Search Documents

By Howard Smith

AT the meeting of this Institute in February 1933, I presented a paper on potash development in southeastern New Mexico1, which contained a brief review of the Geological Survey's 20-year search for commercial sources of soluble potash minerals and of the events, that led to the discovery, exploration, and first development of the deposits in that state. As a more comprehensive review of the subject was published in December2, the present paper is intended only to discuss recent developments in the domestic potash industry, particularly in New Mexico. A summary of the findings of potash in the Permian Basin, by. G: R. Mansfield and W. B. Lang, geologists of the United States Geological Survey, is now in process of publication by the University of Texas and will be omitted from this paper. In New Mexico prospecting for potassium salts during the past two years has increased materially the known area .of commercial deposits; development has resulted in an increase from one to three in the number of shafts and the starting of a fourth; an increase of annual productive capacity to 1,000,000 tons of crude salts, or 250,000 tons of K20; and an increase in annual refining capacity to 140,000 tons of muriate of 62.5 per cent grade. Construction has been completed to increase still further the production of high-grade salts. In California the American Potash & Chemical Co., operating on Searles Lake brines, has increased its plant capacity from about 100,000 tons to 180,000 tons of muriate a year and is now producing soda ash and salt cake in addition to potash and borax. Potash production from cement-plant and industrial-alcohol wastes remains unimportant.

Jan 1, 1935

By Bradley Stoughton

THE importance of magnesium alloys as engineering materials has increased rapidly in the past few years. The most important properties of magnesium alloys are their lightness and strength, which result in their. extensive use in aircraft and automobile construction. Recent progress in the metallurgy of magnesium seems to offer hope of the production of the pure metal at a reasonable cost. The use of magnesium would doubtless increase greatly if it could be produced at a cost comparable with that of aluminum. AA preliminary survey of the magnesium-base alloys shows that the most promising from a practical standpoint are magnesium-aluminum and magnesium-zinc as binary alloys, and magnesium-zinc-aluminum as ternary alloys. The research reported in this paper is a preliminary study' of binary magnesium-aluminum and magnesium-zinc alloys, as an introduction to a series of further investigations.

Jan 2, 1926

By Cyril Smith

SOMEWHAT over ten years ago the author described studies1,2 on the constitution of the copper-silicon system. The copper-rich portion of this diagram is shown in Fig. 1. The experimental points freely dotted about the diagram seemed to justify an otherwise unconvincing diagram and for several years the curious reverse bend in the alpha-phase bound-ary was accepted as substantially correct, even by later investigators3,4 of the system who introduced changes in the high-silicon phases. The binary diagram has been used as a base for several ternary systems" without any suggested changes. Voce10 suspected the existence of another phase from his study of the cast alloys in the copper-manganese¬silicon system, but evidently hesitated to extrapolate this to the binary diagram, particularly in view of the too ingenious explanation that was advanced" to account for the pools of constituent clearly visible in castings; namely, that they were secondary alpha of twinned orientation deposited from beta. Von Schwarz,12 in 1932, called attention to the fact that this micro-constituent in copper-silicon alloy castings was anisotropic under polar-ized light and asserted that a new phase, not cubic, should be placed in the diagram adjacent to alpha. Sautner,13 on the basis of investigations with the polarizing microscope and with X-rays, introduced this phase into the diagram at about 6 per cent Si. The relevant part of his dia-gram is shown in Fig. 2. Sautner called the new phase beta, renaming the old beta phase zeta. To avoid confusion, in redrawing Fig. 2 the phases have been renamed in accordance with the terminology adopted in the present paper, in which the new phase is called kappa and the other phases retain the designation given them by Arrhenius and Westgren.4

Jan 1, 1939

NORTH AMERICA Number Members Alaska 43 Canada 340 Mexico 205 Newfoundland 4 United States Alabama 39 Arizona 120 Arkansas 11 California 699 Colorado 168 Connecticut 89 Delaware 18 District of Columbia 140 Florida 20 Georgia 6 Idaho 78 Illinois 214 Indiana 77 Iowa 12 Kansas 24 Kentucky 33

Jan 1, 1936

By Jr. Baldwin. William M

WELL known to every metallurgist is the fact that different production schedules will profoundly affect the character of annealed metal strip. Yet the number of conditions [ ] that may be wrought by different combinations of rolling and annealing schedules is so myriad that despite the continual research that is being applied to this subject, the complete picture is not yet known. Copper, like all other metals, during the process of rolling or annealing, develops certain crystallographic configurations which should not be dismissed as being too impractical, for the crystallographic condition existing within the metal is a principal influence upon both the external mechanical properties and the behavior of the material [ ] when it is subjected to such operations as bending, flanging, drawing, and so forth. EFFECT OF ROLLING AND ANNEALING UPON THE CRYSTALLOGRAPHY OF COPPER STRIP The most salient points in the crystallographic reactions of polycrystalline copper to rolling and annealing may be best represented graphically by a "map" such as that given in Fig. I. I. As copper strip is cold-rolled from a randomly oriented structure (pole figure I),

