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By E. R. Kaiser

COAL research during 1942 was directed in an important degree toward the solution of problems of wartime importance. A wider selection of coals for carbonization to meet the increased demand for coke, and the improved utilization of lower-grade coals for boiler fuel were made possible by fundamental studies on cod and ash behavior that had been started several years ago. The coal industry's interest in the work of the various laboratories brightened significantly as results were demonstrated on smokeless combustion in stoves, on stokers without coke trees, and on pulverized firing of forge furnaces. Despite the limitations of priorities and scarcity of materials, the mineral industries building of the West Virginia University was completed and equipped with facilities for research on coal min

Jan 1, 1943

By Daniel R. Hull

IN 1026 Genders' reviewed the existing theories of this subject and stated his views in support of the gas-pressure theory. Again, in 1937, the subject was thoroughly reviewed by N. B. Vaughan,3 and by Phillips and Brick,2 so that no resume is called for here. The purpose of this paper is to describe certain observations made in the course of mill work, and to point out that they mostly tend to confirm the gas theory of Genders. VAPOR SEGREGATION There is, however, one type of inverse segregation that can be accounted for by considering the volatility of one of the constituents of an alloy. The most familiar case is ordinary brass, which is subject to a zinc enrichment of a few tenths of a per cent at the surface of a chill casting. This has been noted in 70-30 brass by Genders, and a typical example of it is given in Table I, which represents a [ ] cylindrical billet 7 in. in diameter by 5; in. long. After lathe-turning 1/32 in. from the surface, the remaining distance to the center was sampled at six equally spaced intervals. The lead, which is essentially the same throughout, will be mentioned later. Consider a brass-mill mold, either round or rectangular in cross section, standing several feet high. It may require a minute or two for pouring. Before it is full, the metal in the lower end has partly solidified and contracted somewhat away from the mold. The initial shell of solidification follows not far behind the top of the column, even if the central portion is liquid for a long way down. There is, then, a space between metal and mold that is filled with zinc vapor. The vapor has no exit, because the liquid at the top of the rising column is not only in contact with the mold but keeps up a fresh supply of zinc vapor, which has, perhaps, already begun to condense in the lower portion. The cycle is short. Within a minute or two after the mold is full the bar has cooled enough to condense all the zinc. Some of it may condense on the mold; it might be expected that most of it would condense there, but the mold at that time is well coated with a velvety carbon residue from the oil dressing, overlain by fluffy zinc oxide that commenced covering the inside of the mold as soon as pouring began. The clean skin of the freshly cast brass offers a preferred surface for condensation. Reabsorption is quick and inevitable. A simple experiment indicates that a surprisingly large quantity of zinc vapor is trapped in the space between mold and

Jan 1, 1941

By W. Mostowitsch, H. O. Hofman

In our investigation of the Behavior of Calcium Sulphate at Elevated Temperatures with Some Fluxes,' we incidentally studied the decomposition of ferric oxide when heated in a current of dry air. We found that at 1,500° C., with 15-min. periods of heating, Fe²,O³, hardly changed in weight, the greatest loss being 0.23 per cent., and we therefore concluded that the compound remained unchanged at 1,500° C. in a current of dry air. In a more recent experiment we heated Fe²,O³, in a current of dry air and found that there was a decided loss in weight. A new investigation upon the behavior of Fe², O³, using a larger amount of substance and heating for a longer period of time, revealed the fact that a measurable dissocia-

Jan 1, 1910

By V. A. Zanadvoroff

The mine and concentrator of the Howe Sound Co., Chelan Division, are at Holden, in a remote section of the Cascade Mountains of northwestern Washington. Holden is at an elevation of 3200 ft., in the narrow valley of Railroad Creek. This creek drains into Lake Chelan, at a point some 40 miles up the lake from the town of Chelan. The concentrator treats 2000 to 2500 tons of low-grade copper-gold-zinc ore per day. Concentration is achieved by the differential flotation process, with recovery of 94 per cent copper and 82 per cent gold in the copper concentrate, followed by the recovery of 65 to 70 per cent zinc in the zinc flotation circuit. The final flotation tailing is deslimed, and coarse . sands, representing 60 to 70 percent of the total, are cyanided. The tonnage of tailing material amounts to 1900 to 2370 tons per day. General Considerations The property is within the Chelan National Forest. Railroad Creek is a fishing stream, being stocked regularly with trout from State hatcheries. Consequently, in planning a milling operation, the Howe Sound Co. was obliged to avoid any pollution of the stream by tailing material, and also destruction of valuable stands of timber. Moreover, the selected tailing- disposal sites should not mar the natural beauty of the valley. In addition to these requirements, the problem of tailing disposal at Holden was complicated by topography and climatic conditions. The valley is long and narrow, averaging 1200 to 1500 ft. in width. Its walls are flaring at a steep angle. There are no extensive flat areas suitable for deposition of tailing. All valleys tributary to Railroad Creek, also the well-marked paths of snowslides, must be avoided. Finally, the direction of prevailing winds and possible dust hazard arising therefrom dictated the necessity of selecting the tailing-disposal sites downstream from the mill building and two campsites. Heavy snowfall during the winter months of November to March, inclusive, impedes building of the retaining dike, making it necessary to prepare the needed storage space during the summer months. It is inadvisable, also, to do any dike building during the freezing weather, because the dike becomes unstable with the spring thaws, producing inevitable "sloughing" of the built-up borders. Tailing-disposal Sues The existing tailing-disposal areas are near the south wall of the valley. They were developed, and put to use in the following sequence: No. I. Area.—Covers approximately 10 acres. Built up to the height of 60 ft. and abandoned. Total length of dike border is 1900 feet.

