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CONTENTS PAGE SOUTHWARD, GLENN B.-Coal Mining by the V System. Discussed by Glenn B. Southward, Howard N. Eavenson, Edward B. Raiguel, Thomas de Venny, J.. J. Rutledge, Graham Bright 1 ARMS, RAY W.-Dry Cleaning of Coal. Discussed by Ray W. Arms, S. A. Taylor, Howard N. Eavenson, W. R. Crane, F. F. Jorgenson, G. R. Delamater. 6 EAVENSON, HOWARD N.-Data About Labor Employed in Various Bituminous Coal Mines. Discussed by Howard N. Eavenson, George H. Ashley, E. A. Holbrook, S. A. Taylor, R. V. Norris 14 Coal Mining by the V System Discussion of the paper of GLENN B. SOUTHWARD presented at the New York Meeting, February, 1924, and issued as Paper No. 1300-C, with MINING AND METALLURGY, February, 1924. MEMBER.-How do you pay your men for loading? GLENN B. SOUTHWARD.-Everything is on time basis. MEMBER.-How many men do you have loading across one of the diagonal faces? GLENN B. SOUTHWARD.-From four to five, depending on the length of the face. Our loaders are so arranged that each will give about twenty-five tons per loader a day. MEMBER.-How much timber do you use? GLENN B. SOUTHWARD.-A little more than will be used in room-and-pillar work, but not a great deal more. We have not attempted to recover much of our timber. MEMBER.-IS the mine union or non-union? GLENN B. SOUTHWARD.-Non-union. HOWARD N. EAVENSON, Pittsburgh, Pa.-I went .through that mine some weeks ago, and think that the author has been very conservative in his statements about the amount of loadings, etc. EDWARD B. RAIGUEL, Huntington, W. Va. (written discussion).¬Page 7 shows 60 men employed in day and night shifts, inside the mine, producing 750 tons per day. Let us reduce these figures to a man-hour basis, for comparison with Mr. Eavenson's figures on West Virginia mines, as follows:

Jan 6, 1924

By H. F. Yancey

AT the annual meeting of this Institute held two years ago a new method, of estimating the grindability of coal was described, based on experimental work carried on by the Bureau of Mines at its Northwest Experiment Station. Since that time, several organizations concerned with the testing or utilization of coal as pulverized fuel have adopted and used the method in determining the grindability of several hundred samples of coal. In addition, a series of comparative tests of this method and three others has been carried out in five laboratories under the auspices of Committee D-5 of the American Society for Testing Materials. As a result the Committee has recommended that the Bureau of Mines method, designated as the "ball-mill method," and the Hardgrove method2, previously advanced, be accepted as tentative standards3. Since the ball-mill method was originally developed and published, an opportunity has been presented to apply it to a larger number of coals and to study intensively some of the principles upon which the method is based. This paper presents a resume of these further studies and includes a comparison with the Hardgrove-machine method. Trial runs were also made with another procedure recently proposed-the C.I.T. roll-test method4.

Jan 1, 1936

By William G. Kranz

Discussion of the paper of WILLIAM G. KRANZ, presented at the San Francisco meeting, September, 1915, and printed in Bulletin. No. 101, May, 1915, pp. 927 to 930. M. PETINOT, Niagara Falls, N. Y. (communication to the Secretary*). -I have read this paper with considerable interest and agree perfectly with Mr. Kranz that steel for castings made in an electric furnace is not necessarily, because of that fact, all good steel, and also that the qualities which he mentions, such as absence of segregation, elimination of `sulphur, great tenacity, etc., can be obtained in an electric furnace if operated under proper metallurgical conditions. An unusually low content of sulphur in steel for castings is not, of course, an absolute necessity and the range of this element usually obtained in steel made in basic open-hearth furnaces is sufficiently low to meet all physical requirements. The main factor in making steel for castings, regardless of the process, is the complete deoxidation of the bath to prevent the formation of

