Search Documents

By Henry Mulryan

The largest and purest known deposit of diatomite is being actively mined and processed 3 1/2 miles south of Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, Calif., by the Johns-Nlanville Products Corporation. The workings cover 4000 acres, the depth of economically recoverable diatomite being 1000 ft. (Fig. 1). Lompoe, a community of 2500 population, is situated in the Santa Ynez River Valley 10 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. It is 44 miles

Jan 1, 1938

By Henry Mulryan

The largest and purest known deposit of diatomite is being actively mined and processed 3 1/2 miles south of Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, Calif., by the Johns-Nlanville Products Corporation. The workings cover 4000 acres, the depth of economically recoverable diatomite being 1000 ft. (Fig. 1). Lompoe, a community of 2500 population, is situated in the Santa Ynez River Valley 10 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. It is 44 miles

Jan 1, 1938

By K. M. Kolobova, E. Z. Kurmayev, A. Z. Menshikov, S. A. Nemnonov, V. A. Trapeznikov

The present work represents a review of our intestigations into the X-ray spectra of solids, which have been carried out by us along two lines of upproach: 1) St@ of the electronic structure of high -rnelting compounds of transition metals; 2) stzddy of the interatomic binding forces by the fine structure of absorption spectra under varying temperature and concentration conditions. With this in mind, int>estigations hare been made into the emission and absorption spectra of the K-series of atoms of transition elements in alloys and compounds. In the problem concerned with the electronic structure of high-melting compounds of transition metals, considerable importance is attached to the question of ascertaining the role played by 3d4sp electrons of metal and 2p electrons of metalloid in the formation of chemical bonds and of giving, on the strength of this data, an explanation of the properties which seem to be contradictory at first sight: good conductivity inherent in metals and high brittleness and high-melting characteristics typical of covalent compounds. Over the last few decades this question has attracted the attention of many investigators whose studies were devoted to this type of compound. Many works, both of theoretical1-3 and experimental4- l5 nature , have contributed much to the elucidation of the physical character of the phenomenon referred to. Alongside the investigations in the field of electric resistance, Hall effect, paramagnetic susceptibility, electronic heat capacity, and the temperature of transformation into a superconducting state, we should particularly emphasize the studies on X-ray spectra, which have played a significant role in the development of the zonal theory for high-melting compounds. This fact has become highly evident after the theoretical calculation of the energy spectrum has been made and the density of states curve in Tic, TiN, and Ti0 has been plotted by Ern and Switendick3 who used the method of augmented plane waves. Correlation of the results of the theoretical calculation of the band structure in the compounds listed above with the data obtained by X-ray spectroscopy studies showed that X-ray spectra can be a source of valuable information on the electronic structure of high-melting compounds within a wide range of ener- gies. It is well known that X-ray emission spectra basically give a direct picture of the occupied excited states above the Fermi level of a solid (valence band, conduction band) and that the absorption spectra (region of initial absorption) give a similar picture of states corresponding to the unoccupied levels near the Fermi surface. Full information on the density distribution of electronic states by energies can be obtained by combining the emission and absorption spectra. Such an opportunity arises from investigation

