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By Kenneth C. Vincent, A. M. Gaudin

In a study1 of the action of amyl xan-thate on chalcocite in water suspension, it was found that if the xanthate is added in relatively large quantity the xanthate group can be accounted for in three forms: (1) as xanthate ion remaining in water, (2) as benzene-soluble cuprous xanthate on the chalcocite, (3) as a benzene-insoluble coating on the chalcocite. Reduction in the amount of xanthate added leads to disappearance of form I then of form 2. With minute quantities of added xanthate, substantially all the reagent is of the "unleachable" kind. Yet this unleach-able xanthate can be dissolved by pyridine to form a soluble cuprous xanthate complex, and it is sufficient in effectiveness to make chalcocite flotable even if insufficient in quantity to form a complete mono-molecular film on the mineral. In that study it was also found that chalcocite abstracts cuprous xanthate from benzene so1ution, in what may (or may not) be a case of molecular adsorption. It seemed desirable, therefore, to study further the "unleachable" xanthate on the chalcocite, and particularly to ascertain whether it is formed as a result of the benzene leach or is actually formed during the conditioning of chalcocite in aqueous xanthate solution. A 'splendid tool to make such studies has recently been perfected; that is, the use of radioactive spies or tracer atoms. With this tool, it was thought possible to answer the problem stated above, but, unfortunately, this did not prove to be true. Answer to the flotation question was clouded by the existence of rapid and selective diffusion of copper atoms in the solid mineral—a phenomenon that was totally unexpected yet remains interesting and perhaps important. Method of Radioactive Spies The method of radioactive spies is discussed in many places. Two convenient references are the article by Evans2 and the book by pollard and Davidson.3 The method was first developed by van Hevesy and paneth in 1013, when only natural radioactive isotopes were available. These isotopes are few in number, and so the method remained limited in scope. Recently the synthesis of over 350 active isotopes of all the known stable chemical elements4 has opened widely expanded possibilities for the method, A fundamental tenet of the method is that a radioactive atom and a nonradio-active atom are exactly alike until disintegration of the radioactive atom. Then, by its sudden death, the spy reveals its location. The relative abundance of spies at various locations makes it possible to ascertain the relative abundance of the corresponding nonradioactive atoms at the same times and locations. A second fundamental tenet of the method of radioactive tracers is that the radioactivity lies in the nucleus of the atom: transfer of radioactivity from one

Jan 1, 1947

By Arthur Phillips

THE normal method of preparing metallic alloys for commercial use involves the preparation of a melt containing the given components in the chosen proportions and allowing the homogeneous liquid mass to solidify in a mold of the desired form. The solidification is frequently accompanied by a segregation of the alloying elements in different parts of the casting. When the segregation is occasioned primarily by marked differences in density of the solid and liquid phases, it is termed "gravity" segregation. When the segregation conforms to a. selective freezing in harmony with the teachings of the equilibrium diagram of the alloy system-i.e., the lower melting phases are concentrated in the regions of the casting last to freeze-it is often referred to as " normal" segrega-tion. However, in many cases the lower-melting part of the system is concentrated in the parts of the casting first to freeze and the result in this case is termed "inverse" segregation. To complete the. terminology of the subject, normal segregation in a single phase is usually called "coring" and the word will be used in that sense in this paper. Inverse segregation, particularly when the liquid phase is exuded or sweated out on the surface of the casting, is sometimes called "location." Unfortunately, some ambiguity has arisen from the use of this term and it is perhaps advisable to confine its use to the dictionary definition; namely, "The separation of two phases by heat sufficient to melt one but not the other." The gravity and normal types of segregation are both well understood and to some extent are controllable by taking advantage of the most favorable cooling rate for a given casting condition. Inverse segregation has received considerable attention from several investigators- but none of the theories offered seem to account in a convincing way for the many examples of this type. The observations made in the present work on segregation in single crystals, and in some other castings, tend to support one theory of the mechanism of inverse segregation and definitely to

Jan 1, 1937

By A. Satter

Studies of wellbore heat transtnission during the injection of a hot fluid, as either gas or liquid, have appeared in he literature. The present investigation takes into account the effect of condensation, which is of practical sig-nificance when considering steam injection operations. Calculation procedures are given for superheated and for saturated and undersaturated steam. Effects of injection rate, time, pressure, temperature and depth of a well on heat losses have been analyzed. The benefits of using a packer are discussed. Also presented are correlations for estimating heat losses involved during injection of saturated steam. INTRODUCTION Studies of wellbore heat losses during the injection of a hot fluid have appeared in the literature. Ramey' has presented a useful solution for calculating temperature of a heated gas as a function of depth and injection time. Ramey and others have also presented solutions for the hot liquid case.'. ' No method is available to take into account the effect of condensation, which is of practical significance when considering steam injection operations. This paper presents a method of estimating the quality of a condensing fluid as a function of depth and time. The approach is basically the same as that used by Ramey. The following injected fluids and conditions are considered in this study: 1. Injection of superheated steam A. Decrease in temperature until cooled to the saturated state B. Condensation until condensed completely into hot (saturated) water 2. Injection of saturated or undersaturated steam; condensation until condensed completely into hot (saturated) water. Although this investigation does not include cooling of water after steam is completely condensed, Ramey's solution for the hot liquid case can be used for this purpose. The effects of various process variables on heat losses During the injection of steam into a well are investigated. THEORY QUALITY OF CONDENSING STEAM Predicting the behavior of condensing steam flowing down the injection wellbore requires an estimate of the quality of steam, i.e., the mass fraction of vapor in the mixture. Let us divide the total depth of the injection well into several segments which might be, but do not have to be, of equal magnitude. Consider condensation within a given depth interval AZ, the bottom of which is located at a depth Z from the surface (Fig 1). The following equation, derived in the Appendix- relates the quality of steam at the bottom of an interval to that at the top of the interval:

