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By DONALD H. McLAUGHLlN

Few factors have had more influence in maintaining the strength and stability of the United States than our persistent habit of providing .checks and balances to the dynamic powers of free enterprise on the one hand and to the controls and guidance exercised by the State on the other. .Indeed, it is this same concern for matching forces against each other that has given our republic its ability -to preserve a democratic basis of life for its citizens, and yet maintain a ,government that is able to protect the rights of all and to resist and minimize the danger of excessive concentration of authority. Our current efforts to clarify the nation's mineral policies and to define more clearly the role that the governmental agencies should play in conjunction with the functions of private -enterprise again reveal the desirability and advantages of maintaining our traditional controls. At times, the equilibrium has been temporarily disturbed by too great enthusiasm for one or the other of these basic concepts. Sooner or later, however, the balance has been restored by the healthy opposition that is always created by excesses of one sort. At the current stage in our history, the swing toward undue enlargement of the powers of the State seems to have gone dangerously far and we would be untrue 'to our traditional behavior if the group that must demonstrate the virtues of free enterprise did not rally to its support with the utmost earnestness.

Jan 1, 1949

By Albert A. Mathews

OUTCROPS of gypsum rock near the present site of the city of Gland Rapids, Mich., were known to fur traders early in the nineteenth century. However, the deposits seemed without value and were not worked for some time. So far as cat1 be learned, Michigan gyp- sum was first used by a plasterer who settled in Grand Rapids in 1834 as a member of its fourteenth white family. In building a house for one of the early traders, be used some otnamental stucco mouldings manufactured from the local gypsum deposits for decorations in the gables and around some circular windows. The gypsum was broken out with a hammer, ground in an Indian corn mill, and burlled in a caulclron kettle,. After two attempts, the ornaments were successfully set, and remained on the house until it was destroyed by fire in 1850.

Jan 1, 1936

By G. W. Josephson

VIRTUALLY every year inventors find one or more startling new uses for one of the varied products of the nonmetallic mineral industries. For example, in November a major step toward positive control of rainfall was made when an experimenter converted a cloud to snow by dropping a few pounds of solid carbon dioxide into it. Other examples of ingenuity in the development of markets and production methods are noted in the following pages. For most of the industrial mineral products one of the outstanding features of 1946 has been the high level of production. There are exceptions, such as quartz crystal and lithium, whose production capacity during the war outgrew current peacetime needs, but they are few. Some technical men point out that this prosperity is not an unmixed blessing to technologic progress, because so much effort must go into day-to-day production problems that relatively little opportunity is left for the pursuit of new developments.

Jan 1, 1947

By A. O. Dady

PRODUCERS of both bituminous and anthracite coal have for many years been worrying about the gradually decreasing consumption of their product in the United States. Twenty years ago production had climbed to a peak of 569,000,000 tons of bituminous and around 90,000,000 tons of anthracite. In 1939 it was about 393,000,000 tons of bituminous and 51,000,000 tons of anthracite. This does not mean that the country is using less polver than it did twenty years ago, or that we are living in colder buildings. As a matter of fact, about three times as much electric power is now being consumed as in 1920. In general two factors are responsible for the drop in coal consumption: (1) greater efficiency in the use of coal, and (2) increased competition from hydro power, internal-combustion engines, and substitution of oil and gas for coal in conventional furnaces. As to the first factor, it took 3 Ib. of coal to generate a kilowatt-hour of electricity in central stations in 1920 and it takes 1.4 Ib. now; it took about 175 Ib. of coal in railroad locomotives to haul 1000 long tons a mile in 1920 where it talces about 120 lb. now: and marked economies have also been made in the use of coal in steel plants: in by-product coke ovens, and in other large uses. As to the second factor, three times as much electricity is produced from water power now as was produced in 1920; three times as much oil is being consumed in various ways; and likewise, the consumption of natural gas has tripled- whereas coal consumption in the same period has dropped by 40 per cent

