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By A. S. Odeh

During the last few years, several authors1-6 have advanced mathematical solutions, both exact and approximate, to the pressure behavior of a well producing from a region bounded by a circular discontinuity. The most recent solutions were reported by Carter, and by Bixel and van Poollen. Varter solved the appropriate equations analytically. Bixel and van Poollen reported a numerical solution and provided correlation charts for the interpretation of flow tests; their method uses an overlay technique and is valid for wide ranges of mobility and storage capacity ratios. The mobility ratio is defined as the ratio between k/p of the two zones, and the capacity ratio is defined as the ratio between $c of the two zones. We have developed independently an analytic solution, programmed for the CDC 1604, that agreed with Carter's.'1 The same differential equation, assumptions, boundary, and initial conditions were used. We ran 30 drawdowns and 30 buildups of a unit capacity ratio and of varied mobility ratios. We also varied the radial distances to the discontinuity, and the radii of drainage. We examined the results and obtained correlations that were simple to apply and useful in flow test interpretation. The results and the correlations reported here in graphical form allow the determination of the mobility of the two zones and the radial distance to the discontinuity. They eliminate the need to fit field data to a curve as is required in the overlay technique.6 Thus, the advantages of the present correlations are that they require less effort and they provide a unique answer. They also provide guidelines for selecting the parts of the flow test plot to be used in the interpretations. Moreover, the results obtained from the programmed analytic solution define the time intervals where the approximate solution reported by Hurstl and discussed by Larkin2 are applicable. Normal buildup and drawdown plots resulted in an early straight line, a long transition zone and a late (second) straight line. However, the second straight line will not occur if the drainage radius is not at least 10 times the radial distance to the discontinuity. The mobility of the imer and outer zones can be calculated from the slopes of the first and second straight lines, respectively, by the normal methods of the flow test analysis. We found that the radial distance to the discontinuity may be determined from the abscissa value for the point of intersection of the extensions of the two straight lines. Results similar to some of these were reported by Adams et aL7 The approximate solution compared favorably with the exact one during the first and second straight-line periods. However, during the transition zone, deviation occurred between the two solutions. Discussion of Figures Figs. 1 through 7 summarize the results of this investigation. On Figs. 3 through 7 there appears the equation of each respective plot. In this paper the mobility ratio M is defined as klp2/kzpl, where subscripts 1 and 2 refer respectively to the inner and outer zones, and dimensionless time = t, = 6.32 X In the investigation, M ranged from 0.25 to 50;

Jan 1, 1970

By P. Nicholls

THOUGH the burning of fuels extends far back into antiquity, and though fuel beds are the most common and widely distributed example of chemical actions and engineering practice, there has been little attempt to group fuel beds by types or to define the principles associated with them. This paper does not profess to cover completely the subject of fuel beds. It suggests some of the over-all principles of the two more com-mon types. No new investigational data are included, but the deduc-tions are largely based on a recent publication of the U.S. Bureau of Mines1. DEFINITION OF TYPES There are three primary types of fuel beds: (1) Underfeed, in which the fuel and the air move in the same direction; (2) overfeed, in which the fuel and the air move in opposite directions; (3) crossfeed, in .which the fuel and the air move at right angles to each other. The principle that fixes the type is the relation between directions of the flow of fuel and of air. Fig. 1 shows the three types diagrammatically. All other types are compounded of these three in a simple or more or less complex manner. It does not follow that these three type designations are limited to the methods used in representing them in Fig. 1; they may be turned in any direction, and as long as the relative directions of the fuel and air are the same the type is not changed. For example, A as shown resembles a pot-type stoker, but the air and fuel can move downward as in the so-called smokeless heating boiler furnace. Also, C can be placed hori-zontal, as in chain-grate stokers. For this reason, the terms used to designate the three types are not all that could be desired; more logical ones could be coined, but those used probably are satisfactory until the discussion of fuel-bed types becomes more common.

