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By Frederick N. Rhines

Because of the nature of the environments in which metals are handled, it is natural that gases should be suspected of intruding into metallurgical operations, there to produce effects both beneficial and detrimental. The problem of tracing and controlling such effects is often made difficult by the complexity of the conditions surrounding their occurrellce, even though the fundamental mechanisms invalved may be simple and of familiar type. Many gas-metal reactions are known to be implemented by Processes of diffusion. These form a homogeneous group of phenomena which become more readily understandable when viewed together, in that the knowledge gained from one serves to interpiet the next. It is the purpose of the present Paper to present, by means of examples drawn from practice, a brief survey of the ways in which gas-metal diffusion serves and obstructs the Purposes of the metal-fabricating industries. The selection of the cases described was made by consulting more than thirty-six practicing experts whose combined experience provided an extensive coverage of the field and who were in a position to supply examples of occurrences of present day interest. The response was generous and it is regrettable that space permits the description of only a limited number of typical examples with ' but brief mention of parallel cases. The Nature of Gas-metal Diffusion The term ugas-metal diffusion," although commonly used, is ambiguous in so far as it implies that a definite group of " substances may be identified as gases and may be expected to behave in a manner distinct from other substances in association with metals. "Gases" such as oxygen and hydrogen when diffusing through a liquid or solid metal are properly components of the liquid or solid solution; they behave as alloying elements and are not to be distinguished in their diffusion characteristics from other elements, except that each has an individual rate of diffusion. On the other hand, a number of metals in certain.temperature ranges are volatile to the extent that they may appear in the form of vapor in metallurgical operations. For the sake of greater definiteness, therefore, it will be convenient to regard as "gas-metal diffusion" any process in which the result depends upon one or more of the diffusing elements appearing, at some stage, in the gaseous state, or as a compound gas. NO element, gaseous or otherwise, can diffuse through a liquid or solid metal unless it is at least slightly soluble in that metal. The elements of low atomic number

Jan 1, 1944

By Frederick N. Rhines

Because of the nature of the environments in which metals are handled, it is natural that gases should be suspected of intruding into metallurgical operations, there to produce effects both beneficial and detrimental. The problem of tracing and controlling such effects is often made difficult by the complexity of the conditions surrounding their occurrellce, even though the fundamental mechanisms invalved may be simple and of familiar type. Many gas-metal reactions are known to be implemented by Processes of diffusion. These form a homogeneous group of phenomena which become more readily understandable when viewed together, in that the knowledge gained from one serves to interpiet the next. It is the purpose of the present Paper to present, by means of examples drawn from practice, a brief survey of the ways in which gas-metal diffusion serves and obstructs the Purposes of the metal-fabricating industries. The selection of the cases described was made by consulting more than thirty-six practicing experts whose combined experience provided an extensive coverage of the field and who were in a position to supply examples of occurrences of present day interest. The response was generous and it is regrettable that space permits the description of only a limited number of typical examples with ' but brief mention of parallel cases. The Nature of Gas-metal Diffusion The term ugas-metal diffusion," although commonly used, is ambiguous in so far as it implies that a definite group of " substances may be identified as gases and may be expected to behave in a manner distinct from other substances in association with metals. "Gases" such as oxygen and hydrogen when diffusing through a liquid or solid metal are properly components of the liquid or solid solution; they behave as alloying elements and are not to be distinguished in their diffusion characteristics from other elements, except that each has an individual rate of diffusion. On the other hand, a number of metals in certain.temperature ranges are volatile to the extent that they may appear in the form of vapor in metallurgical operations. For the sake of greater definiteness, therefore, it will be convenient to regard as "gas-metal diffusion" any process in which the result depends upon one or more of the diffusing elements appearing, at some stage, in the gaseous state, or as a compound gas. NO element, gaseous or otherwise, can diffuse through a liquid or solid metal unless it is at least slightly soluble in that metal. The elements of low atomic number