Jan 1, 1947

By V. A. Zanadvoroff

The mine and concentrator of the Howe Sound Co., Chelan Division, are at Holden, in a remote section of the Cascade Mountains of northwestern Washington. Holden is at an elevation of 3200 ft., in the narrow valley of Railroad Creek. This creek drains into Lake Chelan, at a point some 40 miles up the lake from the town of Chelan. The concentrator treats 2000 to 2500 tons of low-grade copper-gold-zinc ore per day. Concentration is achieved by the differential flotation process, with recovery of 94 per cent copper and 82 per cent gold in the copper concentrate, followed by the recovery of 65 to 70 per cent zinc in the zinc flotation circuit. The final flotation tailing is deslimed, and coarse . sands, representing 60 to 70 percent of the total, are cyanided. The tonnage of tailing material amounts to 1900 to 2370 tons per day. General Considerations The property is within the Chelan National Forest. Railroad Creek is a fishing stream, being stocked regularly with trout from State hatcheries. Consequently, in planning a milling operation, the Howe Sound Co. was obliged to avoid any pollution of the stream by tailing material, and also destruction of valuable stands of timber. Moreover, the selected tailing- disposal sites should not mar the natural beauty of the valley. In addition to these requirements, the problem of tailing disposal at Holden was complicated by topography and climatic conditions. The valley is long and narrow, averaging 1200 to 1500 ft. in width. Its walls are flaring at a steep angle. There are no extensive flat areas suitable for deposition of tailing. All valleys tributary to Railroad Creek, also the well-marked paths of snowslides, must be avoided. Finally, the direction of prevailing winds and possible dust hazard arising therefrom dictated the necessity of selecting the tailing-disposal sites downstream from the mill building and two campsites. Heavy snowfall during the winter months of November to March, inclusive, impedes building of the retaining dike, making it necessary to prepare the needed storage space during the summer months. It is inadvisable, also, to do any dike building during the freezing weather, because the dike becomes unstable with the spring thaws, producing inevitable "sloughing" of the built-up borders. Tailing-disposal Sues The existing tailing-disposal areas are near the south wall of the valley. They were developed, and put to use in the following sequence: No. I. Area.—Covers approximately 10 acres. Built up to the height of 60 ft. and abandoned. Total length of dike border is 1900 feet.