Jan 1, 1966

By C. S. Barrett

THE crystal imperfections known as faults in stacking (stacking disorder) are of importance to both fundamental and applied science and are receiving increasing attention. On the theoretical side there have been recent advances in the analysis of diffraction patterns in terms of stacking faults, and on the experimental side it has been found that certain metals develop a faulted structure on cooling through a phase transformation. Beyond this, little is known of what may be called the physical and mechanical metallurgy of faulting, although there has been no lack of discussion and conjecture as to the presence of faults in metals and the effect of faults on mechanical properties and microstructures. In the close-packed metals the nature of faults can be described very simply. Face-centered cubic (FCC) crystals consist of close-packed layers of atoms, (111) planes, stacked above each other in a definite manner. If one layer is designated as the A layer, the next must be a B or a C layer; that is, every atom of the second layer lies not above the atoms of the A layer, but nestles in the hollows between these, using the hollows designated as the B positions, or the equivalent hollows designated as C. If the sequence of layers is ABCABC...., so that layers three spacings apart are directly over each other, the crystal is FCC; if CBACBA ... it is an FCC crystal that is a twin of the former; if ABAB........or BCBC..it is hexagonal close-packed (HCP). A fault is a break in the sequence, such as ABCABABC .. . which has the effect of inserting an HCP lamella into an FCC crystal. Regularly spaced faults spaced two layers apart would convert an FCC crystal entirely to HCP, or an HCP to FCC. A fault in an FCC crystal is also equivalent to creating an FCC twin of minimum thickness; in fact, the entire crystal would be converted to its twin if faults were introduced regularly. (In HCP crystals, however, twinning does not occur on the basal plane and a fault on this plane is not identical with a thin twin). Faults are one of the possible causes for annealing twins,' for the strain markings that are brought out by etching deformed metal,'," for the altered X ray reflecting power of metal at slip bands that is revealed in X ray reflection micrographs,' for the extinction of Kikuchi lines in electron diffraction patterns, and for the hardening of latent slip planes.' Since other explanations of these effects are also available," there has been no direct proof of faults from deformation; yet it has appeared likely that they would occur. Faults resulting from phase transformations in metals, however, have been clearly revealed by diffraction in cobalt" and lithium. It is to be expected that the faulting tendency is greatest

Jan 1, 1951

By Charles Goodale

THE principles and theory on which the U. S. mining law of 1872 was based are well understood, and have been discussed at great length by many writers. The papers by Dr. R. W. Raymond1 in the Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers have covered the subject very fully, with explanations of practical results in many adjudicated cases. It is believed that the following instance of the application of the law in recent years will have some weight in a discussion of proposed changes in our mining laws. The litigation between the St. Louis Mining & Milling Co., and the Montana Mining Co., Ltd., a British corporation, over portions of the Drumlummon lode covered more than 20 years, and resulted in a judgment for damages in favor of the St. Louis Co. of such an amount that the Montana Co. declined to pay the judgment, and therefore lost the entire property. The Drumlummon lode claim in the Marysville district, Mont., was located in 1876 by Thomas Cruse. When he staked out his claim, he assumed that the discovery on the Drumlummon vein, and another showing of mineral about 200 ft. distant, were on the same vein, and the center line of the claim was given a course of N. 57'2'E. Development of the Drumlummon vein soon showed that its strike was about N. 15 E., and that the other outcrop was on the North Star lode; so it was inevitable that the Drumlummon vein would cross one or both side lines of the location, and the Montana Co. found it advisable to acquire adjoining claims on both sides of the Drumlummon, in order to avoid possible litigation over apex rights. They bought the Marble Heart, but would not purchase the Hopeful (see Figs. 1 and 2), at the terms proposed for the reason that exploration in the Cruse level had shown the vein to be barren in that region. The owners of the Hopeful were sinking an incline from that claim in 1889, and the Montana Co. enjoined them, contending