Jan 1, 1944

Jan 1, 1925

By J. B. Morrow

WITH numerous plans under consideration for coal classification, and with the advent of the Bituminous Coal Code, the intelligent sam-pling of coal has become increasingly important. To us it is rather significant that there have been very few fundamental studies of coal sampling in American technical literature since those of E. G. Bailey, which appeared in the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry in March, 1909. He covered the subject up to that time so thoroughly and in such an excellent manner that perhaps many other later students have felt that they could add very little to his findings. The recent studies of the British Engineering Standards Association have indicated the possibility of a somewhat different interpretation of Bailey's results, permitting the taking of smaller samples, and perhaps it will now be helpful to reopen this question. C. W. H. Holmes, in an informative series of articles on coal sampling recently published in Colliery Engineering, makes two rather interesting statements, as follows: It is scarcely surprising to find a lack of interest and knowledge regarding the sampling of coal not only in the mining industry itself but also among consumers of industrial fuel: at its best coal sampling is a dirty business, regarded as a nuisance and an expense by the commercial man, and usually as a nuisance and nothing else by the chemist. The writer can conceive only two classes of people who have never experienced any difficulty in obtaining representative samples of coal from wagons; those who have never tried to, and those who have never had the necessity or desire to check the accuracy of their work. The primary purpose of this paper is to present some tabulated data of the more significant results of a sampling investigation undertaken during the last four years to obtain certain fundamental data on the variables connected with coal sampling and to point out that often assumptions have been made that are not in accordance with the facts. One of the standard sampling methods states:

Jan 1, 1935

By Robert D. Pehlke, Kazuhisa Okajima

The activity of zinc in dilute liquid lead alloys containing small additions of silver and gold has been measured using a multielectrode galvanic cell with a fused chloride salt electrolyte. The range of temperatures studied in the Pb-Zn-Ag system was 550" to 670°C and in the Pb-Zn-Au system was 680" to 800°C. The interaction parameters between zinc and the precious metals in the respective temperature ranges are ThE lead-rich corners of the Pb-Zn-Ag and Pb-Zn-Au ternary systems are of considerable industrial importance. The use of zinc additions for the desilvering The results of this investigation have Provided a senzi-quantitative determination of the liquidus phase boundaries in the lead-rich corner of these ternary diagrams. of liquid lead either by the Parkes process or by the more recent Williams continuous process is an important refining phase of lead production.1 Several in-ve~ti~ations~-~ have been carried out on the Pb-Zn-Ag system with the hope of improving the efficiency of refining lead in this manner. The addition of zinc also provides a means for separating gold from lead. Since gold is eliminated more easily than silver, a two-stage removal of gold and silver is possible.8'7 The thermodynamic interactions between zinc and these precious metals in dilute solution in liquid lead

Jan 1, 1968

By R. Hadfield

Last year this institute was good enough to accept some remarks by the writer regarding sound steel, entitle Plant for Hadfield Method of Producing Sound Steel Ingots…

Jan 1, 1915

[MUNOZ, P.: New Oil Fields in Trinidad, M27, 311 MUNRO, C. H., biography, M84, 354 MUNROE, H. S., biography, M83, 277 Muntz metal (See also 60:40 Brass): corrosion. See Corrosion of Metals. fatigue and corrosion-fatigue, 78, 597 heat-treated: cleavage structure, 83, 498, 505 grain growth, abnormal, 83, 503, 505 machinability, 99, 323 stress-corrosion cracking, 89, 249. 266 MURAKAMI, T.: iron-silicon diagram, 80, 253, 255 MURDOCH, J. A. W., biography, M28, 157 MURDOCK, W. J.: Discussion on Adaptability of Various Coals as Generator Fuel in Manufacture of Water Gas 78, 561, 565, 566, 568 MURPHY. D. W. AND CHIPMAN, J.: Solubility of Nitrogen in Liquid Iron (T.P. 591) 116, 179. Abs., YB35, 33; M35, 114 MURPHY, L. J.: Relative Advantages and Costa of Electric Power in Lease Operations 77, 219]