Jan 1, 1947

By A. D. Zunkel, A. H. Larson

Equilibrium arsenic contents of Pb-As alloys in contact with PbO-As2O3 slags containing less than 30 mol pct As2O3, were determined at 650°, 700: and 750 C in an inert at?rzosphere. In this temperature range, the arsenic content of the alloy increased with increasing temperature in the single-phase liquid slag region and decreased with increasing temperature in the two-phase slag region and the single-phase solid-solution slag region. The PbO-As2O3 phase diagram below 22 mol pct As2O3 was determined by thertrzal analysis and by application of a log ?As2O3/?PbO vS log XAs2o3 /x3pbO plot determined from the equilibrium actiuity data. The resulting phase diagram was not well-defined since the eutectic temperature was not detected in the thermal analysis experiments, although a region of terminal solid solubility of As2O3 was found. Results from the phase diagram determination are compared with an existing diagram in the literature. THIS experimental investigation is an extension of a study by the authors1 on the slag-metal equilibria in the systems concerned with commercial lead refining processes such as softening and dross fuming. The first part of this investigation was a study of the slag-metal equilibria in the Pb-PbO-Sb2O3 system. The only experimental work previously done on the Pb-PbO-As2O3 system was by Pelzel2,3 in which the phase diagram for the PbO-As2O3 system was determined below 50 wt pct As2O3 and the equilibrium constant for the reaction 3Pb + As2O3 + 3PbO + 2As was determined as a function of temperature. No slag-metal equilibrium data have been determined. It is due to the scarcity of information regarding the Pb-PbO-As203 system that this work was undertaken. This paper describes the determination of the slag-metal equilibria in the Pb-PbO-As203 system by equilibrating Pb-As alloys with PbO-As2O3 slags in an inert atmosphere, the effect of 1 wt pct additions of bismuth and copper on the slag-metal equilibria, and the PbO-As2O3 phase diagram both by thermal analysis and the use of the slag-metal equilibria data. EXPERIMENTAL Materials. The materials used in this investigation were analytical reagent-grade and assayed as follows: 1) 99.8 pct PbO (0.014 pct insoluble in CHJCOOH, 0.02 pct not precipitated by H2S, 0.1 pct CaO, and 0.08 pct SiO2); 2) 99.95 pct As2O3; 3) 99.99 pct Pb; 4) 99.0 pct As; 5) 99.99 pct Cu; and 6) 99.97 pct Bi. Room-temperature X-ray patterns revealed no detectable impurities in any of these materials. Apparatus for Equilibrium and Thermal-Analysis Determinations. The resistance-heated crucible furnace used in this investigation employed nichrome elements and was mounted so that it could be raised to surround the reaction tube during each experiment and, subsequently, lowered. A schematic diagram of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 1. Each charge was heated in a 3+-in.-OD by 31/2-in.-high 416 stainless-steel crucible placed in a 41/4-in.-1D by 18-in.-long fused-silica reaction tube which was closed at one end. On a shoulder around the crucible was placed a 3: -in.-OD by 12-in.-long open-end fused-silica condenser tube. The open end of the reaction tube was covered by a water-cooled brass cap with ports for 1) admitting an inert atmosphere to the system through a stopcock, 2) introducing a stainless-steel, motor-driven, paddle stirrer into the crucible, 3) evacuating the system with a mechanical vacuum pump, and 4) sampling the melt with Vycor sampling tubes. The brass cap was fitted to the open end of the reaction tube with a silicone gasket and collar clamp. The furnace temperature was controlled by a Barber-Coleman Capacitrol controller and a chromel-alumel thermocouple. Due to the corrosiveness of the melt, the controlling thermocouple also served as the measuring thermocouple. The temperature of the melt was calibrated against the controller temperature and was checked periodically during each test with a Vycor-enclosed calibrated chromel-alumel thermocouple. The temperature measurement and control can be considered accurate to ±3°C. Procedure. The charge placed in the crucible for each experiment consisted of 1000 g of Pb-As alloy and 300 g of PbO-As2O3 slag. The crucible was then placed in the reaction tube, the condenser tube was placed on the shoulder of the crucible, the silicone gasket and brass cap were fitted on the open end of the reaction tube, and the entire system was evacuated and filled with argon ten times. After the last flushing, a positive argon pressure of 1 psig was impressed on the system. The furnace was then raised to sur-

Jan 1, 1968

By William Fink

Two of the aluminum-alloy systems previously studied-the alumi-num-titanium and the aluminum-chromium-exhibit a peritectic reaction at the extreme aluminum end of the diagram. Preliminary work indi-cated that the aluminum-zirconium and certain other aluminum systems were similar in this respect. The present paper, the twentieth of a series from the Aluminum Research Laboratories, reports the results of a recent investigation of equilibrium relations in aluminum-zirconium alloys of high purity, which confirm the preliminary observations. PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS There has been only one investigation of the aluminum end of the aluminum-zirconium system. Sykes1 prepared and studied alloys containing 0 to 70 per cent Zr. The lowering of the freezing point of aluminum by the addition of zirconium was found to be very little, if any (less than 2°C.). He placed the solid solubility of zirconium in aluminum at room temperature between 0.57 and 0.97 per cent. A few other investigators have attempted to determine the com-position of the intermetallic compounds occurring in this system. Hönigschmid2 obtained the compound ZrAl3 as a by-product during the preparation of ZrSi2. He made no attempt to prepare other aluminum-zir-conium compounds. Weiss and Newmann3 prepared an alloy by heating aluminum with a double fluoride of potassium and zirconium. When this alloy was treated consecutively with caustic soda and hydrochloric acid, there was a residue, which contained approximately 72 per cent Zr and 28 per cent Al (Zr3Al4). Marden and Rich4 prepared an alloy in the same way, treated it with caustic soda, and obtained a residue of silver-white crystals, which contained 70 per cent Zr and 30 per cent Al (Zr3Al4).

