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By Laurence Delisle, Aaron Finger

THE alloys formed by the addition of nickel to iron by convelltional metallurgical procedures show physical properties that differ widely from those of the individual metals. The effect of alloying on the mechanical properties is most pronounced in alloys containing between 15 and 25 per cent nickel. The tensile strength of an alloy containing, for example, 20 per cent nickel and 80 per cent iron (with 0.06 per cent carbon), in an annealed condition, is above 150,000 lb. per sq. in.? owing to a martensitic type of transformation, as compared with about 50,000 lb. per sq. in. for pure iron in the same condition. The object of this work was to determine whether the same beneficial alloying effect could be obtained in alloys of iron and nickel prepared by powder metallurgy technique. PROCEDURE Bars and pellets for tension and compression tests, respectively, were made. Two groups of specimens were prepared: (I) by cold-pressing the powders and sintering; (2) by cold-pressing the powders, sintering, repressing and resintering. Raw Materials Nickel powder supplied by Metals Disintegrating co., marked MD-151, was used. A typical analysis of this powder was as follows: sulphur, 0.040 per cent; copper, 0.18; iron, 0.23; manganese, 0.002; magnesium, 0.001 5 ; lead, 0.035; tin, 0.025 ; silicon, 0.08; chromium, 0.008. Electrolytic iron powder supplied by Plastic Metals Inc. was used. A representative chemical analysis for impurities other than gases, supplied by the vendor, gave the following results: carbon, 0.005 per cent; manganese, 0.002; silicon, 0.003; phosphorus, 0.001; sulphur, 0.004; nickel, 0.008. The fractions from these powders passing a 3 2 5-mesh sieve were reduced in hydrogen at 600°C. for one hour, to clean the surfaces of the particles. The reduced powders, slightly caked, were ground in a mortar and screened again through a 325- mesh sieve. Mixing The proper proportions of the powders were mixed overnight on rolls, in glass jars fitted with iron-wire baffles to break aggregates of particles that might form. Pressing All specimens were compacted on hydraulic presses. The pellets were compacted in a cylindrical die, ½ in. diameter. The ratio of thickness to the diameter of the pellets was maintained as nearly as possible at 0.9, as specifed for standard short compression pieces. The tensile bars were made by compacting 30 grams of powder. Their shape is shown in Fig. I. The compacting pressures for the pellets and the tensile bars were:

Jan 1, 1946

By J. C. Fisher, J. H. Hollomon, David Turnbull

Understanding of the diffusion problem has recently been furthered by the analysis of Birchenall and Meh1.l They pursued the problem of the variation of the diffusion coefficient with composition for non-ideal solid solutions. Their analysis follows the tradition of Wagner,l Jost, Dehlinger, and Darken & who assumed the net flux of diffusing material to be proportional to the gradient of a quantity related to free energy. The basic assumption in Birchenall and Mehl's formulation of the problem is that the net flux of diffusing material is proportional to a thermodynamic activity gradient. To estimate the applicability of the derived relations, they corrected the diffusion coefficients of carbon in austenite by utilizing Smith's6 activity data for carbon, and the diffusion coefficients for zinc in copper with activity data computed from the vapor pressure measurements of Har-greaves.' The corrected coefficients for carbon were virtually independent of carbon concentration. For the diffusion of zinc in copper a moderate variation of diffusion coefficient with concentration remained after the correction. The problem of diffusion can be formulated in another way than that used by Birchenall and Mehl. The method is that of chemical rate theory and has been used by Eyring and his coworkers8,9 as well as by Eyring and Zwolinskilo in a discussion to Birchenall and Mehl's paper. As yet the method has not been applied to substitu-tional solid solutions. On the basis of their assumptions, Eyring and Zwolinski derived a relation between the diffusion coefficient and activity that is identical with that of Dehlinger and Darken but which does not correct for the variation of the diffusion coefficient with concentration as well as does the relation derived by Birchenall and Mehl. It was thought that the theory of diffusion would be more complete if the inconsistency between the two analyses could be rationalized and if diffusion in substitu-tional alloys were analyzed on the basis of the concepts of the chemical rate theory. Chemical Rate Theory According to the theory of absolute reaction ratess the reaction +..... +X, Eq I is viewed as taking place in two steps. First the reactants A1, A², . . . A; combine to form an activated complex M with which they are in equilibrium: A1 + A1+ . . . + A=M. Eq 2 Second the activated complex decomposes to give the products XI, XZ, . . . Xi: M?X, + X²+ . . . +Xi Eq g It has been showns that the number of activated complexes decomposing per unit volume per unit time is given by the expressiont kT -h CM † The transmission coefficient has been taken as unity.