Jan 12, 1915

By Francis F. Lucas

A microscope objective of given numerical aperture, when used with light of given wave length, has some fixed limit of resolution. This may be expressed as potential resolving ability—the ability to resolve is inherent in the lens but whether this limit is achieved in practice is quite another matter. Nearly 50 years ago Abbe evolved theoretical considerations which indicated that the ability of a lens to resolve detail is directly proportional to twice the numerical aperture of the objective and inversely proportional to the wave length of the light used. It is true, unquestionably, that as the numerical aperture of the objective is increased the potential resolving ability of the lens is increased and likewise when the wave length of the light used is decreased, the degree of resolution is increased. Whether Abbe's formula expresses the exact relationship is not a matter of great concern. It suffices to know that to improve resolution, other things being equal, two avenues of approach are available. Either the numerical aperture of the objective may be increased or the wave length of the light decreased. With the apochromatic system it is possible to employ successfully wave lengths from 400 to 500 uu and still secure reasonably short exposures. The present limit for numerical aperture is 1.40 N. A. although objectives of 1.60 N. A. are now an experimental possibility for metallurgical work. Thus certain well defined limits are set for those who work within the range of the visible spectrum. In order to take advantage of the increase in resolving power which accompanies a decrease in the wave length of light employed, Dr. A. Kohler and Dr. M. Von Rohr of the Zeiss Scientific Staff developed the "monochromats." These are quartz objectives corrected for the single wave length 275 uu which lies in the ultra-violet region of the spectrum. They also developed a series of quartz oculars and a complete photo-micrographic equipment with which to use the quartz optics. Quartz must be used for the optical parts because glass absorbs ultra-violet light almost completely. Thus there was made available about 20 years

Jan 1, 1926

By R. D. Reiswig, J. M. Dickinson

The 0s-Ir equilibrium diagram was determined. The diagram is of the simple peritectic type, with a peritectic temperature of about 2660°C. The solid miscibility gap is narrower than previously reported, the nearly vertical solvus lines occurring at about 42 and 63 wt pct 0s. Widmanstaetten figures resembling martensite in some of the two-phase alloys account for a previously suspected transformation. In view of the long history of use of such alloys, it is surprising that the 0s-Ir equilibrium diagram has not yet been completely determined. The boundaries of the miscibility gap in this system have been estimated to be between 24 and 39 wt pct 0s and 79 and 100 wt pct OS. It has been predicted3 that alloys of ruthenium, osmium, and rhenium with the fcc platinum metals should solidify peritectically in their two-phase regions. The metallographic examination of natural osmiridium alloys has been said4 to indicate, by the presence of a martensitic structure, the existence of a transformation or a phase separation. On the basis of superconducting transition temperature measurements, a 70 at. pct 0s alloy was found5 to be two-phase prior to annealing. EXPERIMENTAL The elemental components used in this work were obtained from several suppliers as sponge. The purities, stated by each supplier to be in excess of 99.8 pct, were confirmed in each case by a semiquantitative spectrographic analysis. The pure components were premelted in an inert-gas tungsten arc furnace with the evolution of some fume, crushed, and pickled for use as alloy melting stock. Upon arc melting to the final compositions, no fume evolution was observed. Because weight losses of the order of 15 mg or less were observed in preparing alloy buttons weighing 15 g, "synthetic analyses" were used in determining the compositions of the alloys. Alloys used in this investigation contained 15, 20, 33, 40, 42, 43, 45, 50, 55, 60, 63, 64, 66, 70, 79, and 80 wt pct 0s. Heat treatments of the alloy buttons and pieces thereof were performed in a previously described6 tungsten tube furnace under pressures of 105 torr or less. It was found that homogenization treatments on the specimens were essential to remove the severe coring which was present, a 3-hr treatment above 2300°C removing all the metallographi-cally visible evidence of coring. Following the various heat treatments, the specimens were "vacuum-quenched" by melting a tungsten fuse wire and allowing them to drop onto a water-cooled copper plate. In a few instances, specimens were quenched into molten tin for comparison, but no difference was apparent. Vacuum-quenched specimens cooled from 2400°C to below a red heat in less than 60 sec. Typical equilibration times varied from 3 hr above 2300°C to 88 hr near 1100°C. The utilization of successively longer equilibration times and the approach to equilibrium from both directions indicated that the times used were sufficient to give a close approach to true equilibrium. Heat-treatment temperatures were measured with a calibrated Leeds and Northrup optical pyrometer through a 0.120-in. lateral sight hole in the tungsten heater tube. It was known that the assumption of black-body conditions inside the 1-in.-diam by 10-in.-long tube was unwarranted. The empirical results of work with thermocouples and melting