Jan 1, 1942

By D. H. Baldwin, R. E. Reed-Hill

Six compositions of polycrystalline ZY-0 alloys, containing up to 4.2 at. pct 0, were tested in tension between 77° and 600° K. The data obtained from each of the compositions corresponded closely to a rela-ion between yield stress and absolute temperature of the form In s/so = BT, where oo is the yield stress extrapolated to zero degrees and B is a constant. In agreement with others who have observed this relationship, it is shown that the activation energy may be expressed as Ho In so/s. In the present specimens Ho is approximately 18,000 cal per mole and is apparently independent of temperature and composition inside the limits of the investigation. It is also demonstrated that this form of activation energy cowesponds to a strain rate sensitivity parameter RT/Ho. Oxygen was also noted to have an effect upon the operative deformation mechanisms. With increasing oxygen concentration there was an increased tendency to observe both nonbasal slip and cross-slip phenomena. Oxygen does not seriously inhibit twinning more than it does slip. Twins were observed in all specimens tested. It is becoming increasingly evident that interstitial atoms in solid solution are able to interact strongly with mobile dislocations. Stein, Low, and seybolt,&apos; have shown that, if the carbon concentration in bcc iron is lowered below the solubility limit, its flow stress temperature dependence is markedly reduced. This suggests that carbon atoms in interstitial solid solution may be responsible for the pronounced temperature dependence of the flow stress normally observed in iron. This view has recently been challenged by Leslie and sober2 who observed a strong flow stress temperature dependence in iron to which a trace of titanium had been added in order to remove carbon atoms from solution. Since the interstitial concentration must be reduced below approximately 1 ppm in order to produce a pronounced effect on the flow stress temperature dependence,&apos; studies of the effect of interstitials on the flow stress in iron necessarily involve serious experimental difficulties in alloy preparation. There are other metals, however, in which strong effects of interstitial solutes upon both the flow stress and its temperature dependence are observed. Of particular significance is zirconium which, according to Domagala and Mcpherson, 3 is capable of dissolving 28.6 at. pct O. The O-Zr alloy system is an almost ideal system for studying the interaction of interstitial atoms with deformation modes since it is possible to form alloys capable of study over an extensive range of compositions. Mills has made such a study using single crystals oriented primarily for single prismatic slip4 and has found an effect of oxygen concentration on the flow stress temperature dependence analogous to that observed in iron due to carbon by Stein, Low, and Seybolt. The present paper is specifically concerned with the effect of oxygen on deformation in polycrystalline zirconium. Although plastic flow in this type of specimen is much more complex than that reported for the single-crystal work, and involves both slip (on several different types of planes) and mechanical twinning, the results of this investigation are in general agreement with the single-crystal observations concerning the effect of oxygen on the temperature dependence of the flow stress. In addition, they also demonstrate that oxygen affects the acting deformation systems. This is in contrast to single-crystal results4 that showed only single slip on a prism plane. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Material. High-purity hot-rolled zirconium strip, 0.2 in. thick by 4 in. wide, of 0.10-mm average grain diameter, was used for forming alloys. It was obtained from the Carborundum Metals Co., Akron, N.Y., whose analysis indicated the major impurities were, in wt ppm: Hf, 540, C, 145; Fe, 100; and 0, <80. The plate texture was similar to a wire texture, with basal planes generally parallel to the rolling direction and basal poles randomly distributed about the rolling direction. The heat treatments described below did not appreciably alter the basic texture. specimen Preparation. Small threaded-end tensile specimens were machined from the plate with axes perpendicular to the rolling direction. These transverse specimens had gage sections 1 in. long by 0.060 in. in diam. The small gage section diameter was dictated by the fact that the alloys were formed by dif-

