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By J. Chipman, J. C. Fulton

Reduction of Si from slag to carbon-saturated iron is a very slow reaction. The rate is nearly independent of stirring but is accelerated markedly by increased temperature. In a slag containing 45 pct SiO2, 38 pct CaO, 17 pct Al2O3, the energy of activation is approximately 130 kcal. AT temperatures of 1450" to 1600°C occurring in the hearth of the iron blast furnace, chemical reactions are normally expected to proceed with great rapidity. Many of the reactions of iron making are indeed quite rapid and attain a condition corresponding roughly to a state of equilibrium before metal and slag are tapped from the furnace. The one conspicuous exception is the reaction by which carbon in the coke or metal reacts with silica in the slag to deliver silicon to the metal. From the practical viewpoint the slowness of this reaction is indeed fortunate, for if it were fast enough to reach equilibrium during the time of contact, it would be difficult to produce pig iron of the desired low silicon content. The one other reaction which under certain circumstances can also be very slow is the transfer of sulfur from blast-furnace metal to slag. In their laboratory exeriments on this reaction, Hatch and Chipman found that at least 5 hr were required for the attainment of equilibrium in a small crucible and that the reaction was not accelerated by increasing the rate of stirring. Subsequently it was shown2 that the presence of a reducible oxide MnO greatly inhibited sulfur removal, and finally that SiO2 itself3 under some conditions has sufficient oxidizing Dower to interfere with sulfur transfer. The kinetics of sulfur removal are now rather well understood,4 and it has been shown3,5 that when the silicon content of the metal is high enough to prevent reduction of SiO,, the desulfurizing process is rapid. Thus the observations of slow removal of sulfur are associated with the coincident slow reduction of SiO2, a process which transfers both silicon and oxygen to the metal phase. It is, of course, the oxygen which interferes with sulfur removal. An explanation of the slowness of the silica reduction reaction has not been obtained. The sulfur transfer process has been shown by the authors5 to be at least partially transport-controlled in the absence of interference by silica. Under the experimental conditions. 99 pct of the total transfer at 1600" was accomplished within an hour. Under similar conditions the reduction of silica may not proceed half-way to equilibrium6 in 8 hr. It is scarcely imaginable that silica reduction could be transport-controlled when the slag contains 44 pct SiO2 and the metal about 1.4 pct C. The experiments reported here show definitely that it is controlled by a slow step or steps in the chemical reaction. One might expect to find such a slow step in the breaking of SiO bonds or in the slow removal of oxygen by carbon at the slag-metal or metal-crucible interface or by bubble formation. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The experimental procedure used in this investigation was similar to that used in the study of the kinetics of desulfurization.5 A sketch of the graphite crucible and stirrer used in the current work is shown in Fig. 1. The quantity of metal and slag used was adjusted so that the slag-metal interface was located between the top and bottom blades on the stirrer; the top of the slag layer was above the top blade. The stirrer shaft was hollow down to the metal level and served as thermocouple well or optical pyrometer target. Stirring speeds of 0 to 500 rpm were used. A carbon monoxide atmosphere was maintained in the furnace by flushing the gas over the slag surface, except in run No. 220 when it was bubbled

Jan 1, 1960

By H. H. Otto

Fourteen years ago, J. B. Warriner presented before the Institute a paper on anthracite stripping,' describing the progress of stripping in the Anthracite Region from its beginning with an old quarry stripping at Summit Hill, which was operated more than a century ago, through various types of strippings used in 1917. This paper will briefly review the status of anthracite stripping methods from 1917 to the present day and describe in detail the stripping operation of The Hudson Coal CO. at Clinton collicry. It is not intended as a review of the work in the district—that would require a much longer paper. History and Statistics Mr. Warriner said, in part: "The sizes of shovels have gradually increased until now 70 and 80-ton shovels are the rule and larger equipment is coming in." He also referred to a large electrically operated dragline which weighed about 225 tons and had an operating radius of 125 ft. In 1917, a number of strippings used shovels of various sizes, ranging up to the 60 Marion and Bucyrus 70-C railroad type. Material was hauled away in narrow-gage side dumpers, usually of 4 or 5 cu. yd. capacities. Star-type churn drills with 4-in. bits were generally used for drilling purposes. Since 1917 wages in the anthracite field; have increased, but the higher operating costs of strippings are now being successfully combated by continuous improvements in stripping equipment, such as the development of the caterpillar or crawler shovels, the use of larger cars, better drilling equipment, the introduction of shovels of increased capacity and the adoption, in a number of instances, of standard-gage equipment for transportation. In 1918 another large dragline was introduced in the southern fields, which had been in service in the Middle West and is in use today, dipping vertically about 180 ft. to raise coal out of a stripping. About 1918, small shovels with caterpillar traction were introduced. In 1922 the 6-in. well drills began replacing the 4-in. drills, with an attendant saving to the operators. About the same time A. E. Dick placed the first pair

