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By V. Schwinn, P. Fluess, N. Cauderlier, J. Bauer

From a strategic and economic point of view, the development of fine grain high strength steels for long distance pipelines is intensified world wide to satisfy the demand for natural gas in the future.The project related property profiles based on strength, toughness, crack arrest and sometimes resistance against HIC at defined design temperatures require an effective structural refinement using advanced steelmaking and processing in the rolling mill. The microstructure of modern line pipe steels ranges from ferritic pearlitic to ferritic-bainitic and structures where bainite is the dominant component, possibly upgraded by secondary phases. This paper illustrates microstructures and properties of recent orders on line pipe steels both for onshore and offshore application using different processing routes in the plate mill. Examples will be given for SAWL 485 offshore grades, X65 HIC and X70 HIC onshore grades, respectively. Finally, production results of a recent X80 order will be presented.

Jan 1, 2005

By M. Brochu

In this paper, we present a computer-vision approach developed for wall-thickness measurements of corroded pipes inspected by double-wall radiography. The main objective of the work is to optimize data collection and film interpretation using computerized image analysis. To date, the system is able to identify the inner and outer contours of a pipe and perform wall thickness measurements at each pixel of a radiograph. This will be presented by analysing pipes having different dimensions. Another important feature of the system concerns the algorithms' adaptability to pipe wall texture. In other words, image analysis is automatically refined around rough or corroded areas. This allows more precise thickness measurements and shape identification in critical sections as will be demonstrated with examples. Finally a brief overview of results exploitation will be given and compared with human interpretation. It will show the reliability of automated image analysis and the many possibilities offered by complete output analysis.

Jan 1, 2005

By Zhibao Li, Lanmu Zeng

The behavior of dicalcium silicate in NaOH-NaAl(OH)4-Na2CO3 solution is of significance for controlling the silica level in the production of alumina via the sintering process. Dicalcium silicate samples were obtained through a twostep approach: coprecipitation of calcium and silicate from CaCl2-Na2SiO3-NaOH solutions; and calcination of the hydrated precursor at 1200°C for 4 hours. The optimization of the synthesis parameters including temperature, solution concentrations and aging time was also investigated. Xray diffraction (XRD) and chemical analysis show that the calcined solids include dicalcium silicate with trace amounts of wollastonite. The solubility of the synthesized dicalcium silicate in HCl, NaOH, mixed NaOH-NaAl(OH)4 and NaOH-NaAl(OH)4-Na2CO3 solutions was determined. It was found that the solubility increases with increasing HCl and NaOH concentration. The effect of temperature on the solubility in HCl solutions is limited, but the solubility decreases with increasing temperature in NaOH solutions. The solubility of dicalcium silicate in NaOH-NaAl(OH)4 and NaOH-NaAl(OH)4-Na2CO3 solutions was shown to increase with increased temperature, Al(OH)3 and Na2CO3 concentration. The BromleyZemaitis model for the aqueous electrolyte system was selected to predict the solubility of dicalcium silicate. The model’s predictions yielded certain success compared with experimental solubility data.

Jan 1, 2014

By M. Loan

The Zinifex's Hobart Smelter uses the paragoethite process to remove dissolved Fe(III) from concentrated zinc leach liquors. This produces a residue consisting primarily of 6-line ferrihydrite (a hydrated Fe(III) oxyhydroxide), several insoluble components derived from the calcined zinc concentrate neutralization agent and other precipitated phases, such as jarosite and silica. The precipitation of 6-line ferrihydrite in the paragoethite process was studied using a laboratory-scale continuous crystallizer, and the conditions were selected to limit high levels of dissolved silica and jarosite. This approach allowed the reactor pH and the rate of precipitation to be correlated with residue solid-liquid separation, particle size, morphology, residual zinc and sulfate concentrations, and phase formation (e.g., goethite, jarosite, schwertmannite, and 2- and 6-line ferrihydrite). These studies delineated the mechanism of 6-line ferrihydrite precipitation in the kinetically controlled paragoethite process, and its inter-relationship with goethite and jarosite precipitation under conditions where 6-line ferrihydrite is favoured. Unexpectedly, the generation of a more crystalline goethite precipitate with larger "primary" particle size did not produce a residue of improved properties, as bulk aggregates dictate the physical properties of the residue and not the crystallinity. Furthermore, it is difficult to precipitate 2-line ferrihydrite or schwertmannite under existing paragoethite process conditions.