Jan 1, 1969

By K. D. Jacob, H. L. Marshall, D. S. Reynolds

All types of commercial phosphate rock produced throughout the world contain fluorine in quantities ranging from approximately 0.4 to 1.3 per cent in the Curacao and Christmas Island phosphates to 3.1 to 4.2 per cent in the phosphates of the United States and North Africa1. For a given type of rock, the fluorine content is usually roughly proportional to the phosphorus content. Significance of Fluorine in Phosphate Rock On the basis of chemical and X-ray diffraction studies, Hendricks and co-workers2 concluded that fluorapatite, Cal10F2(PO4)6, is the essential phosphatic constituent of the commercial types of domestic phosphate rock. On the other hand, Bredig and co-workers3 have recently advanced the opinion, also based on X-ray diffraction studies, that the mineral phosphates usually contain carbon dioxide in the apatite lattice, and that the phosphate rocks of the United States are really fluorcarbonate apatites. However, the domestic types of phosphate rock do not seem to differ greatly from coarsely crystalline fluorapatite in their behavior toward chemical reagents in general, and for the purpose of this paper it will suffice to consider fluorapatite as being the essential phosphatic constituent of these types of rock. The available data1 indicate that the different commercial types of domestic phosphate rock usually contain about 12 to 52 per cent more fluorine than theoretically is required to form fluorapatite with all the phosphorus. Calcium fluoride (fluorite) has been definitely identified in only a very few of the samples that have been examined1,2. Bredig and co-workers4 state that fluorapatite can take into its crystal lattice excess calcium fluoride to the extent of approximately 70 per cent of that theoretically required by the formula Ca10F²(PO4)6 without causing more

Jan 1, 1938

By D. S. Reynolds, K. D. Jacob, H. L. Marshall

All types of commercial phosphate rock produced throughout the world contain fluorine in quantities ranging from approximately 0.4 to 1.3 per cent in the Curacao and Christmas Island phosphates to 3.1 to 4.2 per cent in the phosphates of the United States and North Africa1. For a given type of rock, the fluorine content is usually roughly proportional to the phosphorus content. Significance of Fluorine in Phosphate Rock On the basis of chemical and X-ray diffraction studies, Hendricks and co-workers2 concluded that fluorapatite, Cal10F2(PO4)6, is the essential phosphatic constituent of the commercial types of domestic phosphate rock. On the other hand, Bredig and co-workers3 have recently advanced the opinion, also based on X-ray diffraction studies, that the mineral phosphates usually contain carbon dioxide in the apatite lattice, and that the phosphate rocks of the United States are really fluorcarbonate apatites. However, the domestic types of phosphate rock do not seem to differ greatly from coarsely crystalline fluorapatite in their behavior toward chemical reagents in general, and for the purpose of this paper it will suffice to consider fluorapatite as being the essential phosphatic constituent of these types of rock. The available data1 indicate that the different commercial types of domestic phosphate rock usually contain about 12 to 52 per cent more fluorine than theoretically is required to form fluorapatite with all the phosphorus. Calcium fluoride (fluorite) has been definitely identified in only a very few of the samples that have been examined1,2. Bredig and co-workers4 state that fluorapatite can take into its crystal lattice excess calcium fluoride to the extent of approximately 70 per cent of that theoretically required by the formula Ca10F²(PO4)6 without causing more

Jan 1, 1938

By A. C. Boyle

PaGE I. Introduction.........68 II. Location of the District,....... • 70 .. III. Stratigraphy...........73 Description of the Rocks.......73 Triassic Eruptives (Andesite Flows and Tuffs) ....73 Triassic Sediments (Shales and Slates)..75 Areal Geology ............75 Structure...-.......76 Folds............. 76 Faults..........79 Shear ...........80 Intrusives..........81 Alaskite Dike.........81 Andesitic Intrusion.......82 IV. PetrogRaphy of thE Rock Types......83 Andesite Flows.........84 Tuff 8...........84 Andesite Tuff........84 Rhyolite Tuff.....-.......85 Alaskite-Porphyry.......89 Andesite Dike........91 V. Description of the Mines......92 VI. Metalliferous Deposits ........ 95 Character of the Ores...........97 Mineralogy of the Ores.......97 Metallic Minerals.......97 Microscopic Character of the Ores...98 Secondary Enrichment....... 103 Genesis of the Ores ...........104 VII. The Sulphate Deposits.......109 Gypsum ..... HO Anhydrite......... ,... 110 Barite............ 110 Origin. with special reference to Gypsum....111 VIII. Summary.............. 113 IX. BIblYogRaphY.............114