Jan 1, 1939

By F. A. Forward, J. Halpern

A new process is described for extracting uranium from ores containing sulphidic minerals, which comprises treating an aqueous pulp of the ore with air or oxygen at elevated temperatures and pressures. The acid required to dissolve the uranium is generated during the leach through oxidation of the sulphides. The chemistry of the process is discussed and laboratory results are presented to illustrate the operation of the method and the variables which control it. With most ores, leaching at a temperature of 130°C and an oxygen partial pressure of 10 psi provides uranium extractions of 90 to 95 pct in 4 to 6 hr. The acidity and level of dissolved impurities in the leach liquor can be kept fairly low. The method is characterized by a number of advantageous features including low reagent cost, short retention times, and high recoveries. RECENTLY there have been developed several processes for extracting metal values from ores by pressure leaching techniques;' -' an example is the carbonate leaching process for uranium ores which has been studied in this laboratory.' Leaching is carried out under oxygen pressure to ensure oxidation of the uranium to hexavalent compounds which are soluble in carbonate solutions. During the course of investigations relating to this process, it was observed that sulphide minerals, such as pyrite, usually were oxidized under the conditions of the leach treatment resulting in the formation of iron hydroxides and sodium sulphate, i.e. 2 FeS= + 7Vz O2 + 8 Na,CO3 + 7 H,,O -* 2 Fe(OH)3 + 4 Na2SO4 + 8 NaHCO.,. [1]

Jan 1, 1956

By H. J. Struth

Conditions in the gasoline market undoubtedly influence the oil industry's general economic situation to a greater degree than perhaps any other single factor. No matter how efficiently the oil industry manages to conduct its producing operations, a drop in the price of gasoline exerts definite pressure upon the posted price of crude oil in the field. Efforts of the recent past have shown that profits from the producing division of the industry are closely tied in with the course of the gasoline market. When refinery gasoline prices are depressed, as they have been during recent months, it is utterly impossible for purchasers to maintain a crude market that is commensurate with the cost of production, regardless of how well balanced the producing situation may be. In fact, the producer can no longer regard his operations in the light of an independent unit of the oil industry, since his financial well-being is directly dependent upon the well-being of the refiner. Because gasoline is the principal constituent of crude oil, it is obvious that profitable refining operations can only be maintained through profitable gasoline markets. Likewise, when the price of gasoline influences a profit for the refinery it also influences the prosperity of the producer, through the advent of higher and more profitable posted prices for crude oil in the field. Financial results for 1932 showed material improvement over the preceding year, primarily because the price of gasoline was maintained at levels somewhat above those of 1931. Consequently, the producer was able to record improvement in the crude market, through a somewhat higher level of posted prices. While effective methods of prora-t,ion of crude production are given credit for the advance recorded in the crude market last year, it is also a fact that the advent of higher prices for gasoline had a direct influence upon the posted prices of crude oil. For example, when gasoline was sold in Group 3 at 2 3/4 a gallon in June and July, 1931, the price of 36-gravity Mid-Continent crude was down to its lowest point of only 18c a barrel. As refinery prices advanced, however, there was a corresponding advance in posted prices of crude oil. Thus, when Group 3 gasoline commanded a price of 5c a gallon

Jan 1, 1933

By W. A. Tiller

The unidirectional freezing of a semiinfinite liquid from one end has been treated by calculating the solute and temperature distributions in the liquid and solid phases with time, when the solid-liquid interface advances at a rate proportional to (time)lt2. The nucleation probability for new grain formation is calculated as a function of the constitutional and thermal properties of the alloy, the pouring conditions and the catalytic efficiency of the nucleating agents. The transition from columnar crystal formation to equiaxed crystal formation is assumed to occur at a critical nucleation frequency for a particular alloy and the quantitative dependence of the ratio (columnar zone length/equiaxed zone length) upon the freezing conditions has been predicted. The effects of (i) fluid flow in the liquid, (ii) heat transfer through a mold wall, and (iii) a finite ingot length, have been explicitly tveated as departures from ideality. These departures from ideality are found to have very important consequences on the ingot stmcture. In Part I&apos; of this series, a qualitative description of the general ingot structure was developed. The factors that determine i) the ratio of the equiaxed zone length to columnar zone length and ii) the grain sizes in these zones, were discussed. In the present paper, topic (i) will be treated quantitatively, and it is intended that topic (ii) will be treated quantitatively in Part 111. The complete treatment has been split in this manner for ease of development and coherency of presentation. The treatments are quite mathematical in nature and, although some of the conclusions to Part 11 depend upon the treatment presented in Part 111, it was felt that the intended audience would find the material more readable and more useful in its present form. To this same end, it seems worthwhile to reiterate some of the qualitative aspects of grain nucleation during ingot solidification before embarking on the mathematical description. QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS In the conventional method of casting, a liquid alloy with a certain degree of superheat is poured into a mold. The outer rim of liquid metal cools rapidly to the liquidus temperature of the alloy and begins to undercool. As the degree of undercooling increases, nuclei of solid begin to form in this chill layer, this nucleation being catalyzed by certain heterogeneous particles in the liquid. The grains in the chill layer which are generally of random orientation, begin to grow inwards because of heat conduction through the mold. The grains usually develop a columnar shape since the frequency of nucleation of new grains in the liquid ahead of the advancing interface is generally insufficient to seriously impede the growth of the original grains. Due to the slow diffusion rate of solute in the liquid, a solute distribution is formed in the liquid adjacent to the interface which is either an excess or a depletion if the partition coefficient, ko, of the solute is < 1 or > 1, respectively. Thus, the liquidus temperature of the liquid adjacent to the interface is a function of position. The actual temperature in the liquid is also a function of position and the temperature gradient at the interface decreases as the interface moves away from the mold wall. Since the rate of advance of the interface decreases with time, the equilibrium temperature distributions and the actual temperature distributions as a function of interface position, X, can be illustrated as in Fig. 1. Thus, a region of liquid may exist in which the actual temperature is below the liquidus temperature. This liquid is contitutionally supercooled and therefore unstable with respect to the nucleation of new grains. Now, since the supercooling in Fig. 1 increases as the interface moves further away from the mold wall, the nucleation rate of new grains will increase. When the nuclea-

