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By Lester A. Blackner

Discussion of the paper of LESTER A. BLACKNER, presented at the San Francisco meeting, September, 1915, and printed in Bulletin No. 102, June, 1915, pp. 1249 to 1290. SIDNEY J. JENNINGS, New York, N. Y.-In the historical part of the development of the caving system discussed by Mr. Blackner, I notice the absence of one man's name, Charles Henroten. Mr. Henroten used the caving system in South Africa in the. Kimberly mines, and realized from his work there that ground would cave when properly prepared. I think it is due him that his name should be mentioned in connection with an exposition of this system in America.

Jan 12, 1915

By Robert A. Rapp, Ronald L. Pastorek

Solid-state electrochemical measurements by three alternative experimental procedures were made with the cell FeO, Fe3O4 |Zro.85Cao.15O1.85 |Cu| Zr0.85CaO.15O1.85 | FeO, Fe304 to establish the solubility and diffusivity of oxygen in solid copper in the temperature range 800" to 1030°C. The solubility of oxygen in solid copper and the diflusivity of oxygen in solid copper Dgu = 1.7 X 10-2 exp(-16,000/RT) Cm2/sec were determined and confirmed in alternative experiments. The enthalpy of solution of oxygen in solid copper equals —10,000 cal per mole; the partial excess entropy of the oxygen atoms in the Cu-O dilute solution is approximately the same as that found for interstitial atoms in other metals. The diffusivity of oxygen in solid copper is consistent with that expected for an interstitial atom. RELIABLE values for the saturation solubility N(s) and diffusivity DO of oxygen in solid copper have not been unambiguously established in the literature. Following three early determinations by others,1"3 Rhines and Mathewson4 reported that the solubility of oxygen in solid copper increased from 0.007 at. pct 0 at 600°C to about 0.015 pct at 1050°C. Phillips and skinner,, using essentiially the same analytical procedure, reported that the solid solubility increases from 0.0018 at. pct 0 at 550°C to about 0.0075 pct at 1050OC. The only previous value for the diffusivity of oxygen in solid copper was reported by Ransley.6 Ransley deoxidized Cu-Cu2O alloys in an atmosphere of carbon monoxide gas to yield a solubility-diffusivity product. He used the solubility data of Rhines and Mathewson to calculate the diffusivity values. Another method for obtaining the solubility-diffusivity product (N(s) DO) is by measuring the widths of internal-oxidation zones in copper alloys as reported by Verfurth and Rapp.7 However, the calculated N(S)Do products depend upon the alloy content of the specimen, so that the internal oxidation of copper alloys does not follow ideal internal oxidation kinetics. As a result, unequivocal values for the N(s) DO product were not obtained by this procedure. A solid-state coulometric titration technique similar to that employed in this work was introduced by C. Wagner8 to study the dependence on silver activity of the Ag/S ratio in silver sulfide in the temperature range of 160" to 300°C. Similar experiments have been carried out by C. Wagner and co-workers9-11 to study the stoichiometry range of silver and copper tellurides, cuprous sulfide, and cuprous selenide. Numerous authors have carried out electrochemical measurements with a solid oxygen-ion-conducting electrolyte to determine the solubility and/or diffusivity of dissolved oxygen in several liquid metals.12-l6 Rickert and Steiner17,18 have used solid-state electrochemical measurements to determine the diffusivity of oxygen in solid silver from 760" to 900°C. Two different cell geometries were used. In the cell of linear geometry Fe, FeO | ZrO2 + (CaO) | Ag + [0 (dissolved)] [1] oxygen diffused from the interior of the silver electrode to the silver/electrolyte interface where the oxygen activity had been lowered from a fixed initial value to practically zero by the application of voltage to the cell. The diffusivity of oxygen in solid silver was determined from the solution of the diffusion equation and the time dependence of the cell current. However, this determination of the diffusion coefficient depended upon a knowledge of the solubility of oxygen in solid silver. A cylindrical geometry was used for the cell Pt, O2(Po2 = 0.21 atm) | ZrO2 + (CaO) | Ag + [0 (dissolved)] [II] which also allowed the diffusivity of oxygen in solid silver to be determined. These values were in agreement with other available data.l9 Recently, Raleigh20,21 used a method involving the measurement of diffusion-limited currents in a cell involving the AgBr solid electrolyte to determine the diffusion coefficient of silver in Ag-Au alloys at 400°C. Diffusivity values on the order of l0-14 sq cm per sec were measured in the alloy composition range 10 to 60 at. pct Ag in a single experiment. From numerous electrical conductivity and galvanic cell measurements,9'22"26 the solid solution Zr0.85 Ca0.15 O1.85 has been established as an electrolyte with predominant oxygen ion conduction over a wide range of intermediate and high oxygen activities. For interrelating the thermodynamics and the kinetics of the dissolution of oxygen in solid copper in this investigation, a galvanic cell was constructed with FeO-Fe3O4 as the reversible reference electrode, the Zr0.85Ca0.15 O1.85 electrolyte, and a pure copper specimen under-saturated in oxygen as the other electrode. THEORETICAL ANALYSIS Three variations of a high-temperature electrochemical technique were used in this study to provide two determinations each of the solubility and diffusivity

