Search Documents

By Raymond Mancha

THE purpose of the Coal Division's Committee on Ventilation is to cover one principal aspect of mine ventilation thoroughly each year, instead of attempting to touch upon several different subjects. The Committee for 1943 consists of four members besides the Chairman. Members, selected because of both knowledge of the current topic of mine ventilation, and diversity of occupation, are: Carel Robinson, consulting engineer with an operating background; T. G. Fear, chief engineer for the Hanna Coal Co., an operator of varied experience in mine ventilation; E. H. Denny, chief of the coal mine inspection division of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, obviously well qualified; and C. M. Smith, editor of Mechanization with a background of mine ventilation study as a member of the mining department of the University of Illinois, at present retained as a ventilation consultant by the Climax. Molybdenum Co. of Climax, Colo.

Jan 1, 1944

By M. J. Sinnott

WITH the advent of nodular iron as an engineering material, considerable interest has been shown in developing this material for various applications. Generally the strength, hardness, or ductility are the more common properties used for design purposes but occasionally applications involving a knowledge of the thermal conductivity of the material is required. A search of the literature showed, rather surprisingly, that relatively little work has been done on this property for all types of cast iron. Insufficient data are available on thermal and electrical conductivities to develop the Weidemann-Franz ratio, or the Lorentz relationship, for estimation purposes. There are no data on nodular irons and the published data on malleable irons are quite sketchy. For these reasons the conductivity of the group of nodular irons listed in Table I were measured. Irons I to IV were made in such a fashion as to maintain the carbon and alloy content essentially the same while varying the silicon content. Test specimens were cut from the mid-section of 4-in. keel castings. Iron V is a commercial casting of nodular iron. The test specimen of this iron was cut from the center of a large cast billet 3x10x26 in. All alloys were tested in the as-cast condition. A microstructural examination showed that each iron had spheroidal graphite but the size and distribution varied with the silicon content of the iron. The spheroid size decreased while the number of graphite nodules increased as the silicon content of the iron was increased. The matrix structures of each iron consisted of pearlite and ferrite with the proportions varying from predominantly pearlite in the low-silicon iron to mostly ferrite in the high-silicon iron. The commercial heat, iron V, was predominantly pearlite probably because of its higher manganese and phosphorus content. Two methods for measuring the thermal conductivity were used. The first was a modification of the techniques described by Powell and Hickman and Van Dusen and Shelton,² the second method was a simpler technique described by Jakob and Hawkins." Since the agreement of both methods as tested on two sets of duplicate samples was excellent, the simpler experimental technique was used. The results of the measurements are given in Table II along with a summary of the microstructural constituents. These conductivity data indicate that as the percentage of silicon increases there is a corresponding decrease in the thermal conductivity even though the structure is changing from pearlitic to ferritic. Such a change in microstructure is usually accompanied by an increase in conductivity. A third factor involved in the behavior of these irons is the size and distribution of the graphite nodules. The relative amounts of graphite do not change greatly but the size and distribution do. Generally graphite improves the conductivity but in the present case such an effect is probably masked by the alloying effect from the silicon and its dispersion through the matrix. The thermal conductivity of the nodular irons studied is less than that of regular foundry irons by some 10 to 30 pct and is less than that of regular malleable irons.' The cause of the decreased conductivity is probably the more highly alloyed fer-rites obtained in these irons and the changed mode of distribution of the graphite as compared to the regular foundry irons. References R. W. Powell and M. J. Hickman: Journal Iron and Steel Inst. (1946) 154, No. 2, p. 99. 'M. S. Van Dusen and S. M. Shelton: U. S. Bur. Standards Journal of Research, RP668 (1934) 12, p. 429. ³M. Jakob and G. A. Hawkins: Elements of Heat Transfer and Insulation. 2nd Ed. (1950) New York. John Wiley and Sons. ' J. W. Donaldson: Journal Iron and Steel Inst. (1933) 128, No. 2, p. 255.