Jan 1, 1962

By K. C. McCutcheon, John Chipman

To a very large extent the quality of a mild steel ingot is determined by the manner in which it is poured into the ingot mold and its behavior during the first few minutes after it has been poured. The formation of the solid rim of metal around the periphery of the mold, the effervescent action of the liquid steel within this solidified rim and the upward or dounward movement of the metal level are indications of what is going on beneath the surface of the liquid metal, especially at the interface at which solidification occurs. Observation of this "rimming action" enables an experienced observer to predict the thickness of the sound skin of the ingot and the location and extent of cavities or "blowholes" caused by entrapment of gases. The control of rimming action at the hands of a skillful steel pourer is a vital part of the control of quality in mild steel sheet, and the behavior of the liquid steel during the rimming period is a useful criterion of the melting and refining practices employed in the open hearth. The behavior of rimming steel during solidification depends primarily upon the evolution of gases from the molten metal and it is therefore a problem of considerable interest to determine the nature and amount of the gases evolved. A number of attempts to determine either the amount or the analysis of the evolved gases have been reported. Klinger,&apos; in 1925, analyzed the gases extracted from rimming, sernikilled and killed steel ingots and found that the chief constituent of the rimmining gas was carbon monoxide. The relatively large amounts of nitrogen reported in his first few samples may have been due to incomplete removal of air from the gas-collecting mechanism. McKune² reported similar studies of rimming ingots from which surprisingly large proportions of nitrogen and hydrogen were evolved. Ameen and Willners3 determined both the amount and composition of gases extracted from unkilled ingots with the aid of diminished pressure. Their ingots weighed only 80 kg. (176 lb.) and apparently were solid within two or three minutes, so that their

Jan 1, 1938

By John Chipman, K. C. McCutcheon

To a very large extent the quality of a mild steel ingot is determined by the manner in which it is poured into the ingot mold and its behavior during the first few minutes after it has been poured. The formation of the solid rim of metal around the periphery of the mold, the effervescent action of the liquid steel within this solidified rim and the upward or dounward movement of the metal level are indications of what is going on beneath the surface of the liquid metal, especially at the interface at which solidification occurs. Observation of this "rimming action" enables an experienced observer to predict the thickness of the sound skin of the ingot and the location and extent of cavities or "blowholes" caused by entrapment of gases. The control of rimming action at the hands of a skillful steel pourer is a vital part of the control of quality in mild steel sheet, and the behavior of the liquid steel during the rimming period is a useful criterion of the melting and refining practices employed in the open hearth. The behavior of rimming steel during solidification depends primarily upon the evolution of gases from the molten metal and it is therefore a problem of considerable interest to determine the nature and amount of the gases evolved. A number of attempts to determine either the amount or the analysis of the evolved gases have been reported. Klinger,&apos; in 1925, analyzed the gases extracted from rimming, sernikilled and killed steel ingots and found that the chief constituent of the rimmining gas was carbon monoxide. The relatively large amounts of nitrogen reported in his first few samples may have been due to incomplete removal of air from the gas-collecting mechanism. McKune² reported similar studies of rimming ingots from which surprisingly large proportions of nitrogen and hydrogen were evolved. Ameen and Willners3 determined both the amount and composition of gases extracted from unkilled ingots with the aid of diminished pressure. Their ingots weighed only 80 kg. (176 lb.) and apparently were solid within two or three minutes, so that their