Jan 1, 1915

By John W. Wagner, Robert K. Willardson

Single crystals of Pbl-xSnxTe have been grown from nonstoichiometric, cation-rich melts with the objective of producing as-grown, bulk material containing carrier concentrations ranging from 1016 per cu cm to 1018 per cu cm. Three specific crystal composi-tions were investigated in detail; x = 0.00, 0.10, and 0.17. Pull rates of from I to 3 mm per hr were used. Single crystals were successfully pulled from melts containing as little as 30 at. pct Te. Hall coefficients, resistivities, and carrier mobilities of these materials were determined. The relationship between the composition of the melt and the carrier concentration in the as-grown crystal has been studied for the three crystal compositions of interest. BULK single crystals of Pb,-,Sn,Te have previously been grown from stoichiometric melts.1,2 Such crystals are p-type and have relatively high carrier concentrations ranging from -9 x 1018 per cu cm for PbTe to -8 x l020 per cu cm for SnTe at 77°K. These carrier concentrations result from deviations from stoichiometry (lead vacancies) in the as-grown crystals. Since lower carrier concentrations are desirable for electrooptic device applications, these crystals are usually subjected to long-term, isothermal anneals.&apos; This paper reports on the growth of Pbl-xSnxTe single crystals from nonstoichiometric melts with the primary objective of producing as-grown material containing relatively low (1016 to 1018 per cu cm) carrier concentrations and also reports on the general characteristics of these crystals. The phase relationships in the Pbl-xSnxTe systems are such that materials solidifying from nonstoichiometric, cation-rich melts will have smaller deviations from stoichiometry than materials grown from stoichiometric melts. Fig. 1 is the T-x phase diagram for PbTe in the vicinity of the stoichiometric composition.3 A crystal grown from a stoichiometric melt will solidify at a melting point maximum at which the solid will contain -0.5002 atom fraction of tellurium. PbTe single crystals grown in our laboratories from stoichiometric melts have carrier concentrations of 9 x 10" per cu cm, indicating that the excess tellurium in the crystals is as expected from this phase diagram. However, growth of PbTe from a lead-rich melt will result in material having a more nearly stoichiometric composition. Although the addition of Sn to the melt shifts the solidus curve further toward the tellurium-rich side,4 the general discussion given for PbTe applies to the Pbl-xSnxTe systems as well. EXPERIMENTAL Single crystals of Pb1-xSnxTe have been grown in our laboratories from nonstoichiometric, cation-rich melts using the Czochralski technique and boric oxide liquid encapsulation. The details of the growth apparatus and growth technique have been reported in a previous paper on growth of these alloys from stoichiometric melts.2 In the present study, three specific crystal compositions were investigated in detail; x = 0.00, 0.10, and 0.17. Growth of alloy crystals from nonstoichiometric melts requires considerable care, and good quality single crystals were obtained in this study only by optimizing the mechanical and thermal stability of the growth system and by using pull rates of from 1 to 3 mm per hr (Pbl-xSnxTe crystals are easily pulled from stoichiometric melts at rates of from 5 to 10 mm per hr). The liquid encapsulation technique was found to yield near-ideal conditions, since the B2O3 layer increased the thermal stability at the growth interface, permitted easy attainment of near-ideal thermal gradients, and dampened vibrations at the melt surface. The hygroscopic character of the B2O3 was a slight problem and vacuum heat treating was necessary to completely remove the water from the boric oxide. During initial growth, the seed diameter was reduced and a narrow neck (1 to 2 mm diam) of several millimeters length was grown. The latter steps were found to be necessary for the growth of single crystals, i.e., if either of these two requirements were

Jan 1, 1970

By Carl Pierce

The writer of this article has not attempted to write a technical paper; on the contrary, he has tried to express in "steel-plant English," for steel men, a viewpoint drawn from his practice and experience. It is not his thought that it shall be taken as the "last word" in the making of this class of steel, or that good rimming steel cannot be made by any other practice. The paper was written to serve as the basis of a discussion from which it is hoped much benefit may be derived. The paper deals only with rimming steel made by the open-hearth process, and with the lower carbon steels, such as sheet and tin bar, rivet stock, skelp, etc., although good rimming steel as high as 40 to 50 carbon can be made by having good open slags and giving proper attention to working and tapping temperatures. Definition of Rimmed Steel Rimmed steel is sometimes called open or effervescing steel to differentiate it from killed or partly killed steel. It is steel made by a process which permits the free escape of gases from the metal in the molds. In passing up through the metal, the gases keep it in a rolling action from the walls of the mold inward. The top of the ingot rims in as the metal chills and the walls of the ingot get thicker, the center part remaining fluid until it reaches a pasty condition when it is covered with a cast-iron cap. The Charge In making up a charge for rimming steel, clean stock of a known composition must be selected, special attention being given to the analysis of the materials. The silicon in good rimming steel must be eliminated to a trace, therefore it is advisable to have a uniform amount going into the charge. Too much silicon gives a raw melting heat from which rimming steel is unlikely to result. For this reason a charge containing not to exceed 40 per cent. pig iron and 60 per cent. scrap, with no iron ore, is preferred to the Monell type of charge in which as high as 65 to 70 per cent. pig iron is used with a proportional amount of iron ore for the removal of the excess silicon and carbon. The silicon content of pig iron varies so much from day to day in the average blast-furnace practice that there is danger of getting too much of this element in the latter mixture when