Jan 1, 1964

By Grover R. Castle

INTRODUCTION "Project Financing" or "Project Loans" have become increasingly popular in recent years, and commercial banks are being asked to consider more and more of such financing. However, the analysis of this type of loan is quite different from the analysis of a loan to a financially sound corporation based on the company's balance sheet. For this reason Chemical Bank did a study of project loans in an attempt to be more sophisticated in our approach to them. As part of this study, we examined 29 project financings for which information was available. In this article I shall describe project loans and set forth the guidelines we developed, as an aid to credit officers who might have occasion to analyse this type of financing. DEFINITION OF "PROJECT FINANCING" OR "PROJECT LOAN" The terms "project financing" and "project loan" commonly describe the various methods that banks and institutional lenders use to finance the construction of new projects on a basis whereby payout is anticipated from the revenue stream generated by the project. A project financing often involves a loan to a new entity formed specifically to own the project. The analysis of a project loan proposal is quite different from the analysis of other term-loan proposals since it involves a credit decision based on the review of a projection or forecast rather than of historical earnings and/or it involves the reliance on contractual obligations of third parties. Lenders are asked to assume the added risks associated with project loans because: 1. Project financing may permit a company to obtain additional leverage. It is possible for companies to arrange financing on a project basis that could not be arranged as a direct borrowing. For example, a company may not be permitted to borrow more money directly, due to a limitation in a bond indenture. However, a project financing can sometimes be negotiated on a basis not prohibited by the indenture. 2. Often the sponsors of, or the stockholders in, the project are seeking an off-balance-sheet financing. For example, 11 of the 29 projects in our study were arranged on an off-balance-sheet basis and one showed on the balance sheet as a deferred income item. An off-balance-sheet financing, for the purpose of this article, is a financing which does not show as a direct liability on the balance sheet of the sponsors of or stockholders in a project. 3. Projects are often located in a foreign country. The financing is arranged so that the lenders assume the political risk on the loan because many companies rightly believe that this arrangement affords a degree of insulation from political risk not otherwise obtainable. 4. Many projects are jointly owned by several sponsors. This form of financing lends itself well to a situation where a new entity is formed to own a project and do the borrowing. Project loans can be used to finance a variety of activities including development of iron-ore deposits and associated pelletizing plants; development of coal reserves; construction of pipelines, alumina plants, fertilizer plants and refineries; etc. The specific areas of analysis can be quite different, depending upon the type of project being financed. It is important, therefore, to classify the proposal according to the type of project, and also by the nature of the financing - nonrecourse financing, financing covered by a guarantee of completion and financing supported by an undertaking lasting for the life of the financing. I will discuss each of these types in more detail later, but first, I should like to make some

Jan 1, 1985

By C. S. Allen

With increased coal production and mechanization of coal mines many transportation problems arise. The main objective is to bring the coal to the tipple or dump it as quickly as possible. Larger and faster haulage locomotives or two locomotives connected in tandem have been adopted to solve the problem. Motor equipment, gears and control systems of locomotives to be placed on these hauls are carefully studied to meet these requirements, by an analysis of motor characteristic curves with the corresponding tractive effort curves, in order to determine the correct load for maximum efficiency and to determine the approximate schedule. Control equipment is usually considered to be the controller and resistance. Sometimes accelerating curves are calculated in order to obtain smooth starting in the least possible time without slipping the wheels. Train control is very important, but why limit this to acceleration ? Deceleratien-or-retardation of the locomotive is a part of the train control and should be given as much consideration as the control for acceleration. Types or Braking Common braking systems for mine locomotives utilize screw-type mechanical brakes, dynamic braking and the air brake. For gathering and haulage locomotives, the srrew-type mechanical brake is regarded as standard. A brake of this kind cannot be applied without much effort and lapse of time. Motormen, like other people, follow the path of least resistance, and therefore have their brakes ready for instant application—which means that the shoes are virtually dragging. Even then, a motorman bucks and plugs the motors to gain time and avoid as much physical effort as possible. "Bucking of motors" consists in turning the reverse cylinder of the controller to parallel position corresponding to the opposite direction of travel while the locomotive is in motion, without applying power from an external source. When this occurs, both motors tend to act as series generators, because the armatures are revolving and there is residual magnetism in the field circuit. Owing to slight differences in motor manufacture, one of these will generate a slightly higher potential and will overcome the generated voltage of the second and tend to drive it as a motor in the reverse Direction.-This action retards the locomotive but is very severe on the segments of the reverse cylinder and on the motor commutators. "Plugging motors" is the application of power to the motors corresponding to the opposite direction of travel. In order to "plug" the motors it is necessary first to "buck,, them (which reverses the connections to the motors) and then to apply power. Theoretically, this should be done only in an emergency, but locomotives in mine service are frequently thus treated., Dynamic braking is retardation of the locomotive by the motors acting as generators, which take no power from the line.

