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Jan 1, 1896

By C. H. P. Lupis, Henri Gaye

There are m -I conditions for the stability of a solution of m components with respect to infinitesinzal flucturations. However, in most cases, only one of these conditions has to be considered to determine the domain of instability and the existence of this more restrictive condition greatly simplifies the calculations. It may be used advantageously for the prediction of miscibility gaps and the method is illustrated in details for the case of the Ag-Pb-Zn system. THE thermodynamic conditions for the formation of a miscibility gap may be viewed as a necessary consequence of the conditions for spinodal decomposition. A previous article1 has examined in detail the form of these conditions for multicomponent systems. There is only one condition for the stability of a binary system (with respect to infinitesimal fluctuations), but there are two conditions for a ternary system, and m — 1 conditions for an m-component system. The probability of violating a stability condition, and thus forming a miscibility gap, obviously increases with the number of components, a result which is rather intuitive since the atoms of the solution have now many more ways of redistributing themselves and introducing complexities in the form of the free energy hy-persurface. It is of interest to take advantage of this possibility of precipitating new phases and to examine which stability condition is the likeliest to be violated, that is, which stability condition is thermodynamically the most restrictive. The finding of such a condition would greatly simplify the application of the stability criteria since only one condition could then be considered, instead of m - 1. In Ref. 1, coherency strain energy terms were neglected, thus restricting the applications of the treatment to solutions where they are negligible, such as liquid alloys. In the following study the same assumption will be made. To generalize the treatment to systems where the strain energy terms are sizable, the reader is referred to Cahn's classical article on spinodal decomposition.2 Let us designate by Gij the second derivative of the Gibbs free energy with respect to the number of moles ni and n j. There are several equivalent sets of m — 1 stability conditions.' The one considered here expresses that the successive diagonal determinants of order 1, 2, ... m — 1, associated with the symmetric Gij matrix (for 2 5 i, j 5 m) are positive.' For a binary solution 1-2, the condition for stability is: O(u=G22^0 [1] For a ternary system 1-2-3, the condition [I.] is re- tained (the value of G22 will differ, of course, according to the concentration of 3) and another condition is introduced: £>(21 = G22G33 - Gl3 ^ 0 [2] In a composition diagram, these two conditions define two domains of instability. Starting at a point where the solution is stable (for instance at a point where the solution is very dilute) we gradually change the composition until the condition [I] or [2] is violated. As already noted in the literature, e.g., in the work of Prigogine and Defay,3 it is the boundary of the domain (2) which is first crossed. For if we assume that the boundary of the domain (1) is reached first, at this point G22 = 0 and the second condition is necessarily violated (D(2) = -& 5 0), in contradiction with our original assumption. An exhaustive study of the ternary regular solution case may be found in the work of Meijering.4 Moreover if the boundaries of the two domains have a common point, they also have a common tangent. For if the two lines were to cross each other as is illustrated in Fig. 1(a) any point M in the line QP would be such that £> = 0 and 0"' > 0 which, as shown above, are incompatible results. Thus, the two lines must be tangent at their common point Q as illustrated in the example of Fig. l(b). The reasoning of Fig. l(a) implies that the point Q is not a "singular" point for either boundary line. This singularity may be of two types. First, the lines meet without crossing each other and without being tangent. Second, the tangent at Q for D"' or 0"' is not single-valued. Other types of singularity are unlikely because of the usual analytical forms of D"' and 0"'. The exception to the common tangent requirement due to the first type of singularity was pointed out by John Morral;5 it occurs when the common point, Q' or (3" in Fig. l(b), is located at a boundary of the composition diagram, e.g., at the line X3 = 0. It may also be noted that at the common nonsingular point Q of D(1) and D(2), Fig. 1(b), G23 is necessarily equal to zero, whereas at a point such as Q' or Q", this conclusion is no longer valid because the product G22G33 is now indefinite (of the form 0. a). The exception to the common tangent requirement due to the second type of singularity occurs when two branches of the same boundary line intersect, for example when D(1)or D(2) decomposes into a product of functions, at a point which belongs to the boundary of the other condition. It is possible to show by a simple analytical calculation that, in this case, if Q is a singular point of D(1), then it is necessarily a singular point of D(2), and that the reciprocal is true except if G33 = 0 at Q. For the present article, however, more elaboration on these singularities appears to be unwarranted. To generalize the previous results to an m -component system, we use the mathematical theorem stating that if the diagonal determinant D(r) = 0, then

Jan 1, 1970

By E. W. Dewing

The nature of solid solutions of sodium in non-paphitic carbon at temperatures near 1000°C has been investigated by an electrolytic technique. The activity coefficient is found to vary strongly with the heat-treatment temperature of the carbon, and an analysis of the energy terms involved suggests that this is due to variations in the Fermi level. The diffusion coefficient for sodium is in the range implying that the sodium atoms (or ions) are not bound to specific sites on the carbon, in agreement with lack of evidence for specific compounds in the activity -composition curves. In the light of These results phenomena occurring in aluminum reduction cell linings are dis-cussed. It is concluded that sodium migrates by diffusion through the carbon lallice and not the pores, and that A14C9 is formed within the lining hy The excess of NaF invariably found in used linings is formed by this reaction and by air oxidation: There has recently been much interest in the swelling of carbon which occurs when it is made cathodic in an aluminum electrolysis cell, and there is general agreement that the phenomenon is due to the penetration of sodium atoms, derived from the reaction on the carbon lattice. (NaF and AlF3 are constituents of the fused-salt electrolyte.) The low-temperature lamellar compounds of potassium with graphite are well-known, and one compound between sodium and graphite has been reported.4 There is, however, virtually no information on the basic chemistry of the interaction of sodium with nongraphitic carbon at high temperatures, although Dell3 has made some fundamental studies of rates of penetration. At the time the present work was carried out these were not available. Rapoport and samoilenkol had measured rates of physical expansion in a dilatometer, using the fractional increase in length of a carbon specimen after electrolysis in a cryolite bath for 2 hr as an index of susceptibility to cathodic swelling. Work here with a similar apparatus showed that expansion (of a 1.5-in.-diam cylindrical specimen) ceased in less than 20 hr, and that the final expansion was much more reproducible than the value at some intermediate time. This suggested that an equilibrium was being set up, and that a thermodynamic approach was required. The results obtained are not as accurate as had been hoped, but they are the only ones of their type available and have enabled useful conclusions to be drawn. The experimental work was divided into two parts: an investigation of the activity-concentration diagram for sodium in carbon, and a rough determination of the diffusion rate. For the former, most of the experiments were made with petroleum coke even though this is not a form of carbon used in cell linings. It has the advantages, however, that it is a homogeneous material, that it is low in ash, and that its structure is reasonably well understood. Anthracites and coal cokes gave results of the same type as obtained with petroleum coke, but the reprodu-cibility from specimen to specimen was extremely poor. EXPERIMENTAL 1) The Activity-Composition Diagram for Sodium in Carbon. The petroleum coke was ground, pressed at 40,000 psi into plates 19 by 9 by 2 mm without added binder, and heat-treated. The sodium activities were established by an electrolytic technique. The carbon was made anodic in a cryolite bath with an aluminum cathode, and a controlled potential, E, applied so that the sodium activity at the anode was given by ln Na = 1n asa - EF/RT [21 where as, is the sodium activity generated by Reaction [I]. The relative activity is sufficient for many purposes and is simply given by The value of Na not at present known, but when the thermodynamics of the Na-A1 system have been worked out it can be derived from the equilibrium