Jan 1, 1931

By G. G. Hancock, H. H. Johnson

Hydrogen gas at atmospheric pressure is shown to cause substantial embrittlement in a martettsitic high-stretzgth steel. Subcritical crack growth is observed at very lom stresses and with high growth rates. It is suggested that an adsorbed layer of hydrogen atoms at the crack-tip surface provides the damaging hydrogen. Oxygen in small quantity, as little as O.7 pct by volume, is shown to eliminate subcritical crack growth in gas environments caused by hydrogen or water vapor. However, dissolved oxygen in water has little or no influence upon crack-growth rates. Oxygen-stopped cracks may be restarted by water, or by hydvogen or water vapor if oxygen is removed from the environment. These observations are interpreted in terms of preferential adsorption of oxygen at the crack tip and the formation of an oxide barrier. RECENT investigations1-3 have demonstrated that environmental factors are frequently responsible for delayed failure in martensitic high-strength steels. The environment causes crack initiation from preexisting cracklike flaws at unexpectedly low stresses, often far below the uniaxial yield strength. The crack then propagates at a rate controlled by the environment and the crack-tip stress-field intensity; during this period crack propagation will cease if either the stress or the aggressive environment is removed, and this may be considered a definition of subcritical crack growth. Fracture occurs when the crack has grown to a critical length, such that the fracture toughness of the steel is exceeded. Several liquids are known to cause delayed failure, but water and water vapor are the most severely damaging of the environments investigated to date.'-3 It has been suggested that hydrogen produced during corrosion reactions may be the actual embrittling agent2 The severe embrittlement caused by water vapor inevitably raises the question as to whether other gas environments are damaging. Previous work4'5 has demonstrated that high-pressure hydrogen (2250 psi or greater) is an effective embrittling medium, as measured by such criteria as reduction in area, notch tensile strength, and time to failure. Moreover, the embrittlement was eliminated by the addition of small quantities of air or oxygen to the high-pressure hydrogen, but it was not influenced by additions of nitrogen or argon.4 In the present study attention is focused upon gas environments at atmospheric pressure, in particular hydrogen and oxygen. The influence of these constituents upon the initiation and growth of a crack from a pre-existing cracklike flaw in a high-strength steel was determined directly by the electric-potential method of monitoring crack growth. MATERIALS AND PROCEDURE The H-11 steel was supplied by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory as 3 by 12 by 0.065 in. sheet specimens with 1-in. transverse center slots. The slot tips were finished by Elox machining to a radius of 0.001 in. or less. The yield strength was 230,000 psi; chemical composition and heat-treatment schedule are given in Table I. The experimental apparatus, precracking procedure, and incremental loading sequence have been described previously.3 In the only significant change, precracking was sometimes carried out by a hydrogen embrittlement and baking technique. All experiments were conducted at room temperature; the hydrogen gas environment was purified by a commercial palladium purifier. Crack initiation and propagation were followed by the electric-potential method,'-3 using a calibration that has been recently dicussed. Stress-field intensities at the crack tip were computed by the conventional Irwin frmula; the plasticity correction was negligible and therefore not included. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS A striking brittleness associated with molecular hydrogen at atmospheric pressure is demonstrated by the data in Table I1 and Fig. 1, which indicate that subcritical cracks in hydrogen initiate at lower stress-field intensities and propagate more rapidly than in fully humid argon. Ki and Kf are the crack-tip stress-field intensities at initiation and termination of subcritical crack growth, respectively. Termination, of course, corresponds to fracture. In both hydrogen and humid argon Ki is less than Kf

Jan 1, 1967

By A. E. Nehrenberg

IN an earlier publication' it was shown that the.. shape assumed by a volume of growing austenite is inherited from the prior structure. The matrix grains of pearlitic microstructures are equiaxed, and austenite grows in an equiaxed manner in these prior structures. Martensite and bainite, on the other hand, have an acicular grain structure, and the austenite produced in such structures grows in an acicular manner. In the discussion of this paper' it was pointed out that in cold-rolled tempered martensite, austenite grows in an equiaxed, rather than an acicular manner. The results of an experiment carried out to arrive at an understanding of this behavior are illustrated by the micrographs. Fig. 1 shows the acicular microstructure produced by heating tempered martensite to a temperature within the Ac1-Ac3 range, 1350°F. When tempered martensite is cold rolled, then heated to the same temperature, the equiaxed structure shown in Fig. 2 is produced. A sample of cold-rolled tempered martensite heated at 1350°F just long enough for the formation of a small amount of austenite is shown by Fig. 3 to have an equiaxed (recrystallized) ferrite grain structure. The small particles of. austenite which formed at 1350°F in the equiaxed ferrite matrix are likewise equiaxed. Thus, the equiaxed growth of austenite in cold-worked tempered martensite is not a contradiction of the principles described in the previous paper, for the growth pattern reflects the matrix grain structure existing at the time of austenite formation. References A. E. Nehrenberg: The Growth of Austenite as Related to Prior structure. Trans. AIME (1950) 188, pp. 162-174; Journal of Metals (January 1950). 2 J. R. Vilella and R. A. Grange: Discussion of ref. 1. Trans. AIME (1950) 188, pp. 1378-1381; Journal of Metals (November 1950).