Jan 1, 1970

By AIME AIME

THE Fall Meetings of the Institute of Metals Division and of the Iron and Steel Division were held in Cleveland from Tuesday, Oct. 20, to Thursday, Oct. 22, as a part of the National Metal Congress. The registration at the technical sessions was something over 450 and the attendance at the joint dinner of the two Divisions on Wednesday evening taxed the capacity of the dining room. The president of the British Institute of Metals, W. R. Barclay, consulting metallurgist to the Mond Nickel Co., Ltd.; of London, was in attendance at several of the technical sessions and was one of the after-dinner speakers at the banquet. He commented on the desirability of greater international amity and cooperation in these troubled times and of the role that technical societies, such as the A. I. M. E. and his own British Institute of Metals, can and indeed are playing in bringing this to pass, with their membership and contacts reaching to all parts of the world. He also referred to the new reciprocal membership arrangements in effect between the A.I.M.E. and the British Institute of Metals.

Jan 1, 1936

"The Washoe Smelter is situated about two miles east of the City of Anaconda. The smelter site includes about 240 acres and peculiarly adapts itself in topography to the efficient handling of material. By reason of its being on a hill side it is possible to make the level of delivery of the product of one building the level of the charge floor of the next succeeding one.THE ORES: The ore treated comes principally from the Butte district and is hauled by the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific railway, a distance of twenty-eight miles, in trains of fifty 50-ton bottom-dump cars to the railroad yards at East Anaconda. At this point these trains are• split up according to their destination,—that is, as to whether they go to the concentrator and sampling mill ore bins, or to the storage bins. In each case they are made up into trains of eight or sixteen cars, according to the size of engine to be used, and are carefully weighed before delivery to their respective bills.Some idea of the magnitude of the works may be obtained from the following figures:Amount of ore that can be treated in 24 hours…12,000 tonsLime rock from adjacent quarries…2,300 tonsCoke used…500 tonsCoal for reverberatory use…500 tonsCoal for power use…50 tonsWater, per minute, 35,000 gallons.Men employed in and around Anaconda, 3,000. Monthly payroll for above, $300,000.00."

Jan 1, 1913

By E. R. MARBLE

THE introduction of a new fuel, such as natural gas, necessitates careful study where it has not been used previously. At the El Paso smelter natural gas required the installation of apparatus with which no one at the plant was familiar, either as to the type of equipment needed or as to the burning of the gas in it. Observation of existing installations of a similar character and assistance from gas engineers served as a basis to determine what was advisable to use. The gas line entering the plant goes to a metering station equipped with a duplicate system of pressure regulators, a temperature recorder and the gas company and smelter orifice meters in tandem. There are three distribution lines that can be inter-connected at a later date, if necessary, to assist in equalizing the plant load. All the larger lines are of heavy