Jan 5, 1914

By E. C. Nelson

An equation is derived for calculating approximately the solubility of nitrogen in an alloy steel over a temperature range from 1200" to 1900°C using data on the effects of alloys on the activity coefficient of nitrogen in iron at 1600°C. Calculated values are compared with experimental data. STUDIES involving the solubility of nitrogen in complex iron alloys have been aided by a system devised by Lanenberg for calculating the solubility of nitrogen in ternary and higher alloys of iron at 1600C using available data on the activity coefficient of nitrogen in binary alloys. Calculated nitrogen solubilities agree well with experimental determinations on complex alloys,' and the calculation procedure is useful when experimental data on specific alloys are not required. A method for extending calculations of nitrogen solubilities in alloy steels to temperatures other than 1600°C would be useful because of the paucity of experimental data in this area. Assumptions which must be made to permit this calculation introduce an element of approximation; however, the calculation is useful in cases where a large number of alloys and temperatures are under consideration, and the precision of experimental measurements is not required. The activity coefficient can be freed from the isothermal restriction of Langenberg's calculation if it is assumed that the solution is "regular". This is a reasonably good assumption for solutions of nitrogen in iron alloys, because usually they are dilute and the heat of solution is relatively small. The presence of large amounts of certain alloying elements would make this assumption less tenable.3 One of the properties of a regular solution is: when "f" is the activity coefficient of a solute and "T" is the temperature in OK. If the activity coefficients at temperatures T and T2 are denoted by subscripts 1 and 2 respectively: The activity coefficient of nitrogen in a complex alloy then can be calculated at any temperature from the sum of the effects of the other solutes on the activity coefficient of nitrogen at 1600°C. It will be convenient to incorporate this expression into an equation which will give directly the logarithm of the solubility of nitrogen at any temperature in the presence of alloys. Two constants, the solubility of nitrogen in pure iron at 1600 "C and the partial molar heat of solution of nitrogen in iron are required. The heat of solution value of 1400 cal at 1600 °C quoted by Kubaschewski and vans will be used. The accuracy of the calculation will suffer if the heat of solution should change materially with temperature. In the absence of experimental data on the temperature dependence of this quantity, it will be expedient to restrict the application of the calcula-

Jan 1, 1963

By David H. Browne

The use of coal-dust fired reverberatory furnaces, or indeed of rever-beratory furnaces of any description, was for the Canadian Copper Co. a matter of necessity, and not of choice. For 20 years smelting had been done in blast furnaces alone, and with the Herreshoff furnaces used prior to 1904 there was no trouble in treating fine ores. But little flue dust was produced, and this, following the time-honored custom, was wetted down and put back with the charge. Whether the flue dust really smelted, or whether it was worn out by being chased around in a circle, was a problem that troubled no one. With the installation of modern blast furnaces and high-pressure blowing engines, in 1904, flue dust commenced to assert itself. Evidently more dust was made than could be smelted, but so many vital. problems engaged our attention at that time that this minor question was pushed to one side. In 1906, the details of blast-furnace smelting and the conversion of matte had been worked out to a satisfactory conclusion, and the ever-increasing piles of flue dust and fine ore on the stock yard demanded serious consideration. Numerous experiments in sintering, briquetting, mixing with converter slag, forming blocks of flue dust with green-ore fines and cement, and so on, were undertaken. None of these showed much promise. Our problem was still further complicated by the question of treating converter slag. The ore was basic, the slag was not needed as a furnace flux, and it was felt that under these conditions the old method of pouring slag in molds and resmelting in the blast furnace was an unnecessary expense. If the converter slag could be settled in basic-lined reverberatory furnaces, in which at the same time flue dust and green-ore fines could be smelted, two problems might thus be solved. Reverberatory practice with our ores was, however, an unknown factor. As carried on in the West, on siliceous ores and concentrates, at least 25 per cent. of fuel was required, and even this ratio depended greatly

Jan 1, 1915

By J. R. Long, A. H. Roberson, T. R. Graham, R. S. Dean

Experimental work on the properties of high-purity alloys of the copper-man-ganese-zinc system has necessarily required extensive metallographic work to determine the equilibrium conditions in this system. Previous work on these alloys is fragmentary and, unfortunately, based on alloys made with impure grades of manganese, thus introducing significant amounts of iron, silicon, aluminum and carbon. Since these elements are known to affect equilibrium conditions, it became desirable to re-examine these alloys made from the pure metals. The alpha solid solution field was of particular interest and, therefore, was chosen for the initial work, which was outlined to determine the composition limits of this field. Previous Work Heuslerl conducted an extensive survey of the liquid-solid regions of this system and also made an estimate of the solid-phase boundaries at 340°C. The pertinent part of his diagram is given in Fig. I, but it is of limited usefulness, since it applied to a single temperature only and is based on impure alloys under admittedly nonequilib- rium conditions. Bauer and Hansen,2 likewise working with impure alloys, have determined the phase boundaries for alpha-beta brasses containing small amounts of manganese and indicate an increase in the extent of the alpha field with increasing manganese. This is not in accordance with Heusler or with data obtained on pure alloys.3 They also described a third constituent precipitating in the alpha plus beta field below 350' to 400°C. but did not identify this constituent. Guillet4 and Heike and Ledibur6 have also noted this precipitate. Each of these investigators recognized that impurities present in the manganese could and did have an effect on the structure and properties of their alloys. Corson6 in particular pointed out the hardening effects of silicon, aluminum, and carbon in copper-manganese alloys and Heusler reported that his alloys containing more than 25 per cent manganese were extremely brittle. In all probability this brittleness was due to the impurities present. This early work, therefore, should be taken as a general guide for preliminary studies only, and high-purity alloys may be expected to produce different results. The work of the Bureau of Mines laboratories with electrolytic manganese has been briefly summarized by Dean7 but includes only a short section on this system. Later work3 outlined a limited portion of the alpha field in the neighborhood of 65 per cent copper, 10 per cent manganese, and 25 per cent zinc. The present work was under-