Jan 1, 1942

By C. S. Allen

With increased coal production and mechanization of coal mines many transportation problems arise. The main objective is to bring the coal to the tipple or dump it as quickly as possible. Larger and faster haulage locomotives or two locomotives connected in tandem have been adopted to solve the problem. Motor equipment, gears and control systems of locomotives to be placed on these hauls are carefully studied to meet these requirements, by an analysis of motor characteristic curves with the corresponding tractive effort curves, in order to determine the correct load for maximum efficiency and to determine the approximate schedule. Control equipment is usually considered to be the controller and resistance. Sometimes accelerating curves are calculated in order to obtain smooth starting in the least possible time without slipping the wheels. Train control is very important, but why limit this to acceleration ? Deceleratien-or-retardation of the locomotive is a part of the train control and should be given as much consideration as the control for acceleration. Types or Braking Common braking systems for mine locomotives utilize screw-type mechanical brakes, dynamic braking and the air brake. For gathering and haulage locomotives, the srrew-type mechanical brake is regarded as standard. A brake of this kind cannot be applied without much effort and lapse of time. Motormen, like other people, follow the path of least resistance, and therefore have their brakes ready for instant application—which means that the shoes are virtually dragging. Even then, a motorman bucks and plugs the motors to gain time and avoid as much physical effort as possible. "Bucking of motors" consists in turning the reverse cylinder of the controller to parallel position corresponding to the opposite direction of travel while the locomotive is in motion, without applying power from an external source. When this occurs, both motors tend to act as series generators, because the armatures are revolving and there is residual magnetism in the field circuit. Owing to slight differences in motor manufacture, one of these will generate a slightly higher potential and will overcome the generated voltage of the second and tend to drive it as a motor in the reverse Direction.-This action retards the locomotive but is very severe on the segments of the reverse cylinder and on the motor commutators. "Plugging motors" is the application of power to the motors corresponding to the opposite direction of travel. In order to "plug" the motors it is necessary first to "buck,, them (which reverses the connections to the motors) and then to apply power. Theoretically, this should be done only in an emergency, but locomotives in mine service are frequently thus treated., Dynamic braking is retardation of the locomotive by the motors acting as generators, which take no power from the line.

Jan 1, 1942

By James R. Jones

The concern for air pollution goes back centuries as will be seen from this quotation : "Strife and coal, it seems, have a hand-in-hand historical relationship. It was thought by some . . . in the Middle Ages that burning coal filled the air with dangerous poisons. So great was the concern that in 1306 King Edward I of England passed the first and unquestionably the harshest air pollution legislation edict that history will record. His proclamation declared the use of coal an act punishable by death." As related to coal mining, the air pollution problem is primarily that of its customer when using the fuel. Thus the major impact relates to markets for coal rather than the actual mining operation itself. In the vicinity of the coal mine the problem is principally related to fugitive dust from roads, transfer facilities, loading facilities, crushers, etc., and particulate matter (dust or fly ash) from thermal dryers and air cleaning tables. FUGITIVE DUST Most state air pollution regulatory agencies now have rules and regulations requiring control of fugitive dust. Fugitive dust has been defined by the courts as particulate matter other than that emanating from a specific point such as a stack or chimney. A typical air pollution control agency regulation reads as follows : “Fugitive Dust " "No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit any material to be handled, transported, or stored; or a building, its appurtenances, or a road to be used, constructed, altered, repaired or demolished without taking reasonable precautions to prevent particulate matter from be- coming airborne. Such reasonable precautions shall include, where applicable, but not be limited to the following:

Jan 1, 1981

By J. A. Snyder, W. L. Finlay

SEVERAL notable studies of the effects of sub- stitutional solutes have been reported. Outstanding among these for its elucidation of general principles, is the summarized work of Hume-Rothery and coworkers.1 For a systematic study of the effects of substitutional solutes on the mechanical properties of the solvent lattice, the work of Brick, Martin, and Angier² on copper; of Frye and coworkers³,4,5 on copper and silver; and of Lacy and Gensamer6 and of Austin7 on iron may be mentioned. Titanium is one of the few elements offering the possibility of a similar study of interstitial solutes since, unlike most metallic elements, it exhibits extended solid solubility for most of the interstitial solutes—hydrogen, boron, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon. This paper reports a survey of the effects of dilute solutions of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon on the mechanical properties of high-purity alpha titanium. Previous Work: Van Arkel and De Boer showed" that high purity titanium was quite ductile and De Boer, Burgers and Fast established".' that not only were oxygen and nitrogen very soluble in solid titanium but that, long before the limit of solid solubility of either had been reached, these interstitial solutes rendered the metal brittle. Their electrical resistance data as a function of

Jan 1, 1951

By L. L. Karafiath, S. G. Vick, E. A. Nowatzki

Computer analyses of the trafficability of copper mine tailings by four different commercially available BWEs were performed. A mathematical model incorporating the tailings' Coulomb strength parameters and the vehicles' geometry and operational characteristics was used to study the vehicle terrain interaction. The computer output provides the maximum tractive force (net drawbar pull) that each BWE can develop for given tailings conditions without bnngzng about a state of plastic failure in the tailings. Estimates of sinkage are also provided. The theoretical results for the BWEs and tailings studied compare favorably with the operating experience of similar BWEs used for remining gold tailings in South Africa. This lends some confidence to the validity of the mathematical model. The results of such analyses may be wed to evaluate, on a relative basis, which of a number of different machines would perform better than others under given conditions of a tailings deposit.

Jan 1, 1982

By Harold R. Wampler, John L. Bolles, Adrian J. Broderick

Phelps Dodge's 60,000 tpd Morenci Concentrator has been in operation since 1942. The integrating of process control applications into the concentrator began in 1972. A process control system is presently on-line controlling 30 primary grinding circuits and all reagent additions. The system consists of a centralized control room process control Computer, on-stream X-ray analyzer, on-stream particle size analyzers and an operator interface. This paper describes the process control system's development, control concepts and its influence on the concentrator performance.

Jan 1, 1978

By E. S. Leaver

THE presence of soluble base metals in precious-metal ores usually precludes cyanidation as the best method of treatment. The laboratory experiments described in this paper show the possibility of cyanidation of gold-silver ores containing less than 0.5 per cent, of cyanide-soluble copper and the effect of zinc in the cyanide solution. PART I.-COPPER IN CYANIDATION The proposed process of cyanidation of precious-metal ores containing copper is based on the regeneration of about 80 per cent., of the cyanide used in the dissolution of the copper. The method of regeneration involves a combination of the sulfide and the acid precipitation of the copper and silver. The resultant solution is made alkaline with lime, and the gold is precipitated with zinc dust. Solubility of Copper Minerals in Cyanide Solution In order to determine the solubility of copper minerals, including metallic copper, under the usual conditions for cyanidation, experiments were conducted with synthetic ores. Each ore sample was prepared by mixing the particular pure copper mineral with barren sea sand. Both the mineral and sand were ground to pass 100 mesh before they were thoroughly mixed. The percentage of copper in each head sample was determined by direct assay, excepting the metallic copper sample, which was computed on weights before mixing. Table 1 gives the results.

