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By James C. Sever

The mode of operation of dolomite kilns at a magnesium reduction plant using the Magnatherm process was designed to minimize operation cost and maximize kiln refractory life. Analysis of downstream operation issues shows the quality metric for dolime changed from loss on ignition to specific surface area. This produced a complete change in kiln operation; the net results being major plant productivity increases decrease in operating cost, and increases in both kiln operating costs and reline frequency.

Jan 1, 2015

By Z. Q. Chen, M. H. Loretto, Y. G. Li

"As-cast, As-forged, as-solution-treated, and solution treated and aged microstructures of Ti-15Mo (IMI205) with and without carbon were examined using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy .and transmission electron microscopy. Tensile testing was carried out at room temperature. It was found that carbon acts primarily as a titanium carbide former: Titanium carbides increase slightly the tensile strength, but decrease the ductility of IMI205. These observations are interpreted in terms of the titanium carbide morphology observed using SEM and TEM and the phase diagrams of Ti-Mo, Ti-C, and Mo-C.IntroductionIn a recent study on the development of a burn-resistant 13-Ti alloy, carbon was introduced· into the Ti-V-Cr system in order to optimise the mechanical properties. Research results[1, 2] demonstrate that carbon addition can refine the 13 grain size and improve the stability of the 13 phase in Ti-V-Cr alloys. The most attractive result is that carbon addition produced a marked improvement in the ductility of alloys when the carbon content is over 0.1 wt.% in this alloy system. Even after long exposure, the alloy with carbon addition maintains good ductility. One of the main reasons for the ductilising of the alloy is that titanium carbides can getter the oxygen from the 13 matrix.In view of the success of carbon addition in improving the properties and the stability of the Ti-V-Cr alloy, it is of interest to investigate the behaviour of carbon addition in other beta Ti-base alloys. The objective of the present work was, therefore, to assess the microstructures and mechanical properties of IMI 205, a metastable beta titanium alloy, with and without carbon addition using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), wavelength dispersive X-ray (WDX) analysis, room temperature tensile testing."

Jan 1, 2000

By M. Z. Quadir, M. A. Islam, P. J. Hazell, G. J. Appleby-Thomas, J. P. Escobedo

The mechanical response of closed-cell aluminium metallic foams subjected to low and high strain-rate loading has been investigated. A set of quasi-static and dynamic (shock) compressive tests have been conducted on closed-cell aluminium foams (CYMAT) with densities of 0.50 and 0.30 g/cc. Post-mortem characterization via optical microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was performed on pristine and deformed specimens to elucidate the dominant deformation mechanisms in these materials. The combination of these techniques allowed for the assessment of critical deformation parameters such as changes in cell geometry and morphology, as well as microstructural evolution and deformation of the aluminium cellular network. These findings aim to aid in the design and development of optimized material structures for impact and blast protection.

Jan 1, 2015

By Felipe Costa Hashimoto Bertin, Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório, Rodrigo de Souza Dalti Pereira, Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa

"The increasing amount of portable devices and their fast obsolescence generates an increasing quantity of discarded batteries. The recycling process of discarded batteries allows the recovery of metals for further use and avoids the contamination of soil and water. Even though there are several researches on the topic, few papers focus on mixed batteries. The purpose of this work is to characterize a mass of collected mixed batteries and study the hydrometallurgical process of recycling. The specific leaching parameters studied were pH, temperature and reduction potential. The specific goal was testing the selectivity of pH for leaching each metal. The results show that the optimal leaching occurs in acid solutions with negative pH at IM of sulfuric acid and at room temperature (25°C).IntroductionThe increasing portability of electronic devices in the past century along with their fast obsolescence produce tons of discarded materials yearly that could be recycled generating new materials for the industry. For example, metals such as cobalt and nickel, that are worth respectively US$ 30.00 and US$ 16.10 per kilogram[l,2] are disposed in urban trash yearly, which means that millions of dollars are thrown away instead of being recovered and reused[3].Besides the obvious fact that the society is throwing money away, most of these metals are toxic for the environment and all mammals, so when badly stored after use they can be found contaminating ground water which will contaminate the entire lifecycle. Some of these metals can cause cancer, serious lung problems and have bioaccumulative properties [4] resulting in lower productions of natural products and maybe death for consumers.So in compliance to new regulations such as the National Solid Residue Politic (PNRS) and the CONAMA-Resolution N°401 from November of 2008[5]- (that follows similar restrictions and regulations as the European directives) all those urban and electronic wastes need to be correctly disposed and treated before being thrown away on local dump sites.In Brazil the national rate of garbage recovery is around 70%, which only 5% is properly recycled, accordingly to the research of the UFSC, also electronic waste grows at 5% per year [6]The present study was motivated by the fact that recycling processes for batteries are not spread through the country and by the fact that most papers do not try to recycle a mixed mass of batteries, but a specific mixture which does not represent the composition of traditional household wastes."