Jan 1, 1926

By Waynw P. Myers

Electricity, as normally thought of by a layman&apos;s definition, is a man- made force that has no color, no odor, is not visible, cannot be heard, yet man can control it and make it perform his work for him. A person dare not cheat on it, for it then will master him. It has laws, rules, and regulations that must be strictly adhered to if it is to perform in the safest, most reliable, and economical manner. In the early days of coal mining the power source was man himself. Later man employed steam and compressed air to reduce his muscle power requirements needed in the extraction of coal. By the turn of the 20th century, electricity had become the most common source of power for the coal industry. Steam and compressed air are still found in use in isolated cases today for specific applications; however, they are rapidly being replaced by electricity. Electrical laws and regulations are quite extensive and somewhat complex for the proper generation and use of electricity. Man-made laws, rules, and regulations for the care and handling of electricity, designed for man&apos;s safety, are rigidly enforced by Mine Safety and Health Ad- ministration (MSHA), as well as the various state departments of mines. BACKGROUND Until recent years most underground coal mines used direct current exclusively for all movable and for some stationary equipment. Exceptions were for permanent pumps, tipple, fan, and outside buildings where alternating current was normally employed. However, over 60 years ago there were mines with dual systems. Alternating current was used for cutting machines, drills, and pumps ; direct current for locomotives. There were no other machines as these were hand-loading mines. Later, during early mechanization in the 1920s, alternating current was also applied to loading machines at some mines. Use of dual electric systems then declined until fairly recently when

Jan 1, 1981

By Richard H. Jahns

Gem materials, comprising those minerals and closely allied natural substances used for personal adornment, for the fashioning of ornamental objects, or for other decorative purposes, have been valued in human commerce for thousands of years. Amber, jet, natural glasses, and at least 15 mineral species were sought and used by primitive man, and most of the materials in common use today were known well before the time of Christ. Their variety is remarkably great, and the traceable relationships among their respective sources, modes of occurrence, properties, and histories of production, preparation, and valuation are extremely complex. Their uses have been affected by numerous shifts in fashion, and from time to time by superstition, by decrees of church and state, by personal interpretations of religious significance, and by various presumptions concerning medicinal value and influence on human behavior (Ball, 1935, 1950; Kunz, 1913; Pogue, 1915, Whitlock, 1946). Thanks to their durability, portability, and relative scarcity, some gem stones have been employed as media of exchange, and the investment value of the more precious stones has long been recognized and exploited, especially in Asiatic and European countries. Demands for gem materials have stimulated trade among various peoples for centuries, and they also were responsible for much early geographic exploration. During more recent times they have prompted numerous geological studies and a considerable amount of research on the growth and properties of crystals. Apart from decorative uses, some naturally occurring gem materials also are employed directly in numerous fields of industry. Substances that are manufactured for gem or industrial uses are termed synthetic gem materials; most of these correspond in composition and crystal structure to certain minerals found in nature. Imitation materials are those whose use is based upon their resemblance to substances of different composition and greater intrinsic value. Gem stone is a designation commonly restricted to those materials suitable for personal adornment, and the complementary term ornamental stone is applied to the remaining materials not used industrially. This distinction is arbitrary and somewhat inconsistent, owing to numerous geographic differences and historical shifts in end uses. Further, there is a complete gradation between the category of ornamental stones and that of dimension stone. Substances that lose their identity in use are excluded from the gem category; thus a transparent crystal of beryl would not be classified as a gem stone if it were processed as a source of beryllium metal. The adjectives precious and semiprecious have been employed as a means for distinguishing different gem materials on the basis of recognized value. Diamond, emerald, ruby, and sapphire consistently have been regarded as precious stones, and in cut form they commonly are referred to as the noble gems. Opal, pearl, turquoise, and chrysoberyl also have been classed as precious at various times. In recent years, however, it has been increasingly recognized that no satisfactory distinction can be based upon assessed value or any group of specific properties, and now all gem stones normally are referred to as precious. Indeed, the tendency is to extend this term to include many of the so-called ornamental stones, and the designation semi- precious has been essentially discontinued. Unlike most mineral commodities of economic value, gem materials are little altered in processing for end uses. Some stones are used in essentially their natural form, and most are reshaped and polished without significant changes in their fundamental properties. Thus the preparation of gem and ornamental stones is intended chiefly to emphasize or enhance