Jan 1, 1936

By R. A. Swalin, A. H. Geisler

THIS study represents an investigation of the effect of annealing temperature on the texture of drawn molybdenum, iron, and an iron alloy containing 14 pct Al. The effect of temperature on annealing textures has not been widely investigated in the past. One of the obstacles in making such a study using usual X-ray diffraction techniques results from the

Jan 1, 1957

By J. B. Scuffham, G. I. Warwick, J. B. Lott

The development of solvent extraction processes over recent years has led to their application on an increasing scale in metal extraction plants. The author's company has recently been awarded a contract for the design of the world's largest solvent extraction plant based on pump-mix mixer-settlers. The plant is designed to extract copper from a leach liquor and has an aqueous throughput of 12,000 imperial gpm. The design is based largely upon data obtained from the company's own research laboratories, where work has been undertaken on mixer impeller design, baffle design. settler area, organic entrainment recovery, etc. Investigations have been conducted into the effects of mixer impeller speed, recirculation rates, phase continuity, phase ratio, etc., on extraction efficiency, settler area, and organic entrainment losses. The implications of the results of this work on the design of a large plant using pump-mix mixer-settlers are discussed and the techniques used in overcoming certain scaling problem are outlined.

Jan 1, 1973

Henry C. Carlisle: This is a husband-and-wife act, in which Mary Carlisle is going to listen, and break in as often as she feels like it. I am going to describe my career as a mining engineer. We are at Nantucket, in the 75 Main St. house; The year is 1959. Q: This is something the boys and I have wanted you to do for a long time. Carlisle: After leaving Columbia in 1910, I arrived at Ray, Ariz., January 1, 1911, and rustled a job from Louis Cates, Ralph Nowland and Sprott Boyd, who were running the Ray mine. I went to work as a surveyor's helper, made $90 a month, and paid $35 a month board. I lived in a dormitory where about 25 other engineers, graduates from different colleges, were living. It was very social and you made a lot of young friends early in the game. I did not think much of the idea of being a surveyor, or even a surveyors, helper; the higher-up surveyors only got $125 a month, and had been there quite a long time. So, I asked to be changed to underground sampling, where I would see the mine faces every day and learn more about mining. In about three months, I became an underground sampler and remained at this for a year, but in three months I was promoted to head sampler, with six people under me.

Jan 10, 1963

By Edward Judd

CONSTRUCTION of the long projected Moffat tunnel, on the Denver & Salt Lake R. R., between Tolland and Irving, Colorado, is now actually and actively progressing. This 6.1-mile bore through the Rocky Mountains, at an elevation of about 9200 ft., will eliminate 33 1/3 miles of probably the most tortuous standard-gage track in the world, and at the same time will avoid the necessity for crawling over the snow-bound continental divide at an elevation of 11,660 ft Completion of the tunnel within the stipu-lated four years, is expected to nave an immediate effect on the develop-ment of the known coal fields in north-western Colorado, already penetrated at Craig, the present terminus of the road, while it will also enable the railroad to carry out the original designs of its founder, David H. Moffat, for through traffic from farther west. The intention now is to accomplish the latter object by an extension from McCoy following the canon of the Grand River down to a connection with the Denver & Rio Grande at Dotsero. Legal impediments to the financ-ing of the tunnel having been removed by action of the Colorado legislature in April, 1922, the Moffat Tunnel Improvement District issued bonds to the amount of $6,720,000 which have been widely and quickly distrib-uted through a New York banking house. Responsi-bility for the execution of the project has been vested in the Moffat Tunnel Commission, to which a board of consulting engineers has been appointed for carrying out the details of administration. This board includes D. W. Brunton and L. D. Blauvelt, of Colorado, and J. Vipond Davies and J. Waldo Smith, of New York; R. H. Keays, who has managed large tunnel projects in New York, is chief engineer for the Commission.