Jan 1, 1949

By David Turnbull, J. H. Hollomon, J. C. Fisher

Understanding of the diffusion problem has recently been furthered by the analysis of Birchenall and Meh1.l They pursued the problem of the variation of the diffusion coefficient with composition for non-ideal solid solutions. Their analysis follows the tradition of Wagner,l Jost, Dehlinger, and Darken & who assumed the net flux of diffusing material to be proportional to the gradient of a quantity related to free energy. The basic assumption in Birchenall and Mehl's formulation of the problem is that the net flux of diffusing material is proportional to a thermodynamic activity gradient. To estimate the applicability of the derived relations, they corrected the diffusion coefficients of carbon in austenite by utilizing Smith's6 activity data for carbon, and the diffusion coefficients for zinc in copper with activity data computed from the vapor pressure measurements of Har-greaves.' The corrected coefficients for carbon were virtually independent of carbon concentration. For the diffusion of zinc in copper a moderate variation of diffusion coefficient with concentration remained after the correction. The problem of diffusion can be formulated in another way than that used by Birchenall and Mehl. The method is that of chemical rate theory and has been used by Eyring and his coworkers8,9 as well as by Eyring and Zwolinskilo in a discussion to Birchenall and Mehl's paper. As yet the method has not been applied to substitu-tional solid solutions. On the basis of their assumptions, Eyring and Zwolinski derived a relation between the diffusion coefficient and activity that is identical with that of Dehlinger and Darken but which does not correct for the variation of the diffusion coefficient with concentration as well as does the relation derived by Birchenall and Mehl. It was thought that the theory of diffusion would be more complete if the inconsistency between the two analyses could be rationalized and if diffusion in substitu-tional alloys were analyzed on the basis of the concepts of the chemical rate theory. Chemical Rate Theory According to the theory of absolute reaction ratess the reaction +..... +X, Eq I is viewed as taking place in two steps. First the reactants A1, A², . . . A; combine to form an activated complex M with which they are in equilibrium: A1 + A1+ . . . + A=M. Eq 2 Second the activated complex decomposes to give the products XI, XZ, . . . Xi: M?X, + X²+ . . . +Xi Eq g It has been showns that the number of activated complexes decomposing per unit volume per unit time is given by the expressiont kT -h CM † The transmission coefficient has been taken as unity.

Jan 1, 1949

At the MBD Business Meeting held on March 1, 1971, the General Committee of the MBD Division voted unanimously to change the name and expand the role of the Fluo-Solids Separation Committee. The new committee is called the Environmental Control Committee. Such action was taken because of the importance of environmental control and the need for a more active role in this area by our Division.