Jan 1, 1930

By W. H. Bassett

ABOUT twenty-five years ago the copper industry had outgrown the Lake Superior production. The electrolytic copper producers had- their process well in hand and the industry was well started in the use of electrolytic copper, both for working into wire and sheet, and for the making of alloys. The trade knew that some brands of copper made good material and that other brands did not. There came together a group of men-a refiner, a rolling-mill man, and a manufacturer of electrical machinery-each of them desiring to know why there was a difference and what .it was. Much investigation was done with wire bars and cakes which involved ' chemical analysis, metallographic examination, physical tests and electrical tests. To find the influence of different kinds of copper in making brass 200 carloads of ingots were made into ,eyelet brass under careful observation; each carload was carefully analyzed and tested before used. The alloy was made and rolled under standard conditions and the results recorded.

Jan 1, 1924

By Rossiter W. Raymond

(Chattanooga Meeting, October, INS.) THE formal outline of Mr. Hague's life and work is embraced in the following statement, chiefly based upon data furnished by him, at my request, shortly before his death. At that time the probability that I would survive to record his death was apparently small; but I urged upon him the duty of providing, whether for me or for my successor as Secretary of the Institute, trustworthy material for the notice which somebody would some day have to write-and which might otherwise be incomplete or incorrect. Mr. Hague, with characteristic promptness and freedom from affectation, did what I asked of him; and I am therefore . able to present an authoritative sketch-concerning the details of which I shall add my own comments, and some particulars obtained from others of his personal friends. James Duncan Hague was born Feb..24, 1836, at Boston, Mass., where his father, Rev. William Hague, D.D., an eminent clergyman, then resided. After a preliminary, education in private. schools, be studied in 1854 at the, Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard University; in 1855 and 1856 at the University of Göttingen, Hanover; and from 1856 to 1858 at the Royal Mining Academy of Freiberg, Saxony. In 1859-1861 he was attached as chemist to a South Sea exploring expedition, sent by W. H. Webb, of New York, to examine Jarvis, Baker, and other islands for phosphate-deposits. After the outbreak of the Civil War, he entered the U. S. Navy, serving for a year as Judge Advocate to the fleet stationed at Port Royal, S. C. In 1863 he became Superintendent of the Albany and Boston copper-mine, in the Lake Superior region, where he was also connected with the earliest development of the Calumet and Hecla property. In 1867 he became the First Assistant Geologist in Clarence King's famous Exploration of

Feb 1, 1909

By AIME AIME

General Local Committee.-John Fritz, Chairman; A. B. de Saulles, Vice-Chairman.; R. M. Bird, Treasurer; Henry S. Drinker, Secretary; Robert H. Sayre, E. P. Wilbur, Charles M. Dodson, Abraham S. Schropp, E. M. McIlvain Archibald Johnston, A. B. Fichter, C. G. Convers, W. A. Wilbur, Garrett B. Linderman, Frederick Conlin, George Pettiuos, Albert Brodhead, Garrett L. Hoppes, M.B. Cutter, H. J. Seaman, C. A. Matcham, B. F. Fackenthal, Jr., A. L. J. Queneau, Geo. R. Elder, Eldridge Wilbur, William H. Chandler, Mansfield Merriman, Joseph F. Klein, William S. Franklin, William Esty, Joseph AN'. Richards, Howard Eckfeldt, John D. Irving. Transportation Committee.-H. J. Seaman, C. A. Matcham, B. F. Fackenthal, Jr., A. B. Fichter, A. L. J. Queneau, Henry S. Drinker. Hotel Committee. -Garrett B. Linderman, Charles M. Dodson, W. A. Wilbur, Garrett L. Hoppes, Albert Brodhead. Steering Committee.-William S. Franklin, William Esty, John D. Irving, R. M. Bird, the members of the Tau Beta Pi Society of Lehigh University. Committee on Meetings - William S. Drinker, Joseph W. Richards, Howard Eckfeldt. Entertainmment Committee.-W. A. Wilbur, E. M. McIlvain, Archibald Johnston, A. B. de Saulles, G. G. Convers,.A. L. J. Queneau, Garrett B. Linderman, Frederick Conlin, George Pettinos, Garrett L. Hoppes, Henry S. Drinker, William S. Franklin, Eldridge Wilbur, Robert M. Bird, Secretary. The opening session was held at 8.30 p.m., Wednesday, February 21, 1906, in Gymnasium Hall of Lehigh University, which had been tastefully decorated with flags and bunting. Dr. Henry S. Drinker, President of Lehigh University, and Secretary of the General Local Committee, called the meeting to order, and welcomed the Institute to the Bethlehems, where its first meeting, after its organization in May, 1871, at Wilkes-Barre, was held in August, 1871.*