Jan 1, 1963

By E. C. W. Perryman

The wide grooves formed at the grain boundaries when high purity aluminum is attacked by hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide have been attributed by earlier workers to the high energy of the grain boundary material. The effect has been investigated for high-purity AI-Fe alloys with up to 0.055 pct Fe as a function of iron content and heat treatment. It is shown that the explanation given above is untenable, but that the results can be explained on the assumption that iron segregates to the grain boundary in solid solution. IN 1934, Rohrmann¹ showed that aluminum of 99.95 pct purity suffered intercrystalline corrosion when immersed in 10 to 20 pct hydrochloric acid, and that the susceptibility to intercrystalline corrosion depended upon the heat treatment given. The greatest susceptibility was found for specimens quenched from a high temperature (600°C) and the lowest susceptibility for specimens cooled slowly from that temperature. Lacombe and Yannaquis2 have shown that super-pure aluminum (99.9986 pct) annealed at 600°C suffers intercrystalline attack in 10 pct hydrochloric acid and that this attack is intensified by anodic dissolution in the same solution at a current density of 10 milliamperes per sq dm. No difference in extent of intercrystalline attack was found between the 99.993 and 99.986 pct Al, which led the authors to suggest that impurities played only a secondary role in the mechanism of intercrystalline corrosion. It was found, however, that the attack at the grain boundaries depended upon the relative orientation of the grains, large differences in orientation favoring rapid attack. Boundaries where the two neighboring grains were similarly orientated showed high resistance to attack as did boundaries between grains which were in twin relationship. These observations led Lacombe and Yannaquis to suggest that the intercrystalline attack was due to lattice discontinuities present at grain boundaries. Assuming that the grain boundary is a layer three to five atoms thick and has a crystal structure which is a compromise between the two neighboring grains it is clear that the discontinuities will increase with increasing difference in orientation between the neighboring grains and hence the increasing tendency to intercrystalline attack. Roald and Streicher³ investigated the effect of heat treatment of aluminum alloys ranging in purity from 99.2 to 99.998 pct on the corrosion resistance in 20 pct hydrochloric acid and 0.30N sodium hydroxide. They found that in hydrochloric acid the intercrystalline attack appeared to be determined by the type and quantity of impurities present and by the relative orientation of the grains. No difference in the susceptibility to intercrystalline attack was observed between specimens quenched and those furnace cooled, from 575°C. In 0.30N sodium hydroxide some materials exhibited intercrystalline attack, this taking the form of V-notches. Rohrmann¹ offered no explanation for the greater susceptibility to corrosion of material quenched from 600°C. It seems possible that this difference is connected in some way with a different distribution of impurity elements in the quenched and slowly cooled specimens. The fact that Roald and Streicher8 observed no difference between quenched and slowly cooled specimens may possibly be due to differences in either rate of cooling or silicon content or possibly both. Both these would be expected to have an effect on the distribution of impurity elements. Although the rate of cooling used by Rohrmann was slightly more rapid than that used by Roald and Streicher the position cannot be clarified because Rohrmann does not give the silicon content and Roald and Streicher give the silicon contents of only a few of their alloys. That Lacombe and Yannaquis2 found no difference in corrosion behavior attributable to impurities between the two materials they used may be because both were of high purity compared with the aluminum used by Rohrmann.¹ Although they found no difference in the corrosion behavior of their two materials it is possible that the results obtained by Lacombe and Yannaquis may, nevertheless, have been influenced by impurity distribution, since, on the transition lattice theory of grain boundary structure, it would be expected that sparingly soluble impurities would tend to segregate to boundaries where the orientation difference is such that there is a greater density of atomic sites of suitable size to contain them. It was considered worth while, therefore, to examine the corrosion properties of a series of materials of differing impurity content with the objects of confirming the experimental observations made