Jan 1, 1935

By J. van Lookeren

In the case of a reservoir where the oil underlies a large gas cap and overlies bottom water, production can be inzproved considerably if wells are perforated below the water-oil contact rather than opposite the oil-bearing section. The theoretical arguments for this improvement, which in some cases may be tenfold, are supported by experimental evidence. INTRODUCTION Reservoirs frequently consist of one sand body containing an oil layer underlying a thick, gas-bearing section and overlying bottom water (Fig. 1). Wells in such reservoirs are customarily opened up opposite the oil-bearing interval or, rather, opposite the lower part of this interval (Fig. 2). More often than not, it is inefficient or prohibited to blow off large quantities of gas with the oil. This im-psses a severe limitation on the drawdown, which results in low oil-production rates. Because of the small difference in specific gravity between oil and water, the latter will easily cone upwards, so that the production of water together with the oil is not prevented by this completion method. In such a situation wells should be opened deeper, in the originally water-bearing zone. The gas can be shut off by not perforating over the upper part of the interval (Fig. 3) or by a tubing hung close to the bottom of the interval (Fig. 4). Initially much water will be produced, but when steady-state conditions have been established (as depicted in Figs. 3 and 4) larger drawdowns are permissible than in a conventionally completed well, and correspondingly higher oil-production rates will result. Water cuts are only slightly higher because of the small effect of gravity on the water-oil flow distribution. CALCULATIONS The ratio of improvement has been estimated by means of approximate calculations. The completion depicted in Fig. 4 is the most convenient basis for these calculations. By postulating that vertical flow gradients can be disregarded, the Appendix shows that the well-known Dupuit formula can be obtained except for some complication due to the presence of two fluids rather than one. The Appendix makes the reasonable assumption that, for suitable boundary conditions, the oil layer occupies a constant fraction of the total fluid height throughout the reservoir. The oil- and water-production rates can thus be related to the liquid levels in the borehole as follows:

Jan 1, 1966

By Frederic Dewey

(New York Meeting, February, 1913) This old and well-known method of determining, silver is, in bullion work, so far superior to the furnace-assay that it is looked upon with reverential awe by many, if not by most, users, and its-ease of execution, with proper equipment, commends it highly where much commercial bullion work on silver is required. The method is so thoroughly well known that a, description of it here may seem to be unnecessary, but many thousands of determinations are annually made by it in the U. S. Mint Service and its practice is there reduced to an art. This is necessary both for the sake of economy of time, acid because high-grade work with it requires constant practice. It is useless for a person who uses it only occasionally to expect to attain high accuracy with it, without spending more time upon a determination than is warranted in a busy commercial laboratory. It is always employed in the Mint service whenever possible, but its chief field is in the determination of silver in standard silver (ingots and coin), which is 900 fine in silver and 100 fine in copper, and I shall first briefly outline its use on this metal and then take up various points in detail, especially as related to the accuracy of the results obtained.