Jan 1, 2014

By B. Zeytuncu, O. Yucel, O. H. Celik, M. H. Morcali

"The Taguchi method was used as the experimental design to determine the optimum conditions of cementation behavior of the ruthenium chloride solution. Cementation was carried out using metallic zinc powder. The experimental conditions were studied in the range of 25-45°C for reaction temperature (A), 30--60 min for reaction time (B), 0.5-1.5 for pH of solution (C), and 30--50 mg for zinc powder (D). Experimental parameters and their levels were determined in the light of preliminary tests. Orthogonal array (OA) L9(34) consisting of four parameters each with three levels, was chosen. The optimal conditions found for ruthenium, such as a reaction temperature, reaction time, pH of the solution and mass of zinc, are respectively: 45°C, 45 min, 1.5 and 50 mg. Under these conditions, the ruthenium cementation efficiency obtained by theoretically and experimentally was in good agreement, which were 99.8% and 99.7% respectively."

Jan 1, 2013

By Pinakin C. Chaubal

Today?s steel industry is in a vibrant and resurgent mode. This transformation has been in the making for some time now. Over the last few decades, the industry was steadily transforming itself into becoming a high tech industry. New technology was adopted, efficiencies were enhanced, lean manufacturing concepts were brought in and a strong customer focus was developed. Today?s mills employ sophisticated instrumentation, computerized monitoring, on-line smart systems etc. driving processes that are producing at rates of many tons/minute. All this is not possible without judiciously using the latest available technologies in various fields and developing a more sophisticated work force. Prof. Sohn has been a pioneer in driving the concept of process engineering in process metallurgy. In this paper the focus is on some aspects of process engineering ? primarily process modeling - as applied to iron and steelmaking processes. Examples are shown to demonstrate how problems have been addressed. Some thoughts on future directions are presented.

Jan 1, 2006

By Pinakin C. Chaubal

Today?s steel industry is in a vibrant and resurgent mode. This transformation has been in the making for some time now. Over the last few decades, the industry was steadily transforming itself into becoming a high tech industry. New technology was adopted, efficiencies were enhanced, lean manufacturing concepts were brought in and a strong customer focus was developed. Today?s mills employ sophisticated instrumentation, computerized monitoring, on-line smart systems etc. driving processes that are producing at rates of many tons/minute. All this is not possible without judiciously using the latest available technologies in various fields and developing a more sophisticated work force. Prof. Sohn has been a pioneer in driving the concept of process engineering in process metallurgy. In this paper the focus is on some aspects of process engineering ? primarily process modeling - as applied to iron and steelmaking processes. Examples are shown to demonstrate how problems have been addressed. Some thoughts on future directions are presented.

Jan 1, 2006

By Xuemei Zheng, Aiyuan Ma, Yonggang Zuo, Jinhui Peng, Shiwei Li, Libo Zhang

The effect of moisture content on the dielectric properties and microwave drying behavior of zirconium hydroxide was studied by using an open-ended sensor dielectric measurement system at the frequency of 2.45 GHz. The experimental results showed that moisture content can significantly influence the variation of dielectric properties. Dielectric constant, loss factor and loss tangent all increase with the increasing moisture content. Compared with the conventional drying method, the microwave-assisted drying method resulted in a substantial decrease (81.8%) in the drying time, and the drying effect was better at the lower power level of 600 W. This study offers the useful information on dielectric properties of zirconium hydroxide, which can be used for developing microwave drying applications in mineral processing and designing better microwave sensors for measuring zirconium hydroxide moisture content.

Jan 1, 2015

By D. H. H. Quon

Results of a study conducted to determine the properties of iron ore pellets made from Mount Wright and Carol Lake ore concentrate fines with partial and full substitution of bentonite by several organic binders are presented. Carboxy methyl celluloses 7H and 6TL, hydroxy ethyl cellulose (natrosol) and modified guar gum all produce pellets of acceptable wet, green and dry strength. However, when fully substituted, an inorganic binder such as calcium carbonate is required for satisfactory strength development after induration. Mixing the Carol Lake ore with Mount Wright ore in a 50-50 ratio also achieves the same result. The failure of the Carol Lake ore in the pelletization process is attributed to the low hematite content of the ore. The results are very similar to those from the extrusion studies reported earlier (8).