Jan 1, 1941

By Games Slayter

NO reasonably well-informed person believes that the role of minerals, both metallic and nonmetallic, will be any less important in the future than it has been in the past. The contrary is true. Industrialization is based on mineral resources and man's ability to make use of them. A nation's standard of living, its political and military power, will continue to depend largely upon the extent to which it is industrialized-and minerals are the raw materials both of the machine and the power to run the machine. Minerals are also the raw materials of human health and stamina. The world's healthiest, most vigorous, and most long-lived peoples have always been those that have lived in regions of the globe where the earth is rich, and kept rich, in the phosphates and other minerals required for the production of the so-called growth foods. Only a small proportion of the land surface of the globe is suitable under any circumstances for large-scale production of these and other essential foods. As things stand, only a part of this land is capable of such production either because the soil minerals have been exhausted by cultivation, or because they never existed in the soil in sufficient quantities.

Jan 1, 1943

ANDERSON, ALEXANDER, Captain, Royal Garrison Artillery. ANDERSON, GEORGE K., JR., Lieutenant, 30th Co., 3d Replacement Regiment. ARMSTEAD, H. H., Captain, Quartermaster Corps, U. S. N. A. ARMSTRONG, HAROLD KERR, Student Flight Officer, U. S. Naval Reserve Flying Corps, Dunwoody Naval Training Station, Minneapolis, Minn. BAKER, HARRY A., Captain, Co. M, 53d Pioneer Infantry. BASSETT, THOMAS E., Corporal, 340th. Field Artillery, Battery A, 89th Division, A. E. F. BATES, Wm.. T., 3d Reserve Officers' Training Camp. BAUMMGARTEN, K., 1st Lieutenant, 1st Corps School A. P. 0. 703. BAYLESS, G. E. S., Supply Dept., U. S. Submarine Base, New London, Conn. BENSEL, J. A., Major, U. S. R., Board of Control, War. Construction Activities, Norfolk, Va. BILLICK, DON C., Co. C, Ordnance. Supply School. BILLINGSLEY, PAUL, 1st Lieutenant, National Army, Statistics Branch,. General Staff. BLANDY, S. H. B., B. E. F.

Jan 8, 1918

By Charles Wert

THE diffusion and precipitation of carbon and nitrogen in a iron have previously been investigated using the internal friction as a measuring tool.' Most of this work has been done on rather pure iron; no effect was observed which would indicate that either of these phenomena is affected by the rather small amounts of impurity found in these samples of iron. Fastz observed, however, that both the diffusion rate and the aging properties of nitrogen in iron were sensibly changed by the addition of Vz pet Mn. The diffusion rate at a given temperature is reduced and the nucleation of nitrides is apparently changed somewhat. He observed no such changes for carbon in this alloy. Later Dijkstra and Sladek" extended these observations on nitrogen to other alloys of iron. They found that metals other than manganese also influence the behavior of nitrogen in iron; chromium, molybdenum and especially vanadium affect the diffusion and precipitation of nitrogen even more than manganese does. Their results have been verified in all essential details by this author, who finds in addition that small additions of nickel have about the same effect on the diffusion of nitrogen as the same amount of manganese. The present work was undertaken to study the effect on carbon in iron of these alloying elements. The alloys used had two sources. The material used as a "standard" (designated Fe in this paper) in the measurements was some iron supplied by J. K. Stanley, of Westinghouse Electric Corp., who reported 0.01 pct 0, as the only major impurity. He also made up an alloy of 0.26 pct Ni and one of 0.9 pct Mo using this same iron as a base. They were supplied by him in 2 lb billets, which were sawed into rods and cold formed into 0.030 in. wires for measurement. The alloys of chromium, manganese, and vanadium were prepared by the metallurgy section of the Institute for the Study of Metals, University of Chicago, by adding these metals in turn to vacuum melts of National Research Corp. iron. The small castings prepared in this way were also cold formed into 0.030 in. wires. After these wires had been prepared they were decarburized for 30 min at 730°C in wet Hz. After this treatment, no trace of carbon (as measured by internal friction) could be found. All specimens were then carburized for about 15 min at 710°C and water quenched. By this treatment the internal friction at 40°C was raised to a Q-' ~ 0.015. The diffusion of carbon in these alloys was studied by observing the shape and position of the internal friction peak at 0.9 cycles per sec. These measurements were made using a torsional pendulum in a manner described earlier.' The data are plotted in Fig. 1. It is seen that there is no apparent difference in internal friction between the various alloys. This is in marked distinction to the broadening and shift-