May 1, 1906

By D. G. Westlake

Polycrystalline tensile specimens of various Zr-0-H alloys have been tested at 298°, 178°, and 77°K. Solute oxygen and hydride precipitates in quenched alloys made individual contributions to the yield strength at 0.2 pct strain which combined to produce a resultant strength increment, a,., Ductility changes which were ohserved can he interpreted in terms of the various oxygen and hydrogen concentrations, testing tem -peratures, and dispositions of the hydride. ADDITIONS of oxygen in solid solution were known to increase the yield and tensile strengths of polycrystalline zirconium as early as 1951.' More recently, the critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) for prism slip in zirconium single crystals was also shown to be affected by the solute oxygen impurity.' This latter work also demonstrated that large increments of strength could be contributed by the finely dispersed zirconium hydride precipitates that are present in quenched Zr-H alloys.3 It was concluded that the combined strengthening due to alloying could be expressed by where to is the increase in the CRSS due to solute oxygen alone and TH is the increase due to finely dispersed hydride precipitates. Eq. [I] is analogous to one used to express the combined strengthening effects of work hardening and neutron radiation damage.4 Eq. [1] was verified only indirectly and for only small amounts of the impurities—up to 0.14 at. pct 0 and 0.63 at. pct H. The present investigation was undertaken to obtain a more direct verification of the validity of the form of Eq. [1] for this system and also to determine the combined effects of oxygen and finely dispersed hydride precipitates on the tensile strength and ductility of polycrystalline zirconium. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Tensile specimens were machined from the same rolled billet of Kroll zirconium used in the earlier study.' These measured 38 by 4.7 by 0.5 mm and had 10-mm gage lengths which were 2.8 by 0.5 mm. Each specimen was ß-annealed in vacuo at 1173°K for 15.5 hr and a-annealed at 1073°K for 4 hr to D. G. WESTLAKE, Member AIME, is Associate Metal l ur-gist, Metallurgy Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, III. Manuscript submitted July 17, 1964. IMD______________ give an equiaxed structure with grain diameters averaging 0.06 mm. Oxygen was added by allowing the metal to react with a known quantity of oxygen during the 0 anneal and known quantities of hydrogen were added during the a anneal. Each alloy was encapsulated in Pyrex under vacuum, annealed at 873°K for 4 hr, quenched into ice water, and polished by immersion in a solution of 46.75 vol pct H2O, 46.75 vol pct concentrated HNO3, and 6.5 vol pct HF (49 pct) at 298°K. Special heat treatments given to a few specimens are described in the results below. Tensile tests were done on an Instron machine and were begun within 20 min after the quench, except where specified otherwise. Tests at 298°K were in air, at 178°K in acetone, and at 77°K in liquid nitrogen. All tests were at a strain rate of 8x sec-1. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Yield Stress at 298°K. The compositions of alloys and the corresponding yield stresses (0.2 pct strain) are given in Table I. A plot of the yield stresses of the oxygen alloys, A, B, C, and D, indicates that varies linearly with CO1/2, where Co is the oxygen concentration, Fig. 1. This is in accord with Fleischer's6 theory for solution strengthening if the oxygen atoms do not cluster, or the cluster size remains constant with increasing oxygen concentration. In Fig. 1, it appears that if one could prepare some oxygen-free zirconium its yield stress would be very low. Therefore, we shall assume that for the oxygen alloys is equivalent to O0, the strength increment contributed by the presence of oxygen. The relationship between0.2and Co is expressed by 0.2 = 31.3 CO1/2, when the yield stress is in kg per sq mm and the concentration is in at. pct. Each of the hydrogen alloys, Al, A2, A3, and A4, contained 0.081 at. pct 0 as an impurity. In Fig. 1, it appears that this small amount of oxygen makes a significant contribution to the strength which cannot be ignored when we evaluate the contribution of the finely dispersed hydride. Let us assume the validity of the following equation: a0.2 = (a2o+a2R)1/2 [2] which is analogous to Eq. [I] for single crystals, and calculate values of UH for the hydrogen alloys by using the experimental values of 0.2 and o (0.081 at. pct) = 8.9 kg per sq mm. For 0.36 at. pct H, oH = 6.47; for 0.72 at. pct H, OH = 11.30; for 2.16 at. pct H, OH = 19.4; and for 3.60 at. pct H,