Jan 1, 1971

By S. S. Clarke

THEN sufficient ore has been blocked out on a lease to warrant a shaft, the proposed. Location of the shaft should be carefully considered, as the old promoter's method of sinking wherever his hat landed is a sad mistake as some: of us have learned by trying to operate such mines. In some instances certain conditions exist, such as mill location, railroad right of way, etc., that necessitate a change of location from the. ideal, but under average conditions and with the knowledge of the formation gained from the drill logs and with the general trend of the orebody known, the shaft can be located from. the standpoint of its future relation to the mine with re-gard to hauling and' hoisting a maximum tonnage: at a minimum cost per ton, also taking into account the minimum amount of expense and trouble- in sinking. Quite a few shafts are located in the wall of a run or just in the thin edge of the orebody: As a general rule the formation here is solid and permits rapid and safe sinking, and the shaft pillars are left in practically valueless material. This permits the withdrawal of pillars and still keeps the shaft protected. By opening a shaft in thin ground, you are not tempted to cut it high, wide, and handsome, but to shape it up-with ample clearance for lay-bys and with more of an idea of permanency, as a few hundred extra dollars spent around the shafts for proper track installation will re-turn, a good rate of interest in ease of handling "cans," quick get-away; and fewer wrecks. Nearly all the shafts in this district are sunk on a contract basis, the con-tractors furnishing all labor and explosives, and the company building the sinking-derrick, dump-track, and furnishing, all equipment, material, and power. The following costs are the averages, for three shafts sunk through good solid formation, with no water to, contend with, and approximately 260 -ft., deep, having about-100 ft. of shale. The contract price was $9 per foot with the shale and $13 per foot in the solid, making a total of $2,980 paid to the contractor. The wages paid by the contractor were, $5 per shift for the hoist-man, who also sharpened steel, $6 for the lead shaft man, and $5 for the helper;, the cribbing was sawed on contract for 40c. per shaft: foot; about. 94 board feet. of cribbing was used per foot of staggered cribbing and 168 board feet per foot of solid cribbing.

Jan 8, 1928

By S. P. Brown, J. E. Worthington

Increasingly, exploration geology seems to be growing into a practice overly separated from production geology, yet the eventual purpose of exploration is a producing mine. To help in the search for new deposits, exploration "lessons" will be drawn from the papers given at the Fall AIME Applied Geology Symposium. In addition, examples will be re-emphasized to show how early observation of matters now routine to mine work (for example, hydrology, rock mechanics, oxidation state) can help increase the effectiveness of exploration.

Jan 1, 1984

By J. B. Darby

In an investigation of various equiatomic alloys of transition elements, Dwightl did not find evidence for the CsC1-type ordered structure in VMn. More recently waterstrat2 has reported the occurrence of this structure in the alloy his sample had been homogenized at 1150°C and subsequently reannealed at 725°C after crushing to powder. The purpose of this note is to confirm the existence of the CsC1-type ordered structure in VMn and to report a lattice parameter. An equiatomic alloy was prepared by arc-melting under an argon atmosphere vanadium and electrolytic manganese having a purity of at least 99.9 pet. The composition was obtained by charging an excess of manganese and monitoring the weight loss until the stoichiometric composition was achieved; the assumption that the loss during melting was due to the vaporization of manganese appears to be a valid one.' The calculated composition of the sample prepared was 49.85 at. pct V and 50.15 at. pct Mn. Specimens taken from the fractured as-cast buttons were wrapped in molybdenum foil and encapsulated in quartz capsules under vacuum; there was no evidence of a reaction between the alloy and foil. The X-ray patterns were obtained using filtered copper or chromium radiation with a Straumanis-type Debye-Scherrer camera having a diameter of 114.6 mm. The CrKa radiation is best suited for detecting the superlattice lines since it overcomes the slight difference in scattering powers of the components by making use of the anomalies in atomic scattering factor which occur when the frequency of the radiation is close to the characteristic absorption frequency of one of the elements.394 A specimen in the as-cast condition, as well as one which had been annealed for 1 week at 900°C and water-quenched, gave a diffraction pattern for the disordered bcc solid solution. However, when samples were homogenized at 900°C for 3 weeks followed by a subsequent anneal at 700°C for 6 to 7 weeks and then water-quenched or furnace-cooled, the (loo), (1111, and (210) Ka superlattice lines were observed in films taken with chromium radiation. An ao = 2.904 * 0.001 was determined by a Nelson-Riley extrapolation from a film taken with CuKa radiation. The author wishes to thank Mr. J. W. Downey and Mr. L. J. Norton for carrying out the experimental portion of this investigation. This work was performed at the Argonne National Laboratory under the auspices of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