Jan 1, 1953

By Jan Visman, S. J. Aresco

INTRODUCTION The accurate sampling of coal, as with most minerals, is a difficult task. Coal is a heterogeneous material made up of different types of coal and varying amounts of mineral matter. The product as mined may contain all the layers of coal and impurities found in the seam as well as portions of the stratas above and below the coal seam. The preparation plant is the device to size, crush, and/or remove impurities so the coal may be shipped as a salable product. Sampling may be needed at many stages in the preparation process. Although this chapter is primarily concerned with sampling in connection with preparation processes, the principles apply to all coal sampling. The main reasons for sampling in connection with coal preparation are: 1) To determine the washability characteristics of the raw coal by means of float and sink tests. These may be used for the design of a preparation plant, prediction of results to be obtained, or monitoring raw coal delivered to the plant. 2) To check the performance of various operating units in the plant, either by float. and sink tests or chemical analyses. 3) To determine the analytical characteristics of the products produced, such as moisture, ash, Btu, sulfur, etc. HISTORY The earliest accepted methods of sampling coal in the United States were given in US Bureau of Mines (USBM) publications by J. A. Holmes,l G. S. Pope,2 and A. C. Fieldner.3 The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) more or less adopted the methods proposed by USBM in their Standard D-21-1916 and it remained a standard for many years. Briefly, this standard called for a 500 lb (227 kg) sample for coals less than 94 in. (19 mm) in size and a 1000 lb (454 kg) sample for all coals over 94 in. (19 mm) in size. No mention was made of increments, but there was an instruction that the sample should spread over the coal

Jan 1, 1979

By J. G. Thompson

PROJECT 8411 of the U. S. Bureau of Standards, sponsored by the Iron and Steel Division of the A.I.M.E., is an attempt to define more concisely than has been possible heretofore the accuracy and the Limits ' of usefulness of the ' various methods now in use for the determination of oxygen as it exists in ferrous materials. It originated in correspondence between John Johnston and other metallurgists, and was brought to the attention of the Iron and Steel Division of the Institute at the Annual Meeting in February, 1933. As reported in MINING AND MET,ALLURGY, Vol. 14, page 152, March, 1933, "Dr. Johnston introduced, and those present adopted, a resolution that the Iron and Steel Division of the A.I.M.E., believing that a careful comparison of the several methods now in use for the analysis of steel for nonmetallic elements such as oxygen is highly desirable, heartily endorses the proposal that the U. S. Bureau of Standards act as a clearing house " in this matter, undertaking the final preparation and allocation of identical samples to those laboratories willing to collaborate in this important question, and collate the results re- ported back to the Bureau.'"

