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By H. M. Beatty, T. L. Joseph, Gust Bitsianes

SUCCESSFUL blast-furnace operation depends upon securing an optimum balance between a number of important variables. This balance will vary somewhat from furnace to furnace in the same plant and with raw materials available in different plants. It is difficult to isolate the effect of any one variable unless it has a rather pronounced effect upon the efficiency of operation. The physical properties of iron ore and coke are known to affect the process, yet it is difficult to set up any definite yardstick by which these differences can be appraised. In recent years, whenever practicable, operators have taken steps to obtain better control over the absolute size and uniformity of size of the ore and coke. The size and physical character of the stone, however, have received comparatively little attention, emphasis being placed upon chemical composition, fluxing efficiency, and action as a desulphurizing agent. Since the stone occupies only about 10 per cent of the volume of the stock column, its influence upon permeability is less than that of the ore and the coke. The large pieces now used have a tendency to roll to the center and thus increase the permeability of this part of the stock column. Smaller pieces would be more effective in promoting the permeability of denser portions of the stock. The size and physical properties of blast- furnace stone are important also for reasons best understood by considering the results obtained by the crushing and the sizing of iron ore. Crushing ore to about 2 in. at Provo, Utah, and to about I in. in Alabama produced material somewhat less permeable to gases, even though sized. In spite of some sacrifice in permeability, the efficiency of the process was improved by crushing and sizing the ore, as indicated by a substantial saving in fuel and increased output. This saving in fuel is due in large measure to more thorough reduction of ore in the upper part of the furnace and to a corresponding decrease in the amount of carbon consumed prematurely above the tuyeres by the reaction CO2 + C = 2CO ? 70,080 B.t.u. [I] The physical properties of stone, its size and rate of calcination are important because they influence the rate at which C02 is released and the completeness of calcination before reaching a level in the furnace where the temperature does not exceed 1050°C. (1920°F.). Briefly, carbon dioxide from the limestone or from the reduction of ore may cause premature com- bustion of carbon above the tuyeres. Assuming that 1000 lb. of limestone is used per ton of pig iron, about 435 lb. of C02 will be liberated during calcination of a good grade of stone. If all this CO2 from the stone were to oxidize carbon prematurely, about 120 lb. would be consumed above the tuyeres in a heat-absorbing reaction. The amount of carbon thus consumed when a

Jan 1, 1942

THERE have always been in this world men of such keen intelligence that with their discourse they have been capable of infinite and various inventions that are as beneficial as they are simultaneously harmful to the human body. Wherefore, from day to day, we see unfolded before our eyes some of these that greatly astound our minds, and we remain so stupefied that when-we think of them we are not able to control our faculties for some time, both from considering by what necessity or purpose these men were goaded, as well as from contemplating the profound subtlety of their discoveries, which, in truth, are such that they are awarded the greatest commendation by noble minds. By following their counsels and with their aid, there have been* some astute and lever captains who have had certain pots or balls of earthenware carried by their infantry, expressly filled with compositions of powder or other unctuous liquors disposed to ignite easily. When they meet the enemy in battle and come up close to them, they try to strike vigorously with these in the first assault in an effort to throw them into disorder and to make them give way by breaking them up and drawing them out of formation. The smoke is harmful, but the fire very much more so. These are made in this way. Take the number of vessels that you have to make-it does not matter whether they are raw or baked as long as they are well freed from the moisture of the clay-and fill them a little more than half full with coarse gunpowder which has mixed in it pounded Grecian pitch and at least a third of crushed sulphur. Then pour in a covering a dito thick of strained pig fat mixed with powder. This keeps it from falling out when it is thrown and keeps the fire slower until it reaches the enemy. When this has been made, open up the pig fat a little at one side when you wish to throw it and put in a little fuse or a little good powder and apply fire, holding it in your hand until you see that the fire has taken hold well. Then throw it, choosing your time. A liquid composition is also made in a kettle in which are put pork fat, petroleum oil, oil of sulphur, live sulphur, [163] doubly refined saltpeter,