Jan 1, 1954

C. W. WASHBURNE; New York; N. Y. (communication to the Secretary *).-It has long been known that sulphur and oxygen react upon crude oils, removing hydrogen and thereby creating unsaturated hydrocarbons which unite with each other, producing heavier forms. Dr. Rogers now finds that the percentage of sulphur in the oils of several fields in California is roughly proportional to the specific gravity of the oil. This additional proof is most welcome. It is rather surprising, , in that the impression had prevailed that practically all the reacting sulphur escaped from the oil as hydrogen sulphide, and did not remain in combination with the oil. It would be interesting to know what part of the sulphur-plotted by Dr. Rogers is in solution as free sulphur and hydrogen sulphide, and what part is, in more complex compounds, such as thiophanes, etc.

Jan 10, 1917

By Reed W. Hyde

SOME information has been published on the sulphur dioxide concentration of gases from Dwight-Lloyd machines sintering lead ores but most of this relates to the customary practice in which the charge is relatively high in lead and is sintered in two passes over the machine. It is thought, therefore, that the following observations on sintering in one pass a low-lead, low-sulphur charge may be of interest. The data were obtained in sintering lead sulphide flotation concentrates mixed with minus 20-mesh oxide ore, the mixture carrying 16.8 per cent Pb and 5.3 per cent S. No returns were used because of the limited amount of sulphur available as fuel, but the mixture pelletized readily to make a satisfactorily permeable bed on the sintering machine. As there was a possibility that the SO2 might be utilized, a series of runs was made to determine the concentration of S02 in the gases at different points along the wind box, and the effect on this concentration of changes in the wind-box vacuum. Several runs each were made with vacuums (as measured in inches of water at the wind box) of (1) 2 to 1 1/3 in., (2) 4 to 3 1/2 in. and (3) 6 to 5 1/8 in. The averages of the determinations from each series are platted on the graph (Fig. I). The vertical scale shows the percentage by volume of SO2 (as determined by the Reich method), and the horizontal scale shows the time expressed as percentage of the total sintering time. Sintering was considered to be complete when no S02 could be detected in the gases. In all cases the depth of bed was 4 ½ in. and the weight of dry charge per square foot of hearth area was 45.2 lb. Other data are given in the table. The volume of gases corresponding to the several points along the wind box at which S02 determinations were made could not be measured, but has been calculated from the S02 content and sulphur elimination on the assumption that the volume is uniform throughout the sintering period. This is not strictly true, as with a given vacuum the volume will usually drop slightly toward the middle of the period and increase toward the end. However, this assumption is a reasonable approximation. Several interesting features are brought out by these data. In general, the published data on S02 concentration in sintering under ordinary conditions show a high S02 concentration in the early stages followed by a rapid decrease in concentration and with relatively little SO2 in the gases from the last half or third of the operation. In other words, the greater part of the sulphur elimination is obtained in the first third or half of the period. In these runs, the 6-in. vacuum, which approximates the usual operating condition, gives a curve that follows this customary pattern. Maximum S02 concentration is obtained 2 ½ min. after

Jan 1, 1942

By Noel Cunningham

MANY excellent descriptions of the mills of the, Porcupine district have been written, but no discussion exclusively devoted to the metallurgical technology has been given. These notes are intended to cover this feature briefly. They are based upon 2 ½ years' mill operation in the district-i.e., practically since the beginning of metallurgical operations. Character of the Porcupine Ore.-There is no oxidized ore in the district, the surface having been deeply planed by glacial action in recent geologic time. The precious-metal content is about in the proportion of 85 of gold to 15? of silver by weight; hence, the silver is practically negligible. There are two classes of Porcupine ore, having very different characteristics; these will be referred to throughout this paper as Class A and Class B. Class A ore is a pure quartz with inclusions of schist. Generally it is heavily fractured .and breaks down readily to sharp, hard grains, about minus 10 plus 20 mesh, requiring further comminution to release the gold. It carries very little pyrite; the gold is entirely free and apt to be coarse, but often spongy, going into solution readily on that account. This gold is 60 per cent. to 85 per cent. free milling, depending on the grade of ore. Class B ore is an iron silicate schist, strongly laminated, carrying 4 to 5 per cent. pyrite; its specific gravity is 2.8 to 3.0, depending upon the amount of mineralization. In breaking the ore in the mine, generally over 25 per cent. of material through a ½ -in. ring is made; the ore readily breaks down in milling and makes a comparatively large amount of non-crystalline slime; owing to its high specific gravity, however, it is quick settling.' In my opinion, the gold in this ore is free, but so finely divided that it will neither pan nor amalgamate; it appears to be disseminated through the rock and not chiefly associated with the pyrite. Veins of Class A ore occur with or without side walls of Class B, and veins of Class B occur unassociated with Class A; more often the veins are closely banded, Class A and Class B alternating, generally with Class B in excess. Both classes of ore are more-or less blocky at times, and with ref¬erence to Class B this is indicative or low gold content.