Jan 1, 1975

By Carl Benedicks

IT is well known by every one who has had to deal with boiler tubes that these are often seriously affected by a sort of corrosion, occurring as a local pitting, that frequently causes a perforation of the tube in a rather short time. The characteristic appearance of this corrosion is shown in Fig. 1. A very similar corrosion occurs in condenser tubes (Fig. 2).1 A study of the microstructure or local chemical composition of the metal (iron; 70 :30 brass) fails to reveal any cause for this pitting. Of course one might possibly assume the starting point-to be some oxide particle, causing an electrolytic local action, but this in no way explains the continued corrosion, progressing even when the assumed oxide particle must have disappeared. By the excellent work done by the Corrosion Research Committee of the Institute of Metals, and communicated, in October, 1923, to the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Newcastle-on-tyne, stress was laid on the fact that a content of entangled air has a very obnoxious effect. In the following correspondence, Sir George Goodwin stated that "engineers have, for a long time past, regarded air as the big enemy to be fought against in all questions of corrosion"2 and Kenneth Fraser pointed out that the most vital point is "the avoidance or removal of possibly the chief cause of present day corrosion, i. e. entrapped air and gases brought out of solution."&apos; In their reply, however, the authors state that they had "never for a moment believed that entangled air was responsible for the beginnings of corrosion, and express the opinion that the gradual liberation of air could not account for localized corrosion."4 On consulting the many textbooks on corrosion, as that

Jan 4, 1925

By D. W. Philips

The problem of strata control has of necessity been prominent in mining, and accounts of individual experience and research abound in the literature of most mining countries. Organized rescarch began in Britain by the formation of a committee, upon the recommendation of the Safety in Mines Research Board in 1923, to investigate methods of reducing accidents from falls of roof in coal mines. This committee examined current practice in supporting underground workings in the principal coal fields, and its findings have been published in the Board&apos;s publications.&apos; - Toward the end of these investigations it was suggested by the Chief Inspector of Mines that committees of the several mining institutes be formed to examine the problem in their respective districts. The formation of these committees marked a new phase in research on strata control. The work, though being done in the separate coal fields, followed a scheme outlined by the chief Mining Engineer of the Research Board, and was coordinated by his office. FACTORS INVOLVED The subject is being considered in Britain from two aspects: 1. To provide. by supports, means to prevent falls of fractured ground. 2. TO develop methods whereby the strata can be maintained in the least broken condition and thus make falls less likely. The first aspect is the one that will most likely lead to immediate results from the accident standpoint. It depends largely upon the assimilation of already acquired knowledge regarding the properties of supports and their correct application. The second aspect is perhaps more fundamental, and involves also the properties of the strata and their behavior under the influence of the forces induced by mining. The problem involves many natural factors that cannot be controlled, such as depth, inclination and thickness of seam and nature of the rocks. Other factors, which may be considered to a certain extent controllable, cannot be varied readily and with sufficient frequency to facilitate easy investigation; some of these are: rate of advance of the working face, length of face, direction of the face with regard to cleat and inclination, system and arrangements of rock packing behind longwall faces. In any given case the very many factors present have a mutual influence upon the effects produced in the mine. For example, a study of the effects of rate of advance cannot be done without considering the effects of other factors such as nature of strata, direction of face and quality and arrangement of supports. Conversely, the length and direction of a working face

Jan 1, 1947

By D. W. Philips

The problem of strata control has of necessity been prominent in mining, and accounts of individual experience and research abound in the literature of most mining countries. Organized rescarch began in Britain by the formation of a committee, upon the recommendation of the Safety in Mines Research Board in 1923, to investigate methods of reducing accidents from falls of roof in coal mines. This committee examined current practice in supporting underground workings in the principal coal fields, and its findings have been published in the Board&apos;s publications.&apos; - Toward the end of these investigations it was suggested by the Chief Inspector of Mines that committees of the several mining institutes be formed to examine the problem in their respective districts. The formation of these committees marked a new phase in research on strata control. The work, though being done in the separate coal fields, followed a scheme outlined by the chief Mining Engineer of the Research Board, and was coordinated by his office. FACTORS INVOLVED The subject is being considered in Britain from two aspects: 1. To provide. by supports, means to prevent falls of fractured ground. 2. TO develop methods whereby the strata can be maintained in the least broken condition and thus make falls less likely. The first aspect is the one that will most likely lead to immediate results from the accident standpoint. It depends largely upon the assimilation of already acquired knowledge regarding the properties of supports and their correct application. The second aspect is perhaps more fundamental, and involves also the properties of the strata and their behavior under the influence of the forces induced by mining. The problem involves many natural factors that cannot be controlled, such as depth, inclination and thickness of seam and nature of the rocks. Other factors, which may be considered to a certain extent controllable, cannot be varied readily and with sufficient frequency to facilitate easy investigation; some of these are: rate of advance of the working face, length of face, direction of the face with regard to cleat and inclination, system and arrangements of rock packing behind longwall faces. In any given case the very many factors present have a mutual influence upon the effects produced in the mine. For example, a study of the effects of rate of advance cannot be done without considering the effects of other factors such as nature of strata, direction of face and quality and arrangement of supports. Conversely, the length and direction of a working face