Jan 1, 1942

By W. G. McBride

THE present demand for men with engineering training exceeds anything in the history of the profession. Recent estimates indicate that mechanization of war has reached such a stage that at least twelve horsepower is required now for every one horsepower needed to run the machines of the first Great War. The scale of operations exceeds anything in the past, while more territory and people are involved than ever before. Many of our allies have inadequate or no facilities for producing the thousand and one articles absolutely necessary to the conduct of modern warfare. Lack of preparedness has made it necessary to produce at an unparalleled rate to gain parity with the enemy, while our losses have been so heavy that replacement, in itself, presents a task which might well stagger less courageous peoples. This means that not only is there an unprecedented demand for engineers to produce the machines, munitions, and supplies of war, but there is a correspondingly large need for men with engineering skill in the uniformed forces to operate and maintain the vast numbers of ships, 'planes, tanks, trucks, radios, and a myriad of other devices to carry on the varied activities of war. This abnormal demand came upon us after almost ten years of stagnation in the engineering industries. During this time many trained engineers drifted into other callings, while the lack of jobs for graduates caused a falling off in the number of men training for this profession. Consequently, the supply of well trained engineers was below normal when the madman of Germany precipitated us into the present turmoil. Added to all this, we in Canada are still suffering from governmental inefficiency in the utilization of the available supply of engineers. In the armed forces, engineers have been assigned to office and other work where their engineering training is not only wasted but for which men with more suitable training could be found. Mining engineers are debarred from service as aeronautical engineers, and students in mining engineering are denied the bursaries provided for aiding students in engineering. Mining and metallurgical engineers are both barred from the Ordnance department of the army. This arises from a misunderstanding in relation to engineering training. In Canadian engineering schools, all engineers are given a sound training in the branches of human knowledge which are fundamental to engineering: mathematics, physics, and chemistry. The basic difference between the several categories of engineers lies in the fact that training in the application of this fundamental knowledge to the solution of engineering problems is given in different subjects.

Jan 1, 1942

In the period considered all coal produced was used locally, and the totals in Table 43 are estimated from the few data available. [ ]

Jan 1, 1942

Aalde, Kaare, (S'40) Box 827, Socorro, N. M. Aase, Glenn D., (S'40) Engr. Experiment Sta., Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Abadesco, Enrique A., (S'39) Student. College of Engrg., Univ- of the Philippines, Manila, P. 1. Abbott, John L., (S'40) Met. Engr., Engr. Trainee. Wright Aeronantical Corp., Paterson, N. .J. Abbott, Robert H., (S'42). Agricultural & Mech. College of Texas, College Sta., Tex. Abreu, Ovidio M., (S'38) Dept. of Geol., Compauia Cousulidada de Petroleo, Caracas, Venezuela. Acomb, Allen, (S'41) 3921 Chestnut St., New Or¬ leans, La. Adam, Howard W., (S'41) Montana School of Mines, Butte, Mont. Adams, Charles E., (S'42) Uuiv. of California, Los Angeles, Calif. Adams, Charles W., (S'39) Student, Michigan Col¬ lege of Min. & Tech., Houghton, Mich. Adams, H. Travis, (S'39) 310 South 5th St., Bur¬ bank, Calif. Adams, John W., (S'42) Univ. of Texas, Austin, Tex. Adams, Rob L., (S'40) Lt., B. 0. C. No. 12, Fort Sill, Okla. Adamson, Charles R., (S'41) Uuiv. of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jan 1, 1942

AVERY great profit is derived from removing the gilding and retrieving gold, without destroying the works of silver or other metal. If this method did not exist, the greater part of the gold that is put on certain works would be lost. Even though you might think to scrape it off patiently with a sharp scraper, if it had been drawn with draw-plates, or if it were at the bottom of objects where the scraper could not enter easily, it would be utterly in vain. Therefore, I find that to do this it is necessary to use one of three methods. The first is when it is found on a thin object. Take a large crucible, fill it with mercury, and heat it on a little furnace. When you see that it begins to boil and simmer, put your work in it and stir it around, shaking and rubbing it well in this, and finally rub it with a scratching tool until you see that the mercury has drunk up and absorbed all the gold. Then, having done this, take the said mercury and pass it through an untanned leather purse, and in the bottom of this you will find all the gold like sand. Put this in the bottom of a crucible or in something else over a charcoal fire and evaporate it. If the objects are of a thicker form the gilding is removed from them in another way, by covering them with powdered sulphur and lighting a fire on them. When you see them burning well with the fire all around, beat them in a clean bowl of wood or something else and collect everything that separates with the sulphur from the work; this will be gold in the form of a leaf wherever it has been touched by the fire. The gold is then extracted from this burned sulphur by purifying it in a cupeling hearth with lead. The third method is to touch the gold that you wish to take off the works with an aqua fortis made from saltpeter, rock alum, vitriol, sal ammoniac, and some verdigris.* This acid dissolves and eats the gold by virtue of its corrosive power. Having thus touched the gold with this acid and having saturated the latter with a quantity of gold, put it in a cucurbit and evaporate it over a little furnace as is done with silver, collecting the acid and the spirits if you wish.