Jan 1, 1989

By S. Abe

Various copper anodes to be electrorefined were subjected to a heat treatment comprising annealing at a temperature in the range of 700 °c to 1,000 °c followed by a slow cooling preferably on the order of about 150 °c, and using these heat treated anodes , a series of dissolution experiments were conducted under conventional electrorefining conditions. The results obtained have indicated that the above annealing/slow cooling process dramatically improves the dissolution activity regardless of the type of anodes. As an example, passivation times of l to 3 minutes in a standard test have been increased to more than 80 minutes by this innovated heat treatment. Other advantages sterning from the improved anodic activity include reduced electrical short circuiting which results in substantial labor effort in the tankhouse, reduced energy requirement, and reduced cost of processing anode slimes because the amount of anode slimes is reduced. In addition, this process gives rise to a dramatic change in the nature of anode slime layer formed in such a way that a comparable final cathode copper product can be achieved even from high-impurity copper starting material.

Jan 1, 1987

By Motoyasu Sato

Highly pure pig irons were produced in a multimode microwave reactor from powdered iron ores with carbon as a reducing agent in the nitrogen atmosphere. The grains in compacted powder absorb microwave energy selectively. Microwave-matter interaction creates thermal non-equilibrium state microscopically and enhances chemical reactions and the phase mixing at the grain boundaries very rapidly. The visible light spectroscopic techniques was used to monitor the progress of the reactions. Up to 650°C, the heated powders radiate the continuous spectrum of blackbody emission. The small non-equilibrium hot spots rise, move and finally burst in to brighter light emitting from all over the surface at 650°C. CN molecules and Fe (I) atoms were identified in the recorded spectrum. These bursts are similar to the ?ignition propagation? normally observed in chemical reactions. The line spectra originated from CO molecules have not been detected yet. The solid-solid reaction could be expected between the iron oxides and carbon to produce CO2 directly. A loss in the sample weight was accelerated during the excess-emission. These are the clear evidence that microwaves cause thermally non-equilibrium state and accelerate reduction process. The reduction of iron ore is completed at 1380°C and relatively very pure pig iron was produced. It should be noted that the impurity level of Mg, S, Si, P and Ti is only 5-10% of what is found in the pig irons produced by modern conventional blast furnaces in the steel industries. The necessary amount of carbon needed was 1/2 compared to conventional blast furnace to produce the unit weight of steel, if we applied renewable energy or nuclear power for the microwave excitations.

Jan 1, 2006

By Shunsuke Yagi

A surface alloying technique was investigated using alternating pulsed electrolysis in an aqueous solution containing a single metal component for the formation of an Fe-Cr layer on an iron substrate. In the process, the iron substrate was dissolved during each anodic polarization of the pulsed electrolysis, providing iron ions in the vicinity of the substrate, while the Fe-Cr alloy was electrodeposited during subsequent cathodic polarizations. A bright, flat, and crack-free Fe-Cr layer with a composition gradient was obtained using a solution containing a trivalent chromium component and a complex forming agent together with some supporting or buffering salts.

Jan 1, 2006

By Preben Ingerslev

Control of the reheating of ingots is based either on surface temperature measurements using optical pyrometers or on furnace set points and reheat time determined empirically. This paper presents a real-time mathematical heat flow model, named BESTT, which calculates the temperature distribution in an ingot cross section when reheated or cooled. The model runs on a 486 PC in less than one minute for a variety of ingot cross sectional shapes such as circular, square and with some considerations octagonal and heavy-cornered square. Initial temperatures can either be uniform or nonuniform while accounting for temperature dependent thermophysical properties. The model was developed and verified using 718 alloy ingots in box type furnaces. When integrated with on-line pyrometric measurements, BESTT can provide for improved feed back in the reheating control loop. The use of BESlT will assist in reducing energy costs, and improving product quality and consistency. EPD Congress 1994 Edited by C. Warren The Minerals, Metals k Materials Sodety, 1993

Jan 1, 1994

By Jan Petter Maehlen

Solid H-absorbing materials are in focus of ongoing R&D to offer viable solutions for the hydrogen storage and supply systems aimed on use of hydrogen as energy carrier for automotive transportation. Low operating pressures, combined with high gravimetric and volumetric efficiencies, together with fast kinetics of hydrogen release at ambient temperatures (providing conditions for a low energy loss due to decomposition), are the most important features of the ?ideal? H storage material. Hydrides of the light elements are the only possible candidates to build systems with an overall efficiency similar to those accommodating liquid or compressed (700 bar) hydrogen. One promising material from this point of view is aluminium trihydride, alane AlH3 with a gravimetric storage capacity of 10 wt.% H. This work was focused on studies of the crystal structure and thermal decomposition of alane by application of powder synchrotron X-Ray diffraction.