Jan 1, 1934

By B. Yarar, J. Kaoma

[Introduction The critical surface tension of wetting of hydrophobic materials has been investigated extensively by Zisman et al. (1973) and relates the spreading of a liquid on a solid to the surface tension of this liquid. Thus, the Zisman ap¬proach shows that a plot of Cos 0 versus ?LV where, 0 is the contact angle and ?LV is the surface tension of that liquid in contact with its own vapor at equilibrium, produces a straight line which can be extrapolated to Cos 0 = 1. The intercept corresponds to a given ?LV, termed the critical surface tension of wetting. In instances, however, Cos 0 - ?LV plots show deviations from linearity. Alternative approaches have also included the plotting of adhesion tension (YLV COs 0) versus ?LV that can be interpreted in terms of critical surface tension data (Lucassen-Reynders, 1963). It has, on the other hand, been customary to correlate contact angle (0) with flotation data, although it is recognized that surface inhomogeneities and related contact angle hysteresis limit the interpretations pertaining to solid surface structures purely based on contact angle measurements. It is nonetheless true that 0 = 0, when the liquid is water, corresponds to a hydrophilic solid. Determination of ?c by contact angle measurements in conformity with the Zisman approach can encounter experimental difficulties, especially when solids are in a powder form. Following the reasoning that 0 = 0 corresponds to the hydrophilic state of a solid, froth flotation experiments can be expected to produce critical surface tension of wetting values for powders. The technique that consists of plotting recovery (% R) versus YLV data and extrapolating the linear part of the curve to % R = 0, has been described elsewhere (Yarar and Kaoma, 1984). This paper describes some of the results obtained by the extrapolation technique mentioned above, using various sulfide minerals. Experimental Materials Molybdenite (MoS2), sphalerite (ZnS), chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), chalcocite (Cu2S), and galena (PbS) were handsorted from massive samples and ground by mortar and pestle, and the -147 Fan fraction used in experiments; sulfur (S) was a C.P. Fisher Scientific Co. product. Method One gram powder samples were conditioned for three minutes in methanol-water solutions of predetermined surface tension values and the percents recovered by flotation using a Partridge-Smith Cell (Partridge and Smith, 1972), were plotted against each ?LV value. Results and Discussion The percent recovery versus ?LV for two naturally hydrophobic solids, i.e., natural molybdenite, MoS2 and sulfur are given in Fig. 1 where it is seen that ?c for sulfur is obtained as 31.5 mNm-1 whereas for MoS2, it is 26 mNm-1. Figure 1 also shows that the new flotation technique described, for estimating ?c is in good agreement with the Zisman method. Curves obtained by the same method for the minerals Cu2S, PbS, and ZnS are given in Fig. 2, where it is seen that for Cu2S, ZnS, and PbS, the extrapolation to % R = 0 produces ?c values of 36, 39, and 49 mNm-1, respectively. CuFeS2, on the other hand, gives a curve that does not permit such an extrapolation to obtain a ?c value with certainty. Nonetheless, treatment of the powder with 8.95 X 10-5 molar Na2S solution followed by washing with distilled water prior to flotation effects the curves as shown in the insert of Fig. 2. The type of curves given in Fig. 1 appear to be typical of hydrophobic solids as can also be observed in Fig. 3. The composition of solid and minute quantities of inclusions seem to play an important role as regards the surface properties of solids as reflected by the slope of the linear part of the % R - ?LV plot and thus the value of ?c obtained by this technique. For example, MoS2 of three different stoichiometric compositions produced the data given below. [MoS2MoS2.14Mo1.002S2 ?c mNm-126.029.031.0 dR/d?8.95.23.0]]