Jan 1, 1938

By W. A. Sheaffer

Electric furnace installation and tough-pitch copper-casting operation at Canadian Copper Refiners Ltd. are described. General layout, power supply and control, refractories, induction pour hearth, casting equipment, metal temperature control, and oxygen-content control are discussed. E LECTRIC furnace at Canadian Copper Refiners Ltd. was put into operation in August 1949. The installation was designed primarily to melt electrolytic copper cathodes and to produce vertically cast tough-pitch shapes. To meet emergencies during reverberatory furnace shut-downs, provision was made for casting horizontal tough-pitch wire bars. Due to the ease with which metal temperatures, melting rates, oxygen content, and casting hours can be altered to suit production demands, the electric furnace has met the requirements admirably. General Layout The plant has been described by H. S. McKnight&apos; and by J. H. Schloen and E. M. Elkin.2 Since these papers were written, the electric furnace has been installed in a 140 ft extension of the original casting building. The extension, 264 ft in width, is divided into one 24 ft and four 60 ft bays, each a continuation of similar bays in the older building. Fig. l, a partial floor plan of the extension, shows the location of major equipment. Power Supply and Control Power for the electric furnace and its auxiliary equipment is delivered by Quebec Hydro over two 12 kv three-phase, 60 cycle pole lines. One line is in use, while the second serves as an emergency standby. Connections for the electric furnace from these lines, which also feed the refinery power house, are made to a substation on Canadian Copper Refiners Ltd. property. Connections between this substation and the furnace transformer room are in underground conduit. The are-furnace transformer, 550 v auxiliary-equipment transformer, and 12 kv switchgear are in the transformer room near the furnace. Stepdown from 12 kv to are-furnace voltages is done by a 7500 kva oil-immersed water-cooled three-phase 60 cycle transformer. This unusually high kva rating is available because the arc furnace and transformer were adapted from a steel-melting unit. Secondary voltages are available in 16 steps between 251 and 95 v (across phases). A four-position tap changer, operated from the furnace switchboard is connected to taps yielding 199, 164.5, 127, and 115 v, respectively. The transformer primary feeder is equipped with a General Electric Magne-Blast circuit breaker. The pour hearth, casting wheel, bosh conveyor, and other auxiliary equipment are fed by a 12 kv to 550 v, 750 kva three-phase 60 cycle transformer. Graphite electrodes, 14 in., with tapered nipples are held in the are-furnace electrode arms with steel wedges. The arms, fed from the transformer secondary busbars by flexible cable bundles, are actuated by winch cables. Direct-current motors operating the winches are supplied by a 250 v motor-generator set. Power input to the furnace is controlled from the furnace switchboard. The board has the usual combination of remote controls for the 12 kv breaker and transformer tap changer, meters, overload relays, automatic and manual electrode motion controls, switchgear, etc. When power is on the furnace, automatic electrode feed is used; the power draw on a given voltage tap then is governed by current-limiting rheostats. The rheostats work through a Westinghouse bal-lanced-beam control circuit which, in turn, operates reversing contactors in the winch motor circuits. Arc Furnace The arc furnace is a standard-type NT Pittsburgh &apos;Lectromelt with inside shell diameter 12 ft 3¾ in. By hydraulic-lift cylinders, the furnace can be tilted forward to 39 ½ ° and backward to 5" from horizontal. A roof-swing cylinder is also installed but not used. Fig. 2 shows refractory-lining details. With the lining as shown, operating life between repairs is 6 to 9 months of two-shift casting operation. Charge slot, skim door, and roof refractories then are replaced completely, and any necessary repairs made to side walls. Bottom life is longer and the original under courses are still in service, while the top course was replaced in October 1951. The launder is lined with high chrome-magnesite trough brick backed by fireclay and insulating brick. The trough is covered with fireclay brick and asbestos sheet. At intervals, openings 12x6 in. are left in the permanent covering. These are covered with