Jan 1, 1965

By Walter Knox, Charles H. Sawyer

All of the coals commonly used in domestic bituminous stokers form coke, and satisfactory operation depends upon the fact that the coke formed is so weakly bound together that it breaks readily in the normal operation of the stoker and automatically maintains a good fuel bed. Some coals, because of their tendency to form solid, blocky coke, are practically excluded from use in small domestic stokers as now built. Other coals, some among the best stoker coals available, can form this troublesome coke under certain conditions. Many contradictory methods have been offered as cures for coke formation. Generally the procedure has been to try various adjustments until a combination was found that seemed to give better results. Such random methods of treatment have not provided any reliable information as to causes. The present paper covers a comprehensive test program undertaken by the Koppers Company's Stoker Coal Research Laboratory at Kearny, N. J. The program had two main objectives; first, to discover what factors affected coke formation, and second; to define corrective steps that could be applied in stoker service work. Conclusions and Results i. The design of the stoker outweighs in importance all other factors capable of improving coke formation. 2. Insufficient air supply aggravates the formation of large blocky coke, although raising the air above 30 to 40 per cent excess (as determined during steady running) does not further improve the character of the coke formed and only reduces its accumulation at the expense of efficiency, increased fly ash, poorer clinker-ing, and other disadvantages. 3. Increasing the coal feed results in a somewhat more friable coke structure and is recommended for persistently troublesome jobs. 4. Increasing over-fire draft improves the character of the coke formed and reduces troublesome accumulations by accelerating off-period burning, although at some expense in efficiency and some increase in fly-ash accumulation. 5. Coke structure was not substantially improved by blocking some of 'the retort tuyeres, although the blocking of tuyeres at the feed-screw end of a rectangular retort did lead to somewhat improved performance, possibly because of considerably better distribution of coke in the fuel bed. 6. With the equipment tested no difference was shown between installation of the same stoker in a steam boiler and a warm-air furnace, or between a sand-filled and a ventilated type of hearth. 7. The following design features had no noticeable effect on coke formation: a. Presence or absence of coal-tube air as provided by many manufacturers to eliminate smoke-back. B. Presence or absence of a flap damper ill the air duct to minimize off-period burning. c. Continuous or intermittent (ratchet and pawl driven) movement of fuel feed screw.