Jan 1, 1963

[New York Holds monthly meetings, except June, July and August. J. E. SPURR, Chairman A D. BROKAW, Vice-chairman SIDNEY ROLLE, Vice-chairman M. H. MERRISS, Secretary-treasurer, Nichols Copper Co., 25 Broad St., New York M. F. CHASE KARL HOFFMAN Boston Meets first Monday of each winter month. C. R. HAYWARD. Chairman E. C. GEITHER, Vice-chairman D. H. MCLAUGHLIN, Secretary-treasurer Rotch Bldg., Harvard Univ. Cambridge. Mass. GEO. H. GILMAN GEO. A. PACKARD]

Jan 1, 1928

Established as a Division March 13, 1935 R H Feierabend, Chairman T E Gillingham, Jr, Northeast Vice-Chairman W A Riggs, Southeast Vice-Chairman C F Clausen, Mid-Continent Vice-Chairman R H Wilpolt, Rocky Mountain Vice-Chairman J K Brooke, Pacific Southwest Vice-Chairman Leslie C Richards, Pacific Northwest Chairman V A Haw, Canadian Vice-Chairman J S Holland, Sec'y -Treas National Lead Company Mining Department 111 Broadway New York 6, New York

Jan 1, 1960

Discussion of the paper of Ernest Stütz, presented at the New York Meeting, October, 1913, and printed in Bulletin No. 79, July, 1913, pp. 1257 to 1265. H. 0. HOFMAN, Boston, Mass.:-I have hunted in vain for a figure which gives a dehydration temperature of cement. I was wondering if Mr. Stütz had a figure of that kind. E. STÜTZ :-No, I am afraid I have not. H. 0. HOFMAN :-I believe some figures have been published that cement disintegrates at 400° or 500° C. It seems tome a very low temperature. Mr. Stütz just made the statement that the disintegration of this briquette begins at the temperature at which the briquette begins to sinter. E. STÜTZ :-Above the sintering point. H. 0. HOFMAN :-The sintering point would be about 1,200° C. E. STÜTZ :-Yes, roughly speaking. I am afraid I have no information about the exact degree of dehydration. H. O. HOFMAN :-I have looked a great deal for such a figure and I have not been able to obtain it. Professor Howe says I might have tried myself. But my interests were directed in another line; although-that is, perhaps, a good suggestion. CHAIRMAN RICHARDS:-Is not Portland cement sometimes used for the test in a cupellation furnace and a drying-out furnace ? H. O. HOFMAN :-Yes, it is used, but that is a higher temperature, of course. But I have been trying to get a figure as to where it loses all its water. I understand it begins to lose water at 500° C. But there are different silicates or hydrosilicates in the cement, so that one would have four or five or sit figures to show the different stages at which the cement loses its water. CHAIRMAN RICHARDS :-I would ask whether the use of this material in blast furnaces has shown increased capacity of furnace or decreased consumption of fuel.

Jan 12, 1913

By John Griffen

DURING the past year, purchases of coal-preparation equipment and the discussions and plant-scale tests conducted indicate that much attention is being given to better recoveries of coal by preparation plants and improved quality of the finer sizes to widen their market. In the anthracite regions the new equipment was predominantly for the cleaning of the steam sizes, much of it for treating No. 4 and No. 5 buckwheat. The units installed were largely coal-washing tables, Hydrotators, and Menzies cone separators.

