Search Documents

By H. J. Thevik, A. K. Dahle

"A mathematical model that calculates the stress development in a coherent and stationary dendritic network due to interdendritic flow is proposed. The fluid flow is assumed to be related to the solidification shrinkage, and under the assumption of no porosity formation and unidirectional solidification, the shrinkage-induced flow within the mushy zone is calculated analytically. The interdendritic melt flow exerts a force on the solid network and an analytical expression for the stress build-up in the network is developed. Parameter studies illustrating the influence of cooling conditions, mushy zone length, dendrite coherency, fraction solid, volume fraction of eutectic, and solidification shrinkage upon the stress development within the solid network are presented. Comparing the magnitude of the calculated stresses to measurements of the strength in equiaxed mushy zones shows that it is possible for the stresses to exceed the strength, thereby resulting in reorientation or collapse of the dendritic network.IntroductionInterdendritic fluid flow is at present regarded as a very important mechanism for feeding of shrinkage during solidification of metal alloys. Solidification of many alloys is often characterised by heterogeneous nucleation of the primary phase on substrates in the melt with subsequent evolution of equiaxed dendrites. These equiaxed dendrites can initially grow freely, but impinge on each other and form a continuous dendritic network, ie. dendrite coherency, quite early in the solidification process. Measurements of the dendrite coherency point have shown that the dendritic network is established at solid fractions ranging between 0.1 and 0.5, and most often around about 0.2 [l]. Depending on the alloy composition this means that as much as 70 to 80% of the volumetric shrinkage has to be compensated by flow of liquid through the interdendritic network. Interdendritic flow occurs with a much larger resistance compared to free flow of the liquid and flow of a liquid with dispersed crystals. The pressure drop associated with the interdendritic flow increases rapidly with decreasing fraction ofliquid."

Jan 1, 1999

By Kunio Nakahara, Kashiwagim Junichi, Takao Hayashi

"There are many problems for electronic devices and parts which were caused electrostatic damage by static electricity. It is necessary for prevention of electrostatic charge to decrease surface resistivity of material using electroconductive coating. Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. developed metal oxide type electroconductive pigment PASSTRAN (trade mark) Type-IV which is barium sulfate coated with SnOz(Sb) thin electroconductive layer. This paper shows about pigment characteristics and film condition of antistatic transparency paint which contained PASS TRAN.L.IntroductionRecently rapid development of electronics technology diffused electronic devices and products to Office, Factory, Laboratory and our life. But the other side, there are many problems for electronics parts which were caused electrostatic damage under static electricity. Demand of antistatic materials were become lager by this situation.There is close relationship between surface resistivity of material and static electricity. If the surface resistivity of object is enough low (under 109 Q /Sq), static electricity is dissipated quickly. So it is necessary for prevention of electrostatic charge to decrease surface resistivity of material using electroconductive coating.1) There are many type of electroconductive materials, for example, carbon black, metal powder, electroconductive polymer and so on. Especially, carbon black is used for general purpose by reason of its low cost, but it has big problem of black color. It can not get any color without black, and it caused contamination of carbon.In recent years, metal oxide electroconductive pigment (ECP) was developed and used for special purpose which demands transparent coating or easy dispersion to make ECP paint or endurance under hard environment and so on. Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. developed electroconductive pigment PASSTRAN Type-IV which is BaS04 coated with electro-conductive Tin oxide layer."

Jan 1, 1998

By Nobuaki Sato

The electrical conductivity, k, of pure and sodium doped sulfur melts was measured with and without ultrasonic waves at temperatures ranging from 140 to 340'C by the two probe method using an ultra high resistance meter. The k value of the pure sulfur melt with irradiation jumped at around 170°C by an order of 102 after which it mouutuniocally increased from 10-5 to10-4 A' 1 cm-1 with an increase of the temperature. The addition of the sodium metal to the sulfur melt was found to cause a larger jumping in the K value. The k value increased with the increase of Na proportion in the melt. For a 10mol% Na doped sulfur melt it was as high as max ~30 A 1cm -1 above 180 C under the irradiation of of ultrasconics.