Jan 1, 1947

By Vito J. Colangelo

The primary object of this study was to determine the effect of ferrite and its orientation upon the mechanical properties of a precipitation -hardening stainless steel with particular attention to the short-transverse properties. The investigation consisted of Jour major parts : the preliminary investigation of billet properties, the effect of forging reduction and ferrite content upon mechanical properties, the effect of notch orientation upon impact strength, and the relationship of heat composition to ferrite content. Low ductility and impact strength in the short transverse direction were found to he associated with the orientation and shape of- the ferrite plates. It was also determined that impact strength varied with notch orientation. The test values obtained with the notch perpendicular to the plane of the ferrite plate were lower than those obtained in the notch-parallel condition. The over-all investigation showed that high ferrite contents in general had a deleterious effect upon mechanical properties and that the ferrite content could he minimized by exercising rigorous control of the heat composition. A careful balance of elements, nitrogen in particular, must he maintained in order to reduce the formation of ferrite. THE precipitation-hardening stainless steels were developed to fulfill a need for high-strength corrosion-resistant alloys. In the annealed condition they are soft and ductile and possess many of the desirable characteristics of the austenitic stainless steels. In the hardened condition, the alloys exhibit the high strength and hardness of the martensitic stainless steels. The alloy under consideration in this investigation has a nominal composition as follows: C Mn Si Cr Ni Mo N 0.13 0.95 0.25 15.50 4.30 2.75 0.10 The hardening mechanism is identical to that of other hardenable steels in that it depends upon the transformation of austenite to martensite. This alloy because of its annealed structure and its ability to be hardened combines the desirable forming and corrosion properties of the austenitic grades with the high hardness and strength levels attainable with the hardenable grades. The reason for this apparent duplicity of proper- ties can be explained by considering a basic metallurgical difference between the hardenable stainless steels and those of the austenitic group. Both types are austenitic at 1800°F but, while the martensitic grades transform to martensite upon rapid cooling to room temperature, the austenitic grades remain austenitic even when cooled to temperatures below room temperature. The major difference then is in the degree of austenite stability. This stability can quantitatively be described by the Ms temperature. The Ms is defined as that temperature at which austenite begins to transform to martensite. The austenitic grades for example may be cooled to -300°F without producing significant quantities of martensite. The hardenable stainless steels on the other hand have an Ms temperature in the vicinity of 400" to 700°F. In cooling to room temperature, these alloys traverse the entire Ms-Mf range and show almost complete transformation to martensite. The semiaustenitic stainless steel, however, occupies an intermediate position with respect to its austenite stability. The analysis is so balanced that the Ills temperature lies at or slightly above room temperature. The resulting alloy retains much of its austenite at room temperature and yet responds to hardening heat treatments. Achieving this delicate balance of elements is therefore of great importance. Slight imbalances of the equivalent Cr-Ni ratios frequently result in the presence of 6 ferrite. It is the effects of this ferrit with which we are concerned, more specifically the effect of the quantity and ferrite orientation upon mechanical properties, particularly ductility. PROCEDURE A) Preliminary Investigation of Billet and Forging Properties. In order to determine the effect of ferrite on billet properties, billet stock from three heats with various ferrite contents was utilized. Tensile specimens were obtained in the transverse and longitudinal directions from this material and heat-treated as shown in Tables I and 11. Forgings were made from these same heats, the purpose being to determine what effect, if any, the ferrite might have upon the mechanical properties. These forgings were made in such a manner as to elongate the ferrite in the longitudinal and transverse directions. The method of forging was as follows. A section was cut from a 6-in.-sq billet of Heat A and flat-forged to 1-1/2 in. thick. Working was done from one direction only with no edging passes as shown

Jan 1, 1965

[A Editor&apos;s Note: Annual Reviews of various subjects and areas are found in February issues of Mining and Metallurgy and Mining Engineering. These Annual Reviews are not listed per se in the Index. Abating Stream Pollution in Anthracite Coal Fields. ME Mar 50 Abbadia San Salvatore mine, Italy. T178, 297 Abbott, C.E.: Limestone Mine in the Birmingham District. With Discussion. T129, 62 ABC Typifies Trend to Mechanized Mining and Coal Preparation. ME Dec 50 Abel, J.F.: Statistical Analysis of Tunnel Supporting Loads. T235, 288 Sulzbach, J. F., and Walker, D.K.: Ice Tunneling in Greenland. ME Jun 59 Aberfoyle tin mines, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, stannite, as intergrowths. T214, 1147 Abnormal Behavior of Some Ore Constituents and Their Effect on Blast Furnace Operation, The. T241, 1 Abrams, C.J.: Industry&apos;s Responsibility in Postwar Economy. M&M Mar 45 and Haley, D.F.: History of Crushing and Milling at Climax. M&M Jun 46]