Jan 11, 1923

By C. W. Vaupell

THE Huitzuco mines lie in north central Guerrero, Mexico; production has been about 90,000 flasks of quicksilver since 1873. Near-surface ores fill extinct mud geysers and the deep deposits are chambered veins, stock-works in brecciated blocks, and replacements in limestone. The epigenetic minerals livingstonite, stibnite and sulphur occur in limestone, gypsum and dolomite through a developed vertical range of 260 meters. The deepest workings expose an increased amount of stibnite, which probably indicates that the lower limit of mercury mineralization is being approached. A resur-gence of heat and water formed geysers over an extended area after the period of mercury mineralization. Mud geysers, which are situated, in the outcrops, contain the secondary mercury minerals, cinnabar and barcenite in the gravel and mud filling the vents. A 150-ton flotation plant is in operation concentrating stope fills that assay 3.0 kg. of mercury per ton. In one open stope, which is more than one hectare in area and 60 m. high, 150,000 tons are available.

Jan 1, 1937

By B. B. Gottsberger

HAVE given considerable thought during the past year to the subject of licensing of engineers and par-ticularly to the position which the mining engineer should take on this question. I have found, however, that it is not a subject which yields much result for the thought expended on it. So far as any published record will show, mining engineers have been either ignorant of the extent to which the movement for the licensing of engineers has progressed or else indifferent to it. It is true that the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America, by a questionnaire sent out to its member-ship, did a great deal in calling this matter to the atten-tion of the mining profession, and so far as I know, the report of its committee, which analyzed the replies received, is the only published statement of the feelings and opinions of our branch of the engineering profes-sion. It is to be hoped that the conclusions shown by that report, namely, that mining engineers are almost unanimously opposed to the principle of licensing and consequently any legislation dealing with it, has received serious thought and that we are ready for an even more thorough consideration of the subject.

Jan 3, 1922

By F. C. Bond

SIZE of grinding media is one of the principal factors affecting efficiency and capacity of tumbling-type grinding mills. It is best determined for any particular installation by lengthy plant tests with carefully kept records. However, a method of calculating the proper sizes, based on correct theoretical principles and tested by experience, can be very helpful, both for new installations and for guiding existing operations. As a general principle, the proper size of the make-up grinding balls added to an operating mill is the size that will just break the largest feed particles. If the balls are too large the number of breaking contacts will be reduced and grinding capacity will suffer. Moreover, the amount of extreme fines produced by each contact will be increased, and size distribution of the ground product may be adversely affected. If the balls added are too small, grinding efficiency is decreased by wasted contacts that are too weak to break the particles nipped; these largest particles are gradually worn down in the mill by the progressive breakage of corners and edges. Ball rationing is the regular addition of make-up balls of more than one size. The largest balls added are aimed at the largest and hardest particles. However, the contacts are governed entirely by chance, and the probability of inefficient contacts of large balls with small particles, and of small balls with large particles, is as great as the desired contact of large balls with large particles. Ball rationing should be considered an adjunct or secondary modification of the principle of selecting the make-up ball size to break the largest particle present. Empirical Equation In 19521,2 the author presented the following emerical equation for the make-up ball size: B - ball, rod, or pebble diameter in inches. F = size in microns 80 pct of new feed passes. Wi - work index at the feed size F. Cs - percentage of mill critical speed. S — specific gravity of material being ground. D == mill diameter in feet inside liners. K - 200 for balls, 300 for rods, 100 for silica pebbles. Eq. 1 was derived by selecting the factors that apparently should influence make-up ball size selection and by considering plant experience with each factor. Even though Eq. 1 is completely empirical, it has been generally successful in selecting the proper size of make-up balls for specific operations. But an equation based on theoretical considerations should be used with more confidence and have wider application. The theoretical influence of each of the governing factors listed under Eq. 1 was accordingly considered in detail, as described below, and a theoretical equation for make-up ball sizes was derived. Derivation of Theoretical Equation Ball Size and Feed Size: The basis of this analysis is that the largest ball in a mill should be just sufficient to break the largest feed particle into several pieces, excluding occasional pieces of tramp oversize. In this article the size F which 80 pct passes is considered the criterion of the effective maximum particle feed size. The smallest dimension of the largest particles present controls their breaking strength. This dimension is approximately equal to F. As a starting point for the analysis it is assumed that a 1-in. steel ball will effectively grind material with 80 pct passing 1 mm, or with F- 1000µ or about 16 mesh. The breaking force exerted by a ball varies with its weight, or as the cube of its diameter R. The force in pounds per square inch required to break a particle varies as its cross-sectional area, or as its diameter squared. It follows that when a 1-in. ball breaks a 1-mm particle, a 2-in. ball will break a 4-mm particle, and a 3-in. ball a 9-mm particle. This is in accordance with practical experience, as well as being theoretically correct. Confirmation of this reasoning is supplied by the Third Theory of Comminution," which states that the work necessary to break a particle of diameter F varies as F. Since work equals force times distance, and the distance of deformation before breaka4e varies as F it follolvs that the breaking force should vary as F½ These relationships are expressed in Table I, with a 1-in. ball representing one unit of force and breaking a 1-mm particle. This establishes theoretically the general rule used in Eq. 1 that the ball size should vary as the square root of the particle size to be broken. Ball Size and Work Index: The work input W required per ton" varies as the work index Wi, and the