Jan 1, 2003

By Fatbardha Osmani, Skender Osmani

"A system analysis of the resource and environment management (water, energy etc) starts from its definition. Unfortunately, there is not a unique semantics of the mentioned concept. On these circumstances, in this paper the following issues are presented: 1.A short view on the existing concepts of management. 2.A new definition on the concept of management. It is considered as a complex and rational activity on human and natural resources ,environment etc, which starts from a analysis of infrastructure ,technology , etc, mission , alternatives , project etc. and ends to an optimal output. Basing on this definition, the management has two principal components: strategy and policy. The strategy is referred as a blue print program (the same definition as in Game Theory), which contains all the contingency alternatives. , while the policy is referred as a strategy applied into practice. The strategy is the first , while the policy is the second one. The best alternative of a policy is the project, Each strategy has one and only one project. The mentioned definition erases the differences between concept of policy and politics. Each strategy has its alternatives ,the next has its sub strategy and so on, i.e. whatever are going to be the strategy, there are a hierarchy composed by sub strategies up to the simplest strategies applied by a single individual (human beings or robots). The strategy objectives are necessary and sufficient conditions for its realization i.e . the strategy is an optimal activity, in which all resources are integrated and processed . Several strategies could be joined into one( for example the surface water strategies of the Balkan countries) . In this view, the strategy could be globalized into optimal way basing on different criteria’s as social, economic, environmental, their risks and effectiveness etc. etc An example from the water management illustrates the mentioned concepts."

Jan 1, 2008

By Nobuaki Sato

The electrical conductivity, k, of pure and sodium doped sulfur melts was measured with and without ultrasonic waves at temperatures ranging from 140 to 340° C by the two probe method using an ultra high resistance meter. The II: value of the pure sulfur melt with irradiation jumped at around 170°C by an order of 102 after which it monotonically increased from 10-5 to 10-4 (omega) 1cm-4 with an increase of the temperature. The addition of the sodium metal to the sulfur melt was found to cause a larger jumping in the II: value. The II: value increased with the increase of Na proportion in the melt. For a 10 mol% Na doped sulfur melt it was as high as max. ~30 (omega) 1cm-1 above 180°C under the irradiation of ultrasonics.

Jan 1, 2003

By Elsa Agante

Recycling of solid wastes, a common practice nowadays, requires the separation of the different materials in order to increase the products added value. The separation of one plastic from mixtures of different types of plastics is not easy due to their similar physical properties, but different techniques are available, from automatic sorting systems based on optical sensors to techniques adapted from mineral processing, namely gravity, froth flotation and electrostatic processes. In the last decade, many researchers have addressed the separation?s problem of different polymers, like Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), two polymers commonly used in packaging which have similar density. One proposed technique is the classical froth flotation performed in agitated cells. Froth flotation is a versatile and relatively cheap process widely used in mineral separation. It is based on the different behaviour of particles in the presence of an inter-phase air-water, which depends on the materials surfaces properties. Froth flotation can be affected by some variables such as impeller speed and air flow rate. Agitated cells, when used with low density materials, like plastics, can produce overstated turbulence that prevents the adhesion and collection of particles in the froths. In this case, separation is favoured by column flotation smoother hydrodynamics. This paper proposes the separation of PET from PVC by column flotation. The experimental work was carried out in a column of 9cm diameter and 1m high. The effects of some operating conditions, such as depressor and frother concentration, air flow rate and feed grain size on products grade and recovery were evaluated and the best flotation conditions for the separation of these plastics were established.

Jan 1, 2006

By Jong-Oh Jo1

Thermodynamics of Ti, N and O in liquid iron was studied in order to establish a data base for the prediction of TiN and TiOx formation in liquid stainless steels containing various alloying elements including Cr, Ni and Si as a function of temperature. The interaction parameters of these elements on Ti and N were determined using the metal-nitride-gas equilibration technique. The TiN stability diagram for a commercial stainless steel grade was constructed from the measured thermodynamic parameters, and its validity was confirmed experimentally. The interaction parameters between Ti and O, and the equilibrium constants for Ti deoxidation reactions for the formation of Ti2O3 and Ti3O5 were also determined by the equilibration of the melts with those oxides identified by the XRD and the EPMA analyses.