Jan 1, 1954

By D. A. Kraai, S. Floreen

The effect of 1 to 50 ppm S on the ductility of nickel at 800° to 1400°F was studied. Results at each temperature showed a decrease in the reduction of area from approximately 95 to 5 pet over the sulfur range studied. Ductility varied with grain size, but only to a minor extent relative to the sulfiw effect. The effects of sulfur were completely offset by the addition of small amounts of magnesium. The results indicate that the "hot-short" loss in ductility is not an inherent property of nickel. Some possible mechanisms which cause the loss in ductility are described. MANY metals or alloys that normally possess high ductility exhibit a ductility loss at intermediate temperatures. This loss in ductility is often called "hot-shortness". Numerous examples of this phenomenon have been reported in the literature. Much of this work has been reviewed by McLean1 and by Rhines and Wray.2 To date there is no fully satisfactory explanation of the cause of this intermediate-temperature hot-shortness. It is generally recognized that impurities, and particularly impurities that form low-melting phases, can cause embrittlement. Examples of hot-shortness have been reported, however, where there were no obvious impurities present which would lower the ductility. Thus there has been some basis for believing that hot-shortness is an inherent property, and that even the purest metal would display a hot-short loss in ductility. This latter hypothesis was recently put forward by Rhines and wray2 based on studies of nickel and nickel alloys. In the discussion of this paper, however, Guard noted that high-purity nickel showed no hot-shortness.3 Thus there is reason to doubt whether pure nickel, or by inference any other pure metal, will inherently exhibit hot-shortness. The present work was initiated to determine the extent to which hot ductility was sensitive to very small amounts of an impurity element. If it could be demonstrated that hot-shortness could be induced by only minor amounts of an impurity, then it might be argued that hot-shortness in general is an impurity effect, and not a fundamental property of pure metals. The particular impurity studied was sulfur in nickel. The deleterious effects of sulfur are well- known. It is also well-known, and will be shown below, that additions of magnesium will render sulfur innocuous. When no such refining agents are added, however, the Ni-S system is a very useful one for studying the influence of small amounts of impurities. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Two heats containing -24 ppm S were vacuum-melted and small amounts of magnesium were then added under an argon atmosphere. These alloys were used to show the effectiveness of the normal magnesium treatment in overcoming the influence of sulfur. A second series of alloys with a sulfur range of 1 to 50 ppm was then prepared by vacuum melting nickel in alumina crucibles. No elements, such as magnesium, which tend to combine with sulfur were added. The higher sulfur contents were attained by adding nickel sulfide. Lower sulfur contents were prepared using a method in which the melt was oxidized under vacuum to produce the reaction S + 2O = SO2 These heats were subsequently deoxidized with carbon. Ten- to twenty-pound ingots were cast of all of the alloys studied. The compositions are given in Table I. The ingots were forged and hot-rolled to 3/4-in. bar. They were then annealed at either 2000" or 1600°F to produce different grain sizes. One-quarter-in.-diam tensile specimens were machined from the bars. These were tested at 800°, 1000o, 1200°, and 1400°F. The specimens were held at temperature approximately 45 min before testing. The strain rates were 0.005 min-1 to yielding, and 0.05 min-' after yielding. No extensometers or gage marks were placed on the specimens because the higher sulfur heats tended to fracture at the knife-edge indentations or gage marks. The properties measured were ultimate tensile strength and reduction of area. The analytical technique for determining sulfur at low levels was that developed by Burke and Davis.4 They reported a standard deviation of 1 ppm at an average sulfur level of 4 ppm in NBS standards. A standard deviation of 3 ppm is probably more realistic for the alloys used in this investigation considering the possibility of some segregation in the ingots. RESULTS A summary of the tensile results is given in Table I. As shown in the table, both heats to which

Jan 1, 1964

By D. O. Hobson, J. O. Stiegler, C. J. McHargue

The effects of alloy composition, deformation temperature, heal treatment, ad inlerstilial contamination on the occurrence of deformation twins were studied. The twinning transition temperature varied with composition and was a maximuni of 140°C for the 40 pcl V composition. Tire remperature range of the transition was very narrow. Alloys of 20 to 70 pet V could he cold-rolled and exhibited profuse twinning. The alloys which did not twin at room temperature (10, 80, and 90 pel V) could plot be cold-rolled. Oxygen additions systematically lowered the transition temperatures for all vanadium contents. The transition temperature for a 30 pet V alloy increased with annealing temperature, apparently due to changes in dislocation density and configuration. Twinning did not nucleate fracture in any specimen in the 20 to 60 pet V composition range. THERE is great current interest in the refractory metals and alloys as structural materials. An important factor in considering the ductile-brittle behavior of such materials is the role of mechanical twinning as a deformation mechanism. Mechanical twins have been observed after deformation at low temperatures or at high loading rates in the pure metals iron,1 vanadium,2,3 columbium,4,5 tantalum,6 Chromium,7 molybdenum,8 and tungsten.9 Binary alloys in which mechanical twins have been observed include: iron with silicon,10 phosphorous," or aluminum;12 and chromium, molybdenum, or tungsten with rhenium.13-17 The increase in low-temperature ductility obtained by alloying the Group VI-A elements with rhenium is very important with regard to fabricability, and there has been considerable effort to understand the so-called '(rhenium effect". Factors suggested to explain this effect include:'' 1) increase in solubility of interstitial impurities with alloying (electronic effect): 2) changes in the nature of grain boundary phases; 3) changes in interfacial energies of grain boundaries and stacking faults: and 4) promotion of twinning. Although an outstanding characteristic of these alloys is the profuse twinning that accompanies low-temperature deformation, most studies of the rhenium effect have been concerned with the other factors. During recent studies of refractory-metal alloys, it was noted that solid solutions of columbium and vanadium exhibited high hardness and strength at room temperature and elevated temperature and, surprisingly, also showed considerable ductility at room temperature and below. These alloys deformed by twinning at room temperature when subjected to slow loading rates. It appeared that the low-temperature ductility resulted at least in part from the relaxation of stresses by twinning in a system where slip is difficult. The reason for enhanced twinning behavior in some bee solid-solution alloys is unknown. There have been suggestions18,19 that, as in fee alloys, the

Jan 1, 1965

By W. C. Phalen

INTRODUCTION NOBODY will dispute the fact that the conservation in every legitimate manner of our valuable high-grade phosphate-rock deposits is a present-day problem of importance. The table and curve, given herewith, show. that during the past 10 years the exportation of high-grade rock has averaged very close to half the total output of the entire country. The bulk of this exportation is from Florida, for obvious reasons. It is plain that the deposits in this State, more particularly, are being wastefully depleted under a system of selecting the cream of the product for exportation to Europe, leaving the comparatively low-grade rock, running from 65 to 70 per cent., and under, in bone phosphate of lime, for our own n fertilizer manufacturers to work up when all the best rock is gone. In this paper the writer has endeavored to make a point of describing in some detail the important methods of production and conservation in Tennessee. These ought to prove of educational value to our American agriculturists and fertilizer manufacturers, and should result in a demand for the highest-grade rock, both for direct application to the soil and for use in making acid phosphate. It is certainly evident that the European

Jan 10, 1916

By William G. Pariseau

The flexure of geologic strata, a phenomenon of interest to geologists and mining engineers alike, is examined as a sheet bending problem in Coulomb plasticity. Fonnulae for the distribution of stress, strain, and displacement increments; volume change; change in the length of the central surface; and power of dissipation, as well as for the neutral surface shift are given. Strains of any magnitude are considered. The analysis shows that deeply buried strata may bend and develop "tensile" cracks under generally compressive states of stress. It is also shown that bed separation and high capacity props are desirable in mechanized longwall mining, a result in keeping with operating experience. Although speculative at this time, the analysis provides a rational working hypothesis as regards the problem of strata flexure and control. | he purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of the flexure of geologic strata as a problem in the bending of a sheet of material failing in accordance with a Mohr-Coulomb criterion. The flexure of strata has an obvious academic interest to the geologist concerned with the mechanics of folding. It is of interest to the economic geologist as it relates to the structural control of certain types of ore deposits. It has an intimate association with mine subsidence phenomena, and is of concern to the mining engineer. Strata flexure is also the dominant feature of roof behavior about longwall workings. An improved understanding of strata flexure through a rational mechanical analysis thus appears desirable not only from the academic view but from the economic one as well. In the field, the most commonly observed feature of folding, subsidence, and longwall roof behavior is the permanent and therefore inelastic nature of the strata movement. Fig. 1 illustrates the physical disposition of strata in the vicinity of a longwall face. Inasmuch as most rocks (with the possible exception of certain evaporites) do not exhibit significant viscoelastic behavior, at least not over time spans of engineering interest, a plastic analysis is indicated. The analysis is meant to apply to strata whose deformation is dominantly that of bending such as might be expected in the remote roof about a longwall face.