Jan 1, 1970

By Gilbert Santoro

In this study tantalum carbide filaments of various compositions in the fcc region were prepared by heating a tantalum wire in a measured amount of hydrocarbon vapor. Such properties as tensile strength, transverse-rupture strength, microhard-ness, lattice parameter, electrical resistivity, and magnetic susceptibility were measured as a function of carbon content. Some of these properties showed a maximum or a minimum between a carbon-to-tantalum molar ratio of 0.80 and 0.85, the composition range at which the color changes from metallic gray to gold. The recent literature has shown that in the large homogeneity range for the fcc phase of the Ta-C system there is a marked variation for such properties as microhardness,' electrical resistivity, ' thermodynamic properties,z'3 lattice parameter and superconductivity. In addition to the technological interest of these variations within a single phase, important theoretical benefits may ensue from a continuous investigation of properties vs stoichiometry in tantalum carbide and other refractory defect compounds, for example the effect of the metal-metal distance and crystal structure upon bond formation and electronic structure. Whether there is a similar variation of the tensile strength is of practical importance. Of theoretical interest would be the knowledge of how the magnetic susceptibility varies with carbon composition. Both of these properties, as well as the transverse-rupture strength, were determined for tantalum carbide filaments in the fcc phase region. The lattice parameter, the electrical resistivity, and the microhardness were also investigated and compared with values appearing in the literature. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Material Preparation. Tantalum carbide specimens of various carbon content were prepared by statically carburizing high-purity tantalum filaments in measured quantities of pure hydrocarbon gas. The filaments, which were 10 mil in diameter and 20 or 40 cm long, were heated by their own resistance at temperatures from 1800" to 2200°C using alternating current in some cases and direct current in others. Tantalum wire from two sources was used. One had a reported purity of 99.96 wt pct Ta. The ingot from which this wire was drawn had been electron beam-melted as the final step in its purification. The reported purity of the other wire, which was prepared by a powder metallurgical process, was 99.88 wt pct Ta. The impurities of both tantalum sources are listed in Table I. Spec-trographic-grade toluene or research-grade propane was used as the source of carbon. The apparatus for the carburization of the filaments is shown schematically in Fig. 1. The system was evacuated to 1 x l0-' mm of Hg when using the electron beam-melted tantalum and to less than 1 p when using the less-pure tantalum. Neither the difference in the base vacuum, nor in the hydrocarbon gas, nor in the tantalum filaments resulted in any detectable difference in the properties studied in this work. However, only the carbides prepared from the higher-purity tantalum were used in the magnetic-susceptibility determinations. Once the base vacuum had been reached, the system was flushed with the hydrocarbon and re-evacuated. For any desired composition of the carbide, hydrocarbon gas was allowed to leak into a constant-volume flask to a predetermined pressure. These pressures were measured by a Cartesian diver-type mercury gage with a range from 0 to 20 mm and with a scale expanded to nine times. The hydrocarbon gas was allowed into the reaction tube and the filament was quickly raised to the reaction temperature. The slack in the filament due to thermal expansion was taken up by drawing out the movable electrode with a screw mechanism. The filaments were kept at temperature from a few minutes to 200 hr. In the majority of cases the heating time was 6 hr. The reaction tube was cooled by cascading water on its outer surface. By means of an ammeter and a voltmeter the electrical resistance at the reaction

Jan 1, 1963

By Hugh Steele, Brower Dellinger

U. S. mining trends for 1956 continued steadily U+ S. uphill, technique and equipment advanced with the pull, and exploration and development of once mined districts attracted more attention than new areas. Expansion of the Ambrosia Lake district in New Mexico more than doubled known uranium ore reserves, and production began from several of the large new ore discoveries. In Canada the up trend was more spectacular, especially in exploration and development. To combat increasing problems arising from high labor costs, taxes, low grade orebodies, and dwindling discoveries, manufacturers and mining companies have continued to introduce new techniques and new products-reamer bits for enlarging small holes drilled by jacklegs, whup d'whups for drift mucking, Cryderman machines and over-the-head small crawler-type machines for shaft mucking, the 20-ton TL 220 four-wheeled tractor trailer unit for underground haulage, inertia-type dust collectors, roof bolting in conjunction with chain link fencing for wall support, wooden roof bolting using compression support of ground for wall support, and new one-use carbide bits.