Jan 1, 1944

By J. W. Leomrd, B. A. Donahue

Results of research are presented examining the extent to which the analytical characteristics of the relatively distinct coal bands from a variety of coal seams can be related to each other. This paper dis-cusses an approach for developing a practical coal petrographic quality control program based on conventional analyses, most of which is part of the standard A.S.T.M. procedure. The work is a final follow-up to Part I of this series which was prepared by the authors as an approach to applying conventional coal petrography to single coal seams. Recent published work by the authors entitled Petrography for Coal Mining and Coal Prepration: Part I dealt with interrelating various chemical and physical properties of coal1 measured using conventional analyses made on distinct petrographic bands taken from single coal seams. Since most coal production facilities process coal from a single coal seam or from very closely related coal seams in the same area,2 emphasis on interrelating the properties within a single seam appeared appropriate. The distinct petrographic bands were analyzed on the assumption that such differentiated data would be more representative of a heterogeneous coal seam than the single analytical value commonly used to characterize each property of an entire seam.34 Effort was directed at demonstrating the extent to which the interrelated chemical and physical properties 5,6 could be developed into nomographs or petrographic standardization graphs. Thus, one analysis, determined on a series of petrographic fractions separated from a single sample, was used to estimate numerous other properties in each fraction by referring to the previously established petrographic standardization graphs. This conventional approach to coal petrography was undertaken as a suggested feasible means by which a few coal analyses could be employed to develope a more penetrating knowledge of the properties of coal from any given seam in order to monitor more extensively its performance at the point of utilization. Such procedures can support development of the type of in- formation commonly sought through automated testing and through the use of computers.7 The broad knowledge which can be developed through these procedures is intended for application in the generation of an analytical profile or broad characterization of coal. These estimates were not intended as replacements for individual coal analytical tests. In this expanded second part of the research program, distinct petrographic bands from nine coal seams in the Central Appalachian Region were physically and chemically analyzed to elucidate the extent to which this concept of conventional petrography could be broadened for application to numerous coal seams. In presenting this second phase of work, the relationships developed are presented individually and not in a connecting series of nomographs or petrographic standardization graphs as in the previous work, thus leaving open the combinations of possibilities to individual interpretation and application. MATERIAL AND EXPERIMENTAL WORK Nine coal seams, representing a wide range of rank, from the Central Appalachian coal fields were used in this study. The distinct petrographic bands from the Kittanning, Pond Creek, Jawbone, Tiller, Poca-hontas No. 3, No. 2 Gas, Eagle, Winifrede, and Pittsburgh coal seams were separated by carefully removing a portion of each band at the face of the seam. The following were determined: ash, sulfur, free swelling index, heating value, bulk specific gravity, volatile matter, Hardgrove Grindability Index, and Gieseler Plastometer measurements. Determinations, where procedures were available, were carried out using ASTM standard procedures.8 Bulk specific gravity was determined using a kerosene volume displacement procedure modified from a method applied by Headlee and McClelland of the West Virginia Geological survey,9 Those bands with a bulk specific gravity greater than 1.60, which is generally above the practical specific gravity cleaning range of bituminous coals, were excluded and no analyses were performed. Much of the initial organization of this second phase of work was developed through the extensive use of a computerized statistical monitoring program (see Ref. 4). However, in order to achieve the closest possible interpretation of results, the final organization of data proceeded mainly from exhaustive trial

Jan 1, 1968

University of Nevada's recent Bonanza Days celebration turned out to be the real thing when Kennecott Copper Co, presented the school with $30,000 for new laboratory equipment for the MacKay School of Mines, J. C. Kinnear, Jr., general manager of Kennecott's Nevada Div., handed the check to Stout, university president, Chemical Construction Inter-American Ltd,, signed a contract with Noranda Mines, Ltd. for construction of a sulphur-iron plant in the Niagara Peninsula. Work has been started and it is expected that the plant will be finished by summer 1954.

Jan 6, 1953

By R. N. Kust, J. C. Agarwal, H. E. Barner, N. Beecher, D. S. Davies

Kennecott Copper Corp. has developed a new hydro-metallurgical process for extracting nickel, copper, cobalt and molybdenum from manganese nodules. This process (KCC Cuprion Process) utilizes a reduction leach operating at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range of 45 OC to 50°C and has been successfully demonstrated in a continuous pilot plant processing 350 kg/d of nodule ore. The chemistry, basic flowsheet and operating characteristics are presented and discussed.