Jan 1, 1942

By B. M. Larsen, L. S. Darken

SOME years ago we collated all laboratory data then available to us on the distribution at equilibrium of manganese and of sulphur between metal and simple slags, and used the results in setting up an equation, which proved to be in accord with determinations of the distribution ratio of manganese and of sulphur between liquid steel and open-hearth slag, over a wide range of operating conditions. We now present an outline of our calculations and inferences on these two closely related questions, which are of especial importance because of the advisability of conserving manganese wherever possible. In general, our results show that in the open-hearth furnace equilibrium between metal and slag, with respect to both manganese and sulphur, is substantially attained during the finishing period of the heat, or in about a half hour to an hour after any additions were made. This implies that the end result will be identical whether manganese is added as alloy or metal to the liquid steel or as oxide to the slag. The proportion of total manganese retained by the steel is favored: (I) by use of the minimum amount of lime, consistent with other operating limitations, required to give a lime-silica ratio of about 2.4, which usually corresponds to a minimum practical slag volume; (2) by a high concentration in the slag of MnO relative to FeO; (3) by high operating temperature. Absorption of sulphur by the slag from the liquid metal is favored: (I) by large slag volume; (2 by a high concentration of active (or "free") lime and of manganese oxide dis) solved in the slag; (3) by low concentration of silica, iron oxide, and phosphate dissolved in the slag. DISTRIBUTION OF MANGANESE BETWEEN SLAG AND METAL AT EQUILIBRIUM On the basis that the distribution of manganese between liquid steel and slag is controlled by the reaction [FeO + Mn = MnO + Fe [A]slag metal slag metal] the distribution at equilibrium, at a given temperature, is expressed by the equilibrium constant for this reaction, which is defined as [K" aMoO aFeI1 dFec) aMn] where a is the activity of the molecular species denoted by the subscript. The activity of each of the several components, although it is not known precisely, is approximately equal to the concentration of each component expressed as its mol fraction; that is, as the ratio of the number of mols of the given component to the total number of mols of all the molecular species present in the metal or slag, as the case may be. Moreover, since the activity, or concentration, of iron in the liquid metal is in fact substantially constant, the term [afe] may be combined with K" to give a new constant K'. Making these changes,

Jan 1, 1942

Jan 1, 1942

E. O?C. Acker Jinzoc Adachi Truman H. Aldrich Walter H. Aldridge Anson W. Allen John H. Allen William R. Appleby W. Lawrence Austin W. S. Ayres David Baker John Henry Banks Henry C. Banon Alonzo F. Bardwell Wm de L. Benedict Robert Bentley Andrew A Blair Walter M. Brodie Elwin F. Brown Fredrick Burbidge H.H. Burden Charles Butters

Jan 1, 1942

By R. L. Huntington, D. T. MacRoberts, Charles R. Hetherington

SINCE the equation of continuity governing transient flow of gases through porous media cannot be integrated mathematically into a simple usable expression free from series terms, empirical and approximate equations have been advanced relating cumulative production and future production rates from gas reservoirs with time. In order to check the accuracy of these empirical equations and to obtain an insight into the initial conditions pertinent to the solution of the fundamental equation of continuity, experimental work has been conducted on a vertical 2-in. tube, 91.6 ft. high, packed with unconsolidated Wilcox sand. The results presented in graphical form show the accuracy of the approximate relations. Data from unsteady-flow runs on the 2-in. experimental tube are presented graphically, and are applied to obtain an equation for this specific case, and are offered as an aid in future investigations of this basic equation. The close agreement between equations calculated for steady-state flow and the experiments indicates that the decline of actual gas reservoirs may be treated by an application of these equations without serious error.