Jan 1, 2006

By John Sakala, Jeyapandian Sasikumar, Sydney Kwalela

The Isasmelt Furnace was commissioned in September 2006 with a concentrates treatment capacity of 850,000 tonnes per annum. However, the converter section became a bottleneck to the high throughput. Over 25% of the Isasmelt Furnace down time was attributed to lack of converter space. Factors that affected converter operations were low tuyere line campaign life (an average of 150 blows), high reverts generation, low conversion rates, and high converter cycle time. As a result of efforts carried out to improve converter operation, the average campaign life has increased to over 250 blows and reverts generation has been reduced from 22% of concentrate treated to 15%. Blister copper conversion rate has increased from 15 tonnes per hour to 19 tonnes per hour and blowing time per cycle has been reduced from 5.7 hours to 4.7 hours.

Jan 1, 2012

By Ibrahim Yusufoglu, Ahmet Orkun Kalpakli, Cem Kahruman, Sedat Ilhan

"The effects of oxalic acid concentration, temperature, stirring rate and particle size on the dissolution rate of synthetically prepared calcium molybdate were investigated. Dissolution of calcium molybdate in oxalic acid solutions takes place as a series - parallel type reaction. In the first reaction step, which proceeds according to the ""Langmuir - Hinshelwood Mechanism"", calcium aqua oxalato molybdate is formed as a complex chelate intermediate product. In the second reaction step, molybdic acid is formed during the slow hydrolysis of calcium aqua oxalato molybdate, and it reacts rapidly with oxalic acid to form the polymeric hydrogen oxalate dimolybdate chelate as an end product. Activation energies were calculated as 41.4 and 49.9 kJ mol-1 for the first and zero order reactions. The fractional conversion versus time relationship can be given by the following equation.IntroductionMolybdenum is used widely in electric-electronic, metal working, aerospace and aeronautic, nuclear, glass and petrochemical industries because of its high melting temperature and resistance against chemical effects. However, the largest molybdenum consumers are the iron-steel and super alloy industries where molybdenum is used as an alloying element. Industrially important molybdenum minerals are limited to molybdenite (M0S2), powellite (CaMo04) and wulfenite (PbMo04), which are considered as primary molybdenum resources. Secondary molybdenum resources are spent catalysts and scrap [1-4].Molybdenum has been produced by pyrometallurgical processes in the past. Since it is possible to process low grade molybdenum ores and industrial wastes by hydrometallurgical processes, which are more environmentally friendly than pyrometallurgical processes, the importance of the use of hydrometallurgical processes has increased in the molybdenum production industry."

Jan 1, 2012

By Takeshi Yoshikawa

For the sake of effective control of titanium-compound inclusions in the steel-making processes, especially for stainless steel production, the influences of alloying elements of chromium, nickel, manganese, molybdenum, copper and oxygen on the thermodynamic property of titanium in molten iron were investigated at 1873K. At a certain titanium potential controlled by the coexistence of Ti3O5 and Ti2O3 doubly saturation of steels, the interaction parameters between alloying elements and titanium in molten iron were determined as follows. [ ] From the investigations on the equilibrium of titanium deoxidation in molten iron, the activity coefficient of titanium and the first order interaction parameter between oxygen and titanium were determined as follows. [ ] Also, deoxidation equilibrium for titanium in molten 304 stainless steel was measured and compared with the calculated results using the determined interaction parameters.

Jan 1, 2006

By Y. Sako, E. Nomura, K. Muraguchi, K. Shibata

In 1998, Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. (MMS) produced 70,000 tonnes of lead, 231,000 tonnes of zinc and 214,000 tonnes of copper. MESCO, Inc. has been in charge of the automation and mechanization of smelting facilities promoted by MMS as well as the construction of facilities for chemical production and electronics materials plants, by which MESCO has contributed to the development of MMS. Initially, MESCO developed a casting machine for refined lead in the early 1960's, and thereafter, it developed a casting machine for refined zinc, a stripping machine for zinc tankhouses and energy saving facilities. In the field of copper smelting, it has also developed automation and mechanization facilities.

Jan 1, 2000

By June-Yong Eom, Jong-Jin Pak, Jung-Mock Jang, Min-Kyu Paek

The nitrogen solubility in liquid Mn-Si, Mn-Si-Fe, Mn-Si-C and Mn-Si-Fe-C alloys has been measured by the gas-liquid metal equilibration technique in the temperature range of 1673-1773 K. The additions of silicon, iron and carbon significantly decreased the nitrogen solubility in liquid manganese alloys. The experimental results were thermodynamically analyzed by the Wagner’s formalism to determine the first- and second-order interaction parameters of silicon, iron and carbon on nitrogen in liquid manganese. The thermodynamic parameters can be used to predict the nitrogen solubility in ferromanganese and silicomanganese alloy melts as functions of the melt composition and temperature at given nitrogen partial pressures.