Jan 1, 1959

By Takuski Stanislaw, Alfons Krawiec

Rock bursting is a particular hazard in the pit-coal mines of Poland due mainly to the physical-mechanical properties of the rock and the geological-tectonic structure of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. Mining and geophysical methods of predicting and preventing rock bursts are discussed. These include: seismologic methods, various kinds of shock blasting, torpedoing, and injecting water under high pressure.

Jan 1, 1978

By Paul A. Beck

While the recrystallization properties of most of the practically important metals are known in considerable detail, those of lead are still relatively little known in spite of some valuable contributions in recent years. This condition probably is due to the difficulties involved in applying the usual methods of investigation. The microscopic method of discriminating between the elongated deformed grains of the familiar lenticular shape and the equiaxed recrys-tallized grains is not successful with fully refined lead: lenticular grains cannot be seen under the microscope with any amount of deformation whatever. The probable cause of this phenomenon was recognized long ago. With large deformation the time of recrystallization at room temperaturc is shorter than the period of preparation of the specimen for microscopic examination; with small deformation the deformed grains arc not noticeably elongated in the first place. However, with small cleformation the migration of the grain boundaries can be observed. The only systematic investigations yet published on the recrystallization of lead, those by R. S. Russell, 1-3 make use of the conditions just described. Russell considered recrystallization completed when no further migration of boundaries could be observed. A serious objection to this method arises from the fact that there is no evidence to support the view that grain-boundary migration results only from recrystallization. If such migration does result from other sources after recrystallization is completed—after the deformed grains have been replaced by new unde-formed grains—the "time of recrystallization" as determined by Russell may be too long. Furthermore, the method is subject to the above.-mentioned limitation because of the unavoidable period of preparation of the sample. According to Russell, even with the fastest technique 5 min. clapsed before the deformed samples were ready for examination, and consequently no reearystallization time shorter than 5 min. could be measured. The lack of success in detecting the recrystallization of lead by the usual hardness or tensile tests is again caused by the time necessary for