Jan 2, 1957

By C. S. Barrett, D. B. Masson

Martensitic transformations have been found in AgCd both upon cold-working at room temperature and cooling to lower temperatures. The crystal structures of the transformation products were found to be close-packed hexagonal in the first case and or-thorhombic in the latter. The transformation characteristics also were studied. Similar treatment of AuZn alloys failed to yield any transformation. THE literature on martensitic transformations of body-centered cubic metals and alloys indicates widespread instability of this structure at low temperatures, a tendency which merits further study. The body-centered cubic ß-phase of CuZn, for example, when it contained less than 42 wt pct Zn, was found by Greninger and Mooradian' and others' to transform on cooling to subzero temperatures to a phase that was tentatively considered to be tetragonal. Further work by Massalski and Barrett" demonstrated that cold work at low temperatures causes a partial transformation of ß CuZn of higher Zn content. The structures of the strain-induced transformation products were found to be different from those induced by simple cooling. Another well-known martensitic transformation among body-centered cubic phases is that of ß AuCd, first studied with X-rays by Olander,' then very thoroughly by Chang and Read.5,6 Here again transformation was found to occur both as a result of cooling and of strain. The alkali metals Li and Na, as well as certain Li-Mg alloys, also undergo transformation from their normal body-centered cubic structure, both on cooling and on cold-working. The phase AgCd, the subject of the present report, should be expected to behave quite similarly to CuZn for a number of reasons. It is the chemical analogue of CuZn, silver being directly below copper and cadmium directly below zinc in the periodic table. The size factors (percent difference in size) of the atoms, possibly a consideration in the stability of the ß-phases, are +3.1 in AgCd and + 4.2 in CuZn. Likewise the relative electronegativities of the two pairs of metals are about the same, CuZn possessing an electronegativity difference of 1.0 and AgCd one of 0.8. These values are from a table of electronegativities given by Darken and Gurry." The phase diagrams of the two systems around 50 atomic percent are similar, both possessing a disordered body-centered cubic phase, ß, at high temperatures and an ordered bcc phase, ß, at room temperature; however, the ß and ß' phases of AgCd are separated by a hexagonal phase, [, stable in the range 220-440oC, which has no analogue in CuZn. There has been confusion in the literature as to the structures of the ß' and [-phases. The phase diagram in the ASM handbook'" has the structures of the two phases interchanged; however, Hansen" reports the correct relative positions and Muldawer" verified that ß', the low-temperature phase, is body-centered cubic. Work by the present authors also

Jan 1, 1959

By P. A. C. Wilson

Instantaneous outbursts of carbon dioxide in coal mines have occurred in Germany only in one part of the Waldenburg-Neurode mining district.' This mining region comprises the northeastern fold of the "Innersudetian" coal basin. The basin (Fig. 1) is in the form of a geologic trough approximately 60 km. (37 miles) long and 30 to 35 km. (19 to 22 miles) broad and is enclosed on three sides by ancient truncated mountain ranges—the Riesengebirge, the Bober-Katzbachgebirge and the Eulenge-birge. Only the southeastern part of the trough is not enclosed by mountains of older rock formation. The floor of the basin before the building up of the coal measures was formed on the western, northwestern and northeastern borders by the material from Archean rocks (gneiss and mica schists); in the northern part over this was deposited the Silurian formation. The carboniferous period is represented both by the Lower ("kulm") and Upper Carboniferous, with an unconformity between the stages; that is, the kulm was tilted up and partly eroded before the Upper Carboniferous was deposited. The kulm is a salt-water formation (with marine fauna) but Upper Carboniferous rocks are nonsaline water deposits, with fresh-water flora only. The Lower Silesian coal measures were thus formed in a lime basin fed by the running water coming down from the mountains. As already indicated, the bottom series of the Upper Carboniferous formation, termed "Waldenburg strata" were laid down unconformably on the Lower Carboniferous. Over the Waldenburg strata there are the "Weisstein strata," an intermediate barren stage without coal beds, 400 to 500 m. (1300 to 1600 ft.) thick. Another unconformity followed, which is overlain by the '(Saarbrucken" series, which contain the upper coal measures, and the ('Ottweil" strata. In the last named, it is only on the southwestern fold that beds of coal are developed.

Jan 1, 1931

By William Campbell

The structure of iron and steel, though the object of so much study and research for the past 25 years, is by no means thoroughly understood. In the first place, we have three or more distinct iron-carbon thermal diagrams, each with its own supporters, and each representing a theory of the structure and constitution of cast-iron. In the second place, by reason of the fact that austenite, the solid solution of carbon in iron, decomposes in the solid state into ferrite, or pure iron, and cementite (Fe3C), and that quenching from above this transition-range, no matter how rapid, cannot entirely prevent the change and thus preserve the austenite by itself at ordinary temperatures, it happens that under the microscope we find, in addition to the ferrite, Fe3C, and austenite, which the thermal diagram of steel requires, a series of transition-products with distinctive structures, to which have been given the names martensite, troostite, sorbite, etc. Now these transition-products, in addition to the solid solution, austenite, have been the source of much controversy, at times very bitter. One side would insist that, say, troostite was an entity, which the other side would deny, pointing out that it must be a transition-mixture, with a particular structure. That austenite was a solid solution of carbon in iron has been denied by one school; we have been told that Fe24C dissolved both Fe3C and Fe, and thus gave rise to a whole series of quenching-pro-ducts—all this in spite of the fact that no matter how the thermal diagrams differ in regard to cast-iron, they all agree in regard to the solid solution, austenite, for Fe24C finds no place on the diagram. Thus it happens that while the authorities fight both in regard to the iron carbon diagram and the structures met with in hard-