Jan 1, 1944

By Charles H. Sawyer, Walter Knox

All of the coals commonly used in domestic bituminous stokers form coke, and satisfactory operation depends upon the fact that the coke formed is so weakly bound together that it breaks readily in the normal operation of the stoker and automatically maintains a good fuel bed. Some coals, because of their tendency to form solid, blocky coke, are practically excluded from use in small domestic stokers as now built. Other coals, some among the best stoker coals available, can form this troublesome coke under certain conditions. Many contradictory methods have been offered as cures for coke formation. Generally the procedure has been to try various adjustments until a combination was found that seemed to give better results. Such random methods of treatment have not provided any reliable information as to causes. The present paper covers a comprehensive test program undertaken by the Koppers Company's Stoker Coal Research Laboratory at Kearny, N. J. The program had two main objectives; first, to discover what factors affected coke formation, and second; to define corrective steps that could be applied in stoker service work. Conclusions and Results i. The design of the stoker outweighs in importance all other factors capable of improving coke formation. 2. Insufficient air supply aggravates the formation of large blocky coke, although raising the air above 30 to 40 per cent excess (as determined during steady running) does not further improve the character of the coke formed and only reduces its accumulation at the expense of efficiency, increased fly ash, poorer clinker-ing, and other disadvantages. 3. Increasing the coal feed results in a somewhat more friable coke structure and is recommended for persistently troublesome jobs. 4. Increasing over-fire draft improves the character of the coke formed and reduces troublesome accumulations by accelerating off-period burning, although at some expense in efficiency and some increase in fly-ash accumulation. 5. Coke structure was not substantially improved by blocking some of 'the retort tuyeres, although the blocking of tuyeres at the feed-screw end of a rectangular retort did lead to somewhat improved performance, possibly because of considerably better distribution of coke in the fuel bed. 6. With the equipment tested no difference was shown between installation of the same stoker in a steam boiler and a warm-air furnace, or between a sand-filled and a ventilated type of hearth. 7. The following design features had no noticeable effect on coke formation: a. Presence or absence of coal-tube air as provided by many manufacturers to eliminate smoke-back. B. Presence or absence of a flap damper ill the air duct to minimize off-period burning. c. Continuous or intermittent (ratchet and pawl driven) movement of fuel feed screw.

Jan 1, 1944

Jan 1, 1943

Jan 1, 1943

By AIME AIME

ALMOST as many attended the annual dinner this year as last, when the presence of Mr. Hoover was such an attraction that almost two-thirds more than had ever attended before were present. Only by putting the late comers at tables in the balcony could everybody be accommodated. Past President De-Golyer was the toastmaster and in opening the post-prandial exercises referred to the regrettable fact that this was the last of the long series of dinners which have been held at the Waldorf, as the hotel will be torn down to give way to an office building before another year. To the delight of the gathering "Oscar" appeared and, in a delightfully brief but characteristic speech, referred to the long association that had existed and hinted that a new Waldorf-Astoria may arise, where the Institute could continue to gather annually in an enlarged replica of the room they had met in so long. Before taking up the presentation of the medals, Mr. DeGolyer referred to the Institute's "Legion of Honor," the 34 men who have been members continuously for over fifty years. For various reasons only five of them, W. S. Ayres, F. G. Corning, Henry D. Hibbard, A. F. Schneider and Arthur Thacher, could be present. They were all seated at the speaker's table, and W. S. Ayres, 56 years a member, as the dean of the group, was called on to respond for them all. He said: "The introduction I have just received would indicate that this particular group of men to which I belong is considered by the chairman to be a group of real antiques. Possibly you are questioning the accuracy of his judgment. I hope you are, although there may be some first-sight evidences tending to substantiate the view held by the chairman.

Jan 1, 1929

By Walter E. Heinrichs

The following is a condensed version of an open letter addressed to Bil Gilbert of Sports Illustrated: Your article, "When a Law Fights a Law, Sports Illustrated. April 26, 1971, betrays considerable unfamiliarity with the subjects of ecology, social science, mining law and history. In a magazine as widely circulated as Sports Illustrated, an article of such a slanted nature misleads the general public.