Jan 1, 2006

By J. J. Benitez

MIBC (methyl-isobuthyl carbinol) was previously shown to enhance significantly sylvite flotation when used at the stage of preparation of amine dispersions. In this paper Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is used to study the effect of MIBC on deposition of octadecylamine (ODA) on the surface of mica. The AFM images indicate that amino terminated, and therefore hydrophilic, deposits of ODA are observed on the mica surface in the ODA dispersions free of MIBC. In the presence of MIBC a methyl terminated (hydrophobic) monolayer is obtained on the mica surface. The transition between the monolayer and bilayer phases is due to the presence of MIBC. Experiments carried out in distilled water reproduced the results obtained from the brine. Working in pure water instead of brine simplifies the preparation conditions and the analysis by AFM.

Jan 1, 2006

By M. H. Kotze, V. Yahorava

A gold-selective ion exchange resin, containing tributylamine groups, was developed by Mintek for the recovery of gold from cyanide leach solutions. The Dow Chemical Company and, more recently, Purolite commercialized the production of this gold selective resin for use in the gold mining industry, and it is marketed as Dow XZ-91419.00 and Purolite A194 respectively. A novel application of this resin is the selective recovery and separation of AuCl4 - f rom p latinum group metals (PGMs) in chloride and nitrate solutions. The current paper describes potential benefits of this type of resin for selective recovery and upgrading of gold from low grade chloride or nitrate waste streams, and the possibility of gold separation from PGMs during their refining in chloride media.

Jan 1, 2014

By J. D. Zhu

A numerical model for predicting microporosity formation in aluminum castings has been developed, which describes the redistribution of hydrogen between solid and liquid phases, the transport of hydrogen in liquid by diffusion and Darcy flow in the mushy zone, One of the key features of the model is that it uses a two-stage approach for porosity prediction, In the first stage, the volume fraction of porosity is calculated based on the reduced pressure, whereas, in the second stage, at fractions solid greater than the liquid encapsulation point, the fraction porosity is calculated based on the volume of liquid trapped within the continuous solid network, which is estimated using a correlation based on the Niyama parameter, The porosity model uses thermal data calculated using the commercial finite element package ABAQUSTM. The model has been applied to examine the evolution of porosity in a series of experimental samples cast using unmodified A356 in which the initial hydrogen content was varied from 0,048 to 0.137 [cc/100g], A comparison between the model predictions and the experimental measurements indicates good agreement in terms of the variation in porosity with distance from the chill and the variation resulting from initial hydrogen content.

Jan 1, 2005

By M. Normandin

The performance of various polymers and other macromolecules used to flocculate red mud particulate materials in the Bayer process can be evaluated on the basis of their efficiency to achieve adequate settling velocity and turbidity level, The Jar Test is widely used in the mineral industry to determine the efficiency of solid-liquid separation processes, particularly for gravity settler of the Bayer process. However, a high level of variability is found in the data obtained by this methodology, In this study, different parameters of the cylinder test procedure are evaluated to determine their role in the overall variability of the method, As demonstrated by laboratory testing, the overall variability can be considerably reduced by good laboratory practices.

Jan 1, 2005

By R. Ghomashchi

Wear, fatigue and corrosion are the most widely encountered modes of failure in materials used in engineering applications, including aero-gas turbines. Although wear is distinctly classified as adhesive, abrasive, erosive, fretting and so on, there are usually more than one wear mechanism involved in the failure of components in service because there are many systems and materials variables active in materials wear that makes it more difficult to study. This is further complicated by the discrepancies between the results of laboratory tests and field data. The present investigation was set up to examine the wear characteristics of M50 and T1 high-speed steels at both room and elevated temperatures to draw a thorough understanding of the wear behavior of this class of high-speed steels. This article focuses on the mechanical and microstructural characterization of wear for T1 and M50 high-speed steels using a pin-on-disk wear machine.