Jan 1, 1940

By H. M. Chance

Adequate treatment of the difficulties surrounding the valuation of mineral lands requires that agreement be first reached defining value as understood for the purpose of appraisal. To define value as the price of a product is not sufficient, and does not assist us in using the factors that cause variations in values and in relative values. The real value of any product depends primarily upon its relation to the necessities, comforts and pleasures of mankind. As the necessities, comforts and pleasures of the civilized races differ from those of more primitive man, the value of products varies with the degree of civilization and the environment of the consumer. Coal has no value to the savages of warm climates, and arrow-head flint none to the residents of New York. It has long been recognized that what has been termed " intrinsic value " must be limited to materials that are essential to existence—air, water, food. But " intriusic value" cannot be measured in monetary terms. The intrinsic value of a bushel of wheat is due to the fact that it will support the life of an individual for a certain definite time, but this fact does not enable us to measure or to express that value in monetary terms. It has often been proposed to adopt as a measure of the value of any product the quantity of labor necessary to produce it, but this method is of limited application, and will not apply to what may be termed " intrinsic values." For many reasons it might be well, while assenting to the fact that any material may be intrinsically valuable, to abandon the use of the term " intrinsic value." One of these reasons is the tendency to confuse the idea of intrinsic value with a value that is conferred by economic conditions, that is purely artificial and that may be permanent or evanescent. Intrinsic value must from its nature be permanent and unchangeable. Possibly for present purposes the value of any material may be considered as having a dual origin: First, that due to economic

Jan 1, 1914

By R. P. Brown

To gain some idea of the progress recently made in the measurement of high temperatures, we must review the temperature-measuring devices of the past. As far back as 1782, Wedgewood, a famous potter in England, attempted to measure his, kiln temperatures by means of clay trials, or test pieces, that indicated the expansion or contraction that occurred with certain changes in temperature. He also produced cones off clay, formed of various mixes, to form a whole series for the range of temperature met with, in firing clay products. These cones are still extensively used to measure kiln temperatures in the pottery industry. Cones are affected not only by time but by temperature and the rate, of firing, consequently, they are not an accurate measure of temperature. In addition it has been common practice for years to attempt to measure temperatures with fusible salts. Capsules of these are inserted in the furnace and indicate, by melting; when a certain temperature, has been attained. While' such salts cannot be considered a precision form of temperature-measuring device, they have proved reasonably accurate in checking temperature.

Jan 9, 1919

By Paul A. Beck

While the recrystallization properties of most of the practically important metals are known in considerable detail, those of lead are still relatively little known in spite of some valuable contributions in recent years. This condition probably is due to the difficulties involved in applying the usual methods of investigation. The microscopic method of discriminating between the elongated deformed grains of the familiar lenticular shape and the equiaxed recrys-tallized grains is not successful with fully refined lead: lenticular grains cannot be seen under the microscope with any amount of deformation whatever. The probable cause of this phenomenon was recognized long ago. With large deformation the time of recrystallization at room temperaturc is shorter than the period of preparation of the specimen for microscopic examination; with small deformation the deformed grains arc not noticeably elongated in the first place. However, with small cleformation the migration of the grain boundaries can be observed. The only systematic investigations yet published on the recrystallization of lead, those by R. S. Russell, 1-3 make use of the conditions just described. Russell considered recrystallization completed when no further migration of boundaries could be observed. A serious objection to this method arises from the fact that there is no evidence to support the view that grain-boundary migration results only from recrystallization. If such migration does result from other sources after recrystallization is completed—after the deformed grains have been replaced by new unde-formed grains—the "time of recrystallization" as determined by Russell may be too long. Furthermore, the method is subject to the above.-mentioned limitation because of the unavoidable period of preparation of the sample. According to Russell, even with the fastest technique 5 min. clapsed before the deformed samples were ready for examination, and consequently no reearystallization time shorter than 5 min. could be measured. The lack of success in detecting the recrystallization of lead by the usual hardness or tensile tests is again caused by the time necessary for