Jan 1, 1953

By Herbert Hughes

The trend in modern building construction is definitely toward the use of weight-reducing materials. The basic advantage of lighter structural weight is obvious; reduction of dead load with retention of equivalent strength affords the possibility of increasing the live load, or if this is not desirable or necessary it makes feasible a reduction in size of structural steel members and corresponding savings in other phases of construction. Among the weight-reducing materials and practices rapidly gaining favor are the use of light-weight patented insulating board to replace back-up tile or units, particularly in home construction; introduction of aluminum alloys to replace steel for many purposes; manufacture of porous brick, the use of which materially reduces the weight of masonry walls and partitions; and the use of self-rising vesicular concrete, dia-tomite and sawdust tile, porous gypsum, or gypsum tile for nonload-bear-ing partitions and walls. Even building accessories are being designed to save weight and space; one of the most striking examples of this is improved radiator construction. Concrete technique is keeping pace with the rest of the industry. Burned shale aggregates now available in many sections of the country will make concrete weighing only 100 Ib. per cubic foot, saving roughly 35 per cent. in weight and sacrificing none of the strength of a rock-sand mix. It may be more expensive, but actual experience has shown that the saving in dead load will effect a reduction in structural steel which in many instances will more than offset the increased cost of the aggregate. The vesicular nature of most light-weight aggregates gives the concrete especially good insulating, fireproofing and soundproofing properties; yet absorption is compara.tively low. Strangely enough, however, the increased use of light-weight aggregates appears to have augmented the demand for ordinary aggregates in concrete construction rather than to have decreased it. Light-weight aggregates have widened the field for concrete structures and, since the producers do not attempt to recommend the use of their material except where weight or other special properties are important factors, impetus has been given to sales of other aggregates.

Jan 1, 1931

By C. M. Marquardt

The minerals industry in general should bow in homage to the uranium milling industry. Those in the uranium milling industry have "spark- plugged" more progress in the application of instrumentation and control in the last 5 years than has been made in 50 years by the industry in general. Part of this real progress in the application of instrumentation and control has been born of necessity because milling processes are more complex. A lot of the impetus for instrumentation and control has come from the fact that the industry is new, the processes are new, and there are no hide-bound conventions to overcome. Part of it comes from the fact that much of processing is more chemical than metallurgical and the thinking of the process chemist has carried over into the plants. One need not elaborate on what instrumentation has done for the process chemical industries. Each new mill that is constructed, if of appreciable size, seems to employ more instrumentation than the previously completed plant. Plant A makes a break-through in the application of instrumentation to a particular part of the process and Plant B accepts this and goes one step farther, while Plant C, anticipating Plant B, makes two or three more steps before Plant B is entirely leveled out.

Jan 9, 1958

By Dix, E. H.

THE percentage of manganese used in commercial aluminum alloys is small, and yet this element is an important addition to some very valuable alloys. When used alone with commercial aluminum containing iron and silicon as impurities, the usual percentage in wrought materials is from 1 to 1.5 per cent., whereas castings may contain as much as 2 per cent. An aluminum-manganese alloy containing nominally 1.25 per cent. manganese is much used in sheet form for the manufacture of cooking utensils and other articles requiring a little greater strength and hardness than could be obtained with commercially pure aluminum. It is also used for various purposes in the form of rods, tubes and pipes. The aluminum-manganese alloys, both wrought 'and cast, offer excellent resistance to many kinds of corrosion attack. The U. S. Naval Gun Factory uses an aluminum alloy containing from 1 to 2 per cent. each of copper and manganese, for both castings and forgings. Manganese is also used, up to about 1 per cent., as a minor alloying .element in several of the strong aluminum alloys of the duralumin type. It is felt that the role of this element when thus used has not been fully understood, but it is believed that the results obtained in this investigation will throw additional light on the subject. The earlier work on the system aluminum-manganese was general in nature, and no detailed investigations of the relations existent in the useful aluminum-rich alloys have been reported. Guilletl1in 1902 surveyed the system, and Hendrichs2 in 1908 published an equilibrium diagram which, although based on .few data, is often used in the literature. Fragmentary work has also been done by other investigators."