Jan 1, 1929

By Marvin Lee

Kansas continued holding, for its seventh year, the fourth position in the list of oil-producing states. The crude-oil production, according to purchaser's reports to the State Corporation Commission, was 40,008,940 bbl.; as assembled by the Oil and Gas Journal, 41,305,768, and by the U. S. Bureau of Mines, 41,942,000 barrels. Increase of production from 1932 was largely due to greater stability of the industry, and increased return of demand for Kansas oil, caused by the addition of Federal assistance in national production regulation which reduced illegal production, of some areas out of Kansas, that had been destructively competing with Kansas crude or its refined products, at less than cost of production. Prices continued to advance from the lowest level of 25c per barrel during part of May and June, until by the end of September 36" gravity crude had reached $1 per barrel and continued at this price the remainder of the year. Price stability, for a period greater than in previous years, has brought renewed confidence to those producing oil and has led to renewed interest and increased purchases of Kansas leases. Drilling was confined chiefly to the number of wells necessary to protect from offset and other drainage in the field and to meet the requirements of expiring lease contract deeper areas in Mid-Continent, are an added inducement to exploration. The renewal of interest in the search for new fields in Kansas is already apparent and 1934 will probably see more wildcatting than for several years. This is due both to the expiration of leases on large blocks and to actual demand of the industry for new fields. Exploration for favorable areas is being actively conducted by the various methods of surface, subsurface and core drilling and geophysical work. Much of western Kansas cannot be mapped by surface study and geophysical exploration has been of considerable assistance and has led to a large use of the seismograph. Several companies are conducting seismograph surveys and leasing on findings already secured. Development under the more favorable conditions of 1933 can be readily seen by the comparison of the following reports for the last weeks of December in the respective years.

Jan 1, 1934

By T. S. Mohibatsela, R. V. Ramani, C. V. Manula

The Mineral Engineering Department of The Pennsylvania State University has developed a suite of computer models for anthracite open pit mining (Fig. 1)1 Individual sub-systems have been developed to (a) interpolate geologic field data to obtain coal tonnages, waste volumes, and strip ratios; (b) simulate equipment performance on selected pit profiles to generate data required to choose coal and waste removal equipment; and (c) evaluate selected cost factors to determine either a rate of return for a specified selling price or vice-versa. This paper describes the application of two of these subsystems, namely, the Reserves Model (GEOL) and the Open Pit Materials Handling Simulator (OPMHS), and how these may be applied for the selection of equipment for a prime anthracite mining site.2

Jan 1, 1981

By Rudolph G. Wuerker

MUCH descriptive matter[ ] has appeared on the subject of suspension roof supports, or roof bolting, as it is more commonly called. The wide- spread introduction of roof bolting into coal mines and metal mines is truly phenomenal. Mine operators were quick to recognize the advantages of supporting wide openings without hindrance to machine maneuverability and ventilation.

Jan 6, 1953

As one surveys the extensive taconite operations on the Mesabi Range, he may find it difficult to believe that only 15 years ago, the iron ore mining industry here was staring at its own imminent demise. Due to the high demands for iron ore during World War II the postwar period of 1946-1950, and the subsequent "police action" in Korea, there was rapid consumption of the Mesabi's already depleted ores, and some economists were giving the Range only 20-25 years of life. In the 13-year period 1941-1953, more than 850 million tons of iron ore were shipped to steel mills, an amount almost equal to the total production during the preceding 30 years. Proven ore reserves dropped from 1.1 billion tons in 1940 to 8.3 million tons in 1954, the largest decrease being recorded in the famed direct shipping ores.