Jan 4, 1913

By W. C. Maurer

A study of the mechanics of shear failure of rock under pressure has been made. The transition from brittle to ductile failure occurs when the friction along the fracture surfaces exceeds the shear strength of the rock. A machine has been developed for measuring both the shear strength of rock and the friction along rock fracture surfaces. In this shear machine, the fractures are forced along definite planes; as a result, the rock is stronger than in compression tests where the fractures choose the weakest paths through the specimens. Friction is composed of several forces: (1) the forces to slide irregulurities on surfaces over each other; (2) forces to shear some of these irregularities; (3) molecular attractions across the fractures; and (4) forces required to break bonds resulting from melting and welding at the tips of irregularities on the surfaces. Friction along rock fracture surfaces is not proportional to contact pressure as usually assumed; instead, it increases as the contact pressure raised to the 0.4 to 0.8 power. INTRODUCTION It is difficult to produce tensile stresses under the high compressive stresses present in the earth; therefore, in deep drilling and geological faulting, shear failure predominates. This shear failure mechanism is complicated because rock is a heterogeneous material containing pore spaces, microfractures, elastic discontinuities and other imperfections. A study of shear failure of rock under pressure has been made to obtain a better understanding of this complex mechanism. A machine has been developed and used to measure the shear strength of rock and friction along sheared surfaces. This machine has certain advantages over the compression test — shear properties can be measured under low normal stresses and shear stress and normal stress can be varied independently. The first part of this paper is a description of shear failure of rock under pressure. The role of shear strength and friction along fracture surfaces in the shear failure mechanism will be discussed. The second part consists of a description of the shear machine and a discussion of the shear strength and friction data obtained using this machine. It will be shown that shear strength depends upon the size of the stressed zone, and that friction does not increase linearly with contact pressure as usually assumed. Attempts are made to relate some of the new concepts to tectonic failure and to dril ling. SHEAR FAILURE IN ROCK TRIAXIAL TESTS The shear failure mechanism is illustrated by the triaxial test shown in Fig. 1. In this test, a cylindrical rock specimen is subjected to a confining pressure, PC, and an axial pressure, pa. These external pressures produce normal a and shear T stresses on inclined planes within the specimen equal to1 where 0 is the angle between the specimen axis and a normal to the inclined plane. Fig. 2 shows how triaxial specimens deform as the axial pressure is increased. The pressure is

Jan 1, 1966

Jan 1, 1969

By V. Koump, T. F. Perzak, R. G. Olsson

Jan 1, 1965

By Ott F. Heizer

The mines and the mill of the Nevada-Massachusetts Co. are on the east slope of the Eugene Mountains, in Pershing County, Nevada, 8 miles northwest of Mill City, a station on the Southern Pacific R.R. and on the Victory Highway. Fig. 1. Supplies and, concentrate are transported by truck over an automobile road of easy grade. The property is at an average elevation of 5500 ft. and climatic conditions are generally favorable for continuous operation throughout the year. The ore treated is supplied by two adjoining mines, the Stank and the Humboldt. Physical and mineral characteristics of the ores produced by these two mines are substantially similar, although variations occur in hardness and mineral distribution.' The economic mineral is scheelite (CaWO4), composed, when pure, of 80.6 per cent tungstic trioxide (WO3) and 19.4 per cent lime (CaO).

Jan 1, 1935

By H. Kazemi, G. W. Thomas, M. S. Seth

The double-porosity model of Warren and Root7 for examining pressure drawdown and buildup phenomena in naturally fractured reservoirs has been extended to intetpret interference test results. Both analytical and numerical solutions are presented. The practicality of some of the assumptions in the Warren-Root model was also investigated. The standard procedure for interpreting interference tests in naturally fractured reservoirs beretofore employed an equivalent homogeneous reservoir model. A comparison of our results with the equivalent homogeneous model indicates the latter is inadequate for early time responses. For late time responses, however, the simpler equivalent homogeneous model yields favorable results. Finally, the effects of well spacing and the magnitude of the interporosity flow parameter are briefly cited. INTRODUCTION Interference tests can be used to provide reservoir information not obtainable from conventional pressure drawdown and buildup tests. The technique involves measuring the response in one or more wells arising from a pressure perturbation introduced into another well. It has been. successfully applied to single-layer, homogeneous, unfractured, isotropic and anisotropic formations to arrive at values of well storage capacity and a measure of directional permeability.l The techniques of interference testing usually can be extended to heterogeneous systems, provided the permeability contrast between any existing rock layers is not excessive.9 In such cases, the practical interference effects in an observation well of an interconnecting heterogeneous reservoir can be predicted using an equivalent homogeneous model. The calculated properties are then average values. Russell and Prats2 have demonstrated the utility of this approach for a single-phase, two-layer system. For naturally fractured reservoirs, some different approaches usually are necessary. The major departure from homogeneous or nearly homogeneous reservoir treatment is to characterize the fractured system as an entity having "double-porosity"; namely, we suppose the existence of both primary and secondary porosity, where the former is contained within a systematic array of identical rectangular matrix blocks and the latter is contained within an orthogonal system of continuous, uniform fractures (see Fig. 1). It is sufficient to assume that the permeability of the rock matrix is so small that movement of reservoir fluids to the producing wells is entirely through the fracture network. This assumption has been validated by Barenblatt3 and .employed by others?-7 Warren and Root7 used the double-porosity model to develop an interpretation of pressure drawdown and pressure buildup tests in naturally fractured