Jan 1, 1927

By James C. Ray

DURING the summer of 1931, I spent four months in a study of the Willow Creek district, Alaska. This work was part of a general investigation of the territory contiguous to the route of the Government- owned Alaska Railroad. It was conducted by the U. S. Geological Survey to determine the real and potential merits of the mineral deposits, to stimulate development of them, and thus to increase the traffic on the Alaska Railroad.

Jan 1, 1932

By John B. Baker, Bernard B. Betty, H. F. Moore

Fox several years there has been in progress in the Materials Testing Laboratory of the University of Illinois an investigation of creep and fracture of lead and lead alloys. In the course of this investigation it has been shown that the phenomenon of creep occurs in part at the grain boundaries of lead and lead alloys. To study the occurrence of creep and the development of fracture within crystalline grains, two series of tests of single crystals of lead have been carried out. The first of these, a preliminary series, by Mr. Betty, has been described.1,2 The second, pursued by Mr. Baker for his doctoral dissertation, was carried out under the direction of Professor Moore, with the assistance of Prof. G. L. Clark in the X-ray work, and the cooperation and advice of Mr. Betty. This paper is based on the test data obtained in this second series. Single crystals of a very pure commercial lead have been prepared, some of them tested to measure creep, others tested to fracture under long-continued steady load, and still others tested under cycles of repeated tension. An interpretation of the test data of these single-crystal tests is offered, which is a combination of parts of several well-known theories. SPECIMENS The single-crystal specimens were made from a piece of very pure commercial lead sheathing. A spectroscopic analysis of one of the single crystals showed the presence of 0.005 per cent Bi, 0.0001 per cent Cu and 0.0003 per cent Ag. Preparation.-The Bridgman method of casting single-crystal speci¬mens was used.3 The specimens were cast to the shape and size shown in Fig. I (dimensions in Fig. 4c) in a duralumin mold. Molten lead does not stick to duralumin. Fig. 1 shows the mold and the blast flames for heating. After the mold had been heated to the temperature of molten

Jan 1, 1938

By N. J. Themelis, R. V. Flint

In a four-year period between 1973-76, the Metal Mining Division of Kennecott Copper Corp. conducted a company-wide program of operations improvement which involved line and staff personnel from all company functions. Specialist teams performed detailed studies of all operational aspects at Kennecott's four copper mines and concentrators, four smelters, and two electrore-fineries. The specific recommendations that resulted may transform the Metal Mining Division into the country's lowest cost producer of copper by the mid-1980s. In this article, N. J. Themelis and R. V. Flint describe the mechanics of MMD's integrated approach to operations improvement.

Jan 6, 1979

By Milton E. Wadsworth, W. Martin Fassell, William H. Dresher

A study of the rate of dissolution of molybdenite (MoS2) in alkaline solution was carried out under carefully controlled conditions. Effects of temperature, oxygen over-pressure, and KOH concentration were evaluated. Studies were made in the temperature range 100°C to 175°C and in the pressure range 0 to 700 psia of oxygen. Under these conditions molybdenite was found to leach according to a linear mechanism. Both oxygen over-pressure and KOH concentration were found to control the rate of leaching. The mechanism has been explained in terms of adsorption of oxygen at the molybdenite surface followed by configurational rearrangement of the adsorbed molecules. The hydroxyl ion dependency is believed to be diffusion-controlled. Laboratory batch studies have shown that molybdenite can be readily dissolved in alkaline solutions under moderate conditions of temperature and pressure. Commercial application of this process to the production of ferro-molybdenum and molybdenum chemicals is promising in view of the ease of dissolution of molybdenite and the relatively noncorrosive conditions involved in the process.