Jan 1, 1945

By Tony B. Szwilski, K. Unrug

INTRODUCTION Since the introduction of longwall coal mining systems, reliable predictions of roof support requirements at the face and the roof caveability in the gob area have been major contributors to the success of the longwall face by means of safety and face productivity. That is, the successful operation of a longwall is well-served by good regular caving of the gob. In recent times, with the advent of increased coal face mechanization and capital investment, the evaluation of the feasibility of longwall mining has become essential. In the United States, where a face unit for a face length of about 150 metres may cost around $6 million, a quantitative system that would assist in selecting the best equipment for the coal would prove extremely beneficial. There have been many such varied investigations in the past few years. A vast -amount of work has been invested principally by West Germany [3, 7, 8, 91 , Poland [I, 101 , United Kingdom [4, 5, lo], France [4], and South Africa [4]. It is the object of this paper to review this previous research work and give an outline that may be used as guidelines for long- wall evaluation. Essentially, for the initial design phase for a longwall system, account must be taken of the geometry of the coal panel, its position relative to the surface (depth), direction of the coal cleat system, faults and in-situ stresses and other neighboring workings in the same coal seam and other seams both above and below. The advance of the coal panel disturbs the stress field and in doing so creates an abutment zone around the face. At this stage the condition of homogeneity of the surrounding rock mass does not apply. The magnitude of the rock strata pressure may exceed the ultimate strength of the rocks and create zones of clastic, plastic and elastic material, the limits of which are difficult to determine. The collapse of the gob and resulting expansion of the displaced waste roof rock, create a statically undefined support complicating an already unclear rock structure. For example, it is often a point of debate whether, indeed, the vertical strata pressure develops to regain the original magnitude of virgin stress. Under these post-failure circumstances an analytical approach based on simplified and idealized assumptions can only be considered a very general approximation. Theoretical concepts, however, may be adequately supplemented by empirical methods that are based on numerous underground observations and surveys [3, 4, 7, 8]. These methods employ the use of rock indices that very handily correspond to the competence of the roof rock mass. Scale model work [3, 41 , using equivalent materials representing the surrounding rock mass within the coal seam zone, have given valuable qualitative and sometimes quantitative data in addressing the behaviour of the rock mass around longwall panels. To characterize the state of art of caveability predictioqthe principal concepts will be reviewed with special emphasis placed on practicality for the planning of longwall operation. It has been the general observation of the authors that many of the literature surveys published in English often neglect reference to other international mining literature. It is with this point in mind that an overall review has been written including mining concepts identified with the principal coal mining countries. THEORETICAL CONCEPTS Arching Theory For the development of this theory, assumption has been made that an extracted height, h, in a coal seam results in an extracted panel of width, w . Also, the coal seam is horizontal and the rock strata of both the roof and floor are homogeneous. The primary (virgin) stress distribution will change in the roof as well as the floor. As a result of lack of support caused by the excavation (in the gob area) an additional load is developed due to the redistribution of the load around the sides of the panel, referred to as the abutment, R, where: [ ]

Jan 1, 1982

By Lawrence K. Jetter, Robert F. Mehl

SOME advances have been made recently in the theory of the kinetics of precipitation from metallic solid solution despite the complexities of the problem, but there is surprisingly little quantitative information available on rates of precipitation with which to test present theory or upon which to build new theory.? Attempts to measure rates of precipitation have been beset with difficulties which originate both in the anomalies that attend the changes in the properties selected for measurement, as, for example, in electrical conductivity or mechanical properties, and also in the complexities in the structural changes in some systems, as in the aluminum-copper system. If the functional relationship between the quantity of precipitate and the value of the selected property is uncertain, measurements of that property are obviously of uncertain utility in determining absolute rates of precipitation. If the precipitating system passes through one or more transition stages, the interpretation of measured rates lacks definiteness; in such cases, it is necessary to measure the rate of reaction in each separate stage, if the rate measurements are to have any significance from the kinetic point of view.* These difficulties cannot be wholly avoided, for at least in some measure they are characteristic of the process of precipitation from solid solution, but they can be minimized both by the selection of a simple system and by the use of a method of measurement relatively free from anomalous behavior. The present paper reports dilatometric measurements on the rate of precipitation of silicon from the aluminum-rich solid solution in the aluminum-silicon system-a study that approaches the desiderata of simplicity. The aluminum-silicon system offers advantages from these points of view: there are no known anomalies in the property changes accompanying precipitation ;2,3,4 there are no known transition stages; the precipitate is an element, not a compound, and both matrix and precipitate are cubic, and while the structures are not identical (the solid solution is face-centered cubic and the precipitate is diamond cubic), the system at least approaches the ideal case of a crystal precipitating from a matrix of the same crystal type-the ideal case which Becker5 assumed in treating the precipitation process theoretically. The dilatometric method, while not free from disturbing effects, as the subsequent dis-

