cent carbon exhibit the same allotropic modifications as iron. The face-centered cubic or gamma phase is stable at high temperatures and the body-centered cubic or alpha ferrite is presumably stable at room temperature. The transformation from the gamma phase to the alpha phase in alloys of the above composition (18-8 or stainless steel) is sluggish; even moderately rapid cooling permits the retention of the gamma phase. Cold-work, however, causes the transformation from gamma to alpha to occur at room temperatures. It is difficult, nevertheless, to induce complete transformation regardless of the method of cold-working. Since metallographic polishing is very effective in transforming the surface austenite to ferrite, as indicated by the magnetic studies of Buehl and Wulff,1 it was decided to investigate the phenomenon by electron diffraction methods. Apparatus The apparatus used (Fig. 1) was a hot-filament type employing movable slits, similar to that described by Germer.2 The sample-to-photographic plate distance was 69 cm. and the accelerating voltage 30 kv. Since electrons do not in general follow geometrical paths, it is necessary that either the electron source or the sample be movable in a plane normal to the beam. In this case the sample is fixed and the electron source is movable. The source is adjusted until the shadow of the sample appears in the brightest part of the beam as viewed on the fluorescent screen, then the slits composing the two pinholes are inoved into position one by one. The system is evacuated by means of a mercury diffusion pump backed up with a Cenco Hypervac oil pump. Pressures lower than 10- mm. of Hg are read on a calibrated ionization gauge.

Jan 1, 1939