Jul 1, 1956

By L. A. Wilson, N. H. Harrison, R. R. Clay, R. L. Reed. D. W. Reed

Experiments have been performed in a linear near-adiabatic system for the purpose of extending data on reverse and forward combustion from atmospheric pressure to 1,000 psig. Results obtained from reverse combustion appear to conform qualitatively with the existing description of the process when reaction kinetics are suitably modified to account for the increase in pressure, i.e., increasing tbe pressure decreases the peak temperature and increases the combustion zone velocity. Forward combustion appears to be a fuel dominated process wherein peak temperature and combustion zone velocity are not very sensitive to changes in pressure. The moderate effects of pressure that do exist at low flux virtually disappear at high flux providing all oxygen is consumed. With this provision. increasing the pressure decreases the frontal velocity and increases the peak temperature. Results me shown graphicaIIy which demonstrate the effects of presswe on peak temperature, rate of advance, oil recovery, air/oil ratio, carbon oxides produced and temperature distributions. INTRODUCTION Numerous field tests of oil recovery using the technique of underground combustion are now in progress. Operating pressures used are always substantially in excess of atmospheric pressure. Nevertheless, the literature contains no laboratory data pertaining to the effects of pressure except for those of Martin, Alexander and Dew.1 Unfortunately, these data appear to reflect heat losses which may have obscured some of the effects of increased pressure. The underground combustion processes are exceedingly complex, and general concepts relating to them have necessarily been described in relatively simple terms. Particularly with regard to forward combustion, the interaction between multiphase fluid flow, heat transport and various rate mechanisms is so involved that to date a rigorous treatment is not available. In this paper a linear near-adiabatic system is described which was found capable of operating at pressures up to 1,000 psig and temperatures of at least 1,100 F. Using this equipment, experiments on both forward and reverse combustion were accomplished at elevated pressures and the data presented as a function of air flux or temperature. It will be assumed that the reader is familiar with the papers of Wilson, Wygal, Reed, Gergins and Henderson on forward combustion and that of Reed, Reed and Tracht3 on reverse combustion, so that it is not necessary to repeat the details of the two processes. EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE It was decided to study the effects of pressure over the interval 0-1,000 psig using a near-adiabatic system. Since satisfactory operation of such a system requires very thin tubing walls, it proved necessary to insert the entire combustion tube and heater assembly into a high pressure jacket in such a way that the internal tube pressure could be counterbalanced by pressurizing the annulus. This meant that the numerous heater and thermocouple wires had to pass through gas-tight seals that required considerable effort to maintain effective. An unexpected difficulty arose in connection with the nature of the annulus pressuring gas. It turned out that the composition of this gas critically affected the functioning of the adiabatic control system. Operation of the equipment at elevated pressures was not particularly difficult. The problems that did arise were a direct consequence of the large numbers of connections and seals involved. EQUIPMENT The equipment consisted of the combustion tube which fitted within the pressure jacket. This jacket was in turn mounted on a wheeled carriage which facilitated movement and provided for rotation of the

By R. W. Heckel, H. P. Cheskis, A. Lawley, M. R. Pinnel

THERE are discrepancies reported in the literature regarding the micro and macro stress-strain behavior of metals and alloys. In particular, Young's modulus and micro yield measurements often show significant variations depending upon the techniques employed.'-" The purpose of this note is to correlate measurements made with four techniques and to indicate where some of these discrepancies might arise. Allied use of these techniques can provide a complete and consistent characterization of micro and macro stress-strain behavior (over the strain range of 10-9 to 10--2 in. in.-') from a minimum number of samples. Techniques. The techniques employed for measuring stress-strain behavior involved the use of a) linear differential transformers, b) SR-4 strain gages, c) longitudinal resonance waves, and d) X-ray diffraction. Specimen geometries and preparations are summarized in Table I for each technique. Differential Transformer and Strain Measurements. An Instron universal testing machine, modified with an alignment device, was used to apply the load via parallel-jaw grips. The signal from the load cell was applied to the Y scale of a Moseley X-Y recorder (sensitivity of 10 lb load per in. chart). The elongation was monitored simultaneously with strain gages mounted on three sides of the rectangular specimen, and with two linear variable differential transformers (LVDT) mounted at 90 deg to one another on faces that also contained the strain gages, Fig. 1. The signal from one of the LVDT's was applied to the X scale of the recorder (sensitivity 40 µ in. elongation per in. chart) in order to trace a continuous load-elonga-tion curve. Concurrently, the strain on the same face (i.e., the face monitored by the LVDT) was recorded by the corresponding strain gage. A stress-strain curve was plotted from the load cell-strain gage data and was compared to the stress-strain curve (converted from load-elongation) plotted from the continuous load cell-LVDT trace. Identical Table I. Description of Specimens Used in the Present Study Material Dimerisions Preparation Condition 99.99 pct A1 tensile 318 by 3/16 by 3 in. as cast ingot; cut annealed specimen on diamond wheel 2024 A1 tensile 318 by 3/20 by 31/2 in. vacuum hot annealed specimen pressed sheets; cut on diamond wheel 99.99 pct Al 3116 by 3/16 by 2 in. cut from tensile prestrained dynamic modulus specimen after 10"* in. specimen test per in. 2024 A1 dynamic 3/20 by 3/20 by 2 in. vacuum hot annealed modulus specimen pressed sheets; cut on diamond wheel 2024 A1 X-ray gage section 112 by vacuum hot annealed specimens 1/4by1/20in. pressed sheets; cut on diamond wheel