Jan 1, 1970

By Richard Akerman, Frederick Prime Jr

[THE attention now being paid both in this country and Europe the greatest economy in the working of the blast furnace, and the eagerness with which all thoughtful men in the iron business look for any new information which will tend to throw light on this subject, is a quite sufficient excuse for presenting this paper to the American Institute of Mining Engineers.] I. It must be borne in mind that when two bodies unite to form a chemical compound, heat is almost always evolved. In order to

By James T. Gow, Oscar E. Harder, Anton de S. Brasunas

THIS paper deals with the results obtained and the techniques employed in determining: I. Liquidus and solidus temperatures of the HH and HT type heat-resistant alloys. † 2. The relation of true temperatures (thermocouple) to apparent temperatures (optical pyrometer) for the molten HH and HT type alloys. This work was the outgrowth of needing to know something definite about these temperatures in order to study the effect of pouring temperatures, shake-out times, and heat-treatments on the properties of some heat-resistant alloys. The information developed is thought to be of interest to industry for guidance in foundry practices and the industrial heat applications of the alloys. This paper is based upon work that has been done for the Alloy Casting Institute at Battelle Memorial Institute. LIQUIDUS AND SOLIDUS TEMPERATURES OF HH AND HT TYPE ALLOYS Experimental Procedures Temperature-time curves were obtained during the cooling and solidification of several HH and HT type alloys. The metal was melted in an Ajax high-frequency induction furnace and poured into a coresand mold for cooling. The temperature measurements were obtained by means of a platinum, platinumrhodium thermocouple contained within a fused silica sheath, which was extended through the side wall of the dry core-sand mold to a point at about the center of the mold cavity, which was 3 in. in diameter by 5 in. deep. The cold junction of the thermocouple was kept in an ice bottle, and the temperature was recorded automatically on a direct-reading potentiometer recorder. Through a switching arrangement, the temperature recorded was checked occasionally with a portable Leeds and Northrup potentiometer indicator. Less than a 5°F. variation in the two instruments was always found. This is within the limit of accuracy of readings. The thermocouple used was checked for accuracy against a standard couple, both before use on this work and after completion of the work, by the instrument laboratory. Temperature-time Cooling Curves Fig. I is an enlarged reproduction of a part of one of the cooling curves over the temperature range of 2600° to 2200°F. for an alloy of the HT type with 0.45 per cent carbon, 16 per cent chromium, and 36 per cent nickel. This is a typically shaped cooling curve as obtained for the alloys. It will be noted that two temperatures are shown on Fig. r for the liquidus temperature. It is thought likely that the higher temperature, A, at the point at

Jan 1, 1945

By Robert H. Merrill, David W. Wisecarver, Raymond M. Stateham

The US. Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with US. Borax and Chemical Corp. and Kennecott Copper Corp., has investigated the use of the microseismic method to evaluate the stability of large, open-pit slope walls. The method is based on the phenomenon that stressed rock normally emits subaudible rock noises, and the number of rock noises per unit time (noise rate) and the magnitude of the rock noises (amplitude) increase as the stresses in the rock approach the failure stress of the rock. Therefore, the detection and recording of those rock noises serve as a semiquantitative method of predicting the incipient failure of rock. This report briefly describes the three different types of micro-seismic apparatus, the procedures, and the results of microseismic investigations in the slope walls of the Boron mine near Boron, CaL, and the Kimbley, Liberty, and Tripp-Veteran open-pit mines near Ely, Nev. Microseismic monitoring within a frequency band of SO to 5000 Hz indicates noise rates in stable, inactive mining areas are between 0 and 10 noises per hour; the rates in stable, active mining areas are between 10 and 50 noises per hour; and the rate in unstable areas is as high as 2500 noises per hour. High microseismic noise rates in the Liberty pit correlate with the time of nearby earthquakes, indicating that the earthquakes affected the slope wall. The results provide evidence that the microseismic technique is applicable to large pit walls, and that the wide-band, wide-range microseismic equipment appears to be suitable for open-pit investigations. The microseismic method is based on the phenomenon that stressed rock normally emits subaudible rock noises, and the number of rock noises per unit time (noise rate) and the magnitude of the rock noises (amplitude) increase as the stresses in the rock approach the failure stress of the rock. Therefore, the detection and recording of those rock noises serve as a semiquantitative method of predicting the incipient failure of rock. The method has been used for many years to detect incipient failure in roofs or pillars in underground mines. In 1963 the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) started an investigation of the microseismic method in large, open-pit slope walls. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the method in open-pit slopes where the rock may be fractured and broken and where the size of the rock mass under investigation is much larger than normally encountered underground. In addition, both the stresses in the rock and the strength of rock near pits are lower than usually found underground. Consequently, there was some doubt concerning the feasibility of the method for open pits, and the economics of such an investigation may have been prohibitive especially if large walls had to be monitored with closely spaced geophones. The successful application of the microseismic method to underground operations has improved safety at little, or no sacrifice, to production or extraction ratios. The anticipated reward in open-pit mining would be the improvement of safety with a minimum sacrifice to mining operations. There is also a possibility that the method could be used to optimize the unloading (stripping) of potential failure areas by the removal of intact rock from the slope wall rather than the cleanup of a slide from the bottom of the pit. This report contains a brief description of three types of microseismic apparatus used in four different pit walls, each of which is different in height, slope, rock types, or has different planes of weaknesses, such as faults, fractures, or joints. Because the geologic features of the pit walls are varied and complex, for brevity, this report dwells mostly on the microseismic apparatus, techniques, the rock noise rates, and the slope movements measured at the various sites. PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT The microseismic method was developed over 20 years ago; and the method and examples of investigations in underground mines are summarized by Obert and Duvall. 1 In more recent years, the method has been applied in several underground mines, and an in-situ test under controlled stress conditions is described by Morgan and Merrill. 2 Experience has shown that, on occasions, the microseismic noise rate and amplitude reach a peak value and then start to decrease before a failure occurs in an underground mine; on other occasions, the noise rate steadily increases to a maximum at failure. The method has been applied to slopes by Goodman and Blake,3 and by Paulsen. 4 Goodman and Blake found that the noises corresponded with failures in the slope