Jan 1, 2005

While this paper is directed towards the ?Bellambie? type of rope attachment, the principles can be applied to any brand of rope fitting however, it is a only a broad outline and the specific installation and maintenance procedures can be obtained from the attachment supplier. The types of attachment to be discussed are:- ?Thimble Type rope cappel ?Wedge Type cappel ?WRC Rope Clamp ? (Rope Glands) ??Hoist and Balance Rope Sockets In each case, the assembly and stripping (disassembly) plus the basic maintenance procedures is briefly described. A guide for Risk Assessment is also included but because of his familiarity with the installation, the end-user is in the best position to draft the final version.

May 1, 2003

By A. G. Roach

IT IS generally stated that the gold ores of Nova Scotia are free-milling, and for the most part this is true. However, there is a certain proportion of the gold finely disseminated throughout the sulphides, notably arsenopyrite, and this gold is definitely not recoverable as 'free-milling' gold by amalgamation. The proportion of free-milling gold to total gold seems to vary widely in different localities in the Province and is lowest in deposits of the fissure-vein type. The problem of recovery of these relatively recalcitrant values is usually one of economics, in some plac.es a simple gravity concentrate being of such low tenor that its extraction and subsequent disposal will not bear the costs involved. In other cases, such a high percentage of values escapes from the mortars and plates that concentration is definitely indicated. The size of the mining operation is also an important factor. In the large majority of cases, however, some concentrating step is warranted, even if the resulting concentrate is stock-piled until sufficient has accumulated to justify further treatment.

Jan 1, 1940

By Christopher Riley

A relatively unexplored lead zinc deposit lies about 12 miles northwest of Revelstoke, B.C., in the highly metamorphosed Monashee Group of rocks of the Shuswap Terrane, Precambrian in age. Host rocks are of sedimentary origin and consist of gneisses, schists, marbles and quartzites with intermediary types. The marbles and quartzites provide good horizon markers. Using these it is possible to interpret the controlling structure which is a syncline overturned to the north, dipping south at about 45°, and plunging east at about 12°. The syncline is truncated at about halfway of its length on a peak on the west side of which a partial cross section together with superimposed minor folds may be seen. The quartzites and the two marble beds may be traced over much of the structure. There are two lodes, above the marble and below the quartzite, which converge eastward and which are the exposed edges of the same host bed -an impure limestone.

Jan 1, 1961

By T. ?kre, O. M. Dotterud, S. Haarberg, J. Thonstad, G. M. Haarberg

An electrowinning pilot plant has been constructed at Falconbridge Nikkelverk A/S, Kristiansand, Norway. The equipment consists of a mixing tank where the electrolyte composition and temperature are controlled, an electrowinning tank equipped with five cathodes and six anodes of commercial size and design and a dechlorination facility. Electrowinning experiments were carried out in this pilot plant using acid cobalt chloride solution from the cobalt tankhouse. Key parameters were varied to obtain an improved understanding of the cobalt electrowinning process, focusing on the detrimental deposition of cobalt oxide on dimensionally stable anodes. The extent of anode scaling was found to be dependent on the electrowinning conditions. Low pH, temperature and cobalt concentration resulted in less scale being formed, however at the expense of cobalt current efficiency and cell voltage, adversely affecting electrowinning production capacity and energy consumption. When operating at high acidity, pH in the anolyte was higher than in the catholyte, which is believed to be due to H+ ions taking part in the current transport across the diaphragm, migrating out of the bags surrounding each anode.

Jan 1, 2005

By Free. Michael L.

Crushing ore prior to heap leaching enhances mineral liberation and creates fine particles that may require agglomeration to avoid permeability problems during leaching. Conventional modeling is relatively successful in describing general fluid flow and extraction in heaps. However, most models do not adequately account for the effects of mineral liberation and exposure or the effects of agglomeration, curing, and loading on heap leach performance. This paper will discuss methods to account for mineral liberation and exposure as a function of comminution. It will also discuss methods for incorporating liberation, exposure, and mineral locking as well as curing and fluid flow in heap leach modeling. It will also provide information regarding agglomeration and the effect of loading in heap leach modeling.