Jan 1, 1970

By T. Sterry Hunt

Coal was mined to a small extent near Tuscaloosa, in Alabama, and even carried by boats to Mobile, half a century since. Professor Porter, and later, Professor R. T. Brumby, occupied themselves with the geology of the region, and it attracted the attention of Sir Charles Lyell, who visited the region. It is, however, to the two reports of Professor Tuomey, geologist to the State, published in 1850 and 1858, that we owe our first clear notions of the geology of the Alabama coal-fields. His work has, since 1873, been continued by Professor Eugene A. Smith, of the University of Alabama, whose valuable reports, extending and completing the work of his predecessor, are indispensable guides to the geological inquirer in this region. Mention should also be made of the investigations of Mr. R. P. Roth well, who, after three years of studies in parts of the Alabama coal-fields, read before the American Institute of Mining Engineers, in October, 1873," a brief but important paper calling attention to the great deposits of coal and iron-ore found therein, and to their economic importance. Having myself, during the past year, had an opportunity of visiting parts of this region, I have thought that it might be well to bring before the Institute some facts and considerations as to its geological and geographical characteristics, and the value of its mineral resources. It is well known that the great Appalachian coal-basin, stretching southwestward through western Tennessee and the northwestern corner of Georgia, terminates in northern Alabama in what is called the Warrior coal-field, which there covers an area of about 5000 square miles. Lying along the southeast border of this, but

Jan 1, 1883

By Jay R. Burns

TWO magnesium sand-casting alloys are commonly favored in the United States. These are referred to as H and C alloys (Dow Chemical Co.) or 4Mz65 and AM260 alloys (American Magnesium Corporation). Both are of an aluminum-zinc-manganese type. H alloy contains 6 per cent aluminum and 3 per cent zinc and is characterized by relatively good toughness. C alloy contains 9 per cent aluminum and 2 per cent zinc and is employed where high yield strength and pressure tightness are required. Examination of magnesium castings poured in Europe and England,'J however, demonstrates that H and C alloys are replaced by .%8 and AZ~I, respectively. That is, A8 reprcsents a magnesiurn alloy having superior toughness while A291 is suitable for high yield strength and pressure-tight applications. The basic difference between the .Ameri-can and European alloys is that the foreign alloys employ a somewhat higher aluminum content and less zinc than is found in H and C alloys. The mechanical properties of the alloys, when divided into high and low-aluminum groups, are quite similar, as determined from separately cast foundry-control type test bars ,In this paper the decrease of mechanical properties caused by any given amount of microporosity is measured for H, C, A8, and AZ~I alloys. The relative susceptibility of each of the four alloys to microporosity is also determined. Typical mechanical properties and nominal chemical analyses are reported in Table I. The apparent similarities between the two alloys in each group have led to considerable discussion as to the relative merits of each of the compositions.2 Popular points for comparison between the alloys have been the relative susceptibility of each of the four alloys to microporosity6 and the effect of this microporosity on their mechanical properties. It is primarily intended, in this paper, to show the

Jan 1, 1946

By Jay R. Burns

TWO magnesium sand-casting alloys are commonly favored in the United States. These are referred to as H and C alloys (Dow Chemical Co.) or 4Mz65 and AM260 alloys (American Magnesium Corporation). Both are of an aluminum-zinc-manganese type. H alloy contains 6 per cent aluminum and 3 per cent zinc and is characterized by relatively good toughness. C alloy contains 9 per cent aluminum and 2 per cent zinc and is employed where high yield strength and pressure tightness are required. Examination of magnesium castings poured in Europe and England,'J however, demonstrates that H and C alloys are replaced by .%8 and AZ~I, respectively. That is, A8 reprcsents a magnesiurn alloy having superior toughness while A291 is suitable for high yield strength and pressure-tight applications. The basic difference between the .Ameri-can and European alloys is that the foreign alloys employ a somewhat higher aluminum content and less zinc than is found in H and C alloys. The mechanical properties of the alloys, when divided into high and low-aluminum groups, are quite similar, as determined from separately cast foundry-control type test bars ,In this paper the decrease of mechanical properties caused by any given amount of microporosity is measured for H, C, A8, and AZ~I alloys. The relative susceptibility of each of the four alloys to microporosity is also determined. Typical mechanical properties and nominal chemical analyses are reported in Table I. The apparent similarities between the two alloys in each group have led to considerable discussion as to the relative merits of each of the compositions.2 Popular points for comparison between the alloys have been the relative susceptibility of each of the four alloys to microporosity6 and the effect of this microporosity on their mechanical properties. It is primarily intended, in this paper, to show the

Jan 1, 1946

[JOSEPHSON, W. G.: The Argonaut Mine of Today, M88, 475 JOUET, C. H., biography, M29, 258 Joule-Thompson effect, 98, 381 JOWETT, J. H., biography, M83, 276 JUDSON, S. A.: Operations in the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana for 1926, G26, 659 JUDSON, S. A., EASTON, H. D. JR. AND SCHAEFFER. W. A. JR.: Estimation of Petroleum Reserves in Prorated Fields 114, 11. Abs., YB35, 50 JULIHN, C. E.: Copper---An Example of Advancing Technology and the Utilization of Low-grade Ores. Brookings Lecture, in Mineral Economics (1931 volume, B. W. Mudd Fund)]