Jan 1, 1970

By Thomas L. Garrard, James A. Sprague, Rex B. McLellan, Samuel J. Horowitz

A simple rnodel for interstitial solid solutions has been devised in which each solute atom interacts with the solzlent lattice in such a way as to exclude an integral number of nearest-neighbor sites from being occupied by solute atoms. The vemaining interstitial sites ave not affected. In calculating the entropy of such a solution the increase in the number of interstitial sites available to solute atoms due to the ozlerlap of blocked sites is taken into account. The ther-modynamic functions and the solute activity fov the solution rnodel are calculated. It is shown that considevation of the overlap sues vise to a correction term of the order 8' ( where 0 is the ratio of solute to solvent atoms) in the thevmodynamic functions of the solution and the solute activity. The theo,uetical equation for the solute activity was used to analyze the available data for the activity of carbon in austenite at three different temperatures. The use of a computer enabled many comparisons to be made between the experimental activity data and those predicted by both the complex blocking model and the simple, widely used blocking model in which the ozierlapping of blocked sites is not taken into consideration. Even though at the highest concentvations oj carbon the value of 0 is small it is shown that the best fit to the experimental data is found with the complex blocking model. RECENTLY it has been shown by analysis of gas-solid equilibriums that many interstitial solid solutions can be described by the quasi-regular solution model in which the partial energy of solution E, is independent of composition and, apart from a composition-independent term due to nonconfigurational factors, the partial entropy is that of an ideal solution. Dilute solutions of nitrogen in both bcc and fcc iron,' dilute solutions of oxygen and silver,' carbon in a Fe,' and dilute solutions of carbon in ? Fe2 are all quasi-regular. In addition many hydrogen-metal solutions, both dilute and concentrated (with the notable exceptions of the H-Ni and H-Pd systems), can be described by this model.3 However, it has been shown that, at various temperatures, solutions of carbon in ? Fe begin to depart strongly from quasi-regular behavior at low concentrations. A plot of the activity of carbon in ? Fe relative to pure graphite vs atom fraction of carbon (Cc) calculated from Smith's data4 begins to depart from the (nonlinear) plot for a quasi-regular solution at about Cc = 0.02. Several statistical models have been proposed to account for the thermodynamic behavior of carbon in y Fe. Darken and smith4 set up a model in which a carbon atom in its octahedral site in the fcc lattice has either one or no neighboring carbon atoms in the twelve nearest-neighbor octahedral sites. It is assumed that the number of carbon atoms having more than one nearest neighbor is negligibly small and that a solute atom does not interact with another solute atom located at a greater distance than the first shell of interstitial sites. Thus this model contains two characteristic interaction energies. Darken and Smith showed that this model gives reasonable agreement with the measured variation of carbon activity ac with composition. It is noteworthy that Darken and Smith concluded from their analysis of the activity data using this model that there was a repulsive force between carbon atoms in austenite which reduces the concentration of C-C pairs below that corresponding to random mixing. Recently Aaronson, Domian, and pound5 have considered in detail the statistical model developed by Lachere and by Fowler and Guggenheim7 and have shown that it is compatible with the activity data for carbon in austenite. In Darken's model the energy of solution of carbon in austenite is dependent on temperature and concentration; the departure from Henry's law arises from the concentration dependence of the energy of solution. In Aaronson, Domian, and Pound's discussion of the Lacher, Fowler, Guggenheim model the interaction energy wy between adjacent carbon atoms in austenite is strongly temperature-dependent. Aaronson et al . suggested that this temperature dependence of wy and hence the energy of solution of carbon could be explained either by the formation of clusters of carbon atoms (despite the repulsive nature of wy) or by the dual occupancy of the octahedral and tetrahedral sites by the carbon atoms. However, a temperature-dependent heat of solution

Jan 1, 1968

By R. J. Wysor

Since the outbreak of the European war, few problems of raw-material supply have commanded more nation-wide attention than potash. It is well known that before the war the domestic production of potash was an insignificant percentage of the imports. The average annual importation of raw potash salts for several years prior to 1914 was slightly over 300,000 net tons, and of other potash manure salts about 700,000 tons. The sudden and almost total cessation of these imports created a unique and stringent situation. Methods of recovering potash from feldspar and other native mineral sources, and reclamation from hitherto waste products, have received a marked impetus. Soaring prices have been a keen incentive to research and industrial development. Although several brief articles concerning the possibilities of potash recovery have appeared in recent trade journals, it still may be a matter of some surprise to the average technical mind that potash might be reclaimed as a profitable byproduct in the manufacture of pig iron. At the present time it may be of special interest to present some data, largely of a technical nature, on this subject. A fairly thorough search of the literature reveals a number of articles concerning salts of the alkali metals in the blast furnace. Many of them deal with the theoretical rôle of alkali cyanides in the furnace. Several discuss the probable effect of the alkalies on the furnace brickwork. Two or three ambitious patents have been granted for reclaiming potash or other products from blast-furnace gas. However, we have heard nothing further as to the practical application of these patents. Little literature of importance has appeared during the last 10 years concerning alkalies in blast-furnace practice, and I have discovered no record whatsoever as to the actual sale or commercial disposal of flue dust for its potash content until this was inaugurated in our plant at Bethlehem. A bibliography of the most important articles discovered is appended. About 4 years ago, in the course of investigating blast-furnace stove efficiencies, I analyzed the fine, yellowish fume of which a considerable