Jan 1, 1970

By G. S. Baker, S. H. Carpenter

Langenecker has reported significant reduction in strength of high-strength metals during ultrasonic t'ibration. Decreases in static yield stress an order of magnitude greater than the calculated stress amplitude of vibrations were reported by him for a stainless steel and for tungsten. in the present work, attempts were nzadc to verify such large reductions in yield and flats stresses using resonant librations of measured amplitudes. The results show that both the soft metals (copper and aluminum) and the high-strength metals (sleels) hare reductions in yield and .flow stresses no larger than the stress amplitude of libration. BLAHA and Langenecker,' investigating the effect of vibratory stresses on the deformation of zinc and aluminum, found a decrease in the static yield and flow stresses approximately equal to the vibratory stress imposed. Langenecker later extending this work to high-strength metals such as stainless steels and tungsten2 found a much larger effect. In these metals the static yield and flow stresses decreased by an amount more than an order of magnitude greater than the calculated vibratory stresses. It was suggested that this phenomenon could be a serious hazard to high-strength structures in an acoustic environment, such as a large rocket at launch, or could be used advantageously in the working of hard-to-work materials such as the refractory metals. Langenecker and others3 have investigated the effect of high-amplitude vibrations on many metal-forming operations. The results have been quite favorable with usually a large decrease in the energy necessary for the forming operation. The processes, however, involve large frictional forces and it is not clear whether the decreases in forming forces are to be ascribed to decreased friction or to decreased flow stresses. The present paper reports an attempt to determine the effect of accurately known vibratory stresses on the static yield and flow stresses. I) EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUE The standard multicomponent resonator technique for measuring internal friction has been adapted to allow simultaneous high-amplitude vibration, internal-friction measurement, and tensile deformation. This has been described in detail elsewhere.4 Longitudinal oscillations of approximately 50 kc frequency are excited in a multicomponent resonator by a quartz transducer. A second transducer measures the amplitude of vibrations. Fig. 1 shows a schematic drawing of the resonator and grip arrangement and the displacement pattern produced. Since the centers of the dummy bars are at displacement nodes, they represent points where attachments will not materially affect the vibrations. The force is applied by a standard Instron tester. The sample may be deformed while simultaneously vibrating at up to 104 strain amplitude. 11) EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS The effect of high-amplitude vibrations on the yield and flow stresses of copper. aluminum, tantalum. a soft iron, and a stainless steel has been measured. In addition samples of tungsten vibrating at stress levels up to 10' dynes per sq cm have been subjected to static stresses near the static yield stress with no indication of macroscopic deformation. Fig. 2 gives typical results for 99.999 pct polycrys-talline copper. A vibratory stress of 7 x 107 dynes per sq cm is applied at points "a" and removed at points "h". The behavior of aluminum is identical. In agree-

Jan 1, 1967

By James P. Sloss

A PERMANENT assay office is commonly established as part of the general plant equipment of operating gold and silver properties, but during the development stage of a mine, the cost of such an office is usually so assay work must be done elsewhere. In most instances only a few samples will be taken each day, but if the mine is to be developed scientifically, the analyses of those samples will guide further development. Under such circumstances, the time element in assay returns is important, since the lapse between the taking of the samples and the receipt of results may determine the success or failure of a small-mine operator. The following description of fur-