Jan 1, 1913

By Edward Jeffrey

THE use of coke in metallurgy, to any important degree, dates from the middle of the 18th century. Its utilization came most opportunely for European civilization. The forests of Europe, except in the most remote and inaccessible regions, had been largely fed, in the form of charcoal, into the smelting furnaces. For a hundred years-the middle of the 17th to the middle of the 18th century-there was a stationary condition of population corresponding to the exhaustion of European forests. This situation, which was particularly evident in Great Britain, was due to the fact that the forests had been depleted and the practical utilization of coke had not begun. The coking industry is essential for our metallurgical industries, which in turn are basal to healthy economic progress. But coke is of great importance, not only on its own account, but for its byproducts, which enter fundamentally into all the arts of peace and war. The dyestuff industry and the manufacture of explosives are intimately connected with one another, as was shown by the recent war. The subject of coking coal, therefore, is well worthy the serious attention both of practical industry and the scientific investigator. The most valuable coking coals, from the metallurgical standpoint, are derived from the coals of highest ranks. Coals, for example, that have a carbon ratio of from 70 to 80 per cent. yield the most valuable coke for the blast furnace. The difficulty of investigating these coals, however, is great, for they are rather friable and delicate and possess a high carbon content, which makes them difficult to manipulate. They present, on account of their high carbon content, a considerable degree of opacity when examined, in thin sections, under the microscope. The tenderness of structure and blackness of such high-grade coking coals as those of Connellsville and the Pocahontas region make them extremely difficult to investigate.

Jan 1, 1925

By William M. Bowron

THIRTY years ago, when I stood on the cliff of red fossil iron-ore, on Red mountain, Jefferson county, Ala., I asked what were the geological relations of this remarkable deposit. In reply I was told that it was a limestone colored and saturated by some unknown but wholly external influences, and that at a reasonable distance from the surface the color would disappear. I could find no satisfactory explanation either of the nature of this wonderful external permeating influence, or of the cause of such a ferrous impregnation selecting this one particular bed of limestone, to the exclusion of the higher and lower beds of the same material which are not even stained. I. THE PRESENT THEORY. Referring to this subject, Dana says:' "The clays, clayey sandstones and limestones of the Clinton epoch, through New York and the Appalachians, show that the mud-flats and sand-banks, and hence the shallow seas of the coast region, still continued. . . The beds of argillaceous iron-ore, which spread so widely through New York and some of the other States, south and west, could not have formed in an open sea, for clayey iron-deposits do not form under such circumstances. They are proof of extensive marshes, and, therefore, of land near the sea-level. The fragments of crinoids and shells found in these beds are evidence that they were, in part at least, salt-water marshes, and that the tides sometimes reached them." At first, this explanation seemed satisfactory, but the more I studied the ore the less satisfying the explanation became. 1. In the ore itself I found associated with the small particles of rounded matter (now consisting of iron oxide in which organic structure, if ever present, has become lost, though the

Nov 1, 1905

By Paul Foote

SEEBECK discovered, in 1821, that if, in a closed circuit of two metals the two junctions are at different temperatures, an electric current will flow in the circuit. In the case of an iron and a copper wire, for example, current will flow from copper to iron at the hot junction, or from iron to copper at the cold junction. Two factors combine to cause the current. An electromotive force exists between the two metals, the magnitude of which, depends upon the temperature and upon the metals; this is called the Peltier e.m.f. If a single wire of homogeneous material is heated at one end, an electromotive force is developed between the ends of the wire, the magnitude of which depends upon the metal and upon the difference in temperature; this is known as the Thomson e.m.f: The total e.m.f. acting in the circuit is the sum of the Peltier e.m.f. at the two junctions and the Thomson e.m.f. in each wire, consideration being given, of course, to the algebraic signs of the four e.m.f.'s. The total electromotive force thus depends upon the difference in temperature of the two

Jan 9, 1919

By AIME AIME

THE graduating class whom I am particularly addressing are going into the world at least a month earlier than normal, because of the war. You have been free to choose your work. You have chosen to be mining engineers. The principal importance of your engineering education to date has been in teaching you how to think and how through books to have ready access to the accumulated experience of previous generations, as well as the current experience of the day. You should by now have acquired something of the engineering point of view, the open skeptical mind. the power to observe, experiment, and draw conclusions, form theories and test these by further experiment, and weigh the inherent probability of conclusions drawn by others. I am asking you today to consider certain facts and the conclusions I am drawing from those facts.