Jan 1, 2014

By L. Sun

A numerical model has been developed to study the air flow in the flow plate and gas diffusion layer assembly on the cathode side of a PEM fuel cell. The flow plate in this type of fuel cell often has serpentine channels and the porous layer is adjacent to the flow plate to diffuse the air to the catalyst layer. Flow cross-over of air through the porous diffusion layer from one part of the channel to another can occur. This flow cross¬over is a result of the pressure differences between different parts of the channel, and it causes the flow rate through the channel to vary with the distance along the channel. A numerical study of pressure distribution and flow cross-over through the gas diffusion layer (GDL) in PEMFC flow field using a serpentine channel system has therefore been undertaken to compare the cases of a single channel and two parallel channels, with the channels having a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. The purpose of the present work was to study the effect of the flow plate geometry on the basic fluid flow through the plate. The flow here has been assumed to be three-dimensional, steady, incompressible, isothermal and single-phase. The flow through the porous diffusion layer has been described using the Darcy model. The dimensionless governing equations have been solved by using the commercial CFD solver, FIDAP. From the results obtained, it can be found that the single channel systems have greater maximum flow rate difference than the parallel channel systems under the conditions considered in the present study. Also, the size ratio R of trapezoidal cross-sectional shape has a significant effect on the flow cross-over and pressure variation in the flow field.

Jan 1, 2005

By H. Kroog

"This contribution reports recent mineral sorting experience and lists the possibilities of the newest generation of automatic mineral sorters with a special focus on electromagnetic detection, optoelectronic technology and the latest innovative X- Ray transmission units. In industry, mineral and ore are still hand-picked and current automation potential is only utilised in a handful of specific applications. Recently a number of technological developments took place that may increase sorting potential, save mill costs and lead to lower overall tonnage costs. The mentioned technologies provide automatic dry separation of minerals and rock as an alternative for conventional processing. The MikroSort technology is environmentally friendly:•,The remaining waste is free of contaminations•,The dump volume is reduced•,The concentration of the high grade material•,at an early stage saves resources"

Jan 1, 2005

By S. A. Jacob

Magnesium sheet is notoriously difficult to form at low temperatures without initiating failure, In the present work cold rolling and annealing conditions are varied to produce samples of AZ3lB sheet with a range of grain sizes. The formability of these samples is investigated using tensile testing and forming limit diagrams (FLD's), The results are discussed in terms of twin types and frequencies.

Jan 1, 2005

The dissolution of chalcopyrite has received a significant amount of attention. The predominant paradigm of investigation is that its rate of dissolution is limited or passivated by a surface coating or film of material. The common candidates for such a passivating coating are numerous: polysulfide coating, metal deficient layers, copper sulfide coating, bornite layers, jarosite precipitates, and elemental sulfur films. While this line of explanation, that is, the explanation based on passivation, seems to have won some form of consensus with researchers, there is another explanation for the results that can account for all the results observed. Crundwell (1988) proposed that the solid state properties of chalcopyrite, in particular, the semiconducting properties, are responsible for the observed behaviour of chalcopyrite. The purpose of this paper is to outline the semiconductor mechanism of dissolution, and to show how this mechanism accounts for all the observed phenomena recently reported in the literature. The paper outlines the semiconductor mechanism of dissolution, shows how this mechanism accounts for the dissolution

Jan 1, 2014

By K. T. Aye

An investigation into the leaching of chalcocite and covellite in cyanide solutions at concentrations typically encountered daring gold cyanidation has been conducted. The results indicate that, for both minerals, the extent of leaching is greater under anoxic conditions, but is still incomplete even in the presence of free cyanide ions, with undissolved copper solids remaining in equilibrium with solution species. The speciation of the sulfur and cyanide reaction products in solution are interpreted in terms of the fast formation of a copper(I)- cyanide complexes in solution and a sulfur-rich copper(I) polysulfide solid phase, which then reacts more slowly to produce thiocyanate ions.

Jan 1, 2011

By R. Browner, J. Collard, D. Ibana

The extraction of cobalt from synthetic pressure acid leach solutions of nickel laterite ores by the direct solvent extraction route using ESPLIM is reported. It first explored the use of gaseous ammonia as pH modifier and then the variables that affect the dispersion of the aqueous phase in the organic phase such as ionic strength, viscosity of the phases, initial droplet size, etc. were explored so that phase hold-up and thus extraction can be effectively controlled. The results show that the technique allows better control of phase dispersion circumventing one of the main weaknesses of conventional solvent extraction.

Jan 1, 2005