Jan 1, 1936

By A. M. Skov, L. F. Elkins

First response to large-scale water flooding in the fractured very low permeability Spraberry sand has led to a new unique cyclic operation. Capacity water injection is used to restore reservoir pressure. This is followed by marly months production without water irzjection and the cycle repeated. Expansion of the oil, rock and water during pressure decline expels part of the fluids but capillary forces hold much of the injected water in the rock. At least with reservoir pressure restored and with partial water flood development, field performance has proved this cyclic operation is capable of producing oil from the nzatrix rock at least 50 per cent faster and with lower water percentage than is imbibition of water at stable reservoir pressure. INTRODUCTION The Spraberry Field of West Texas presents unusual problems for both primary production and water flooding. Extensive interconnected vertical fractures in the fractional-md sandstone permitted recovery of oil on 160-acre well spacing, but they made capillary end effects dominant. Primary recovery by solution gas drive is less than 10 per cent of oil in place. The concept of displacement of oil from the sand matrix by capillary irnbibition of water has led to field techniques which promise greatly increased oil recovery. Free exchange of laboratory research, reservoir information and results of field pilot tests among the various companies has been very important in development of this technology. Five units covering a total of 170,000 acres have been formed for water flooding, and 10 other areas covering an additional 175,500 acres are in various stages of unitization. Part of the Driver Unit reaching fillup first has demonstrated very unusual waterflood behavior and indicated numerous operating problems that will develop within and among the various units. SPRABERRY ROCK AND PRIMARY PERFORMANCE The Spraberry, discovered in February, 1949, is a 1,000-ft section of sandstones, shales and limestones with two main oil productive members: a 10-15 ft sand near the top and a 10-15 ft sand near the base. In part of the field some thinner intermediate sands are oil productive, and others are water bearing. All sands have permeabilities of 1 md or less and porosities of 8-15 per cent. Ordinary core analysis and electric and radiation logs are ineffective in differentiating between oil productive and nonprcductive sands. Sands capable of containing producible oil are best identified by mercury injection capillary pressure measurement and, in some cases, by core water saturation. About 3,500 wells have been drilled in the 500,000-acre trend. Vertical fractures were observed in practically all Spraberry cores. Continuity and interconnection of fractures were confirmed by pressure interference among wells during early development.' Major fractures trend northeast-southwest as indicated by oriented cores and confirmed by five fluid injection tests, by analysis of the pressure transients observed during development,''' and by three interference tests in the Driver Unit Water Flood reported herein. Fracture spac- ing probably averages inches to a few feet. Spraberry wells typically produced 100-400 BOPD initially after hydrauLic fracture treatments. By 1962 oil production had declined to an average of 12 bbl/well/day, near the economic Limits of operation. Reservoir pressure had declined from 2,300 psi initially in the Upper Spraberry and 2,500 psi in the Lower Spraberry to 500-1,000 psi. Partial closing of the fractures with declining reservoir pressure is believed to be the cause of such low oil production rates at these relatively high reservoir pressures. Cumulative recovery of 208 million bbl of oil is 80 to 90 per cent of that recoverable by primary means. Performance of the entire reservoir is summarized in Fig. 1. IMBIBITION WATER FLOODING By 1952 reservoir performance indicated low primary recoveries. Most engineers, expecting serious channeling of injected fluids through the fractures, held little hope for secondary recovery. With its extensive background of research on the fundamentals of fluid flow within reservoir rocks, Atlantic's Research and Development Division on short notice in 1952 conceived that displacement of oil by capillary imbibition of water into the rock might significantly increase Spraberry recovery. Laboratory data reported by Brownscombe and Dyes scaled to probable reservoir conditions showed potential waterflood recovery equal to or greater than primary recovery with a 10-15 year flood life.= A pilot test using three 40-acre injection wells, one central producing well and 18 surrounding observation wells demonstrated technical feasibility of the process. Injection of 1.5 million bbl of water from November 1952 to August 1955 proved water entered the rock and displaced oil

By John H. Hollomon

A REVIEW of the steps which have been made to increase knowledge in the field of ferrous physical metallurgy during the closing period of World War II brings both pleasure and disappointment. Contributions of great value have been made, to be sure. However, due partly to the stress of the times, researchers in this field have been in the main directing their attention toward the short-range problems involved in the development and production of materiel for war. Furthermore, publication of the results of a great number of studies has had to be delayed. Much of the German work may, indeed, be lost entirely, owing to the efficiency of our bombers, which managed to account for most of the famous Kaiser Wilhelm Institut of Dusseldorf, not to mention the other large laboratories and manufacturing plants throughout that country. It would seem safe to assume, however, that fundamental research in Germany had been forced to give way to the shallow, but more pressing, engineering problems of a country trying to avoid defeat. In Russia the picture has been clouded by the limitations imposed upon comunication; but this much does seem clear: Russia alone among the great nations of the world has maintained her long-range view and has continued to foster research of the most fundamental type. English workers; on the other hand, appear to have been able only to meet the demands of the pressing problems of war, and their studies have been of the short-range variety. That metallurgical research of any sort should have continued in France during this chaotic period in her history would seem impossible, but, amazingly, a small handful of scientists did manage to carry on their work, and it is to be hoped that more will be heard from them in the future.