Jan 1, 1942

By William H. Spice

The area on which oil and gas development is reported covers 30 counties, which are included in the Texas Railroad Commission's District No. I. This area not only includes the old established Balcones fault-line group of producing fields but also includes the southwest extension of this trend and some of the deeper Wilcox (Eocene) exploratory development. (Fig. J.) In the old Balcones fault-line zone, three new fields were discovered during 1941. These fields are comparatively small, producing from Dale limestone or Austin chalk. No new fields were discovered during the year in the Edwards (Lower Cretaceous) limestone horizon. One new shallow field was discovered in the Reklaw (Eocene) sand horizon and, in the southwestern part of the district, one oil field and one gas field were discovered in the Navarro (Upper Cretaceous) sand horizon. An extremely important extension was made to the one producing Wilcox (Eocene) field of the district in the Washburn Ranch field of La Salle County. The district produced 6,650,357 bbl. during 1941, which was a 12 per cent decrease under production for 1940. Approximately 4,954,000 bbl. of this total production was produced by the three Edwards limestone fields, Luling, Salt Flat and Darst Creek, the remaining production coming from the other 43 active fields in the district. In all, 3694 wells were producing at the end of 1941, compared with 3559 wells at the end of the previous year. During the year, 139 new producing wells were completed and 29 wells were abandoned in the producing fields. The increase in producing wells represents an increase in new wells over abandonments in these fields, together with a decrease in wells temporarily shut down as of the end of 1941. The majority of production drilling was carried on in the following fields; Bee Creek, Chicon Lake, Elm Creek, Gas Ridge, Pearsall and Tenney Creek. Approximately 250 wells were drilled during 1941, of which 110 were exploratory wells completed as failures throughout the district. Considerable exploratory work was continued during 1941 along the Wilcox trend. Geophysical work employing various types of geophysical methods and leasing activity was continued along this trend, particularly by the major companies. The significance of this activity is apparent from the successful extension and development in the Washburn field of La Salle County, where several well-developed gas-and-oil producing horizons have been developed in the lower Wilcox section between 5100 and 5600 ft. as noted in the following paragraphs. Continued exploratory activity along this general trend as far as present conditions will permit is predicted for 1942. New Fields Elgin Field, Bastrop County.—No. I-A Hiram Walker, Marts and Beaven, Inc., discovery well of the Elgin field, was com pleted on Apr. 22, 1941, in broken Austin chalk from 2820 to 2840 ft., pumping 105 bbl. per day, 36.8°A.P.I. gravity. The well apparently is producing from a crevice in

Jan 1, 1942

By William L. Horner, James A. Lewis, Marion Stekoll

THE data in this paper show a relationship between measured productivity index and certain commonly measured reservoir characteristics. Comparison is made of theoretical radial flow assuming certain drainage radii and the tentative relationship shown by these data. Among the more important measurements found to correlate with productivity index are permeability, formation thickness, oil viscosity at reservoir conditions, and formation-volume factor.

Jan 1, 1942

I HAVE hitherto shown you as well as I knew how the procedure for those operations which are needed in melting on either a large or small scale, as you might need them. Now I wish to pass on to some other operations which, while related to the operations and power of fires and also to certain kinds of melting, are not wholly connected with the art of casting. First I wish to begin with the actual substance of the art of alchemy, which is sought and desired with so much zeal. Then, as a useful and ingenious thing, I wish to inform you of the art of distilling, and, afterwards, how you should operate a mint in an orderly fashion and without burden on the conscience. Then I shall tell you of the ironworker, the goldsmith, the coppersmith, and some others, as you will be able to see in their places.

Jan 1, 1942

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Jan 1, 1942

By Edwin T. Myskowski, Alfred H. Hesse

The development by the U. S. Bureau of Mines of a process for purifying manganese by electrolysis has stimulated interest in manganese alloys. While recent publications have shown some alloys of manganese and copper to possess rather unusual properties, none have included information on tensile properties, which have an important bearing on the usefulness of the alloys. Manganese-copper alloys can be heat-treated, since the single phases that exist at high temperatures may be retained by quenching. According to Persson,1 when quenched alloys containing from about 30 to nearly IOO per cent manganese are reheated, alpha manganese is precipitated (Fig. I). Calculations based on Persson's X-ray data indicate that this decomposi-tion is accompanied by a change in volume of as much as ; per cent. The reason that this large volume change has not been noted probably is the slow rate at which equilibrium is reached by these alloys. In an investigation on hardening by cold-work and heat-treatment, Dean and Anderson3 found that quenched alloys increase in hardness with manganese content and that high-manganese alloys harden very slowly with cold-work, while high-copper alloys harden much more rapidly. Heat-treatment has little effect on manganese-copper alloys containing less than 40 per cent Mn, and affects those alloys containing more than 40 per cent in accordance with their manganese content and heat-treating temperature. Dean and Anderson4 also found that cold-work increased electrical resistance of alloys containing from 50 to 80 per cent Mn, and that heat-treatment of alloys containing from 40 to 96 per cent Mn altered the electrical resistance considerably. Dean, Anderson and Potter6 have shown that the high vibration damping capacity that characterizes manganese-copper alloys containing 40 to go per cent Mn is affected by cold-work and heat-treatments. Highest vibration damping capacity at low stresses was obtained by heating for 2 hr. at 450°C. (842°F.) after quenching from solution temperatures. Preparalion of Alloys.—The alloys for these tests were melted in a 17-lb. basic-lined high-frequency induction furnace using electrolytic manganese, grade A ingot copper and a 70-30 CU-Mn master alloy (69.80 per cent Cu, 0.12 Fe, 0.04 Si, 0.006 S, 0.07 C, balance Mn). The manganese was heated slowly to expel excess dissolved gases and melted before the addition of copper. No fluxes or covers were used. The melts were cast in tapered iron molds and the ingots were reduced go per cent when forged to 1/2-in. rounds. These rods were given 2-hr. solution treatments at temperatures that depended upon the composition (Table I). Tensile Tests.—The tensile specimens, 0.313-in. diameter (1.25-in. gauge length),