Jan 1, 1971

By Bernt Ellingsaeter, Terkel Rosenqvist

IN the silicothermic reduction of magnesia, burned dolomite is treated with high grade ferrosilicon in an evacuated steel retort at temperatures between 1150° and 1200°C. The following reaction is assumed to occur MgO + CaO + 1/2 Si (Fe) - Mg(g) +- & Ca,SiO, + Fe with the equilibrium constant on the basis of thermodynamic data for the substances involved and assuming unit activity for all solid constituents, Kubaschewski and Evans' calculated the magnesium pressure as a function of temperature logp,, (mmHg) = 15.06-1.61 T- log T- 13,16O/T. Pidgeon and King," who measured the magnesium pressure by means of a flow method, found values about three times the calculated ones. This may be caused by uncertainties in the thermodynamic data, but may also be caused by the formation of other reaction products, such as Ca,SiO,, which is known to be the stable silicate in equilibrium with lime. Whatever the exact reaction may be, it is evident that as long as all other factors are maintained constant the magnesium pressure will vary with the silicon activity, viz: p,, = &,. (p,,) ", where (p,,)" is the magnesium pressure by the reduction with silicon of unit activity. In the present investigation, p,,, was therefore measured for various grades of ferrosilicon and their silicon activities were calculated. The experimental method was similar to that used by Pidgeon and King. Briquettes of burned dolomite and Fe-Si alloys were placed in a 1 in. heat resistant steel tube and were heated to 1200°C. By means of a flow of purified hydrogen, the magnesium vapor was swept into a condenser filled with steel wool. From the amounts of hydrogen used and magnesium condensed the magnesium partial pressure was calculated. First a tube of 28 pct Cr steel, and later a tube of Kanthal D (a ferrous alloy with 22.6 pct Cr, 2 pct Co, and 4.5 pct Al), was used as a heat resistant tube. The latter tube showed the best heat resistance. The dolomite used had the following composition: 43.6 pct MgO, 55.5 pct CaO, 0.2 pct K,O + NalO, 0.2 pct Fe,O,, and 0.3 pct insoluble. The ferrosilicons were prepared from 98 pct Si of technical grade (0.7 pct Al, 0.3 pct Ca, and 1 pct Fe) by melting with various amounts of electrolytic iron of high purity. The alloys thus obtained were analyzed on their iron and silicon contents, which added up to between 99 and 100 pct. The amounts of reactants were chosen so that there would always be an excess of the oxides, and the average decrease in silicon content during the experiments would be about 1 pct. Most of the reaction occurred in the part of the reaction mixture facing the gas flow. The change in the silicon concentration in the part facing the condenser was, therefore, negligible. To facilitate the reaction, about 1 pct fluorspar was added to the briquette mixture. Fluorspar does not enter the reaction, but is known to act as a

Jan 1, 1957

Jan 1, 1891

By Zay, Jeffries

THE effect of thoria (ThO2) on grain growth in tungsten was discussed in some detail in a paper presented before this Institute by one, of the authors in 1918.1 In that paper it " was assumed that the, thoria was present in the tungsten entirely as a mechanical mixture. There was no indication in the experiments described that even a trace of the thoria was in solid solution in the tungsten. Langmuir,2 however, observed that thoriated-tungsten filaments under certain conditions showed electron emissions many thousand times greater than unthoriated tungsten at the same temperature. He concluded from his studies that a slight amount of the thoria had dissociated on heating the filament to a temperature near 220°. C. At this temperature and higher, part of the thorium diffuses to the surface of the filament where it evaporates at. a much faster rate relatively, than the tungsten, and also at a rate, nearly as fast as it is brought to the surface by diffusion: If the temperature is lowered to say 1800°,. C., diffusion of the thorium atoms to the surface is more rapid than evaporation, sown adsorbed film of thorium atoms is produced on the surface of the tungsten filament. The electron emission is governed by the outside layer of atoms so the emission from such a filament might be expected to approxi¬mate that of a thorium filament at the same temperature. PRESENCE OF METALLIC THORIUM IN THORIATED TUNGSTEN If the filament containing the adsorbed film of thorium. is heated to a sufficiently high temperature, the thorium atoms evaporate: rapidly and the electron emission becomes more nearly that of tungsten. On cooling again to 1800° C., or thereabouts, the emission 'builds up gradually to a maximum. The filament containing the adsorbed layer of thorium atoms is said to be "activated." By studying the rates of activation under different conditions of prior thermal treatment and at different temperatures, Langmuir was able to arrive at an estimate of the

Jan 1, 1927

Jan 1, 1969