Jan 1, 1917

By B. C. Allen

The solubility of chromium in liquid silver and that of molybdenum and tungsten in liquid tin have been determined by equilibrating Ike Liquid in a crucible of the solule metal. Generally the weight of solute in solulion was delermined both chemically and from crucible weight losses. The resulting weight percent solubilily of chromium in silver as a function of absolule temperature T is given by log w = -6660/T + 4.02 in the range 960° to 1445°C, and that of molybdenlttrl in tin by log w = —5050/T + 1. 79 in the range 1200° to 2200°C. The values appear unaffected by minor changes in solute composition. Calculations aye made of the parlial molar heal and excess entropy of mixing. The estimated solubility of tungsten in tin is 0.001 pct at 2000°C. Evidence is presented that molybdenwm dissolves in tin without compound for mation and that tungsten and tin form W10Sn. RECENT developments in coatings, heat transfer, and brazing require a knowledge of equilibrium solubilities in a variety of systems at elevated temperatures. Of particular interest are solid-liquid interactions in metal systems involving dilute solutions. This investigation was undertaken since little is known about the phase relations or solubility of chromium in liquid silver or of molybdenum and tungsten in liquid tin.1,2 EXPERIMENTAL WORK As indicated in Table I, high-purity metals or those of known impurity levels were used. Crucibles were machined from chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten bar stock 1.3 cm diam and 2.2 cm long. Chromium rod was prepared by arc melting and extruding iodide process crystals.3 The five chromium impurity alloys were in the form of 0.6-cm-diam swaged rod. A Cr-0.06N* alloy was prepared by exposure to NH3 at 1150°C in a closed quartz capsule for 24 hr. Because significant nitrogen was lost during annealing in argon at 1600°C,4 the estimated level was 0.01 pct N. Chromium and Mo,W crucibles were outgassed at 1200" and 1600°C, respectively, at 3 X 10-5 mm. The solvent was placed In crucibles of the solute metal- 6 g Ag in chromium, 0.4 g Ag in the five chromium impurity alloys, and 4 g Sn in Mo,W crucibles. The silver and tin series were outgassed at 900" and 110O°C, respectively, and held at the desired solution temperature in a tantalum resistance furnace under 1.05 atm 99.995 pct Ar. An equilibration time of 0.5 to 1 hr was chosen since 0.3-, I-, and 4-hr anneals at 1235°C for Cr-Ag yielded similar results. Temperatures were measured optically to +10°C under essentially black body conditions which were checked against the melting point of silver. The Cr-Ag and Mo-Sn,W-Sn series were respectively equilibrated at 990° to 1400°C and 1200" to 2000°C. Vaporization losses were generally held to <1 pct by the argon. In the 1800" and 2000°C anneals for 0.5 hr, the crucibles were placed in tightly sealed tantalum cans which kept tin losses to <5 pct. After the anneals, the specimens were furnace-cooled. One anneal was made on small Mo-0.02 C, Mo-0.5Ti-0.lZr, and tungsten crucibles containing tin at 2200°C. The metals were sealed in an electron-beam-welded tantalum can of minimum volume. After the anneal, tin was still present in each crucible, none of which was severely attacked. After equilibration, the saturated solvent metal was selectively removed from the crucible by acid leaching. Weight losses sustained by the crucibles were determined from the initial weight minus the final blank-corrected weight after acid leaching. Chemical analyses were performed on some of the samples. Hot 1:l HNO3-H2O removed silver from chromium with the blank running <0.1 mg or <0.002 pct on measured solubility. Tin was removed from molybdenum and tungsten by hot concentrated HC1 with the respective blanks amounting to -0.004 and -0.0004 pct in the presence of tin. The insoluble residues were weighed and checked for composition. The leaching solutions contained traces of the solute metals which were analyzed by colorimetric methods, Diphenyl Carbazide for chromium, Thiocyanate for molybdenum, and Dithiol for tungsten. The total of the two percentages found from the residue and leaching solution minus the blank gave the desired solubility values. On the basis of annealing empty molybdenum and tungsten crucibles, weight losses due to MoO3 or WO3 volatilization were found to be generally 10.4 mg and affect measured solubilities by <0.01pct. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Chromium-Silver . Since no intermediate compounds are reported to form in the Cr-An system,&apos; crucible weight losses and chemical analysis of the entire melt should provide reliable measures of the chromium in solution. Values obtained by the two methods are in agreement as shown by the results for unalloyed chromium in Table II and plotted in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the results are consistent with those previously determined by melting equilibrated silver out of the crucible and analyzing calorimetrically for chromium.&apos; On the basis of limited thermal analysis data, the solubility of chromium in silver has been quoted as 8 pct at the monotectic temperature of -1445°C.1 This investigation indicates an extrapolated solubility of 1.38 pct which is believed to be more reliable. At the eu-

Jan 1, 1968

By T. L. Joseph, G. Bitsianes

The gaseous reduction of dense iron ore is a topochemical process in which reduction takes place at distinct interfaces between solid phases or layers. Under normal conditions, these interfaces remain parallel to the exterior surface of the ore body as they move inward. Certain conditions, such as cracking, high porosity, impurities, entrapped residual oxides, may cause departures from normal topochemical behavior. THE gaseous reduction of dense iron ore proceeds at interfaces between several solid phases or layers.&apos;,&apos; Under normal conditions, these interfaces progress inward and remain parallel to the exterior surface of the ore body. This topochemical behavior is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 which shows partially reduced specimens of natural and synthetic hematite. Using a coordinated sequence of macro, micro, and X-ray examinations, the authors1-&apos;2 found that the number of interfaces and participating phases was in agreement with the Fe-0 system. Above 570°C, reduction of the ore involved a maximum of three common boundaries between four solid phases: iron, wiistite (Fe,O), magnetite (Fe,O,), and hematite (Fe,O,). Below 570°C, reduction proceeded through two interfaces between three phases: iron, magnetite (Fe,O,), and hematite (Fe,O,). The decrease in the number of phases below 570°C was due to the instability of wiistite below this temperature. The sequence of phases was also consistent with the equilibrium requirements. For example, the layers of iron oxides that were formed in topochemical fashion were always orientated in the order of increasing oxygen content. Thus, in Fig. 1 an outer layer of metallic iron is followed in turn by a thick intermediate band of black wiistite, by a thin layer of light magnetite, and finally by a relatively large core of hematite. This arrangement of the oxide layers was due to restrictions in reducing conditions which were imposed by the physical structure of the solid. The highly reducing gas on the outside of the particle gradually lost its reducing power as it penetrated into the specimen. On a macro scale, the layers of the various oxides appeared to be sharply defined and uniform in composition. Microexamination of the sections, however, revealed that the interfaces did possess measurable widths which varied with the porosity and chemical activity of the oxide phase undergoing reduction. For example, Fig. 2 shows three interfaces in a dense hematitic ore which was partially reduced at 850°C. At the iron-wiistite interface where the greatest porosity developed, the reaction proceeded over a zone 25 to 30 microns in width. Toward the interior, the interfaces became progressively narrower until at the magnetite-hematite boundary the reaction zone was about 1 micron wide. In this region the structure was exceedingly dense; the hematite possessing a porosity on the order of 3 pct. A careful micro study across polished layers of the various oxides revealed generally homogenous and single-phase structures. As reported in a previous paper,&apos; the wiistite layer was characterized by an increase in oxygen content with depth of penetration. The topochemical behavior of reduction was studied in six types of ore of different origin, composition, and physical structure. In most cases, reduction proceeded at the boundaries of well defined layers or phases, and this behavior may be regarded as normal for most dense fine grained ores. Deviations from Ideal Topochemical Behavior A number of deviations from the normal topochemical behavior were noted. In these cases, the continuity of the reduction interfaces was disrupted in one of four ways: 1—Cracking of the specimen interrupted the geometric configuration, and the interfacial advance was no longer parallel to the exterior surface. 2—As a result of high porosity, the interfaces were spread over an appreciable distance and all but obliterated. 3—Impurities in the ore promoted a variety of deviations, including cracking. 4—A residual oxide phase was entrapped in the reaction product and left behind the advancing macro interface. Results from Cracking: A crack leading into the interior of an ore specimen presents a path of least resistance for the counter-flow of reducing gases and gaseous reduction products. Higher reducing conditions can be maintained along such cracks and reduction accordingly will propagate well ahead of the normally advancing reduction interfaces. Cracking was caused by a number of factors, one of which was the thermal spalling of impurities in the massive form. A more general type of cracking was due to reduction and was found in all dense varieties of natural and synthetic hematite, particularly in the temperature range of 500" to 700°C. The effect is shown clearly in Fig. 3. In this case, a dense sphere of pure hematite was partially reduced at 650°C for 100 min. The macrosection shows that one large reduction crack had penetrated the specimen and disrupted the normal topochemical advance of the interfaces. The outer layer of iron was only slightly affected but the thin dark layer of wiistite, adjacent to the ferrite, had widened perceptibly as it progressed along the crack. Farther inward, the magnetite layer was greatly disrupted and had penetrated irregularly to form islands of unaltered white hematite. A great deal of internal cracking is evident in the magnetite phase. From a practical point of view, the cracking of dense ores in the blast furnace could lead to desirable as well as undesirable effects. The general result