Jan 1, 1942

By J. Rourke, F. S. Minshall, E. G. Zukas, C. M. Fowler, O&apos

The Hugoniot curves were determined for Fe-Si alloys containing up to 7 wt pct (13 at. pct) Si. The pressure of the transition increased as the silicon content of the alloy increased. Single crystals of 2.9 wt pct Si-Fe were also studied. The pressure of the transition was not dependent on crystallo-graphic orientation. All of the Neumann bands (mechanical twins) were attributable to (112) planes but not all of the {112} planes showed twin markings. A thorough study of the iron Hugoniot (the relationship between specific volume and pressure) under plane wave shock loading revealed a pressure transition at about 130 kbar shock pressure. The results of this investigation were reported by Bancroft, Peterson, and inshall1 in 1956. At the time of this discovery, it was felt that this was probably the a, to y transition normally found in iron and many of its alloys. Subsequently a number of iron alloy systems were surveyed in which the alloying element has a considerable effect on the normal a, to y transformation. The influence of carbon and nickel and/or chromium have already been reported.2,3 At the present time, there appears to be some doubt that this pressure transition is the usual a, to y transition In this study, Fe-Si alloys containing up to 7 wt pct (13 at. pct) Si were chosen for several reasons. To the present, the transition has been found only in iron-base alloys which were originally in the a, phase (bcc). Secondly, the y loop at atmospheric pressure extends to only about 2.5 wt pct Si. If the transition were a, to y, then one might expect a rather drastic pressure effect for alloys containing more than 2.5 wt pct Si. Finally, single crystals of Fe-Si alloys large enough for shock loading studies are readily available thereby making it quite easy to determine the effect of crystal orientation on the transition pressure and on the twinning behavior of the alloy. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Fe-Si alloys containing up to 7 wt pct Si were produced by normal vacuum casting procedures. Single crystals of Fe-2.9 wt pct Si were purchased from Monocrystals Co., Cleveland, Ohio. The orientations of these crystals were determined and samples cut so that the shock wave would be parallel (to within 1.5 deg) to either the (loo), (Ill), or (112) principal orientations. Three distinct experimental testing techniques were used. First, the pin technique, described elsewhere,4 was used to determine the transition pressure for the polycrystalline alloys as well as for the (111) and (112) orientations of the 2.9 wt pct Si single crystals. Secondly, the recovery studies, described in detail in an earlier paper,2 were used for determining the effect of alloy composition and crystal orientation on the plastic II compression-plastic I rarefaction interaction zone for several specific shock pressures. Finally, measurements of pressures above the two-wave threshold were made on the polycrystalline alloys so that more complete Hugoniot curves could be constructed for this alloy system. The optical techniques described by Rice et al.5 were used to measure the shock and free surface velocities of the samples from which the Hugoniot data were obtained. This method is applicable only in the single wave region, since velocities are obtained from the measured total transit times of the disturbances through measured sample thicknesses.

Jan 1, 1963

By Clarence Zener

Contents Page General Principles................................................................. 551 Equilibrium Diagrams......................................................... 551 Nucleation................................................................... 553 Kinetics of Phase-boundary Propagation......................................... 553 Kinetics of Growth of New Phase............................................... 556 Spheroidization............................................................... 560 Pure Iron-carbon System........................................................... 561 Formation of Pearlite.......................................................... 561 Interlamellar Spacing........................................................ 562 Pearlite C-curve............................................................. 563 Bainite Formation............................................................. 565 Formation of Martensite....................................................... 570 Loss of Tetragonality of Martensite.............................................. 570 Effect of Alloys upon Decomposition of Austenite..................................... 572 Pearlite...................................................................... 572 Bainite and Martensite......................................................... 574 Time-temperature-transformation Curves............................................. 576 Appendix A............................................................. ......... 579 Appendix B....................................................................... 580 Appendix C....................................................................... 580 The present investigation started in an attempt to understand certain details of the decomposition of austenite, and of the effect of alloying elements thereon. As the investigation proceeded it became apparent that not only these details, but all the general features of austenite decomposition, could be understood in terms of fundamental physical principles. Since the direct applicability of these physical principles has not been previously recognized, it was decided to incorporate the original results of the investigation into a review of the general subject of the kinetics of austenite decomposition. This review constitutes the present article. An extended summary of the results is given on pages 576 to 579. This article, which deals with the kinetics of phase transformations, may appropriately be considered as a sequel to two recent articles1,2 from this laboratory on the equilibrium relations in medium alloy steels.

Jan 1, 1947

By Clarence Zener

Contents Page General Principles................................................................. 551 Equilibrium Diagrams......................................................... 551 Nucleation................................................................... 553 Kinetics of Phase-boundary Propagation......................................... 553 Kinetics of Growth of New Phase............................................... 556 Spheroidization............................................................... 560 Pure Iron-carbon System........................................................... 561 Formation of Pearlite.......................................................... 561 Interlamellar Spacing........................................................ 562 Pearlite C-curve............................................................. 563 Bainite Formation............................................................. 565 Formation of Martensite....................................................... 570 Loss of Tetragonality of Martensite.............................................. 570 Effect of Alloys upon Decomposition of Austenite..................................... 572 Pearlite...................................................................... 572 Bainite and Martensite......................................................... 574 Time-temperature-transformation Curves............................................. 576 Appendix A............................................................. ......... 579 Appendix B....................................................................... 580 Appendix C....................................................................... 580 The present investigation started in an attempt to understand certain details of the decomposition of austenite, and of the effect of alloying elements thereon. As the investigation proceeded it became apparent that not only these details, but all the general features of austenite decomposition, could be understood in terms of fundamental physical principles. Since the direct applicability of these physical principles has not been previously recognized, it was decided to incorporate the original results of the investigation into a review of the general subject of the kinetics of austenite decomposition. This review constitutes the present article. An extended summary of the results is given on pages 576 to 579. This article, which deals with the kinetics of phase transformations, may appropriately be considered as a sequel to two recent articles1,2 from this laboratory on the equilibrium relations in medium alloy steels.