Jan 1, 1956

By J. W. Hickman, E. A. Gulbransen

One of the important factors that determine the resistance of a metal or alloy to further chemical reaction is the structure of the superficial oxide film. A thorough understanding of the physical and chemical structure as well as the stability of the oxide film formed on the surface as a function of time and temperature of the chemical reaction might furnish clues as to the nature of the reaction process and the protective nature of the film. A comprehensive program has been undertaken to study these phenomena. This paper summarizes the structure of the oxide films formed on the metals iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium and copper at temperatures up to 700°C. Before the introduction of the electron diffraction technique, it was necessary to use either direct chemical analyses or X-rav diffraction analyses to determine the nature of the oxide film formed on the metal or alloy. Chemical analyses yields information on the percentages of the several atomic species present in the film while X-ray diffraction analyses yield information on the atomic geometry. In special cases the information obtained may be identical, but in general both viewpoints are necessary. Much of the early work was carried out on the oxidation of bulk samples where thick films were obtained. The products were identified after cooling to room temperature by X-ray diffraction and chemical analyses. Although much useful information has been obtained in this manner. little could be learned about the character of the protective oxides during the period when the films were actually protective. Evidence concerning the chemical structure of thin oxide films has been made possible by the development of the electron diffraction reflection technique. In this method the most fruitful investigations have been made by carrying out the reaction in situ at the temperature at which the film is actually protective. Literature The oxidation of iron has been extensively investigated by X-ray and electron diffraction. Jackson and Quarrelll found that oxide films formed and examined at the same temperature differed considerably from those allowed to cool to room temperature. The results showed that below 400°C the oxide that was stable in intimate contact with iron was Fe³O4; between 515° and 900°C. the stable film was FeO. Above the upper change point of iron the oxide was found to be Fe³O4. From 400&apos; to 515°C., FeO, Fe³O4 or a mixture of the two oxides was found. Recrystallization of the air-formed film below 400&apos; and above 900°C. led to the formation of Fe3O4. In the range where thicker films consisted of FeO, the air-formed film was converted to a new hexagonal oxide not previously described.

Jan 1, 1947

By E. A. Gulbransen, J. W. Hickman

One of the important factors that determine the resistance of a metal or alloy to further chemical reaction is the structure of the superficial oxide film. A thorough understanding of the physical and chemical structure as well as the stability of the oxide film formed on the surface as a function of time and temperature of the chemical reaction might furnish clues as to the nature of the reaction process and the protective nature of the film. A comprehensive program has been undertaken to study these phenomena. This paper summarizes the structure of the oxide films formed on the metals iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium and copper at temperatures up to 700°C. Before the introduction of the electron diffraction technique, it was necessary to use either direct chemical analyses or X-rav diffraction analyses to determine the nature of the oxide film formed on the metal or alloy. Chemical analyses yields information on the percentages of the several atomic species present in the film while X-ray diffraction analyses yield information on the atomic geometry. In special cases the information obtained may be identical, but in general both viewpoints are necessary. Much of the early work was carried out on the oxidation of bulk samples where thick films were obtained. The products were identified after cooling to room temperature by X-ray diffraction and chemical analyses. Although much useful information has been obtained in this manner. little could be learned about the character of the protective oxides during the period when the films were actually protective. Evidence concerning the chemical structure of thin oxide films has been made possible by the development of the electron diffraction reflection technique. In this method the most fruitful investigations have been made by carrying out the reaction in situ at the temperature at which the film is actually protective. Literature The oxidation of iron has been extensively investigated by X-ray and electron diffraction. Jackson and Quarrelll found that oxide films formed and examined at the same temperature differed considerably from those allowed to cool to room temperature. The results showed that below 400°C the oxide that was stable in intimate contact with iron was Fe³O4; between 515° and 900°C. the stable film was FeO. Above the upper change point of iron the oxide was found to be Fe³O4. From 400&apos; to 515°C., FeO, Fe³O4 or a mixture of the two oxides was found. Recrystallization of the air-formed film below 400&apos; and above 900°C. led to the formation of Fe3O4. In the range where thicker films consisted of FeO, the air-formed film was converted to a new hexagonal oxide not previously described.

Jan 1, 1947

By AIME AIME

THE annual meeting of the A.I.M.E. was fittingly closed with a joint meeting of the Metropolitan sections of the four National societies on Feb. 18, at which this subject was adequately discussed by leading engineers before an audience that completely filled the Engineering Auditorium. The large amount of publicity that has been given the Diesel electric loco- motive, and the often garbled reports of its performance and possibilities that have been circulated, makes it particularly fitting that the facts should be given the profession as determined by those who have aided in developing and operating this latest form of prime- mover in railroad operation. C. A. Stein, general manager of the Central R. R. of New Jersey, opened the meeting with a discussion of the problem of electrification, and the relation of the short haul, switching, and terminal service to heavy electrification. Referring directly to the problem of the Central R. R. of New Jersey, some subtitution for the steam locomotive is necessary within the city limits of New York because of local ordinances against the smoke nuisance. While the improvement in the design of the steam locomotive has been marked-the efiiency today is over fifty times that of the locomotive of 100 years ago-it has now probably reached the point of maximum perfection. If anything, it is open to the criticism of having Coo many appliances to get out of

Jan 1, 1926

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF LOCAL SECTIONS New York LOUIS D. HUNTOON, Chairman. ARTHUR S. DWIGHT, Vice-Chairman. THOMAS T. READ, Secretary, Woolworth Bldg., New York, N. Y. E. MALTBY SHIPP. Treasurer. GEORGE F. KUNZ, W. De L. BENEDICT. Boston ROBERT H. RICHARDS, Chairman. ALBERT SAUVEUR, Vice-Chairman. AUGUSTUS H. EUSTIS, Secretary-Treasurer, 131 State St., Boston, Mass. TIMOTHY W. SPRAGUE. HENRY A. WENTWORTH. Columbia F. A. THOMSON, Chairman. GEORGE W. RODDEWIG, Vice-Chairman. LYNDON K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary-Treasurer. P. O. Drawer 2154, Spokane, Wash. R. S. McCAFFERY. S. H. RICHARDSON.