Jan 1, 1980

By HAROLD A. TITCOMB

TOWARD the close of 1925, a British geologist, T. Landell Mills, brought to the notice of .A. Chester Beatty and selection Trust Ltd. certain mineral areas in southern Yugoslavia. Mills' data, which included rough maps and preliminary reports by' a Yugoslav engineer, Jules Draskocy, appeared interesting to Reatty, and early in 1926, I, with three British assistants, proceeded to Serbiaand commenced the investigation of several groups of ancient mine workings. They were found to be extensive and the geological conditions-schists, limestones, and andesitic intrusive-favorable for mineral deposits. At Stan Trg, on the Trepca Concession, five rniles east of Kosovska Mitrovica, an ancient filled adit was found, a shelter-hut erected, and work started in reopening this adit.

Jan 1, 1936

By R. N. Kust, J. C. Agarwal, H. E. Barner, N. Beecher, D. S. Davies

Kennecott Copper Corp. has developed a new hydro-metallurgical process for extracting nickel, copper, cobalt and molybdenum from manganese nodules. This process (KCC Cuprion Process) utilizes a reduction leach operating at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range of 45°C to 50°C and has been successfully demonstrated in a continuous Pilot plant processing 350 kg/d of nodule ore. The chemistry, basic flowsheet and operating characteristics are presented and discussed.

Jan 12, 1979

By R. H. Gautschi, F. C. Langenberg

Rare-earth additions were made to laboratory heats of Type 310 stainless to observe their effect on as-cast ingot structure, nitrogen and sulfur contents, and nonmetallic inclusions. Lanthanum had a grain-refining effect in 30-lb ingots, but results with 200-lb ingots were inconsistent. Cerium, lanthanum, and misch metal lowered the sulfur content when the sulfur exceeded 0.015 pct and the rare-earth addition was greater than 0.1 pct. The rare-eardh content in the metal dropped very rapidly within the first few minutes after the addition. The size, shape, and distribution of nonmetallic inclusions was not changed in 30-lb ingots, but changes were noticed in larger ingots. RARE-earth* additions have been made to austenitic Cr-Ni and Cr-Mn steels to improve their hot workability. The high alloy content of these steels often results in a considerable resistance to deformation and inherent hot shortness at rolling temperatures, particularly in larger ingots. Rare earths in the metallic, oxide, or halide form are usually added to the steel in the ladle after deoxidation although they can be added in the furnace prior to tap or in the molds during teeming. The literature- indicates that the effects of rare-earth treatments on these stainless steels are not consistent, and sometimes even contradictory. Since no mechanism has been presented which satisfactorily accounts for the claimed improvements, the effects of rare earths are a qualitative matter. The work described in this paper was initiated to expand the knowledge of the effects of rare-earth additions on melting variables such as ingot structure, chemical analysis, and nonmetallic inclusions. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Ingot Structure—Rare-earth additions to stainless steels have been reported to cause a change in primary ingot structure in that there are fewer coarse columnar grains. However, the results are inconsistent. While one investigation1 has shown a large reduction in coarse columnar crystals, another2 has been unable to observe this effect, particularly when small ingots were poured. Post and coworkers3 observed ingot structures for a number of years and found that the columnar type of structure is not definitely a cause of any particular trouble in rolling or hammering, provided the alloy is ductile. Knapp and Bolkcom4 found rare-earth additions to be quite effective in preventing grain coarsening in Type 310 stainless steel. Chemical Analysis—Many effects of rare-earth treatment on chemical analysis have been claimed in the literature. Russell5 observed that some sulfur is removed by rare-earth metals, and that a high initial sulfur content improved the efficiency of sulfur removal. Lillieqvist and Mickelson6 report that rare-earth treatment causes sulfur removal in basic open-hearth furnaces, but not in basic lined induction furnaces. Knapp and Bolkcom found no sulfur removal in acid open-hearth and acid electric furnaces, probably because the acid slag can not retain sul-fides. snellmann7 showed that sulfur could be lowered apprecfably with rare-earth additions; however, a sulfur reversion occurred with time. Langenberg and chipman8 studied the reaction CeS(s) = Ce(in Fe) + S(in Fe), and found the solubilit product [%Ce] [%S] equal to (1.5 + 0.5) X 10-3'at 1600°C. Results in 17 Cr-9 Ni stainless were about the same as those in iron. Beaver2 treated chromium-nickel steels with 0.3 pct misch metal and observed some reduction in the oxygen content. He also noted an inconsistent but beneficial effect of rare earths when tramp elements were present in amounts sufficient to cause difficulty in hot working. It is not known whether rare earths reduce the content of the tramp elements or change the form in which these elements appear in the final structure. No quantitative data are available concerning a possible effect of rare-earth treatment on hydrogen and nitrogen contents. However, Schwartzbart and sheehan9 stated that additions of rare earths had no effect on impact properties when the nitrogen content was low (0.006 pct), but served to counteract the adverse effects of high nitrogen content (0.030 pct) on these properties. Knapp and Bolkcom4 analyzed open-hearth heats in the treated and untreated conditions and found the nitrogen content (0.006 pct) to be unaffected. These two results lead to the speculation that rare-earth additions can reduce the nitrogen content to a certain level. Decker and coworkers10 have observed that small amounts of boron or zirconium, picked up from magnesia or zirconia crucibles, increased high-tem-