Jan 3, 1915

By D. A. Thomas, M. F. Comerford

Poly crystalline wires of Fe-3.2 wt pct Si were cold-drawn to 31, 66, and 87 pct reductions of area. Mechanical properties and tnicrostructures were studied after recovery and re crystallization. An initial increase in strength during recovery was ascribed to strain aging, and subsequent softening was largely due to polygonization rather than re-crystallization. No unique actioation energies could be determined for the recovery process. Rather, activation energies ranged from 60,600 cal per mole at 10 pct recovery to 83,200 cal per mole when recovery was 50 pct complete. Sites for the nucleation of recrystallization were found to depend on time and temperature. In the early stages of re-crystallization, nucleation occurred in deformation hands. Later, or at high temperatures, recrystal-lized grains were nucleated primarily al grain boundaries. Polygonized structures did not seem to be preferred sites for nucleation. MUCH of the research on deformation, recovery, and recrystallization processes in bcc materials has been performed on single crystals or lightly worked polycrystals. Little study has been devoted to the relation of mechanical properties to micro-structure in polycrystals after severe deformation and subsequent annealing. This paper presents the results of a study of the tensile properties and microstructures of Fe-Si wires drawn varying amounts and annealed at a series of temperatures. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The experiments were carried out on an alloy of the following composition: 3.2 wt pct Si, 0.08 Mn, 0.016 C, 0.005 0, 0.0002 N, 0.0001 H, 0.008 P, 0.034 S. The material was received as l-in.-sq bars cut longitudinally from a hot-rolled slab provided by the Armco Steel Corp. The bars were forged to 3/8-in. rounds, centerless-ground to 0.250 in., and swaged to '0.108 in. All subsequent reductions were performed by room-temperature wire drawing at the rate of 2 in. per min. Each preliminary draft gave approximately 30 pct reduction of area and was followed by a l-hr anneal at 1010°C in dry hydrogen. Three lots of wire were made with ultimate cold reductions of 31, 66, and 87 pct reduc-

Jan 1, 1965

By William P. Blake

THE phenomena of concentric arrangement of minerals in rock-masses, generally known as "orbicular structure," have of late received much attention from investigators. Lawson, of the University of California, has described the orbicular gabbro at Dehesa, San Diego county, Cal. Kessler and Hamilton, of Stanford University, working independently upon the same subject, published their descriptions,2 giving also a list of many other localities in Europe and America where orbicular rocks are found, adding copious references to the literature of the subject. The orbicular diorite of the type locality in Corsica., familiar to mineralogists and petrologists under the name "Napoleonite," was described by Vogelslang in 1862.3 Chrustschoff, of St. Petersburg, has also given much atten¬tion to the subject, and is the author of a classification of the various known forms of orbicular structure.4 No complete and satisfactory explanation of the origin of or¬bicular aggregations in rocks has yet been offered. The patent fact is generally recognized that the constituent minerals have crystallized from a more or less molten or plastic magma, but why these minerals should be arranged in concentric spheres or crusts has not been clearly shown. Vogelslang, for example,