Jan 1, 2014

By Christine Wenzl, Andreas Filzwieser, Stefan Konetschnik

"The METTOP-BRX-Technology is a novel manifold electrolyte inlet, which allows improved productivity and production in new and existing tankhouses by achieving higher current efficiency and cathode quality, as well as using current densities higher than 400 A/m2. Two installation examples are shown: Montanwerke Brixlegg AG, Brixlegg, Austria (upgrade of existing tankhouse) and Xiangguang Copper, Yanggu, China (new tank house). Montanwerke Brixlegg AG has been using the METTOP-BRX-Technology since 2005, and converted half of the whole tankhouse to METTOP-BRX in 2011 in order to use a current density of more than 400 A/m2. Xiangguang Copper started up their second tankhouse in May 2011. This tankhouse was constructed in the same way as the existing tankhouse, but was designed for 292,000 t/a cathode copper (existing tankhouse: 200,000 t/a) by using the METTOP-BRX-Technology. This production increase is a consequence of a much higher current density, namely 410 A/m2, compared to 280 A/m2 in the old tankhouse.IntroductionCopper electrorefining has been practised for more than hundred years, the last big change being the implementation of stainless steel cathodes in the 1980s [1], In 2005, the METTOP-BRXTechnology was first introduced. This technology was developed jointly by METTOP and Montanwerke Brixlegg, Austria, and allows improvements in productivity and production in new and existing tankhouses in an economic way. The METTOP-BRX-Technology is a novel manifold inlet that allows improved tankhouse productivity by increasing current density and/or current efficiency while maintaining or improving cathode quality [2]."

Jan 1, 2012

By Zhong Juya, Wang Yong, Guo Xueyi, Song Yu, Tian qinghua

"In this work, the flow of zinc in China, 2004, was traced within the STAF model, and the situation of production, consumption and recycling of zinc resources in China were introduced. The SFA is performed on zinc flows during its one year life cycle in detail. The result reveals that China produces and utilizes a large amount of zinc, while the efficiency of renewable zinc resources is still relatively lower. As one of the biggest producer and consumer of zinc in the world, China is facing a severe depletion of zinc resources. How to increase the resource efficiency is a significant issue for zinc industry of China. Based on the result, several advices were proposed in the paper, aiming to contribute important reference information for the industrial metabolism and resource management and recycling of zinc industry in China. IntroductionZinc is one of the important metals in national economic development in China; it has good conductivity and corrosion resistance, with high scalability when heated to 100 ~105_. Zinc is mainly used for galvanized zinc industry, as the coating of steel and various parts, and it has also been applied to the manufacture of brass, bronze and corrosion-resistant alloys, which are widely used in machinery manufacturing, printing, national defense and so on. In addition, zinc compounds are utilized in various fields, for example, ZnO is used for infiltration wood, paper, rubber, paints, etc.; ZnSO4 for leather, ceramics, textiles, medicine, etc.; ZnCl2 for infiltration wood; ZnS2O4 and Zn (HSO2 • CH2O) 2 for the paper and textile bleaching, etc. [1]. The extensive use and consumption of zinc in industrial production and social life promot the rapid development of zinc industry, which made zinc the third largest non-ferrous metals in the world."