Jan 1, 1935

By E. Douglas, D. N. Collins, J. R. Stevens

E. Douglas (Dept. of Scientific and lndustrial Re-search, Warren Spring Laboratory, Hertfordshire, England) — The authors are to be congratulated on the considerable improvements they have made in tailoring efficiency and selectivity terms which are generally superior to the alternative forms in current use. However, I feel that their efficiency expression is limited to lower-grade feeds; its accuracy reduces as the feed grade increases. For example, its application to such processes as the beneficiation of glass sands, refractories and clays will invoIve considerable inaccuracies. The reason for this lies in the direct use of recovery, which, with high-grade feeds, biases their empirical expression, R(1 - c/h). With a 90% grade feed, the recovery weighting for the slightest degree of beneficiation, over a zero efficiency sampling operation, will be 90+%+ I disagree with their second basic requirement which states that there can be no fundamental basis for any single quantifying expression. A formula giving a comprehensive representation of concentra- tion efficiency can be derived fundamentally accord-to the procedure outlined in the literature. '' This formula, called the Basic Efficiency formula, is

Jan 1, 1963

By John R. Eckel

A Iaboratory drilling rig has been devised and placed in operation which permits the application of hydrostatic, terrastatic, and formation pore pressures to a rock sample for drilling under controlled conditions. Calibrated rests of this equipment in-dicate qualitative agreerment with field results on the effect of weight on bit, rotary speed, and rate of circ~~lation on drilling rate. Tests under pressure, using water and air as the drilling fluids, indicate that when drilling saturated limestone samples, a pressure differential between hydrostatic and formation pressure is the only pressure which affects drilling rate. A differential in either direction causes a reduction in rate, but the same diflerential from the wellbore into the formation causes the greater reduction. Also, in lime.stone, air favorably affected drilling rote only when compared to water at high hydrostatic pressurre, all other conditions remaining constant. Large increases in drilling rate with air could be obtained in the laboratory only while drilling a shale, which offered a limited permeability to nitrogen and which could be drilled with a differential from the formation into the wellbore. In general, the magnitude of the changes due to the pressure effect were small compared to changes in drilling rate obtainable by changing either bit weight or rotary speed. INTRODUCTION In the course of Humble's drilling research program, the desirability of investigating several factors which lend themselves to laboratory rather than field study became obvious. Principal reasons for this are the expense involved in field studies and the difficulty of exercising the required degree of control. Of primary importance are investigations of the effect of fluid pressure on rock rate, the effect of pressure on rock drillability, and a study of the fundamental mechanics of rock failure and chip generation. Several years ago some work in the laboratory on the effect of mud properties on drilling rate was re- ported to the API', but the completion of this work and the investigation of the other variables affecting drilling rate required equipment somewhat more elaborate than that used on these earlier tests. This equipment has been assembled to form Humble's Drilling Engineering laboratory. To date only the effect of pressure on rock drillability while using water and air has been investigated, and this work is not yet complete. Facilities are available to investigate the effect of fluid properties on rate of penetration, and information is being assembled on a current basis on the mechanics of drilling. The sequence of presentation in this progress report is somewhat different from that in which the data were obtained since the order of ex-