Jan 1, 1942

By W. Armstrong Price

INVESTIGATION by German chemists during the World War showed that particles of iron oxide form rapidly in iron pipes carrying hydrogen gas under pressure when the gas contains small amounts of water. Under these conditions, the gas frequently exploded when expanding into a dirigible. The explanation of the explosions lies in the building up of a charge of static electricity in the flow just beyond the orifice and the ignition of the gas by a spark accompanying discharge of the electricity. Friction between the moving particles and the pipe generated the electric charge, which was manifested by a pale blue glow formed in the flow at pressures above two atmospheres. In one experiment, this glow, at eighty atmospheres, extended for a distance of forty to fifty centimetres, but did not ignite hydrogen and air mixtures until the charge was col-lected by a conductor and discharged across a gap between electrodes placed at the side of the column of gas. Autoignition did not occur when this discharge was effected at a distance from the gas column, nor if the gas used was thoroughly dried and free from impurities. The electric charge has been studied by placing various wire and screen conductors in the outcoming stream of gas, Guest having summarized these experiments. The application of these conclusions to fires in petroleum and natural gas issuing uncontrolled from wells is made in the following paper, citing the ignition of a wild gas well in Texas.

Jan 1, 1936

By A. C. Boyle

PaGE I. Introduction.........68 II. Location of the District,....... • 70 .. III. Stratigraphy...........73 Description of the Rocks.......73 Triassic Eruptives (Andesite Flows and Tuffs) ....73 Triassic Sediments (Shales and Slates)..75 Areal Geology ............75 Structure...-.......76 Folds............. 76 Faults..........79 Shear ...........80 Intrusives..........81 Alaskite Dike.........81 Andesitic Intrusion.......82 IV. PetrogRaphy of thE Rock Types......83 Andesite Flows.........84 Tuff 8...........84 Andesite Tuff........84 Rhyolite Tuff.....-.......85 Alaskite-Porphyry.......89 Andesite Dike........91 V. Description of the Mines......92 VI. Metalliferous Deposits ........ 95 Character of the Ores...........97 Mineralogy of the Ores.......97 Metallic Minerals.......97 Microscopic Character of the Ores...98 Secondary Enrichment....... 103 Genesis of the Ores ...........104 VII. The Sulphate Deposits.......109 Gypsum ..... HO Anhydrite......... ,... 110 Barite............ 110 Origin. with special reference to Gypsum....111 VIII. Summary.............. 113 IX. BIblYogRaphY.............114

Jan 1, 1915

By AIME AIME

MINERAL production of the United States is valued at over five billion dollars a year at present and the industry employs close to a million workmen, yet such maps as are available that might indicate the geographical distribution of this industry show only the location of coal and oil fields and of other mineral deposits. No recent map is available that shows this distribution in a quantitative way. The purpose of the maps and graphs here presented is twofold: (1) to give the mining engineer a clear conception of the relative value and the pattern of distribution of minerals in the United States; (2) to test the so-called block-pile (or grouped pillar) system of statistical mapping, which makes this presentation possible. (I discussed this method of mapping in an article which appeared in Economic Geology in 1939, Vol. 15, p. 185-188.)