Jan 1, 1947

By G. W. Healy, W. Craft, D. C. Hilty

By means of a theoretical extension of the Cr-C temperature relation in molten chromium steels to low chromium contents and by a correlation of the ratios of chromium to iron in the slag and metal, a method has been developed for estimating the amount of metallic oxidation during the oxidizing period of a chromium steel heat. Application of this method has indicated that due to temperature limitations metallic oxidation may be excessive for very low carbon steels charged with more than a small amount of chromium. IN the melting and refining of chromium steels the oxidation of carbon to a low level is accompanied by the oxidation of chromium and iron in considerable amounts. For the subsequent recovery of chromium and associated iron from the slag, the amounts of metal oxidized must be known for efficient reduction and control of composition. Further, in order to arrive at an accurate understanding of the process, so that chromium-bearing scrap can be used effectively, information is required on the relation between composition of the charge and weight of metal oxidized to reach the desired carbon content. Crafts and Rassbach1 recently developed an empirical relation between chromium, iron, and manganese oxidized per ton of steel charged, and final carbon content and temperature. This relation did not show any dependence on amount of chromium charged. However, it was felt that such a dependence might be present, so a further analysis of the data was undertaken. Cr-C Relation at Low Chromium Levels Crafts and Rassbach's results were based on temperatures estimated from the Cr-C relation previously established experimentally by Hilty,2 and on a single temperature observation (immersion thermocouple) on a heat made at low temperature from a charge of carbon steel scrap containing only a small amount of residual chromium. The temperatures estimated from the Cr-C relation were for heats charged with chromium-bearing scrap and which contained substantial amounts of chromium (2 to 10 pct) at the end of the oxidizing period. No data, other than that from the low temperature heat just mentioned, were available for the low and intermediate chromium ranges. In order to extend the range in which temperature may be estimated, the Cr-C relation requires further consideration. The Cr-C relation, expressed as suggests that carbon is zero at zero chromium in the bath. This is obviously absurd, because as chromium approaches zero the carbon content must approach the limit established by the Fe-C-O equilibrium. It is evident, therefore, that the Cr-C relation as defined by Eq. 1 is not valid below some minimum chromium content that may vary with temperature. On the other hand, it is probable that any such limiting chromium content is less than 4 pct at 3200°F, since the experimental data from which the Cr-C relation was derived included several observations at that level with no deviation. In any event, it is apparent that further evaluation of the results presented by Crafts and Rassbach is dependent upon a means for estimating the Cr-C temperature relation in the low chromium region. From the observations of Chen and Chipman9 and thermodynamic data given in Basic Open Hearth Steelmaking,4 the following relation can be calculated for melts containing small amounts of chromium and carbon assuming a carbon monoxide pressure of 1 atm: % Cr -21,250 K' = (%C)2; logK1 == —t— +13.88 [2] Moreover, by plotting Eq. 2 for any given temperature on cartesian coordinates, it can be extrapolated graphically to the limiting carbon content at zero chromium for the specified temperature without serious complications. By means of Eq. 2 and its extrapolation, the Cr-C temperature relations originally established experi-

Jan 1, 1954

By W. B. Wise, H. D. Attra, W. M. Black

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate a comparatively new approach for solving a problem that has plagued oil producers for many years—how to make the most money with available field production capacity. In a very basic operation such as a top-allowable one-well field, a computer and staff of engineers are not required to determine that the best operation is to produce that well at its maximum for as long a time as it will produce. However, as the problem becomes more complex and the number of wells and number of reservoirs increase, it probably will be a wise choice to devote some engineering thought and calculation time to determine the best way to operate that field on both an ultimate and day-to-day basis. Continued developments in the field broadly referred to as "operations research" have led to a number of useful engineering analyses for optimizing field operational problems. One of these techniques, termed linear programing, is parlicularly interesting because of its potential applications to the study of complex oilfield operating problems. Linear programing is concerned with the problem of planning a complex set of interde~endenl activities in the best possible (optimal) fashion. A field application of linear programing is being used to maximize daily income from a multi-reservoir producing operation. The initial results of this study indicate that the linear programing technique (I) can be applied effectively to field problems, (2) can be used to detect unsuspected avenues for improving operations and (3) can effect a significantly improved means of controlling field operations through the use of the highspeed computer. INTRODUCTION The usual approach for studying complex field operational problems has been to look in detail at several basic plans suggested by judgement and experience and, then, to choose the best plan from those investigated. This approach is entirely satisfactory provided: (1) that judgment and experience alone will reliably pick the best or near the best program as one of the plans to be investigated; and (2), and most important, that the factors which control field production will not change. This paper deals with the large group of field operations which are at least one-step removed from a satisfactory solution using the conventional method of analysis. Problems such as pipeline- and gathering-system design, transportation studies, large field development projects and multi-reservoir producing operations fall in this latter category. To find the best program for handling these problems when the best program is not obvious, a complete optimization study is required, and high-speed computers are required to continually update the program once it is selected. Operations of this type have an extremely large number of possible solutions. However, only one will result in maximum economic return and, more important, this one program must be re-evaluated and adjusted constantly to accomodate such changing field factors as the number of producing days, the price of crude, the discovery of new reserves, declining reservoir pressure with subsequent decline in production and a host of other factors which characterize specific operations. One of the most widely used, direct methods of optimization is a numerical procedure termed "linear programing", which is designed to investigate systematically each of the possible solutions involved in a given problem, determining rapidly and uniquely the optimum answer. As implied by the name, linear programing requires that all field variables be either defined or expressed in a series of interdependent linear equalities or inequalities. These relationships are solved simultaneously, using a form of matrix solutions to determine the optimum values for each producing variable that will maximize net profits. The solution techniques used in a recent field case study is termed the "simplex method" and is discussed in full detail in Ref. 1.