Jul 1, 1905

By J. A. Cahill, A. D. Kirshenbaum

Using an alumina or zirconia crucible with an alumina sinker or a molybdenum sinker coated with zirconium dioxide, the density of liquid iron was determined by the immersed-sinker method over the temperature range of 1800" to 2500°K. The density, with respect to temperature, is ex-Dressed by the equation Dg/cm = 8.523 - 8.358 X 10 T'K The molar Volumes and thermal coefficients of expansion were calculated. Iron, upon me1ting, was found to expand 3.5 pct. A basic knowledge of the physical properties of materials at high temperatures is becoming increasingly important. A check of the literature shows, that in spite of the importance of iron, very few measurements have been made of its physical properties in the liquid state. Density measurements have been made by Benedicks and his collaborators1g using the method of balanced columns, by Desch and smith4 using the immersed sinker method with an alumina sinker, by Lucas using the maximum bubble method5 and by Stott and endall' who used an alumina pyknometer. In the method of balanced columns, the difference in level of molten iron in two arms of a U-tube, together with the corresponding difference of pressure had to be measured. The formation of gas bubbles in one or both arms was a great source of error. These values are very erratic. They vary from 6.83 to 7.45 g per cm3 at the melting point (1805"~) and from 6.45 to 7.15 g per cm3 at 1890°K. Stott and Rendall determined the density at 1837"K, with a reproducibility of *0.2 pct. They used an alumina pyknometer fired to 1973°K. The vessel was filled in a vacuum furnace by immersion in the liquid metal. When thermal equilibrium was attained, the pyknometer was withdrawn, cooled, the ingot removed and then weighed. The chief disadvantage of the method was the difficulty of inserting the pyknometer without cracking it. The authors have been able to determine the density of liquid iron from its melting point up to 2500°K, by using the immersed-sinker method, with A1203 or ZrOz crucibles and A1203 or molybdenum sinkers coated with Zr02, Fig. 1. EXPERIMENTAL Apparatus. In these studies the source of heat was the carbon tube resistance furnace with an argon atmosphere described previously.7 Experimental runs were made using either Ala3 or ZrOz crucibles. The sinkers used were 1) pure A1a3 and 2) molybdenum coated with ZrOz. The crucible, 2 1/8 in. in diam and 3 in. high, was centered in the furnace on an Ala3 of Zr02 pedestal. The sinker, 1/2 in. in diam and 1 1/2 in. long, together with a counter weight, was suspended from an analytical balance into the melt by a molybdenum wire. Procedure. The procedure, as described previously,' consisted in measuring the weight loss of the sinker in the liquid iron while determining simultaneously the liquid iron temperature by means

Jan 1, 1962

By A. E. Zawadzki

A progress report is presented on the development of a process for the removal of sulfur dioxide from flue gases. Catalytic oxidation of the sulfur dioxide in flue gases, with the production of recoverable sulfuric acid, has been demonstrated to be technically feasible. Problems associated with the process are discussed. The need for an inexpensive and efficient process for controlling sulfur dioxide emissions from utility plant stacks has been accentuated by the ever-increasing public demand for elimination of all man-made air pollutants. I would like to describe the results of an investigation of the development of such a process; more important, I would like to present a discussion of the problems associated with the process which remain to be solved. The research work on the BCR catalytic gas phase oxidation process has been jointly sponsored by the Association of Edison Illuminating Cos., Edison Electric Inst. and Bituminous Coal Research, Inc., since 1958. However, work on SO2-pollution abatement was initiated by BCR in 1953. Tieman and Clymer,1 working with ozone and simulated flue gases, evaluated a gas phase oxidation process for removing SO2 from flue gases. Their experimental data indicated that the use of ozone to oxidize SO2 in flue gas concentrations, with subsequent recovery of H2SO4, did not appear to be economical due to the large ratio of ozone to sulfuric acid produced (2.6 to 1). The cost of the ozone would be 6 to 10 times the cost of sulfuric acid produced. As a result of the ozone study, work on a catalytic oxidation process was developed. The following reactions are the basis for the catalytic oxidation process Reaction [I] normally occurs in the combustion of sulfur-bearing fuels. At the high temperature found in the combustion chamber, 95% to 99% of the sulfur in the fuel is oxidized to SO2 and 1% to 5% is oxidized to SO3. The concentration of SO2 in the combustion gases depends on the combustion efficiency and the quantity of excess air used. A commonly used rule of thumb is 0.1 percent by volume SO2 in the flue gas for each 1% sulfur in the fuel. Reaction [2] proceeds at a wide range of temperatures. The rate of the reaction is rapid above l,000°F; however, the equilibrium conversion drops rapidly above this temperature. 2 Reaction [3] occurs rapidly to completion at temperatures below 400°F; above this temperature some SO3 exists in equilibrium with H2SO4. Complete dissociation of H2SO4 occurs above 650°F.3 The simplicity of the proposed process provided added incentive to the development and evaluation of the various component unit operations. The advantages of the process were considered to be as follows: 1) no raw materials were required, 2) the unit operations were not radically new; and 3) a salable product, sulfuric acid, would be produced. The successful development of the process was contingent upon the solution of several major problems: 1) The development of a catalyst which would provide high catalytic activity at reasonable conditions of gas flow and temperature without causing an unacceptable increase in pressure drop. 2) The development of a high temperature dust collection system to provide clean flue gases to the catalytic reactor. 3) The complete recovery of the sulfuric acid produced in the process; the effluent gas must contain less than 20 ppm by volume of sulfuric acid. As of this date, the complete solution to these problems has not been achieved. EXPERIMENTAL Catalyst Development: The use of platinum and vanadium catalysts for the production of sulfuric acid by the treatment of dry gases containing 5% to 20% by volume sulfur dioxide has been known for many years. The application of the basic idea of catalytic oxidation of sulfur dioxide in flue gas concentrations was