Jan 1, 1941

By G. S. Cole, G. F. Bolling

A series of Al-Cu alloys has been cast from constant superheat to solidify either with a hot top or with a free liquid/air interface. All the other variables which affect relative fluid motions were kept constant except the imposition of slow rotations m oscillations of the mold. Depending upon the exact circumstances, evi-dence could be found for the nucleation of equiaxed grains from dendrite bits detached from the columnar zone, or from the free surface, or from solid bits induced at pouring; a special experiment showed the solute buildup during ingot solidification and by inference the reality of constitutional supercooling. All methods of grain nucleation are thus supported. When solidification is arranged in a static mold the columnar- to-equiaxed transition occurs by one of these nucleation paths, subject to the natural decay of temperature gradients which promotes nucleation or the survival of nuclei. But when solidification is forced under special fluid flows it may display odd transitions. In one of these the equiaxed zone is synihesized from. dendrite bits detached from the solid/liquid interface. These survive under the concurrent lowering of temperature gradients and eventually cause transition by impeding columnar growth. GRAIN structure control is desired because real experience shows that specific properties are associated with specific cast grain structures. But since control is thus a matter of need and does not require understanding, much of casting remains art. For example, the manipulation of relative fluid motions in simple ingots provides a control of grain structure development,1-4 but theoretical insight is not required in order to broaden its potential applicability. Fortunately, however, once a variable like fluid flow is recognized it can also provide paths toward new insight. New observations using this variable have provided an insight which is curious. All the theories or descriptions of the columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET) seem to be supported as long as the appropriate experiment is carried out. In order to develop this idea, let us ignore segregation, the chill zone (until a later section of this paper), and the origin and development of the columnar zone.= The details of questioning how equiaxed material forms in a casting may be divided in two. The first part is simply a questioning of the origin for equi-axed grains: are there fresh nuclei from heterogeneous nucleation, or dendrite bits broken off or melted from the columnar zone or elsewhere,6 or other solid bits surviving from the outset of freezing? The second is more complex, a questioning of the CET: does columnar growth slow down and allow the dominance of equiaxed grains, however they are formed, or do equi-axed grains take over and force columnar growth to stop? This "chicken-or-the-egg" second question can be quite useful, especially because it allows us to delineate the ordinary or NATURAL EQUIAXED ZONE and the induced or SYNTHETIC EQUIAXED ZONE. A natural equiaxed zone occurs if solidification proceeds in the absence of disturbances or extraneous forces such as ultrasonics, stirrings, and so forth. Both the CET theory proposed by Winegard and Chal-mers, 7requiring constitutional supercooling, and the CET theory suggested by Chalmers,8 requiring nuclea-tion only on pouring, pertain to the natural equiaxed zone. The best collating evidence to date for both these theories is contained in the work by Biloni and Chal-mers;9,10 the former theory7 is supported by special versions of the unidirectional growth experiment performed by Plaskett and winegardl1 and the latter theory' is supported in detail for the solidification of small ingots. An equiaxed zone can be synthesized when disturbances caused by forced fluid flows2-4 or other artificial means9,10 break off or melt off dendrite tips from an advancing solid/liquid interface,* if (and only if) temperature gradients in the melt are (forcibly) reduced enough to ensure the survival of these bits of dendrites, 2'3 Willful disturbances even so trivial as those produced by rapping a mold might be included here; as will be shown for example, this follows Southin's suggestion that the free liquid/air interface

Jan 1, 1970

"The reduction works of the Boston & Montana Reduction department, near the north end of this dam is one of the reduction plants belonging to the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, the other being at Anaconda. These works employ about 1,100 men and have a capacity of about 3,800 tons of crude ore per day. This plant is now being remodeled to embody results of experiments and investigations which have been made with a view to more economic.al treatment of ores. A brief description of the plant as it will be after the remodelling is as follows:Concentrator Department: Consists of six units or sections, each section treating from 550 to 600 tons of crude ore per day. This department is not being. remodelled at the present time. A concentrating process, however, has been developed and partially installed in the old mill, and an experimental section embodying this concentration process has also been installed at the concentrator at Anaconda."