Jan 5, 1914

By George W. Pawel

OWING largely to its value as a toughener and strengthener of steel for both industrial and military purposes, nickel is playing, an important role in the current war. It is fine of the metals in which the Allies enjoy a definite edge over the Axis nations and this time there is no place to which the Germans may send another submarine "Deutsehland" and expect to pick up a cargo of nickel to replenish their exhausted supplies. Total world nickel production thanks almost entirely to the expanded operation of the International Nickel Co. of Canada at Sudbury must now be at the rate of around 175,000 tons a year scarcely more than 5 per cent of which is accounted for by Germany, Italy and Japan. This represents more than four times the world output at the end of the first World War.

Jan 1, 1943

The San Manuel district of Arizona was first prospected prior to the Civil War, but there was little or no production until 1881. Small operators tried to develop ore bodies from time to time after that without success. Then, in 1917, a drilling program was carried out; but it did not indicate a copper content of interest. Finally, in the 1940s, the U. S. Geological Survey drilled the property and obtained indications of a mineralized area. At that time, Magma Copper and its principal owner, Newrnont Mining Corporation, drilled many deep holes through the gravels and conglomerates and in 1948 proved an ore reserve of 367 million tons of 0.785% copper sulfide ore. Underground exploration and development were started in early 1948, and in 1953 design and construction of the surface facilities commenced. By the end of 1955 plant construction was completed. The ore deposit of disseminated pyrite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite, molybdenite, silver, and gold is in quartz monzonite porphyry gangue. Mine production, which is entirely underground, is by full-gravity block-caving. Initially, ore mined at a rate of 36,000 tpd was hoisted through two identical shafts. From the 5,000 ton coarse ore bins located at the collar of each shaft, the ore was hauled by a shuttle service rail- road in 100-ton bottom-dump rail cars a distance of seven miles to the rail bin. Fragmentation from block-caving supplemented by underground grizzlies at the loading stations controlled the oversize material to give a feed size acceptable to the two 7 ft standard Syrnons crushers. During operation, however, it became evident that a large amount of secondary breaking in the grizzlies was necessary to produce a suitable feed for the standard crushers. The decision was then made to install primary gyratory crushers on the surface adjacent to the shaft site ore bins. Under each 5,000-ton coarse ore bin, an 8ft by 20 ft (2.44 m by 6. 1 m) apron feeder transfers the ore to a 13 ft 6 in. by 10 ft (4. 1 m by 3. 05 m) grizzly set at 6 in. (152 mm) and sloped at 45 degrees. About 65% of the ore passes the grizzly and thus bypasses the 42 in. by 65 in. (1.07 m by 1. 65 m) Allis -Chalmers gyratory equipped with a Hydroset mechanism and having an open side setting of 5 ½ in. (140 mm). Grizzly undersize and crushed ore drop onto a 6 ft by 30 ft (1. 83 m by 9. 14 m) variable- speed apron feeder for transfer to a 54 in. by 90 ft 5 in. (1.37 m by 27.6 m) inclined conveyor equipped with a tramp iron detector. Indication of tramp iron automatically stops the conveyor and both apron feeders. When the iron is removed from the belt by the operator,

Jan 1, 1978

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF LOCAL SECTIONS New York LOUIS D. HUNTOON, Chairman. ARTHUR S. DWIGHT, Vice-Chairman. THOMAS T. READ, Secretary, Woolworth Bldg., New York, N. Y. E. MALTBY SHIPP. Treasurer. GEORGE F. KUNZ, W. DE L. BENEDICT. Boston ROBERT H. RICHARDS, Chairman. ALBERT SAUVEUR, Vice-Chairman. AUGUSTUS H. EUSTIS, Secretary-Treasurer, 131 State St., Boston, Mass. TIMOTHY W. SPRAGUE, HENRY A. WENTWORTH. Columbia F. A. THOMSON, Chairman. GEORGE W. RODDEWIG, Vice-Chairman. LYNDON K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary-Treasurer, P. O. Drawer 2154, Spokane, Wash. R. S. McCAFFERY. S. H. RICHARDSON.

Jan 3, 1914