Jan 1, 2008

By Orion Ciftja, Arjan Ciftja

"The directional solidification method is routinely used to produce polycrystalline silicon, an important material for the photovoltaic (PV) industry. The form of the solid-liquid interface during solidification has considerable influence on the material quality. The dissolved impurities and the solid inclusions above the solidification front affect the interface and may cause interface breakdown. We investigate the effects of pushing and engulfment of silicon carbide (SiC) particles by the solidification front during directional solidification of silicon. We employ a 12kg directional-crystallization furnace to cast the molten silicon. We use upgraded metallurgical grade silicon with low concentrations of metallic impurities (< 5ppm) and a high content of carbon (700 ppm) present as SiC particles. Samples from the cast polycrystalline silicon ingots are investigated by light microscope. The expected interaction of impurities with the solidification front is investigated theoretically using empirical models. The data obtained from the models are in good agreement with the experimental results.IntroductionDirectional solidification is a well-known method for producing multi-crystalline silicon for the PV industry. In this method a planar front, achieved during solidification, results in a clearly defined interface between the solid and the liquid phase. The solubility of major impurities is higher in the liquid than in the solid phase. Therefore, directional solidification will work as a purification process where the impurities are retained in the liquid phase [1]. Apart from the process of removing the dissolved elements in molten silicon, the directional solidification plays also another role. It will interact with the solid particles that may be present in the melt. When a liquid containing an insoluble particle is solidified, three distinct interaction phenomena are observed: engulfment of particles, continuous pushing, and entrapment [2]. The term “engulfment” is used to describe incorporation of a particle by a planar interface, and the term “entrapment” is used for particle incorporation by a cellular or dendritic interface (see Figure 1) [3]."

Jan 1, 2014

By Mike Adams

A comprehensive pre-feasibility study has been conducted by Companhia Vale do Rio Doce CVRD) for Niquel do Vermelho nickel laterite deposit. Within this study, five integrated flowsheet options were evaluated via batch and pilot campaigns at Lakefield Oretest, over an intensive six-month period from receipt of ore to final reporting. Key technical objectives set by the client included demonstrating the technical viability of the beneficiation of several ore types, processing through integrated pressure acid leach/mixed hydroxide precipitation (PALIMI-IP) and mixed sulfide precipitation (PALIMSP) circuits, and the treatment of barren liquors to meet stringent environmental requirements. Refining of the MHP was by ammonia re-leach and solvent extraction (SX) to produce LME-grade nickel cathodes, NiCO3, NiO and CoS. LME grade nickel and cobalt was also produced by oxidation of the MSP and hydrogen reduction on the leachate. The database and data acquisition system, along with web-based reporting, enabled rapid turnaround on both daily and more comprehensive run reports, making it possible for speedy and confident decisions on operating conditions of the complex flowsheets. The high value of developing such data is emphasized and discussed as pivotal in the successful progression of laterite projects through to sustainable commercial viability. Keywords: Flowsheet, CVRD, Nickel, Piloting, Pressure, Leach, Refining.

Jan 1, 2004

By G. P. Chaudhari, F. Warchomicka, M. Dikovits, V. Pancholi, C. Poletti

"The hot formability of a microalloyed steel with 0.16 wt-%C modified with N is studied by using processing maps. Compression tests of cylindrical samples are carried out using a Gleeble®3800 simulator in the range of temperature between 750 -1000°C and strain rates between 0.01-100 S-1. For this alloy, an Ar3-temperature about 740°C is determined by means of dilatometry. Processing maps are calculated using the modified dynamic material model developed by Murty and Rao for different logarithmic strains. For the instability map, the parameter Kj developed by the authors in previous works is used and compared with other instability values. Softening in the flow curves provoked by induced ferrite during deformation at low temperatures and low strain rates is reflected in the n-value. Light optical microscopy (LOM) and electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) measurements are used to study the microstructure of the hot deformed samples to determine the deformation mechanisms active and to verify the processing maps.IntroductionProcessing maps offer a good possibility to optimize thermomechanical process parameters and to avoid defects in the products. Prasad et al. [1] developed the processing maps using the dynamic material model (DMM) and Murty & Rao [2] modified it. Processing maps consist of two superimposed maps: the dissipation efficiency and the instability map. The processing maps can be used to detect areas with a good hot formability, which are normally related to restoration of the material by dynamic recovery/recrystallization. For a high dissipation efficiency value and no instabilities, a good hot formability is predicted. In the DMM no storage of energy takes place and so the material is considered essentially dissipative, this is only true for high temperatures and high strain rates [1]."