Jan 9, 1968

By L. R. Weisberg, E. A. Miller

Single-crystalline films of silicon of good quality were vacuum-deposited on sapphire. The improved crystallinity was achieved by the strict exclusion of oxygen from the evaporation system, including the use of a "oxygen-free" silicon source. To minimize possible contamination of the source, the silicon was sublimed from the solid at about 1390° C. using a simple electron bombardment system to heat the silicon. This resulted in deposition rates of about 5 to 7 µ per hr and film thicknesses of 4 to 20 µ. The vacuum during deposition was ordinarily about 5x 10-8 Torr, DESPITE the success achieved in the chemical vapor deposition of silicon on sapphire using Silane,1-4 vacuum deposition has not provided comparable properties. For example, Chu et a1.5 vacuum-deposited silicon on single-crystalline substrates of A12O3, Sic, ThO2, and other compounds, and, although some epi- but the use of ultrahigh vacuum (about 1 to 3 x10-9 Torr) during deposition did not significantly improve the results in the oxygen-free system. The crystalline quality of films deposited on (0001) sapphire was found to be considerably superior to (1102) sapphire surfaces. Using (0001) sapphire, single-crystalline films were deposited at temperatures as low as 780° C and as high as 1075°C, with the best crystalline quality obtained at about 1000°C. At this temperature, hole mobilities over 250 sq cm per v-sec were achieved. taxy was indicated, single-crystalline films were not produced. More recently, Salama, Tucker, and young6 evaporated silicon on single-crystalline sapphire, but only poor crystallinity was observed, and low carrier mobilities were measured. In the present experiments, good-quality single-crystalline films of silicon on sapphire have been achieved by specifically excluding oxygen from the evaporation. This included not only the use of a "clean" vacuum system but, of special importance, the use of an oxygen-free silicon source. This has also been shown to provide a dramatic improvement in silicon homoepi-taxy.7 As a result, silicon-on-sapphire films with hole mobilities over 250 sq cm per v-set were achieved, and single-crystal films were grown as low as 780°C and as

Jan 1, 1969

By J. E. Fox Jr., J. L. Lummus, J. P. Gallus

Fresh water or brine drilling fluids may be kept free of suspended drilled solids by the addition of a water soluble acrylamide-carboxylic acid copolymer at the flowline. Addition of from .01 to 0.2 lblbbl of the polymer solution to drilling fluids containing less than 5 per cent clay solids by weight causes the solids to flocculate and settle rapidly to the bottom of the pits. Solutions of the polymer injected at the pump suction reduce the loss of water to permeable formations without impairing the permeability to oil. The use of drill-itlg fluids clarified with the polymer has resulted in increased drilling rates, extended bit life, and lower drilling fluid costs. INTRODUCTION Field experience and the results of a number of investigations have established that the accumulation of solids in drilling fluid reduces drilling rate.'-' Drilling with water makes possible higher drilling rates than can be achieved with mud but in many areas drilling with water may not be feasible because of the possibility of encountering high formation pressures or by-dratable formations. To combat these conditions, the drilling fluid must possess certain physical properties such as viscosity, density, fluid loss, etc., which require the presence of solids. The current trend in drilling fluid treatment is to maintain as low a percentage of solids as is possible without harmfully affecting the mud properties needed for drilling. Mechanical separating devices such as wet cyclones and decanting-type centrifuges are proving to be an economical means of controlling the percentage of solids and thereby maintaining low solids muds. Also: special muds have been developed for the purpose of retarding the hydration of drilled solids so that they may be more easily removed by shale shakers or settling pits. In some areas, such as West Texas, the characteristics of some formations will permit drilling with water. However, because of the dispersion of drilled solids, it is usually not possible to maintain clear water even with the aid of mechanical separators, or by utilizing large settling pits. For this reason the commonly used term "water drilling" is a misnomer since the water usually contains some solids. Because of the improved drilling rates and other benefits which might be effected, a laboratory and field study was made of the use of flocculating agents for maintaining clear water for drilling. PROCEDURE Laboratory—Solids Settling Two techniques were employed to determine the effectiveness of flocculating agents in settling solids from drilling mud. First, the rate of fall of solids was measured in graduated beakers containing mud treated with various flocculating agents. Natural gum, oil-in-water emulsions prepared with ethoxylated nonyl phenols and diesel oil. and a powdered synthetic acrylamide-carboxylic acid copolymer* (hereinafter referred to as "polymer") were tested as flocculating agents in both fresh water and salt saturated muds containing 4 per cent solids. The polymer was not added in the powder form directly to the muds but was first dissolved in water in a concentration of 3.5 lb/bbl. The polymer solution was then added directly to the mud. The concentration of the flocculating agents, including the polymer, was varied. High rates of fall of the solids indicated high flocculating efficiency. A second technique consisted of measuring the time in minutes required to obtain clear water at the pump suction after addition of the various flocculating agents at the flowline. These tests were made using a model mud circulating system having a total volume of approximately 10 gal. The natural fresh water and brine muds used contained 4 per cent solids. A sketch of the circulating system appears in Fig. 1. The circulating rate