Jan 1, 1942

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Jan 1, 1942

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Jan 1, 1942

I HAVE told you of two parts of the mould for guns. You lack the third, which is the one for making the breech. This, in addition to being a part that is always ornamented with some piece of sculpture to make the gun beautiful, is that part which forms the bottom and closes the whole mould. It is also the one that sustains the entire burden of the bronze, and it must therefore be made with great consideration and diligence, taking care to make it strong with clay and with iron bands. Various methods are used in making this. Every master does as he knows how, either preferring to do it quickly or delighting to make his work ornate and beautiful. His choice also depends on whether they are to be just artillery or occasions for artistry. There are some who, if the guns are of a round form, make the pattern for the breech on a lathe, either of wood or of clay. If they are fluted, they make the flutes by hand in wood or clay, following the pattern of the board. In a part that perchance might not come out of the mould, they put some tallow underneath or make it entirely of tallow or wax so that it will come out. Likewise, if they wish to make cornices or other projections these can be put on either in wood or in clay. In the same way they also apply leafwork of clay or wax so that it can be taken out by hand or with the fire.

Jan 1, 1942

By R. W. Gurry

IN the course of a series of measurements of the rate of diffusion of carbon in austenite at about 960°C. (1760°F.) and 1110°C. (2030°F.), it became necessary to determine carbon concentration when austenite is saturated with graphite, because of indications that the hitherto accepted value of the solubility of graphite in this temperature range is too low. Specimens of carbonyl iron were saturated at temperature in a hydrogen-toluene atmosphere which was in equilibrium with graphite. The carbon content of the steel was measured either by combustion or by the loss of weight after substantially complete decarburization in an atmosphere of hydrogen saturated at room temperature with water vapor. The absence of carbide or graphite as a phase at temperature was demonstrated by microscopic examination of saturated specimens that had been drastically quenched. The mean result of concordant measurements is that gamma iron saturated with respect to graphite contains 1.39 per cent carbon at 957°C. (1755°F.) and 1.89 per cent at 1110°C. (2030°°F.). These two values, plotted along with what appears from the literature to be the best value (0.69 per cent) at the iron-graphite eutectoid temperature (738°C. or 1360°F.), yield a curve that is almost linear, and which, continued upward through a short interval, leads to a limiting solubility of 1.98 per cent at the iron-graphite eutectic temperature1135°C. (2095°F.) instead of the commonly accepted value of about 1.7 per cent. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The samples of carbonyl iron, with the exception of those for microscopic examination, were cylinders 3.8 cm. long, 0.475 cm. in diameter. They were placed in a graphite holder and suspended in a vertical furnace, the temperature of which was controlled precisely by means of the resistance of the platinum winding.1 In the empty furnace the range of temperature over a distance of 4 cm, at the heat center was 9°C. (16°F.) but at a given location the temperature remained within ±0.5°C. (0.9°F.); it was measured by inserting a platinum-rhodium couple calibrated at the melting point of palladium, 1555°C. Since the presence of the sample probably improved the uniformity of temperature, it was decided to consider the average temperature of the sample to be 3°C. lower than the maximum measured in the empty furnace with the same setting of the controller. Data were obtained in the vicinity of two temperatures, 960°C. (1760°F.) and 1110°C. (2030°F.). The samples for microscopic examination, 2.2 cm. long, 0.475 cm. in diameter, were suspended individually on pure iron wire; for these no temperature correction was applied. The carburizing gas passed into the furnace was dry, oxygen-free hydrogen saturated at room temperature with

Jan 1, 1942

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS EUGENE McAULIFFE, Chairman. L. E. YOUNG, Vice-chairman. CHESTER A. FULTON WIILBER JUDSOIN PAUL D. AMERICA FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ERLE V. DAVELER, Chairman. HENRY KRUMB H. Y. WALKER ADMISSIONS FELIX E. WORMISER, Chairman GEORGE D. BARRON. Vice-Chairman CARROLL A. GARNER PHILIP KRAFT E. M. WISE

Jan 1, 1942