Jan 1, 1972

By V. F. Zackay, W. A. Goering

ALLOYS of iron and aluminum up to 35 wt pct aluminum are single-phase solid solutions, and are of potentially wide applicability.1-3 In spite of early and continued interest1-4 little progress has been made until recently in the preparation and evaluation of sound alloys containing more than 6 wt pct aluminum. Vacuum-melting techniques for the production of ductile Fe-A1 alloys have been described recently.1-7 A. procedure for air melting these alloys is presented here. Low-carbon iron is induction melted without a slag in a rammed magnesia crucible. At the beginning of melt-down, aluminum pig (99.95 pct Al), charged in a clay-graphite bottom-pouring crucible is placed in a pot furnace at 1800°F. The primary deoxidation of the molten iron after melt-down is effected by the addition of 0.1 pct aluminum and 0.5 pct manganese. (Hilty and Crafts" have reported a significant increase in the deoxidation efficiency of the aluminum and manganese combination over that of the aluminum alone.) A more drastic deoxidation designed to reduce the oxyen content to the lowest possible level is accomplished by plunging metallic calcium to the bottom of the melt. This is done by wiring small cubes of the metal to a steel rod. A circular shield larger than the diameter of the crucible opening is attached to the rod so that any spa&apos;ttering of the molten metal will not endanger the operator. Since the temperature of the molten metal is above the boiling point of calcium, the bath is vigclrously purged by calcium vapor. It is believed that the calcium-vapor treatment permits a homogeneous distribution of calcium in the melt. Owing to the vigor of the reaction the temperature of the molten metal should be kept below 2900°F prior to the calcium addition. A total of 0.05 pct calcium is added in two stages in this manner. The second calcium deoxidation is made just before charging the molten aluminum into the iron, in order that an excess of calcium be present for the remainder of the melt. The aluminum, which has been removed from the holding furnace, is then hydrogen degassed by bubbling chlorine through a quartz tube immersed in the molten aluminum. The hydrogen-chlorine reaction is an exothermic one preventing the solidification of the aluminum during the 5-min chlorination. Approximately 0.1 pct calcium, based on the amount of aluminum, is then added to the aluminum. A further excess of calcium is introduced into the melt in this manner. The oxide dross is removed, fluorspar is added to the molten iron, and the molten aluminum is poured through the fluorspar slag. The fluorspar should be dried thoroughly prior to its use, as any water present will react with the aluminum. Aluminum oxide formed during the pouring operation reacts with the fluorspar slag to form gaseous aluminum fluoride and calcium oxide. A forced-draft ventilating system is required for this operation as aluminum fluoride is toxic. As soon as the molten aluminum has been added, vigorous manual stirring of the melt is required because the slag-aluminum oxide reaction is highly exothermic and tends to take place near the top of the melt. The combination of high temperature and the slagging action of the fluorspar quickly erodes the crucible at the slag line if the aluminum is not stirred uniformly into the melt. It has been found that at least 4 min of manual stirring combined with induction stirring are necessary to ensure homogeneity. The power is shut off 1 min prior to pouring to allow metal and slag to separate. As much slag as possible is removed from the melt, which is then poured directly into cast-iron molds. A mold wash of aluminum oxide is used to prevent ingot sticking. For slab ingots which are to be rolled into sheet, a carbon-tetrachloride vapor atmosphere or a chlorinated-pitch mold wash is desirable, as the aluminum oxide formed in the pouring operation is subsequently removed by the chlorine in the presence of carbon." As in vacuum melting, a pouring temperature of about 2900°F is recommended. Adequate hot-topping is important as iron-aluminum ingots are subject to very deep piping. Ingots are removed from the molds and buried in vermiculite, where they are allowed to cool slowly to room temperature. The ingots are radiographed,

Jan 1, 1959

By W. C. Elmore

THE magnetic powder method, long used for roughly mapping mag-netic fields, has recently been refined 1,2 for investigating the microscopic variations in the surface magnetization of ferromagnetic crystals. Bitter2 first discovered regular powder patterns connected with the crystal structure of such specimens. Several other investigators3 have used Bitter&apos;s original technique, with slight modifications, to study the varia-tion of the patterns with variations in the magnetizing field applied parallel to the surface, and their dependence upon the state of strain, of polish and of crystal cut. All of the explanations-of these patterns on metallic ferromagnetics have been couched in general terms. In a preliminary report we have described an improvement in the powder technique which led us to the discovery of a new effect throwing con-siderable light on the magnetic secondary structure of alpha iron4 and of nickel5 single crystals. We now report additional evidence confirming the existence and stability of a magnetic block secondary structure.

Jan 1, 1935