Jan 1, 1913

By Charles E. Barker

Jan 1, 1985

By P. L. Allsman

A method of analyzing blasting action indicates that major cost savings are possible by revising practice and bringing the classical blasting formulas up to date; difficult problems such as taconite and throw-breakup can be attacked by engineering Denonation pressure — the peak pressure developed by the explosive reaction; "shatter blasting." Average detonation pressure — the average pressure over the time the reaction continues; "heave blasting." Radial presswe — the stress in a radially expanding sphere about the detonation. Corresponds to the diminishing peak pressure. Lateral stress - the stress in a circumferential direction, induced by outward movement of the rock away from the detonation. Limiting stress or Slim— the rock property at which failure will occur in the case at hand; may be tensile or compressive strength, or combinations. Recent developments in explosives technology, following the advent of nuclear explosions, have led to a rather complete understanding of their action. A survey was made for the purpose of uncovering any knowledge which might be applicable in the mining and quarrying industries, the principal users of explosives. Although no revolutionary techniques have become apparent, much basic data pertaining to blasting — fortunately not classified — have been developed by recent research, from which a good general understanding of the process can be derived. It is hoped this explanation of the scientific principles governing explosive action, together with a proposed analysis of blasting practice, will further the development of mining engineering. NATURE OF THE REACTION: The phenomenon of explosion, termed detonation, is in reality a rather complex chemical reaction, and as such is completely explainable by physical and chemical laws. Detonation is characterized by high temperature and pressure, extreme rapidity — often being complete within one microsecond — and most importantly by formation of a shock pulse which accompanies the reaction zone. As with any chemical reaction, there is a critical value of temperature and pressure below which detonation can not occur; this is termed the "critical point". Whereas an explosive substance will decompose slowly at ordinary temperature, with the formation of gases which readily dissipate; at elevated temperature the reaction is considerably speeded. If pressure is suddenly applied at some point in an explosive medium, adiabatic compression results, and the temperature is locally raised. When the temperature becomes high enough the decomposition will be so rapid that the gaseous products do not have time to dissipate, but contribute to a further build-up of pressure. This, in turn, furthers adiabatic temperature rise over a widening area, and with any heat generated by an exothermic reaction, causes a rapid increase in temperature. Both temperature and pressure are spontaneously built up in this manner until the critical point is reached, resulting in detonation. The values of pressure and temperature necessary to create detonation are established by the unusual nature of the process. If temperature alone is raised above the critical point, without sufficient increase in pressure, deflagration or "low-order detonation" occurs. In the true, or "high-order detonation", the shock pulse resulting from the violent decomposition becomes an integral part of the reaction, and itself aids in increasing the detonation

Jan 1, 1961

By J. W. Rutter, K. T. Aust

The temperature dependence of the rate of grain boundary migration was measured in bicrystals of zone-refined lead containing from 20 to less than 1 ppm by wezght of tin. The apparent activation energy in the temperature range from 320" to 200oC is markedly dependent upon the solute tin concentration and upon the orientation relationship of the grains adjacent to the grain boundavy. The quantitative experimental observat~ons are compared with the predictions of various theories of grain boundary migration. In previous work.&apos;?&apos; the mobility of individual grain boundaries was studied as a function of impurity concentration and type of boundary. Grain boundary migration occurred at the expense of dislocation arrays which were introduced into the specimen during solidification. Boundary mobility in zone-refined lead at 300°C was markedly decreased by small additions of tin. 0.004 wt pct being sufficient to decrease the rate of grain boundary migration by a factor of 1000. The mobility of grain boundaries having polar orientation relationships near 38 and 22 deg about <Ill>, and 28 deg about <100>, was much less sensitive to tin concentration in the range studied. As a result, these boundaries have relatively high mobilities. The present paper is a continuation of the above study. Data are now presented on the temperature dependence of the motion of individual grain boundaries in zone-refined lead as a function of solute tin concentration and orientation relationship of adjacent grains at the grain boundary. The experimental observations are compared with the predictions of a number of theories of grain boundary migration3-8 which, prior to the present experimental investigation, could not be critically evaluated. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The striation or lineage structure of melt-grown single crystals of zone-refined lead, containing various additions of tin, was utilized to provide a driving force for grain boundary migration, as previously described.1,2 Each grain boundary under study separated the striated single crystal from another grain which was introduced by localized plastic deformation and recrystallization of a small region of the sample. The speed of migration of grain boundaries in dilute alloys of tin in zone-refined lead was investigated as a function of 1) tin concentration from < 0.0001 to 0.002 wt pct, 2) temperature in the range of 200" to 320°C, and 3) orientation relationship of the adjacent grains at the grain boundary. The substructure driving energy available for grain boundary migration was estimated to be about 4000 ergs per cu cm, within a factor of two, from specimen to specimen.&apos; The specimen dimensions, and growth and alloying procedures for the preparation of striated single crystals of lead of known tin composition, were as described previously.&apos; Each bicrystal was carefully wrapped in aluminum foil, and annealed in a well-stirred salt bath consisting of 50 pct NaNO2 and 50 pct KNO3, for known periods of time at a series of constant temperatures (*2°C). The grain boundary positions, before and after each anneal, were determined by etching lightly in a solution of 5 pct nitric acid in methyl alcohol, in order to follow the motion of the boundary and determine its rate of migration. Thus, the rate of motion of the grain boundary in a single specimen was measured at various temperatures. The above procedure was carried out for each grain boundary in seventeen different bicrystal specimens.

Jan 1, 1960