Jan 1, 1985

By R. E. Allen, A. C. Jephson

ELECTROLYTIC zinc plants of the American Smelting and Refining Co. are located adjacent to the present city limits of Corpus Christi, Texas. The original plant commenced operations during 1942, and is designed for the production of special high grade zinc from zinc sulfide concentrates.' Subsequent changes include the erection of an additional acid plant during 1950, and additions for increased generating and production capacity during 1951. New Electrolytic Plant—The new electrolytic plant is a separate unit erected for the treatment of densified fume produced at Asarco plants located in El Paso, Texas and Chihuahua, Mexico. Construction was completed and operation commenced during June, 1953. Decision for the erection of a separate plant for the treatment of densified fume is based on several factors. One of the principal reasons is the assurance of continued production rate of the original plant, which might have been jeopardized by combined treatment of calcine and fume. Of equal importance is the advantage of locating a plant on a site with adequate space for eventual expansion. General Description—The new plant for the treatment of densified fume consists of four main buildings for the following operations: storage and grinding of fume, leaching and purification, electrolyzing and casting, and rectifier units. Auxiliary buildings include a baghouse, reagent storage, and a lunch room. Leaching of ground fume with electrolyte from the cells is a batch type operation in tanks equipped with mechanical agitators and weightometers. Completed leaches are pressure filtered, the resultant residue being recovered for shipment to El Paso by conventional use of thickeners, drum type vacuum filters, and a direct-fired dryer. Filtrates from the filter section are purified in mechanically agitated tanks, filtered after completion through plate and frame presses, and then pumped to an evaporative type cooling tower. Solution discharged from the basin of the cooling tower is collected in storage tanks for use in the cells. The cool purified solutions are pumped as required from storage to the solution circuit for circulation of electrolyte through the cells. Except for the addition of purified feed solution and withdrawal of electrolyte for leaching, the circulating system for the cells is essentially a closed continuous circuit that includes the use of evaporative cooling towers for control of solution temperatures. Aluminum cathodes and Ag-Pb anodes are used for electrolysis, which is maintained at a current density of about 82 amp per sq ft. Cathode zinc produced is melted in a gas-fired reverberatory furnace and then cast into slabs on a straight line casting machine. Unloading and Storage—Fume produced by the Chihuahua plant is shipped in box cars, and fume by the El Paso plant in hopper bottom dump cars. Shipments as received are weighed on a 7 5-ton capacity railroad scale, sampled, and then moved over one of the two unloading hoppers with a car puller. The cars are then unloaded with mechanized equipment, a car scoop being used for unloading of box cars and a car shaker for the hopper bottom cars

Jan 1, 1958

By Sherwin F. Kelly

MANY baffling problems of crustal geology-of warping and folding, elevation, subsidence, and great dislocations of the earth's surface-may now be on the verge of yielding to the science of geophysics. Electric, magnetic, gravitational, geothermal, and seismic methods are being turned to the gathering of geological evidence buried by deep layers of rock, or lying beneath the waters of the oceans. In this hope, B. L. Miller expresses the opinion that these geophysical studies will sup- ply useful data bearing-on some of the more theoretical problems of North American geology. Among these for example, is the explanation of how Appalachia disappeared. This ancient land mass is supposed to have foundered beneath the Atlantic Ocean after the close of the Paleozoic era and the question arises, was it warped or faulted downward? The geophysical data, though meagre, indicate that the surface of the dense, basal rocks, the probable remnant of ancient Appalachia now underlying the Continental Shelf, slopes downwards to a depth of some two miles below sea level at a distance of 140 mi. from shore: thus suggesting that the subsidence was the result of warping downward rather than abrupt faulting.

Jan 1, 1938

By Howard H. Fields

Any mining engineer with a desire to operate independently, with some financial backing, and with no fear of heavy responsibility and long hours, should be able to make a comfortable living in Mexico. Barring a few inconveniences such as a lack of satisfactory liability or accident insurance, the difficulty of obtaining repair parts or vehicles, and the length of time required to receive returns from shipments, the operation of small mine is not at all difficult. It is, in fact, a little easier to find a good prospect in Mexico than in the U.S.