Jan 1, 1965

By W. E. STOKES

COMPANIES operating airplanes have had a relatively prosperous year, permitting them gradually to re- place old types of equipment. The pre-eminence of American-made planes, engines, and accessories has been challenged, either by foreign designs or by domestic patterns that have, for one reason or another. been licensed for manufacture abroad.

Jan 1, 1938

By R. G. Charles, E. A. Gulbransen, S. Barnartt

KINETICS of the reaction of zirconium with pure oxygen at elevated temperatures have been studied by several workers for periods of time up to 6 hr.1-1 In two cases,3-4 . the experimental values of oxygen uptake, w, as a function of time, t, were best fitted to the parabolic rate law w2 = kPt + constant. In others,3,4 the cubic rate law w3 = kot + constant, showed better agreement. The most recent data of Gulbransen and Andrew4 indicate that the choice between the parabolic and cubic laws for empirical representation of the data will often be arbitrary. This is particularly true if the first few minutes of the reaction with a clean zirconium surface is attributed to a different oxidation mechanism, for deviations from either rate law were found primarily during the initial period. Thus, the kinetics of this reaction have been too uncertain to permit safe extrapolation to oxidation periods of practical interest (many hundreds of hours). The data to be described are of interest, for they indicate that the cubic rate law applies over long oxidation times. The reaction of zirconium with oxygen at 1 atm pressure was followed at 350" and 450°C for 500 and 200 hr, respectively. Abraded test specimens of pure zirconium sheet' 3.0 X 2.0 X 0.012 cm in size were oxidized by the procedure previously described,3 which included periodic cooling to room temperature for weighing. The surfaces were polished to a 4/0 finish using polishing paper wet with kerosene, then wiped with petroleum ether and washed in redistilled acetone. Fig. 1 shows plots of log ? vs log t. Each curve represents the average of duplicate measurements, and deviations from the average were generally less than 3 pet. The cubic rate law (slope = 1/3) is closely followed. The rate constants, 5.2, x 10 -6 and 2.4, X 10- (mg cm-2)3 per hr at 350" and 450 oC, respectively, are plotted as log k, vs 1/T in Fig. 2, together with cubic constants calculated from the data of Gulbransen and Andrew4 for abraded specimens from the same lot of zirconium. Their data refer to runs of 6-hr duration at a pressure of 0.1 atm 0 and under conditions of uninterrupted heating. In spite of these differences, the latter data yield a straight line which appears to apply equally well to the new extended time data. The energy of activation for the oxidation process, calculated from the slope of this line, i.s 38 keal per mole. This may be compared with the value of 47 keal per mole found by Belle and Mallett3 at higher temperatures. It may be concluded tentatively that extrapolation of short-term oxidation data for zirconium to obtain the long-term behavior is best done through the cubic equation ?3 = kpt + constant. References ' E. A. Gulbransen and K. F. Andrew: AIME Trans., 1949, vol. 185, p. A.515; JouRNal OF Metals, August 1949. 'D.p. Cubicciotti Journal Amer Chemical August1949.Soc., 1950, Vol. 72, P. 3 V. Belle and M. W. Mallett: Joulnal Electro chemical Soc., 1954, ' E. A. Gulbransen 339.and K. F. Andrew: Oxidation of Zirconium Between 400" Gulbransenand 800'C.and AIME Trarzs.. 1957, vol. 209, p. 394; JOUR-Nal of Metals, April 1957. IS Barnartt, B G. Charles, and E. A. Gulbransen: Oxidation of 50 weight pet uranium-zirconium alloy, Journul Electrochemical SOC., 1957, vol. 104, p. 218.