Jan 1, 1956

By Richard Akerman

(Translated by FREDERICK PRIME, JR., Professor of Metallurgy in Lafayette College, Easton, Pa.) [THE attention now being paid both in this country and Europe to the greatest economy in the working of the blast furnace, and the eagerness with which all thoughtful men in the iron business look for any new information which will tend to throw light on this sub¬ject, is a quite sufficient excuse for presenting this paper to the Amer¬ican Institute of Mining Engineers.] I. It must be borne in mind that when two bodies unite to form a chemical compound, heat is almost always evolved. In order to

Jan 1, 1873

By E. A. Gulbransen, J. W. Hickman

IN a previous paper1 the authors have investigated the structure of the oxide films formed on most of the metals that make up the alloys of this study. The metals were studied in order to provide basic information on the structures, both physical and chemical, of the oxide films and to determine how these structures are effected by the temperature, time of oxidation, and surface preparation. It was felt that an understanding of the physical and chemical structure as well as the stability of the oxide film might furnish clues as to the nature of the reaction process and the protective quality of the film. The oxidation of the metals was studied over the temperature range 300° to 700°C. except for copper, where the range selected was 100° to 500°C. The results of these studies were presented in graphical form as existence diagram, of the oxides on a time-temperature scale. For some of the metals the existence diagrams were simple and showed few chemical transitions, but there were numerous cases where the physical state of the oxide surface was a function of time and temperature. In general the physical state of the oxide surface changed with increasing temperature so as to increase the sharpness of the diffraction patterns and to cause orientation effects to be more pronounced. Deviations in lattice parameters from X-ray values were noted. In general these deviations were of positive nature and may be due to solid solution of the metal in the oxide lattice. This effect might be expected in thin oxide films. In a study of the oxidation of alloys containing two or more metals, there may arise the complicating factor of identification of the oxides formed. A thorough understanding of the oxides formed on the pure metals, therefore, was, essential before investigation of the oxidation of alloys. In this paper it is our purpose to present a study of the following problems: I The existence diagrams of various alloys. [2.] The effect of the structure of the [ying] metal on the existence diagram of Iron. 3. The effect of the percentage of chromium on the oxides formed on Fe-Cr alloys. 4. The relationships, if any, between the oxides formed and the protective quality of the oxides. The following alloys are included in this study: alloys of iron with body- centered cubic, face-centered cubic and other metals, 13 Cr-Fe, 18-8 stainless steel, K42B1 Nichrome V, Hipernik, Inconel, Stellite " 21," Refractaloy, Kovar, mild steel, a series of Cr-Fe alloys and a series of Co-Fe alloys. Since many of the commercial alloys in this list contain more than two metals, various complicating factors in the identification of the oxides formed may arise.

Jan 1, 1946

By Walter F. Gries

AN ounce of prevention is worth A a pound of cure&apos; is an old proverb that has sometimes been forgotten in programs having to do with the health of workmen. Realization of the truth of this maxim is increasing, however, and today the iron-mining industry, with which I am particularly concerned, is becoming more alive to the prevention of illness and the conservation of health, thus decreasing the need for treatment after diagnosis has established its necessity. The healthy workman is the happy, efficient workman, and new programs tending to make him more health-minded are being put into operation. Preventive medicine is less costly than corrective medicine, to say nothing of the better results obtained. Periodic physical examinations, with close follow-up attention when required, have reduced the time lost because of illness, workmen&apos;s compensation costs, and group-insurance benefits for nonindustrial disabilities.