Jan 1, 1950

By W. W. Vaughn, R. H. Barnett, E. E. Wilson

Soon after the search for uranium ores on the Colorado Plateau began in earnest, thousands of feet of drill core ranging from 1 1/8 to 2 1/8 in. diam became available for study. Although significant advances had been made in the technique of quantitative gamma-ray borehole logging, instrumentation was in the development stage, and complete reliance could not be placed on gamma-ray logs alone to interpret quantitatively the meaning of radioactivity in a drillhole. A method that would be faster than chemical analysis and still give reproducible and reliable results for various drill core sizes was desirable to provide additional information on the enormous footage of drill core being accumulated. A solid phosphor scintillation drill core scanner was designed and constructed. Basically the instrument was developed to measure radiation from a drill core which would not be clearly recorded by a gamma-ray logger using a Geiger tube as the sensitive element. Such data would be beneficial in constructing isorad maps to delineate ore-bearing zones. A calibration in the range 0.01 to 0.1 pct eU.,O, was provided; above 0.1 pct eU3O8 gamma-ray logs were available and were being used to calculate grade and tonnage of ore reserves. The core scanner, however, has been used to estimate equivalent uranium content of ore-grade materials containing as much as 2.2 pct eU3O8 with an accuracy of ± 10 pct, the sample being in the form of a BX drill core. Actually, an apparent calibration of eU3O8 vs counts per unit time is a straight line with a slope that is a function of the sensitive element and the geometry of the counting assembly. A true calibration that will show the expected departure from a straight line is due principally to the random nature of the pulse from a radiation source and the nonlinearity of the electron circuitry. Design and Construction: Three methods of detecting radioactivity were considered and applied in developing the core scanner now in use: 1) the Geiger tube, 2) liquid scintillation phosphors, and 3) solid scintillation phosphors. The desired sensitivity and long-term drift characteristics needed for this operation could be attained only by using solid scintillation phosphors. All three methods are discussed. Before scintillation counters were common, nine beta-gamma sensitive Geiger tubes 7/8 in. diam by 12 in. long were used, arranged to surround the drill core with tube axes parallel to the axis of the core. This arrangement of Geiger tubes was en- closed in a lead shield 1 in. thick, and provision was made to slide a 6-ft length of drill core manually into the counting chamber, one foot at a time. A count for each segment was taken with a scaler while the core remained stationary. The equivalent uranium content of the different sections of drill core could then be estimated with the aid of a calibration curve of counts per unit time vs percent equivalent uranium (eU). In rare cases the effects of the radioactivity concentrated in small areas within the core introduced errors in the readings made with the Geiger tube arrangement owing to the geometry of the measurement. The variability of counting rate due to a localized concentration of radioactivity in a spot in the wall of a drill core is illustrated in Fig. 1. This effect and the inherent low efficiency of the Geiger tube were considered major disadvantages of this counting arrangement. When liquid scintillation phosphors became available the core scanner in Fig. 2 was constructed to make a more accurate measurement of the equivalent uranium content of a sample. This instrument contains about 4 liters of liquid phosphor in a stainless steel coaxial cylinder 1 ft long, with inner and outer walls 0.060 in. and 0.125 in. thick, respectively. Four end-window type photomulti-plier tube with cathodes of 2 in. diam, immersed in the solution at right angles to the axis of the core, were used to observe light flashes in the phosphor. The liquid phosphor offered equal sensitivity to radiation originating at any point in the enclosure and represented geometrically the optimum in design. However, providing a semi-permanent leak-proof seal between the glass envelope of the phototube and the metal walls of the container proved to be a serious problem in constructing the equipment. The most effective seals were especially machined O-rings from sections of large tygon tubing. The tygon took a permanent set owing to cold flow characteristics and in most cases sealed completely. The light absorption characteristics of the liquid phosphor changed gradually with time, and after one month the counting rate had decreased to half the original value. The most sensitive liquid phosphor tested proved to be a solution containing 4 g of 2.5-diphenyloxazole and 0.01 g of 2-(1-naphthy1)-5-phenyloxazole per liter of toluene. With fresh solution in the chamber and with all photomultiplier tubes operating in parallel, the counting rate contributed by any one of the four photomultiplier tubes was about 85 pct of the counting rate from a single tube operated individually. From these observations it was concluded that owing to coincident loss and light attenuation within the liquid phosphor, the apparent sensitivity could not have been materially increased by additional phototubes. However, this approach to core

Jan 1, 1960

By R. S. Dean

IN THE COURSE of its investigations directed toward providing strategic metals from domestic sources and toward utilizing power from Federal power projects in West, the Bureau of Mines concluded some years ago that the development of a method for producing electrolytic manganese might well be an important step towards both goals. Accordingly, laboratory investigations were undertaken in 1935. Further studied on a relatively large laboratory scale indicated that electrolytic manganese could be made from domestic ores at a cost not out of line with other nonferrous metals. On the basis of these results, the Electro Manganese Corp. Operating under U.S. Patent 2,119,560 issued to S, M, Shelton and assigned to the Secretary of the Interior for administration, undertook commercial production of electrolytic manganese at Knoxville, Tenn, This company has brought the process through the pilot-plant stage successfully, and is now regularly producing approximately one ton a day.