By R. G. Turner, M. G. Hubbard, A. E. Dukler

Gas phase hydrocarbons produced from underground reservoirs will, in many instances, have liquid phase material associated with them, the presence of which can affect the flowing characteristics of the well. Liquids can come from condensation of hydrocarbon gas (condensate) or from interstitial water in the reservoir matrix. In either case, the higher density liquid phase, being essentially discontinuous, must be transported to the surface by the gas. In the event the gas phase does not provide sufficient transport energy to lift the liquids out of the well, the liquids will accumulate in the wellbore. The accumulation of the liquid will impose an additional back pressure on the formation that can significantly affect the production capacity of the well. In low pressure wells the liquid may completely kill the well; and in the higher pressure wells there can occur a variable degree of slugging or churning of the liquids, which can affect calculations used in routine well tests. Specifically, the calculated bottom-hole pressures used in multirate backpressure tests will be erroneous if the well is not removing liquids on a continuous basis, and gas:liquid ratios observed during such a test may not be correct. Several authors1,3,8,14 have suggested methods to determine if the flow rate of a well is sufficient to remove liquid phase material. Vitter14 and Duggan' proposed that wellhead velocities observed in the field would be adequate for keeping wells unloaded. Jones8 and Dukler3 presented analytical treatments resulting in equations for calculating, from physical properties, the minimum necessary flow rate. An analysis of these studies indicates the existence of two proposed physical models for the removal of gas well liquids: (1) liquid film movement along the walls of the pipe and (2) liquid droplets entrained in the high velocity gas core. Although there probably is a continuous exchange of liquid between the gas core and the film, they will be treated separately for the purposes of this study. The development and comparison of these separate models with experimental data will permit the determination of which, if either, is the controlling mechanism for the removal of liquids from gas wells. The Continuous Film Model Liquid phase accumulation on the walls of a conduit during two-phase gas/liquid flow is inevitable due to the impingement of entrained liquid drops and the condensation of vapors. The movement of the liquid on the wall is therefore of interest in the analysis of liquid removal from gas wells. If the annular liquid film must be moved upward along the walls in order to keep a gas well from loading up, then the minimum gas flow rate necessary to accomplish this is of primary interest. The analysis technique used follows Dukler2 and Hewitt5 and involves describing the profile of the velocity of a liquid film moving upward on the inside of a tube. The minimum rate of gas flow required to move the film upward is then calculated.

Jan 1, 1970

By W. A. Krivsky, R. Schuhmann

Jan 1, 1962

By J. P. Neumann, L. Raymond

At temperatures near 1000°C, only the (112) (111) slip systems are operatire in tungsten. Therefore, the substructure introduced into the billet upon rleforming a single crystal by rolling at 1000 "C can be controlled by proper selection 01. processing ral'iubles. Using a reduction of 10 pct pel- pass, the (001)[110] and the (110)[001] crystals will deform by duplex slip rip to a 50 pet reduction in thickuess. These rolled single-crystal sheels are characlerized by anisotropic hardening, retention of ductility with warm working, lattice bending which is related to the conlacl (angle, and macroscopic dimensional changecs in the length bid not the width of the billet. When several slip systems become operative, a greater degree of work hardening is itztvoducetl into the crystal. This rolling- condition is characlerized by isotropic hardening, loss of ductilily with warm working, complex lattice distortions, and macro-scopic dimensional changes in both the length rind Width of the billel. IN tungsten, the {1 10}(111) slip systems are operative below room temperature,' while above 700°C only the {112{ (111) slip systems are observed.2,3 In the transition region, i.e., room temperature. both systems appear. It is the purpose of this investigation to show that tungsten single crystals deformed by rolling at a temperature where only one slip system is operative generate dislocation substructure which depends on the crystal orientation. For a specific crystal orientation. the resulting dislocation substructure can be further influenced by modifying the rolling procedure. Crystals oriented for multiple slip display less substructural sensi- tivity to modifications in processing techniques than do single crystals oriented for duplex slip. Under simple slip modes of deformation, very little work hardening is introduced into a rolled single-crystal sheet. Mechanical properties such as room-temperature strength. ductility, and hardness are used to confirm the existence of the different work-hardened conditions generated within the crystal by modified warm-rolling techniques. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Material. Single-crystal billets of four different crystal orientations. grown by the Arc-Verneuil technique. were ground to a size of 0.25 by 0.375 by 3 in. In terms of their rolling plane and rolling direction, the billets had the following orientations: (1101 [001 ] (110) [110] (001) [110] (001) [100] The actual orientation of all crystals was within 5 deg of the ideal orientations. The typical impurity content of the crystals is given in Table I. Polishing and Etching. Polishing was done elec-trolytically in a 20 g per liter aqueous solution of NaOH at approximately 10 v. It was established by the Laue back-reflection X-ray technique that the surface damage due to grinding and cutting operations with a diamond wheel did not exceed 0.001 in. Therefore after each cutting or grinding operation at least 0.002 in. was removed electrolytically from the surface in order to eliminate surface effects. By lowering the voltage to 3 v, subgrain boundaries and individual dislocations are identified in agreement with Berlec 4 where the etch-pit traces on a cubic plane form a square. The etching time was about 5 sec at room temperature. Rolling. Rolling was carried out on a Loma 2-high mill (Model 600). The peripheral velocity of the 6-in.-diameter rolls was 500 in. per min, with the surface temperature of the rolls about 400° to 450° C The billets were heated before each pass for 30 min in argon to 1000 C. Oxidation of the crystals during rolling in air resulted in a thin layer of greenish-yellow WO 3 This oxide was removed after each pass by immersing the crystals for a few minutes in a boiling NaOH solution. Prior to the initial rolling pass, a surface layer of 0.001 in. was removed by polishing. The crystals were then annealed in vacuum (10-4 torr) at 2400 C for 30 min. All crystals were rolled in the same direction; i.e., the same end was always introduced into the rolls. The rolling program was conducted in