Jan 1, 1939

By Edward H. Robie

MANY engineers currently are working harder than usual, in part because of the demands being made upon them for increased production in the war effort, and in part because engineers are in short supply so that there is more to do for those who are available. In some instances the question has come up as to what additional payment, if any, should properly be made for overtime work, and to what extent is such payment legally permitted under the rules of the Salary Stabilization Board. Most engineers employed in an executive, administrative, or outside salesman capacity are not paid for overtime. They are paid for doing a job instead of for the hours they put in, and are free to do all the unpaid home work they feel they should do after dinner, as well as to do a bit of thinking and worrying during wakeful hours in bed. But engineers employed in a strictly professional capacity normally have standard office hours. Some employers pay for overtime and some don&apos;t. Their practice as it existed on Jan. 25, 1951 may be continued. In the absence of such practice at that time, the Salary Stabilization Board says that the engineer may now receive additional compensation up to his straight-time rate for an extended work week. No formal approval of the Board is required. "A professional engineer," in the mind of the Board, "is a person employed in a professional capacity, who, by reason of his special knowledge of the mathematical and physical sciences and the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design, acquired by professional education and practical experience, is qualified to practice engineering." Inducted Engineers A letter from a young man just inducted into the service and fearful that his engineering training is not going to be utilized reached us last week from Fort Riley, Kan. The AIME, cooperating with the other Founder Societies, is doing what it can, through the Engineering Manpower Commission, to see that engineers are not being wasted in the military establishment. So we passed this young man&apos;s letter along to T. A. Marshall Jr., executive secretary of that Commission. Mr. Marshall tells us that the normal procedure now being followed by the Army in handling Selective Service inductees is to have them first complete 16 weeks of basic training before assignment to specialized categories. During that time they are classified. If one has an engineering degree he should be classified as scientific and engineering personnel at the end of the basic training period. He should then be transferred to a technical detachment and assigned an MOS (Military Occupational Specialties) reflecting his education. If a young man is looking for a commission, it might be added that the current policy in the Army is to transfer to OCS (Officer Candidate School) applicants for commissions in the infantry only. The local unit commander can give information on this point, based upon the aptitude shown in tests. In view of the current shortage of engineers, it is believed that a young man should seriously consider remaining in enlisted status unless he can obtain a commission in a branch of the service that can make full use of his technical skills. His work may thus be more to his liking even if his uniform is not. New York or Atlantic City? In which place is it preferable to hold the annual meeting of a professional society like the AIME-New York or Atlantic City? That is, a winter meeting. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers has held its recent meetings at Atlantic City, with increasing attendance and satisfaction. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers chose Atlantic City for its recent December annual meeting. Only twice has the AIME ever met in this famous seashore resort: in 1898 and 1904. Chief advantages of going to Atlantic City over New York are that technical sessions are better attended, there being little else to do there in Winter; the cost to members is less, and hotel facilities are better adapted to a large meeting. As to cost, take a banquet, for instance. The Chalfonte-Haddon Hall, which caters especially to winter conventions, charges about $7 for a banquet dinner of standard quality. A similar dinner at the Statler in New York would cost about $8.50, and about $10.50 at the Waldorf-Astoria. (The charge for tickets is somewhat greater than this because of the cost of music, programs, flowers, and other incidentals.) Rooms, too, are somewhat less at Atlantic City, two in a room being accommodated for about $7 per day each, compared with $7 to $10 at a headquarters hotel in New York. On the other hand, AIME headquarters is put to some extra expense for staff travel, food and lodging, and members living in New York and environs are forced to pay a hotel bill. New York, of course, has more varied amusements to offer, plenty of big stores, and the glamour of a big city. The choice may be discussed at the forthcoming meeting in New York. In the meantime if any reader cares to express an opinion one way or the other we shall be glad to hear it. College Scholarships Most parents of children in the later stages of high school find it necessary to give some consideration to the cost of a college education. Although salaries have increased substantially it seems that the cost of the necessities of life, such as food, housing, and maintaining the family automobile, have gone up even more, so the problem of financing the children&apos;s education is as acute as ever. Many overlook the possibility of scholarships, or feel that only a student at or near the top of his class has a chance to get one. As a matter of fact, close to 150,000 scholarships and more than 15,000 fellowships, worth some $42,000,000, are available in 1200 American colleges and universities. Those who are interested should send 55¢ to the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. for a 248-page publication just issued by the U. S. Office of Education, entitled "Scholarships and Fellowships Available at Institutions of Higher Education."

Jan 1, 1952

By B. Chalmers, L. Bäckerud

The growth temperature of dendrite tips has been measured in a binary alloy system, Al-Cu, as a function of rate of formation of solid phase. Metallographic examination has rerealed the dendritic structure dereloped during different stages of the freezing process and factors influencing the undercooling, such as solute buildup, surface tension, and kinetic effects, have been estimated. Practical implications of the results are discussed. THE development of a dendritic growth pattern during the solidification of metals and alloys has an influence at least equal to that of grain size on the properties of the casting or ingot being produced. and consequently much interest has been devoted to the study of this phenomenon. A review of the knowledge gathered up to 1964 has been given by Chalmers.&apos; Among recent publications in the area the works of Jackson et al 2 and Flemings and his coworkers3,4 are of special interest. This work is an experimental study of the factors which influence the development of a dendritic pattern during the solidification of a typical binary alloy system, A1-Cu, when there is no heat source in the liquid. This means that the temperature and the temperature gradient are controlled by the heat extraction from and latent heat evolved by the growing crystals. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Samples were prepared from a master alloy made up of aluminum, 99.995 pct, and copper. 99.99 pct, of the concentrations given below and of sufficient size to fill cylindrical graphite molds of 35 mm ID and 35 mm height. Bottom. wall. and lid of the graphite molds were all of 6 mm thickness, Fig. 1. Thin ceramic thermocouple shields could be introduced at different positions in the sample through holes in the lid. The assembly was heated in a small vertical resistance furnace to a suitable temperature. 700° to 720°C. which is well above the melting point of the sample. It was thereafter taken out of the furnace and chilled at selected rates, and the temperature changes in the sample were recorded. For high sensitivity in the temperature recordings, a reference thermocouple was held in a solidifying pure aluminum melt. which was very well insulated and therefore was at a constant temperature. 660°C, for nearly half an hour. The thermocouples were connected so that the difference voltage was fed into the recorder of which the most sensitive range was 1 mV. Temperature variations could be read to within 0.l°C. The thermocouples used were of the Chromel-Alumel type (28- or 38-gage wires) and the recorder a two-pen Moseley strip chart recorder. The different rates of chilling were obtained in the following way. a) The graphite crucible was wrapped in one or two layers of an insulating. feltlike material (Fiberfrax paper from the Carborundum Co.). The drop in temperature per unit time after complete solidification could thereby be varied from 8" to 18°C per min. This corresponds to a rate of heat extraction in the given samples from 0.08 to 0.17 cal cm-&apos; sec-I. 6) The bare graphite mold was placed free on a piece of firebrick. The measured temperature drop was around 50°C per min (-0.5 cal cm-" &apos; sec- I). c) By blowing compressed air through a tube with many holes surrounding the mold in a ring shape. the rate of heat transfer could be raised to 150&apos; to 200°C per min (-1.7 cal cm-3 sec- I). d) Cooling rates around 1000 C per mill (-9.4 cal cm-3 sec-l) were obtained by substituting the air in the device used in c by water. The range of cooling rates used in these experiments correspond to technical casting processes from slow solidification as obtained in sand molds to very rapid freezing which occurs in some continuous casting and welding processes. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS The A1-Cu system was chosen for the experiments: the relevant part of the phase diagram is reproduced in Fig. 2. Observation of the Center Temperature. When a thermocouple is inserted in the center of the melt. the type of cooling curves obtained at slow solidification rates differs little from numerous published curves from similar systems. and the solidification pattern

Jan 1, 1970