Jan 1, 1941

By Max W. Ball

THE geologist or mining engineer, whose work takes him into the western United States, whether for the Government or private enterprises, is likely to be called upon to classify public lands as to their mineral character, or to review such classification already made, usually by a Government geologist or mineral inspector. The public-land law covering the matter is clear and logical, and a knowledge of its simpler principles is necessary to intelligent classification work. There are two classes of cases in which a classification of lands as mineral or non-mineral may be required: .first, cases in which lands classified as mineral will be retained by the Government and lands classified as non-mineral alienated; second, cases in which lands classified as mineral will be alienated and lands classified as non-mineral retained.

Jan 1, 1921

By Richard L. Ashbrook, John F. Wallace

Several high-temperature eutectics of cobalt and nickel alloys were modified by small additions of selected elements. Thes-e alloys were compared to unmodified melts for microstructural variations. A few modified compositions were selected on the basis of structure and their tensile and stress-rupture behavior determined. The results of stress-rupture tests in air at 1800 F and room-temperature tensile tests of four high-temperature eutectics showed modification capable of producing substantial improvements in properties. The microstructures were altered and mechanical properties improved by: a.) dispersing a subordinate phase more uniformly throughout the matrix; b) replacing large continuous -network or platelike constituents with small equiaxed discontinuous phases; and c) by forming new, finely divided phases. tHE term "modification" is most commonly used to describe the refinement in microstructure of the Al-Si eutectic that occurs as a result of rapid cooling from the melt or on slow cooling after treatment with small amounts of sodium.1 "Modification" has also been used to describe the change from flake to spheroidal graphite in the austenite-graphite eutectic of cast iron.2 This change of graphite shape is accomplished by small additions of cerium or magnesium.3 Other systems have also been shown to be capable of modification, for example: Pb-Sn by copper;4 Al-Cu by sodium;5 Al-Mn by sodium;5 and Pb-Sb by aluminum.5 Although modification of Al-Si alloys and cast irons is usually accompanied by improved mechanical properties, a general definition of modification has been suggested to include the effect of small quantities of impurity elements on the microstructures of all eutectic alloys, regardless of the effect on the mechanical properties.6 In this paper, the term "modification" is employed in a broad sense to include the formation of third phases or even the supplanting of one of the binary eutectic phases by a third phase. The mechanism of modification, as for any solidification phenomenon, must be considered primarily in terms of nucleation and growth. Although both nuclea-tion and growth mechanisms are required to explain all the phenomena observed in connection with the solidification of modified eutectics, various investigators have usually favored one or the other.7"16 It has been shown that modification of a binary eutectic can be effected by addition of a solute element that has greatly different distribution coefficients or k values in the two phases of the eutectic. Under these conditions, differences in the temperatures at the solid-liquid interfaces of the two phases retard the growth of one phase with respect to the other.4 It has also been shown that increased undercooling favors a transition from a rodlike eutectic to a globular eutectic.17 A mechanism proposed for the transition from lamellar to rodlike eutectics depends on the concept of constitutional super cooling.18 The modification of eutectic alloys may be of interest for high-temperature service as well as at room temperature. Although "high-temperature eutectic alloys" may appear to be a contradiction in terms, many eutectic systems, including those studied in this work, have melting points in excess of 2400°F. One of the mechanisms by which high-temperature alloys are strengthened is dispersion of a relatively brittle phase such as an oxide, carbide, or an inter-metallic compound throughout a ductile matrix. For a given volume fraction of dispersed phase, strength is increased by decreasing the size and spacing of the dispersed particles.19'20 Furthermore, room-temperature ductility may also be increased by changing the shape of a brittle dispersed phase from platelike to equiaxed or spheroidal.8 Overaging and redissolving of the secondary phase limit the maximum temperature to which precipitation-hardened alloys can be used. However, in a binary eutectic system, both phases coexist up to the melting point. Although all eutectic structures are not completely stable,21 a dispersion-hardened cast high-temperature alloy might result if a fine distribution of one of the eutectic phases could be obtained during solidification. An additional reason for interest in eutectic alloys is their excellent castability.22 Since eutectic alloys, like pure metals, freeze at a single temperature rather than over a range of temperatures, their castability is superior to solid-solution alloys with long liquidus to solidus ranges. The purpose of this research was to study the effects of small solute additions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a number of high-melting-point eutectic compositions.