Jan 1, 1959

By R. Shuttleworth, R. Smith

A Knudsen effusion tnethod I~as been used lo measure the vapor pressure of pure iron in the temperature range 1000° to 1500°C. Neutron-irradiated , natural iron was used and the Mn'~proclzdced by the (n, p) reaction removed by evaporation at high temperature. The results can be represented by the equation: where pM - 1.088 x 107 atm and T, = 20,890°K. A value of 100.2 kcal per g- atom was obtained for AH;. THE vapor pressure of pure iron in the temperature range 1000" to 1500°C has been measured. Radioactive iron and a Knudsen cell technique were used and the Mn' produced by an (n, p) reaction removed by evaporation at high temperature. From the variation of vapor pressure with temperature values of the enthalpy and entropy of solid iron have been found. Previous workers2 used a Lang-muir method and measurements were made over a smaller temperature range than that in this work. EXPERIMENTAL The apparatus used was similar to that of Pyle and Shuttleworth, and McLellan and Shuttle worth. However, because of the higher temperatures the Knudsen cell was machined from tungsten bar and the flanged furnace tube was beryllia. Heating was by passing a high current (70 amp at 7 v for 1500°K) through a strip of tantalum foil laid across the top of the cell and through a turn of molybdenum wire around the furnace tube. This method of heating ensured that the top of the cell was slightly hotter than the base and prevented condensation and re-evaporation from the orifice. The temperature was measured by means of a pt/Pt 13 pct Rh thermocouple spot-welded to the base of the crucible. To ensure accurate temperature measurement the iron was in the form of a thin disc (0.75 cm diam by 0.075 cm) which lay on the base of the cell. The high-purity iron was irradiated in the Harwell pile for a week at a neutron flux of 1.2 X 10" neutrons per sq cm per sec. The isotopes fe'~ and Fe" are produced by (n! y) reactions but only Fe", half-life 45.1 days, is a emitter; Mn which is also a y emitter, half-life 300 days, is produced simultaneously by an (n,p) reaction.' Immediately after irradiation of natural iron the ratio of ~e" to Mn y activity was 100:l. However, manganese is very much more volatile than iron and almost all the y activity of the condensate is due to Mn'~. Thus it was essential to eliminate all the manganeses before any measurement of the vapor pressure of iron was made and this was done by preliminary heating for 20 hr at 1400°C. For each determination the iron was dissolved from the target with acid and the y activity compared to a known weight of iron. By means of a y-ray spectrometer the y-activity measurements were made at the 1.09-mev peak of the 17e5' spectrum where the background was of the order of 3 cpm. Despite the low specific activity of ~e" a mass of 10- " g of iron could be determined corresponding to a vapor pressure of about l0-'' atm. RESULTS The vapor pressures were calculated from the equation: Where m is the mass of iron effusing in a time t through an orifice of area a2, r is the radius of the target, Z is the distance from the orifice to the

Jan 1, 1965

By Gerald Edmunds

Although the phenomenon of season cracking is still imperfectly understood, there seems to be ample evidence that season cracks are propagated by the combined action of corrosion and a stress of either internal (residual) origin or external origin. The factors that influence season cracking may therefore be grouped according to corrosive media, nature of stress, and character of the material. Thus the important mass of evidence pointing to ammonia as the most frequently active corroding agent causing season - - cracking of brass has naturally led to the development of laboratory tests of a moderately accelerated character based upon ammonia together with auxiliary agents such as air, water vapor, and carbon dioxide as the corroding agent. Similarly, the knowledge that stress must be present has led to the use of externally applied and therefore accurately measurable stresses in laboratory testing. A companion paper(^)^ to the present one discusses the development of these test methods in our laboratories. The present paper discusses data bearing on factors concerning the nature of stress such as its magnitude and direction of application. It also deals extensively with the character of the brass, particularly in regard to the copper-zinc ratio and the structure as developed by mechanical work-