Jan 1, 1946

By J. Szekely, P. Tarassoff, N. J. Themelis

In a copper converter air enters the bath in the form of turbulent jets. The interaction of these jets with the molten matte is fundamental to the converting process. In the present study, an equation is derived to describe the trajectory of a gas jet in a liquid. Calculated and experimental results for air jets injected into water are in good agreement. The trajectories of air jets in copper matte are predicted. THE air injected through the tuyeres of a Peirce-Smith copper converter emerges into the bath of molten matte in the form of a highly turbulent jet. The air jets affect a number of chemical and physical processes occurring in the converter: i) Converting Rate. It is generally recognized that the production capacity of a converter is limited by the flow of air which can be injected through the tuyeres and by the oxygen efficiency. In turn, the air flow is limited by pressure drop considerations or by the amount of splashing within the converter. ii) Oxygen Efficiency. This depends on the dispersion of the air jet in the liquid bath, and its trajectory through the bath. iii) Mixing. The jets act as mixing devices by transferring momentum energy to the bath; in this way the heat generated by the converting reactions occurring in the jets is distributed through the bath. iv) Refractory Wear. The proximity of the jets, which are centers of heat generation, to the refractories in the tuyere zone may have an important effect on refractory life. Mixing conditions in the bath will also influence refractory erosion. v) Splashing, and Accretion Build-Up. The energy of the jets is not dissipated entirely in mixing the bath. particles of liquid are carried out kith the gas above the surface of the bath in the form of liquid spouts and droplets. These result in the undesirable build-up of accretions on the converter mouth, and dust losses in the flue gas. Despite the importance of the interaction of the air jets and the matte in a converter, very few studies of the fluid dynamics of converting have been reported in the literature. Metallurgists in the USSR appear to have been more concerned with the subject than their Western counterparts. Deev et al.1 studied the interaction of an air jet with aqueous solutions in a converter model and qualitatively determined the tuyere air velocity and tuyere inclination which produced the most favorable results with respect to good mixing in the bath, and minimum splashing. Shalygin and Meyer-ovich2 also examined the air-matte physical interaction both in models and in industrial converters; they concluded that in conventional converting practice, there was no significant penetration of the air jets into the matte layer, and consequently the converting reactions occurred mainly in a zone adjacent to the tuyeres. The behavior of air jets in a converter bath, and the aerodynamic characteristics of tuyeres are discussed at length in a monograph on converting by Shalygin.3 However, the description of the phenomena occurring in the converter bath is largely qualitative. The side-blown Bessemer converter for steelmak-ing is very similar to the Peirce-Smith copper converter. Among the few investigations of the behavior of air jets in the bath of a Bessemer converter are those of Kootz and Gille4 who studied splashing in the course of an investigation on the effect of blowing conditions and converter shape on nitrogen pick-up in Bessemer steel. They found that during blowing standing waves were formed on the surface of the bath; the amplitude of the waves increased with the depth and angle of tuyere immersion until the whole bath moved backwards and forwards causing heavy splashing. Kazanstev5 used a model of a Bessemer converter to obtain correlations between the axial velocity of a gas jet and distance from the tuyere orifice and the Froude number of the jet. shalygin3 used these results to calculate the horizontal penetration of an air jet in a copper converter; the penetration was defined as the distance in which the axial jet velocity decreased to 10 pct of its initial value. However, the rising trajectory of the jet was not taken into account. In the absence of quantitative information on the fluid dynamics of converting, the design of copper converters has been based mainly on operating experience. Such experience tends to vary widely from smelter to smelter., This is reflected in Table I which is based on data compiled by Lathe and Hodnett.6 Aside from a rough, and perhaps obvious correlation between the total air flow and converter volume, Fig. 1, no pattern emerges from the data. For example, tuyere throat air velocities vary from 215 to 465 ft per sec in converters of the same size, for little apparent reason. The air jet energy input per cubic foot of converter volume, which may be taken as a measure of the amount of mixing in the converter bath, also varies greatly. A recent analysis of converter data by Milliken and Hofinger7 has also revealed unexplained variations in operating parameters. It is believed that by gaining a better understanding of the fluid dynamics of converting a more rational basis may be provided for the design of converters. In particular, it is proposed that if one takes into account the desirable criteria of a high converting rate, high oxygen efficiency and long refractory life, there should be an optimum configuration of tuyere air flow for a converter of a given diameter. The present investigation is concerned with the form and trajectory of an air jet in a converter bath. The general theory of turbulent jets has been expounded by Schlichting8 and Abramovich.9 However, most experi-

Jan 1, 1970