Jan 1, 1967

By Linn Bradley

Introduction MARKED differences of opinion have been expressed by engineers interested in cleaning iron blast-furnace gases for use in hot-blast stoves and under boilers, in reference to the advantages of a hot-dry method over a cold-wet method. One point at issue involves the sensible heat energy in the moisture contained in the gas. Some advocates of the cold-wet methods claim that the condensation and resultant removal of the greater portion of this contained moisture by wet scrubbing, spraying or similar methods, results in a saving of some of this sensible heat energy, by reason of the fact that water vapor has a high capacity for sensible heat energy and may carry from the exit of a hot-blast stove, for example, more heat units than are sacrificed or lost when the gas is cleaned by this cold-wet method. Other advantages claimed for the latter method are: That gas burns more readily when it is free from moisture in any form; that because gas is made denser by cooling and removing the moisture it has a higher calorific value than hot gas carrying moisture; and that higher flame temperatures are obtained when the gas is cleaned by the cold-wet method. A search through the available literature fails to disclose any extensive calculations or records of conditions obtained in practice, bearing upon these phases of gas cleaning. This paper deals with these problems from the standpoint of the economy of using a gas of higher flame temperatures, of improved stove design, and of economy in the gas-cleaning department. Calculations have been made which show that by cleaning the gases by a cold-wet method the sensible heat energy of the blast-furnace gases is greatly reduced; and, in general, this loss of heat energy is far greater than that lost from the stoves or boilers due to the sensible heat capacity of the water vapor if carried away by the exit gases. By making use of the

Jan 2, 1917

By Bedrand L. Johnson

THE phosphate-rock industry is built upon natural deposits of rocks and minerals in which the element phosphorus is present as a phoshate. The term ?phosphate rock? is a general one, applied to certain rocks of different degrees of consolidation and of diverese origin, charater and occurrence, composed of intimate mixtures of several phosphate minerals, largely submicrocrystalline, usually calcium phosphates, in commerical quantities, with various impurities. This term includes phosphatized limestones, sandstone, shales, and igneous rocks; nodular phosphates ; residual weathered phosphatic limestones ; vein phosphates ; and phosphatic sediments, both consolidated and unconsolidated.

Jan 1, 1944

By George H. K. Schenck

Diminishing returns in management's fight to lower manufacturing expenses have added luster to savings that can be achieved in delivered costs through creative management of the distribution function. This is especially true for companies engaged in the production of bulk commodities, for which transport costs may represent 25 to 50% or more of total delivered price, A. E. Cascino, vice president of International Minerals and Chemical Corporation, recently gave an example of why top management in his firm is concerned with distribution: "The price of a ton of phosphate rock, f.o.b. mine, is about $7. The cost of warehousing, freight, and handling frequently totals an additional $11 . . . . If one of our competitors . . . discovers a way in which he can cut his distribution costs by $3, we're dead! Even if we wanted to offset our competitor's more efficient means of shipping with reduced f.o.b. price for our product-we don't have that much profit margin . . . ." In a special report on the revolution now occurring in transportation of goods, Business Week stated in its September 24 issue: "Moving and storing goods on their way from mine and mill through various sub-assemblies to their final markets costs anywhere from $50 billion to $75 billion a year- $100 billion if paperwork costs are included.

Jan 1, 1967