Jan 1, 2006

By Pinakin C. Chaubal

Today?s steel industry is in a vibrant and resurgent mode. This transformation has been in the making for some time now. Over the last few decades, the industry was steadily transforming itself into becoming a high tech industry. New technology was adopted, efficiencies were enhanced, lean manufacturing concepts were brought in and a strong customer focus was developed. Today?s mills employ sophisticated instrumentation, computerized monitoring, on-line smart systems etc. driving processes that are producing at rates of many tons/minute. All this is not possible without judiciously using the latest available technologies in various fields and developing a more sophisticated work force. Prof. Sohn has been a pioneer in driving the concept of process engineering in process metallurgy. In this paper the focus is on some aspects of process engineering ? primarily process modeling - as applied to iron and steelmaking processes. Examples are shown to demonstrate how problems have been addressed. Some thoughts on future directions are presented.

Jan 1, 2006

By Pinakin C. Chaubal

Today?s steel industry is in a vibrant and resurgent mode. This transformation has been in the making for some time now. Over the last few decades, the industry was steadily transforming itself into becoming a high tech industry. New technology was adopted, efficiencies were enhanced, lean manufacturing concepts were brought in and a strong customer focus was developed. Today?s mills employ sophisticated instrumentation, computerized monitoring, on-line smart systems etc. driving processes that are producing at rates of many tons/minute. All this is not possible without judiciously using the latest available technologies in various fields and developing a more sophisticated work force. Prof. Sohn has been a pioneer in driving the concept of process engineering in process metallurgy. In this paper the focus is on some aspects of process engineering ? primarily process modeling - as applied to iron and steelmaking processes. Examples are shown to demonstrate how problems have been addressed. Some thoughts on future directions are presented.

Jan 1, 2006

By Pinakin C. Chaubal

Today?s steel industry is in a vibrant and resurgent mode. This transformation has been in the making for some time now. Over the last few decades, the industry was steadily transforming itself into becoming a high tech industry. New technology was adopted, efficiencies were enhanced, lean manufacturing concepts were brought in and a strong customer focus was developed. Today?s mills employ sophisticated instrumentation, computerized monitoring, on-line smart systems etc. driving processes that are producing at rates of many tons/minute. All this is not possible without judiciously using the latest available technologies in various fields and developing a more sophisticated work force. Prof. Sohn has been a pioneer in driving the concept of process engineering in process metallurgy. In this paper the focus is on some aspects of process engineering ? primarily process modeling - as applied to iron and steelmaking processes. Examples are shown to demonstrate how problems have been addressed. Some thoughts on future directions are presented.

Jan 1, 2006

By David Hughes

The paper covers the utilization of on-line analysis in process control of solvent extraction in nickel leach solvent extraction processes in Finland and Australia and in copper heap-leach and solvent extraction in Chile. The goals of and requirements for controlling the solvent extraction stages of the processes are reviewed. The applications at three plants are compared. The development of the technology used is reviewed and design considerations are discussed. Requirements for on-line control and analyzer performance are compared. A new generation of analyzers and its effect on the set-up process of a project is introduced.

Jan 1, 2003

By R. C. Hubli

A chemical model has been developed to investigate the dissolution of sulphide minerals in brine solutions containing copper and iron chlorides. The model has been employed to study the dissolution .of synthetic NiS using different initial concentrations of Cu(II), Cu(I), Fe(III) and temperature. The speciation of copper with particular reference to the formation of hydroxy-chlorides as a function of total chloride and H+ has been computed. The model predictions are in agreement with experimental results. It has been found that addition of Fe(III) results in the maintenance of a high Cu(II)/Cu(I) ratio leading to enhanced rates of dissolution and suppresses the loss of Cu(II) due to the formation of hydroxyl-complexes.

Jan 1, 1997

By M. Potesser

In the primary and secondary copper industry the anode furnace is the most important process step in the refining procedure to reach an enhancement in value and quality of the copper by a selective oxidation and reduction. By combining the advantages of the conventional tilting hearth anode furnace and the benefits of the drum type anode furnace a new aggregate was developed and patented. The cross-section of the furnace is elliptical and the whole unit is tiltable. During the melting period, the contact surface between the burners and the bath or the scarp is enlarged - an increased energy input is the consequence. For the refining period the furnace is rotated, whereby a high bath level is guaranteed. Due to the longer residence time of the gas in the copper melt, not only the gas consumption is reduced but also the efficiency/quality of the refining process is improved. This investigation shows a metallurgical comparison between the new anode furnace concept with the elliptical profile/cross section and the conventional, tiltable hearth anode furnace as well as the drum type anode furnace. The CFD modeling of the currents in these different furnaces delivered helpful data to compare the geometry of the different furnaces. The investigation covered the refining of blister copper from primary metallurgy, from secondary metallurgy as well as from a mixture of both copper melts. The paper underlines the possibilities for a reduction of the tap-to-tap time and for an increase in production capacity, which can be achieved by applying the new furnace concept in comparison to the conventional furnaces.

Jan 1, 2006