By Frank J. Markewicz, William Lodding

Greensand, greensand marl, and green earth are names given to sediments rich in the bluish green to greenish black mineral known as glauconite by the mineralogist. The word glauconite is from the Greek word glaukos, meaning bluish green. The term "greensand" as a rock name for a glauconite-bearing sediment is more appropriate than "greensand marl," a term that has been doggedly perpetuated in the literature. Because of its potash and phosphate content, greensand was dug and marketed as a fertilizer and soil conditioner for more than 100 years. The advent of prepared fertilizers with adjustable nutrient ratios led to the decline of green- sand for agricultural application. The material has since been recognized for use in water treatment. Unfortunately, in spite of large reserves and worldwide distribution, the mineral has not been utilized to any significant commercial extent because no major application has been found for a substance with its chemical composition and properties. This lack is probably due to a paucity of research on its potential commercial application. Extraction of potash received considerable attention during and just after World War I. Because of relatively high extraction costs and generally low potash content (up to 8%), glauconite lost its appeal as a source of this commodity. Historical Background Greensand was used as a fertilizer in New Jersey in the latter part of the 1700s. During the early 1800s its use became more common; applications of up to 100 tons per acre were sometimes made, although recommendations for agricultural use suggested 20 to 50 tons per acre (Tedrow, 1957). Many crops, especially the forage type, were said to improve with greensand application; however, because of slow release of potash, large quantities were required. Certain greensands that contain sulfur and sulfide minerals are harmful to plant growth, and these were classified as "poison," "burning," or "black marls." The availability of higher-grade potash salts from other mineral sources, and the manufacture of prepared fertilizers, displaced the agricultural use of green- sand during the later 1800s. During the mid-1800s the domestic greensand industry, centered in a small section of the eastern United States, grossed more than $500,000 per year. Toward the end of the century, annual production had dwindled to less than $100,000. By 1910 there were only six or eight greensand producers, grossing less than $5000 (Tyler, 1934). There was a small revival in the industry during World War I because of the curtailment of foreign potash, especially from Germany. During the later 1940s and early 1950s greensand was again recommended as a food nutrient for plants and farm crops. Agronomic studies discussed its potential as a soil additive that gradually releases potash and many trace- element nutrients essential for plant growth (Tedrow, 1957). Greensand was sold with the idea that it would condition soil and absorb and hold water while its base-exchange properties would release trace elements. For a short time glauconite was utilized in certain parts of New Jersey as a binding additive in the brick industry, and in the 1800s for making green glass (Cook, 1868). In the early 1900s the base-exchange property of glauconite was recognized for water treatment, and the mineral gained acceptance as a water softener. Mansfield ( 1922) does not mention base-exchange; however, the base ex-

Jan 1, 1975

By William R. Webster

This is a subject which our Institute has made peculiarly its own. In the first volume of its Transactions the analysis of steel received attention, and every subsequent volume has borne witness to the acuteness and industry of our members in the investigation of this subject. The keynote mas struck, in this as in so many other lines of progress, by A. L. Holley, in his paper on " Tests of Steel," read at the Easton meeting of October, 1873 (Trans., ii., 116)—an essay which may rank as a classic by reason of .its elegant form, logical force, and clear prevision of all the bearings of its theme, Taken together with the brief report of the discussion which followed it (in which Dr. Drown emphasized the effects of heat-treatment and mechanical handling, and Dr. Sterry Hunt the importance of minute variations in chemical composition, and of possible isomeric and allotropic conditions), it constitutes, after the lapse of twenty-five years, an admirable and adequate introduction to the long list of technical papers which have succeeded it. Three years later came the epoch-making papers of Dr. C. B. Dudley on the relation between the chemical composition and physical properties of steel rails, which, with the voluminous discussion they evoked, constitute a special volume, published by the Institute, and full of useful suggestions. If Dr. Dudley could be induced to resume this investigation, he would doubtless be able to solve many points still uncertain or disputed. But I cannot undertake to review the history of this subject, as represented in our Transactions—still less to restate all the contributions to it which have been made in books or in papers before other technical societies, since the initiative was taken by the Institute. My more modest purpose is to indi-

Jan 1, 1899

By W. B. Boggs, J. N. Anderson

An account of the operation of the Noranda smelter covering the period from December, 1927, when the smelter started, until December, 1929, was given in a paper published by the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy early in 1930.' The object of the present paper is to review matters of interest in the original paper and to describe the present construction and operation of the smelter, with particular reference to the reverberatory-furnace practice. The Noranda smelter was built by Noranda Mines, Ltd., from the designs of A. E. Wheeler, consulting metallurgist of New York, for the reduction of ores and concentrates from the Horne mine and to treat, on a custom basis, ores and concentrates from other mines in the Rouyn district. The smelter is at Noranda, about 330 miles directly north of Toronto. Construction work was started in June, 1926, and copper was first produced in December, 1927. The smelter was built throughout as two duplicate units, each with a rated capacity of 500 tons of ore per day. Operations were started with one unit and after several months it was found that one unit alone could smelt 1000 tons of ore a day. At that time there was only one hoisting shaft, No. 3, and its hoisting capacity and the capacity of the original crushing plant were insufficient to supply ore for the two units at the increased tonnage. Accordingly No. 4 shaft was sunk and a new crushing plant provided to handle the ore hoisted there. Operating two units at capacity also required the installation of two more converters to treat the additional quantity of matte produced. This work was completed in the latter part of November, 1929, and since then both smelter units have been operating continuously. In 1928, a mill to treat 500 tons a day of concentrating ore was completed. Since then the concentrator capacity has been increased twice, and at present 2000 tons a day of ore are being concentrated. The layout of the surface plant of the mine, concentrator and smelter is shown in Fig. 1 and the general plan in Fig. 2. The smelter is shown in more detail in Fig. 3. The original hoisting shaft, No. 3, is now used only for handling men, supplies and waste rock, and the original crushing