By P. R. Gage, R. W. Bartlett

At high temperatues and reduced oxygen pressuves, molybdenum silicicles oxidize to form SiO(g) vathev than a passivating SiO2 film. This is a sevious problem for low-pressure applications of sili-cide-coated rejvactory tnetals. As oxiclalion pvoceeds, the higher oxidntion potential of silicon initially suppresses oxidation of molybdenum and silicon is depleted near the surface. Eventually, silicon depletion causes secondary passivation (SiO2) mid an active to passiue transition in oxidntion behavior at moderately low pressures. At very low pressures, silicon depletion continues until steady-state oxidation of both silicon and rnolyhdenum can proceed at rates propovtional to their initial stoicliiorrzetvies. Ohsel-vations of 'oxidatiou-rate belzcriliov at temperatures from 1101° to 1700°C and oxygen pressures from 10-7 to 1 at in were made using thermogravimetn'c, X-ray diffraction, and elect?*on-rtric?ro/,vobe techniqrres. The experimental results are in good agreement with calculated lirnits for the various types of behavior that were based on tlievtnochernicnl atzd dffusion rate data for the Mo-Si system. A protective oxide film normally forms during the oxidation of elemental silicon. However, at elevated temperatures and reduced pressures this film is not present and oxidation is rapid. wagnerl has shown that this behavior occurs because SiO(g) is more stable than SiO2. The behavior of the silicides at high temperatures is similar but more complicated. Molybdenum and several silicide compounds are involved and the chemical activity of silicon, or the equivalent silicon vapor pressure, can vary considerably in these phases. Also, diffusion in the silicides resulting from reactions in which a higher silicide is reduced to a lower silicide, or molybdenum containing dissolved silicon, must be considered. EXPERIMENTAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS Isothermal oxidation experiments were conducted using hot-pressed MoSi2 and Mo5Si3 wafers. Each experiment was conducted at a fixed oxygen pressure by controlling the flow of oxygen in and out of the furnace chamber. Most of the experiments were conducted in a molybdenum-wound tube furnace. Special construction features, including use of a high-purity dense A12O3 refractory tube, permitted operation in high vacuum to 1500°C. Higher temperatures could be obtained at higher working pressures and with a sacrifice of tube lifetime. Temperature was measured with three Pt 6 pct Rh/Pt 30 pct Rh thermocouples and controlled with a proportional controller. Weight changes were monitored with a quartz spring balance. The few experiments, at higher temperatures and low pressures, were conducted in a cold wall vacuum chamber using induction heating with direct susceptance of the sample. Because of the variable levitation effect of the induction coil on the sample, weight changes could not be monitored continuously in these experiments. All samples representing both experimental methods were weighed before and after oxidiation and examined with a microscope and analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The analytical treatment assumes equilibrium at interfaces and uses existing thermodynamic data. For convenience, equilibria are expressed as chemical potentials or as vapor pressures of the gases involved. The resulting differences in equilibrium vapor pressure between adjacent interfaces and between the surface and external atmosphere drive diffusion processes in the solid and gas boundary film, respectively. These diffusion processes govern the rate of oxidation. A bibliography of the sources of thermochemical data for the reactions pertinent to the Mo-Si-O system is given in Table I. Reactions are listed with the sources of free-energy data referenced. Since all of these reactions involve one or more gas species, usually oxygen, a plot of the product-gas chemical potential, -RT In Pg, vs absolute temperature for each reaction is given in Fig. 1. These curves can be used to determine equilibrium vapor pressures or to compare the stability of different compounds in the various gases: O2, Si, SiO, and Moo3,. The data of Table I and Fig. 1 were used to determine the analytical results presented in this paper. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS The weight changes for three MoSi, samples oxidized at 1500°C are plotted against time in Fig. 2. The treatments were identical except for the indicated variance of oxygen pressure and each curve represents one of three characteristic types of behavior that were observed. The upper curve is an example of passive oxidation, which is defined as

Jan 1, 1965