Jan 1, 1940

By R. D. Nelson, J. C. Shyne

The ß and a ß transformations in plutonium were studied with particular emphasis on the transformation kinetics and microstructure. Significant observations are: 1) The kinetic data show conclusively that the ß — a transformation in high-purity plutonium can proceed isothermally with no athermal component. 2) Plastic deformation of the stable (3 phase retards the subsequent (3 — a transformation. 3) Plastic deformation of the stable a phase accelerates the a — ß transformation; the acceleration is attributed only to residual stresses. 4) The a and a?a volume changes occur anisotroPically in textured plutonium. 5) An apparent crystallogvaphic relationship exists between the parent and the product phases of the and (3 — a transformations. 6) Both applied uniaxial compressive stresses and uniaxial tensile stresses raise the starting temperature for the ß — a transformation. 7) A given uniaxial tensile stress favors the a — ß transformation more than an equivalent applied uniaxial compressive stress opposes the transformation. These observations of the (ß —a and a — ß phase changes in plutonium are consistent with known mar-tensitic transformations. ThIS paper elucidates some of the characteristics of the a— ß and ß —a transformations in plutonium. Because considerable conjecture exists about the mechanisms by which the phase transformations occur in plutonium, experiments have been performed to provide indirect information concerning the mechanisms responsible for the a —ß and ß -a transformations. Indirect information is of particular value in the study of plutonium because of the experimental difficulties presented by the metal. Single crystals have not been produced in any of the allotropes. The large density results in high X-ray and electron-absorption factors and consequently complicating X-ray and electron diffraction. The kinetics of ß — a and a — ß transformations of plutonium and the behavior of the transformations under a variety of conditions have been investigated in detail. Information about the mechanisms of the allo-tropic transformations of plutonium was obtained indirectly from three sources: 1) the effect of plastic deformation of the stable parent phase upon the transformation kinetics; 2) the behavior of the metal transforming under applied stresses; and 3) the microstruc-tural and crystallographic features between parent and product phases. PHASE-TRANSFORMATION CHARACTERISTICS In characterizing solid-state phase transformations in metals and alloys, it is useful to define several types of transformations. An aim of the present work was to identify the low-temperature transformations in plutonium by type, i.e., as martensitic or nonmar-tensitic. Practical definitions for these terms follow. The terms commonly used to categorize phase transformations lack universally accepted definitions. This confusion arises doubtlessly because some terms specify crystallographic or morphological character while other words have a kinetic or a thermodynamic connotation. For example, martensitic specifies certain definite crystallographic restrictions. Unfortunately, martensitic is sometimes used in an ill-defined way to imply kinetic characteristics. Further confusion attends the use of such expressions as nucleation and growth, diffusional, and massive. From time to time new systems of phase-transformation nomenclature are suggested; unfortunately none of these has gained general acceptance.1,2 The authors of the present paper have no intention of entering the controversy. We recognize that some readers may object to the nomencliture used here. For exampie, the terms military and civilian have recently been used in much the same way as martensitic and non-martensitic are used in this paper. This paper is intended to describe several specific details of the low-temperature phase transformations in plutonium. The authors have found it useful to identify these transformations as martensitic; the term was chosen as the best available to describe the experimentally observed features of the transformations studied. A martensitic transformation is one that occurs by the cooperative movement of many atoms; the rearrangement of atoms from parent to product crystal structure occurs by the passage of a mobile semico-herent growth interface. The geometric features characteristic of a martensitic transformation are a specific orientation relationship between the product and parent phase lattices, a specific habit-plane orientation for the growth interface, and a shape change with a specifically oriented shear component. There is no alloy partition between the parent and product phases in a martensitic transformation. Martensitic transformations may display either athermal kinetic behavior or thermally activated isothermal kinetic behavior. Some martensitic transformations occur isothermally, although more commonly martensitic transformations are athermal. Isothermal martensitic transformations are suppressible by rapid cooling. In athermal martensitic transformations, nucleation and growth are not thermally activated and the transformations are essentially time-independent. Nucleation, growth, or both can be thermally activated in isothermal martensitic reactions. Transformation of the parent phase into a marten-

Jan 1, 1967