Jan 1, 1945

By A. E. Dwight, A. F. Berndt

ThE published U-Ru equilibrium diagram indicates the existence of six intermetallic compounds in this system.' The structure of only two of the compounds, u2Ru2,3 and URU3,4 have been identified. This communication reports on the crystal structure and density of Uau3, which is formed by a peritectoid transformation at 1025° ± 5°C: U3Ru4 + U3Ru5 = U2Ru3. An alloy with the stoichiometric formula U2Ru3 was prepared by arc melting electrolytic uranium and ruthenium of 99.9 pct purity on a water-cooled copper hearth under an argon atmosphere. After homo-genization at 1000°C for 3 days, a metallographic examination revealed that the peritectoid transformation was complete and less than 5 pct of a second phase was present. A powdered sample, obtained by crushing the brittle compound, was annealed for 1 hr at 1000°C and air-cooled. Debye-Scherrer patterns were obtained with filtered CrKa, FeKa, CoKa, or CuKa radiation. The X-ray patterns of U2Ru3 weFe indexed as an fcc structure with a. = 12.895 0.00lA. The unit-cell constant and its standard deviation were calculated by a computer program described by Mueller, Heaton, and Miller.5 The density, measured by an immersion method, was 14.45 g cm-3. A calculated density of 14.48 g cm-3 was obtained on the assumption that twenty-four formula units (120 atoms) comprise a unit cell. The space group is either oh7 Fd3m, or the less symmetric, T4h, Fd3, since reflections indexed as hk0 with h + k + 4n are absent. All values of h2 + k2 + 12 permitted by both space groups are listed in Table I together with dc, do, and I. values. The calculated d spacings were obtained by the computer program of Mueller, Meyer, and simonsen.6 The observed d spacings above 0.77A were obtained from X-ray" patterns prepared with CuKa radiation, above 0.90A with CoKa radiaaion, above 0.98A with FeKa radiation, and above 1.16A with CrKa radiation. An attempt was made to identify the crystal structure of U2Ru3 by comparison with published data on other A2B3 compounds. A recent compilation7 of intermetallic compounds lists thirty-two structure types with the A2B3 stoichiometry. Only two of the structure types are fcc and they are Sb2O3(r), senarmontite, with 16 Sb2O3 per unit cell, and In2Te3 for which several structures have been proposed.8 However, the two cases cited do not have twenty-four formula units in the unit cell. We therefore, cannot identify UPRU3 with any of the other known A2B3 compounds. Ternary alloys were made in which 5 at. pct Os, Rh, or A1 were substituted for 5 pct of the Ru in U2Ru3. The osmium substitution increased the unit cell constant to 12.899 * .001A, which is to be expected since the atomic volume of osmium is slightly larger than

Jan 1, 1969

By R. W. Borio, T. S. Spicer

Inflammability and crossing point apparatus were used to study the influence of increasing amounts oi such inerts as ash, fly-ash, pyrite, limestone and Portland cement with several pulverized bituminous coals. The results indicate that it requires large proportions of inerts to substantially suppress the ease of ignition. The ignition phase of the combustion of solid fuels has been under study periodically since 1900. With the advent of pulverized coal firing some 60 years ago, a technique now dominating the coal utilization field, the ignitibility characteristics have become increasingly important. Much of the early work was directed toward the prevention of coal dust explosions and improved mine safety rather than combustion. Many factors affecting ignitibility have been studied and numerous methods devised in an effort to measure the ignition temperature and these have been reviewed by other authors. A recent survey was made by Finney and Spicerl in 1959, so a discussion of previous work will be omitted. Despite these efforts, the initial stage of combustion, termed ignitibility, is still a little understood phenomenon. In fact, no ASTM method has been adopted for the calibration of this illusive property. However, a D-5 Subcommittee XVI on Ignitibility of Coal and Coke of ASTM (now inactive) defined ignitibility:' "The ignitibility of a fuel is that char-

Jan 1, 1963

By Jan M. Mutmansky

The primary purpose of this presentation is to analyze the strategies available to an operator using either stripping or stripping and subsequent punch mining on a given coal property. The initial concern is the formulation of a mathematical model, which allows an operator to determine and utilize the particular highwall height, which will maximize : (1) Total profit or (2) Profit per unit of operating time. The analysis centers on the relative costs and recoveries involved in a typical coal seam amenable to stripping, augering, and punch mining. The model defines the point to which the high-recovery stripping operation with increasing overburden removal and reclamation costs should proceed before the low-recovery augering and punch mining methods are employed so that the desired objective is achieved. Examples are presented, which exhibit the use of the model on typical operations. Present mining methods as practiced in the Eastern United States are examined in the light of the results. Recommendations for improving present strategies are made and the resulting economic ramifications are analyzed. Particular attention is given to the stripping ratios presently used and recommendations for improving present mining practice are presented. Implications of these recommendations to the design of strip mining equipment are discussed.