Jan 1, 2012

By L. Becze, S. J. Hock, G. P. Demopoulos

"Regeneration of HCl from chloride solutions is commercially practiced by high temperature (800-900 °C) pyrohydrolysis associated with high energy consumption and capital cost. As an alternative to pyrohydrolysis a novel low temperature ( <200 °C) non-autoclave hydrolytic process has been studied in this research work, which comprises two steps. In the first step, ferrous chloride is oxidized by oxygen at 1;150 °C, followed by hydrolytic decomposition of ferric chloride to coarse hematite particles and superazeotropic hydrochloric acid (8-9M) operated at approximately 180 °C. This paper provides a summary of the laboratory results related to both oxidation and hydrolysis and presents a newly designed conceptual process flowsheet.IntroductionRecovery of base, noble and rare metals from ores and secondary materials (slags, dusts, residues) by chloride-based hydrometallurgical processes holds a lot of promise if a low cost HCl process becomes available. This is particularly so due to the high activity of HCl or more accurately activity of hydrogen ion [1] in concentrated chloride media and the formation of chlorocomplexes allowing for effective leaching under atmospheric leaching conditions and simultaneous ease of metal separation. However, during leaching significant amount of iron, which is associated with most of ores and secondary materials, goes into the solution. Hence, the obtained leach solution has to be treated to convert iron chlorides into easily filterable iron oxide and simultaneously produce concentrated hydrochloric acid. Apparently the critical operation of these processes is the regeneration of the lixiviant (HCl). Currently in the industry, its regeneration is accomplished by high capital and intensive pyrohydrolysis which operates at 700- 900 °C. Aimed at lowering the operational cost of pyrohydrolysis a process called PORI [2] was developed and tested in pilot plant scale in the 1970s for the purpose of treatment of pickle liquors without, however, resulting in industrial application."

Jan 1, 2011

By Maura Malone, Neil Gao, Daniel Liu

"Corrosion is the primary failure mode for aluminum cathode sheets used in Teck's Trail Operations electrolytic zinc plant. It was observed that the corrosion performance of Al cathodes from different suppliers varied considerably. This suggests that the material properties of Al cathodes have a strong influence on corrosion resistance. In the current study, various types of Al alloys, including 1050, 1060, 1070, HIS and 1090, were characterized through chemical analysis, corrosion testing, mechanical testing and metallography. The results are discussed with a focus on the effects of impurity elements and second phase particles on corrosion resistance. The findings were used to improve the Al cathode sheet specification and to develop a standardized screening procedure which details qualification steps for comprehensive evaluation prior to a plant trial.IntroductionAluminum (Al) cathode replacement is a major operating expense at Teck's Trail Operations zinc electrolytic plant. Currently, approximately 0.5% of daily stripped Al cathodes are removed from service because of failures caused mainly by corrosion. Edge corrosion and acid (solution) line corrosion are the most severe types of corrosion, resulting in more than 50% of cathode failures.Corrosion of Al cathodes has been intensively investigated for over two decades and the origins and mechanisms of Al cathode corrosion are well understood [1-4]. Halide anions contained in the electrolyte are the primary culprits for the corrosion and sticking problems of Al cathodes. Both fluoride (F') and chloride (Cl"") result in localized passivity breakdown on the surface of the Al cathode, causing pitting corrosion. Bouarzaiga investigated the corrosion of Al cathode samples partially immersed in electrolyte and found that the formation of Ch at the electrolyte/air interface was the primary contributor to solution line corrosion [2]. Because of the significant impact of F"" and Cl"" on Al cathode corrosion, it is imperative to maintain these concentrations as low as possible in the electrolyte."

Jan 1, 2012

By G. Coryell, E. Brack

"Remaining competitive in today's metal markets requires that copper smelters utilize the latest technology offered in process control, data acquisition, and process optimization. State-of-the-art tools like minicomputers, personal computers, and microprocessor based controllers provide real time process information that assist in making proper adjustments to the overall control strategy of an operating plant. The database accumulated by such systems broaden process knowledge, thereby reducing costly errors and plant downtime.IntroductionThe ASARCO Hayden Plant is located approximately 80 miles southeast of Phoenix, Arizona. The plant was commissioned in 1912 for the purpose of smelting copper concentrates from the surrounding mining district. Copper was produced for many years using calcining, reverberatory smelting and copper converting techniques. With the stricter environmental controls of the 1970's, the smelter experienced substantial declines in efficiency and productivity. It became necessary to identify and install a new smelting technology to maintain the viability of the Hayden plant.In 1980, after evaluating several smelting techniques, ASARCO management selected flash smelting as developed by International Nickel Company (INCO). One hundred and thirty-two million dollars was allocated for the project and construction began in 1982. Construction was completed and the new plant came on line in November of 1983."

Jan 1, 1989