Jan 1, 1934

By Reuel A. Cochrane, Harry H. Angst

The successful exploitation by opencut methods of the low-grade porphyry copper deposits is due to the economical handling of large tonnages. Large tonnages are possible only if the rock material is broken so that the large power shovels can operate with minimum delays. This is particularly true at the New Cornelia mine, where the dense, hard, tough rock material creates problems not encountered in most of the porphyry copper mines. The introduction of churn drills at the New Cornelia for primary drilling, in 1936, necessitated a complete change in the methods of breaking ground as formerly air drills had been used. The blasting operations are of particular interest because of the handling of great quantities of high explosives in safely and efficiently fragmenting the hard rock material. Rock Formations At the New Cornelia mine the rocks are quartz monzonite with a diorite border facies intruding a rhyolitic series. Overlying these formations is a fanglomerate formation composed of boulders of monzonite, diorite, rhyolite, and other types of rock of unknown derivation. (The word "fanglomerate" is used in this paper in referring to the local conglomerate type of rock formations.) The ore body is approximately 4800 ft. long and 2800 ft. wide, and is of the disseminated type. Mineralization occurs principally in the quartz monzonite and to some extent in the adjacent diorite and rhyolite. The principal ore minerals are chalcopyrite, bornite, and a small amount of chalcocite. Over a considerable area the quartz monzonite is extremely hard and siliceous in character, owing to pegmatitic zones of alteration. The hardness of the ground depends on the intensity of the silicification. In a small area in the pit, the monzonite contains an abundance of pyrite accompanied by sericitization and is soft and easily fragmented. This is true also in the remaining oxidized portion of the ore body. The diorite and rhyolite formations, like the monzonite, vary from extremely hard to very soft material, but on the whole are easier to fragment than the monzonite. Jointing is prevalent in all the rock formations and plays an important role in the blasting efficiencies. In the fanglomerate formation, numerous well-defined joints, widely spaced, tend to make the ground blocky when blasted. This is a deterrent to good fragmentation. In the other rocks the joints are more numerous and are closely spaced, except in localized areas where the formations are extremely hard. These descriptions indicate that the lowest blasting efficiency will be obtained in the harder formations, from which the major portion of the mine production is obtained; namely, the monzonite and rhyolite. All rock formations mined at the New Cornelia pit are so hard that excavation

Jan 1, 1943

By K. E. Brown, J. P. Brill, T. C. Doerr

A wide range of intermittent gas-lift tests way conducted in a 1,500-ft experimental well through 11/4- and 11/2-in, nominal size tubing. The well was equipped with two gas-lift valves, four Maihak electronic pressure transmitters and surface facilities to measure casing and tubing pressures, temperature, liquid production and the rate and volume of gas injected. For each tubing size, tests were conducted varying the slug length, gas volume injected and liquid viscosity and surface tension. From these tests, an empirical "fallback" or liquid loss correlation has been developed. No general fallback correlation could be obtained, and the correlation is presented in the form of one curve for each slug length of a given liquid and lubing size. A conceptual model has been developed which combines the fallback correlation with equarions which govern liquid slug pow. A mathematical simulation of the model in the form of a digital computer program is used to calculate total recovery, gas volume used and clearance time for a given test. Tubing pressures at the gas-lift valve and at the gm-slug interface are calculated as a function of time. Tubing pressures at the surface during slug clearance ore also calculated. The results compare favorably with the test data and verify the conceptual model. The extent to which the model can be used for other tubing sizes, depths, liquids and gas-lift valves can only be determined with additional experimental data. Data are also necessary so that a fallback curve can be constructed for the particular test conditions studied. INTRODUCTION The flow of liquid slugs in vertical conduits has long been an established production method in the petroleum industry. Under the name "intermittent gas lift", many advances have been made in engineering design. However, the unsteady-state nature of liquid slug flow has discouraged attempts to describe the problem analytically. The result has been that intermittent gas lift is dominated by rules-of-thumb engineering practices developed over many years. The advent of slim-hole completions has increased the demand for a more rigorous solution to the intermittent problem. Small-diameter conduits offer more frictional per intermittent cycle. Small-diameter conduits are defined to be 1%-in. nominal size tubing or smaller. When oil is produced from the reservoir in which it is found, and transported to surface tanks by intermittent gas lift, three separate flow stages are encountered: flow of the fluids to the wellbore through a porous medium, vertical flow of a liquid slug from the point of gas injection to the surface, and horizontal flow of the liquid slug through the surface flowlines from the wellhead to the surface tanks. The three stages are depicted schematically in Fig. 1. The present study deals with liquid slug flow in both the vertical and horizontal conduits, ending when the bottom of the liquid slug reaches the surface. Due to the large number of variables involved, the analytical study of intermittent gas lift is extremely complex. The possibility of flow regimes other than slug type, the nature of the force fields acting on the system, the interfacial instabilities involved, the varying operational principles of existing gas-lift valves and the complete unsteady-state nature of the physical phenomena occurring in an intermittent gas-lift cycle relate some of the difficulties encountered.