Jan 1, 1961

By D. M. Waldorf

Steam permeability measurements have been made in the laboratory on several samples of natural reservoir materials. The steam temperatures and pressures were selected to simulate conditions which might exist in a reservoir during the injection of steam. For each sample tested, the experimental permeability to superheated steam was comparable to that measured with air and no evidence of plugging was detected. Some samples were exposed to water at various temperatures and plugging was found to occur in materials which contained significant quantities of monmorillonite clay. Temperature had little effect on the degree of plug-ning between 75 and 325 F. The measured pemeabilities tended to increase slightly with temperature, but the changes were small compared with the initial loss of per~neability on wetting. Sequential pemzeability measurements were made on two samples using air, water, steam, water and air, in that order. Both samples were water-sensitive and plugged extensively after the initial injection of water. Upon exposure to superheated steatm the samples dehydrated and their permenbilities to superheated steam were comparable to those initially measured with air. The remaining measuretnetzts with water and air confirmed that the water plugging was reversible and that the samples were not seriorrsly damaged during the tests. INTRODUCTION The swelling of water-sensitive clays during water floods has long been recognized as a potential source of reservoir damage. The recent extensive application of steam injection and stimulation has compounded this problem since both hot water and steam (as well as fresh water at reservoir temperatures) are, at sume time, in contact with the producing zone adjacent to the bore of a steam injection well. The purpose of this paper is to present data which compare the sensitivity of some natural sedimentary rock samples to water at various temperatures, and to super-heated steam. Some properties of montmorillonite clay are briefly reviewed, and comparisons are drawn between empirical data and the predicted behavior of the montmorillonite known to be present in the samples. PROPERTIES OF MONTMORILLONIT E CLAY Water initially adsorbs on dry N a -montmorillonite clay in discrete layers in the interlaminar space between clal platelets. The platelet spacing, which is 9.6 A (angstroms) for a dehydrated clay, has been observed to expand in discrete steps to 12.4, 15.5, 18.4 and 21.4 A spacings, indicating the formation of four discrete layers of regularly oriented water molecules.' The first two layers are easily formed by hydrating a dry sample to equilibrium in an atmosphere with carefully controlled humidity. The formation of the higher layers is more difficult. The usual X-ray diffraction patterns of the more highly hydrated samples indicate a gradual increase in the average spacing betwcen 15.5 and 19.2 A, followed by a discontinuous expansion to 31 A when the weight ratio of water to dry clay is between 0.5 and 1.2.' Platelet expansion above 31 A proceeds monotonically as the moisture is increased and no regular arrangement of the platelets ib observed. Water-sensitivity in sedimentary rocks is usually associated with Na-montmorillonite clay when it is in the noncrystal-line state. Mering3 found that the average lattice spacing of sodium montmorillonite hydrated at 68 F and 70 per cent relative humidity was 15.5 A, and that the spacing, at 92 per cent humidity was 16.5 A. The water adsorbed at the higher humidity has the same free energy as liquid water at 65.6 F. Kolaian and Low' used a tensiometer to measure the thermodynamic properties of water in diffuse suspensions of montmorillonite clays relative to pure water. They observed that water in suspensions as dilute as 6 per cent clay became partially oriented when left undisturbed. The bonding associated with this orientation was not extensive because the free energy difference between the water in suspension and pure water was only a few millicalories per mole. They also found that the measured free energy difference decreased rapidly with temperature and became negligible above 100 F. This evidence indicates that montmorillonites contained in sedimentary rocks would dehydrate to a crystalline structure when exposed to superheated steam, and that the rock permeability measured with steam would be equivalent to that measured with air. The effect of elevated temperatures on the swelline of montmorillonite clays in aqueous suspensions has not been investigated. The Gouy-Chapman diffuse-ion-layer theory has been used to predict the swelling pressure of clay suspensions in dilute salt solutions at room temperature with reasonable success. theory also correctly predicts the direction of the thermal response of Na-mont-morillonite swelling pressures in dilute salt suspensions, 9 Over the temperature range of 33 to 68 F, an increase in