Jan 1, 1965

By AIME AIME

WITH the recent increase in the price of gold, its economic recovery at depths formerly considered impractical has become a present possibility. Two important difficulties must be met: pressure bursts of the rock, and the reduced efficiency of human labor subjected to the higher temperatures and the increased humidity at the greater depths. In the following abstract of a paper by J. H. Dobson, presented before the South African Institution of Engineers on

Jan 1, 1935

By L. W. Berger, and R. I. Jaffee, D. N. Williams

The effects of hydrogen on the properties of binary Ti-A1 alloys containing 2.5, 5, and 7 pct aluminum and ternary alloys of the same compositions with added interstitial elements oxygen, nihrogen, and carbon were stzdied. Aluminum increases the apparent hydrogen solubility of the a-phase, resulting in a marked increase in resistance to impact embrittlement. In the Ti-5Al and Ti-7Al alloys, for example, the addition of 180 and 305 ppm hydrogen, respectively, did not cause embrittlement, while unalloyed titanium was embrittled by as little as 75 ppm. The role of aluminum in increasing hydrogen solubility of the a-phase probably accounts for the excellent hydrogen tolerance of a-ß alloys containing considerable amounts of aluminum. There is some evidence that aluminum retards the rate of hydride precipitation. If so, these alloys may be susceptible to slow-strain embrittlement. UNALLOYED a-titanium is extremely sensitive to small amounts of added hydrogen in that there is a marked decrease in notch properties. For example, as little as 100 ppm hydrogen is sufficient to lower the room-temperature notch-impact strength from over 100 to less than 20 in.-lb.' This loss of impact Strength has been associated with the Presence of hydride phase in the microstructure. Hydrogen in the amounts encountered in commercial practice

Jan 1, 1959

By M. V. Mielke, R. E. Hagen, R. L. Bennett

FINE IRON ORES, and concentrates such as those produced from taconite, must be converted to lump form by some process of agglomeration before they can be used effectively in the blast furnace or open hearth. At the present time, four major processes for agglomerating these materials are being used on a commercial scale: sintering, nodulizing, pelletizing and briquetting. IN 1945 U. S. Steel Corp. through its subsidiary the Oliver Iron Mining Div., drew up tentative plans for an agglomerating plant on the Mesabi Range which would include a nodulizing kiln and a sintering machine. The purpose of the plant was two- fold: during its initial operation it would provide data on agglomeration of high grade ore fines, and would help relieve the shortage of ore for open hearth charging. Subsequently, it would be available for agglomerating taconite concentrates. While operating on fines screened from direct ore, it was planned to develop techniques and personnel so that a workable plant would be ready to handle taconite concentrates when the time came.

Jan 1, 1954

Jan 1, 1969