Jan 1, 1966

By J. K. Edgar

For a number of years the production and use of super-purity aluminum (better than 99.99 pct) has been steadily increasing. High-grade lots of. such aluminum show certain outstanding characteristics not found in lower grades containing principally silicon, iron and copper as impurities. One such characteristic is the so-called "self annealing," that is, the re-crystallization of the heavily cold worked metal at room temperature.' Interest therefore is aroused as to the effects of the impurities. It is well known that the amounts of silicon and copper which occur in aluminum of better than 99.95 pct are completely soluble, at least at elevated temperatures (above 200°C). Iron, on the other hand, is known to be fairly insoluble in solid aluminum. Thus, a knowledge of the limits of this solubility would he of considerable use in studying the characteristics of the high purity metal. All investigators have agreed that iron has very low solubility in solid aluminum. Rosenhain, Archbutt and Hanson2 reported traces of an aluminum-iron phase in the "purest samples of aluminum obtainable." Gwyer and Phillips3 reported that an iron constituent was visible under the microscope in metal containing ".0088 per cent iron." Roth4 found that in the solid state the solubility of iron in high purity aluminum was 0.01, 0.01, 0.017 and 0.022 pct at 225, 320, 500 and 600°C respectively. Dix5 working with alloys containing less than 0.03 pct impurities, concluded from microscopic and chemical analyses of eutectic areas that the eutectic composition was close to 1.7 pct iron. Dix placed the eutectic temperature at 65s°C. Archer and Fink,6 using high purity aluminum-iron alloys, found that the hypoeutectic liquidus intersects the eutec-tic horizontal at 1.7 pct. This is in fair agreement with the investigation of the aluminum-iron system by Gwyer and Phillips who placed the eutectic at 1.89 pct iron with a freezing point of 653'C. Preparation and Chemical Analysis oP Alloys Electrolytically refined aluminum (99.991 pct aluminum) and a high purity alumi-num-iron alloy (11.45 Pet iron) were used in the preparation of the alloys for this investigation. To aid in controlling the iron content of the experimental alloys, an alloy of lower iron content was prepared first from these materials. The high purity aluminum was melted and heated to about 700°C in a plumbago crucible coated with alundum cement and the aluminum-iron alloy was then added. The alloy was thoroughly stirred, fluxed and skimmed and then chill-cast into notch bars. The aIlalyses of the three materials are given in Table I. The alloys for the determination of the solid solubility of iron in aluminum were prepared by melting 600 g total of the aluminum plus the required quantity of the aluminum-iron alloy (No. 92531). These

Jan 1, 1949

By R. W. Jenkins, O. J. Neslage

The need for mechanized drilling to decrease mining costs has resulted in the development of the jumbo from column-and-bar drill carriages to hydraulically controlled jib jumbos. Resultant savings from use of improved jumbos have been high enough usually to retire the machinery investment within a year. The jib jumbo unit has been applied successfully to development and preparation programs and flat-bedded stopes, and an even wider field is forecast for its use.

Jan 1, 1950