Jan 1, 1977

By John V. Beall

It is difficult to understand why they did it. It was a demonstration of total commitment which sent chills of mixed admiration and fear up and down your spine. The scene was the bodega in Section A, 2660 Level on the 12 to 8 shift. The jefe was patiently waiting for the tea leaves to settle in a large metal cup. His attention was distracted by the appearance of a miner who had a problem. The long and short of it was that the miner believed the branch raise he was driving was unsafe and he wanted the jefe to come and see it. After lunch the jefe went around. First cautiously shining his light to peer up the raise from outside the chute, he then scrambled inside and swiftly climbed the cribs to the face. No question, it was hairy; about 4 crib sets were needed to catch up to the face. The unsupported raise was slabbing. It didn't take the jefe more than a few seconds to ascertain this situation and to slide back down. As he came out of the chute, a small avalanche arrived on his heels and provided a sort of exclamation point to his order; "cerrado!" In other words, shut 'er down.

Jan 1, 1970

By Frank H. Kingdon

and eventually we would have trouble. That is, these little localized overstresses may not be important if the structure is loaded a few times, but may be important if the structure is loaded many thousands of times. The existence of localized stress has been demonstrated by direct experimentation with delicate extensometers by the elaborate investigations of Coker. Localized stresses four, five, and six times those that we would get by the ordinary laws of mechanics exist in most of our structures. These stresses, ordinarily, under steady load do no damage but if they are repeated many times may start progressive failure. So far, we have seen no failure that could not be explained by localized high stress at a nick, a crack, a point where one heat treatment stopped and another began, or where there was local faulting, or any one of a dozen causes. In the case of drill rods, the actual distribution of stress must be different from that which any mathematical analysis could predict. It would seem that the spread of damage from the localized overstresses, so far as we can see now, explains the phenomenon known as fatigue. The Ideal Drill Steel By Frank H. Kingdon The essential qualities of a drill steel are: (I), It must be easily forged; (2), the forged bit end must permit easy heat treatment to obtain hardness to resist chipping; (3)) the bar or body must be stiff to resist bending or twisting and yet tough to resist shock and vibration, with resulting breakage, (4), the forged shank end must be easily heat treated to obtain hardness with great toughness. Minor requirements are that the bit and the shank are in alignment with the body; that the shank is of the proper shape and length and the shank collar or lugs of the proper diameter and length; that the hole is free from obstruction; that the striking end of the shank is flat and square; that the bit is of the proper shape, with the cutting and reaming edges formed full and to the required size; that the reaming edges are concentric with the axis of the steel, and that there are no sharp corners at the shoulder where the bit blends into the body. The essential qualities of a bit, are: That its shape be such that maximum cutting speed can be maintained for as great a distance as possible before wear of the gage and cutting edge reduces the speed of penetration to a point where a change of steel is made necessary; that the size or diameter of the drill hole corresponding to the gage of the bit can be maintained with the least possible reduction as the depth of the hole increases, and that the bit can be correctly and readily formed and heat treated. The following features of bit design require attention: Shape,

Jan 1, 1922

By CHARLES HOPPER

In preparing the Steep Rock Lake iron ore body for mining, it was necessary to drain Steep Rock Lake. Using diamond drills, a cut 1800 ft long, 100 ft wide, and maximum depth of 95 ft amounting to 300,000 cu yd of material, was excavated in Greenstone to provide a drainage channel. This was done under the general contractor C. A. Pitts, of Toronto, who in turn employed a diamond drill contractor, Boyles Bros., to do the drilling. The method of excavation was selected be- cause a clean square cut and grade could be maintained in the bottom of the channel. Bootlegged holes would have left blocks of rock in the corners which would have created a situation which would have become progressively worse as the open cut advanced from one side of the ridge to the other.

Jan 1, 1949

By R. W. Rausch

BELT-CONVEYOR 'history in this country dates back to the end of the eighteenth century. Up to 1896 they were crude in design and application. The second era, dating from 1896 to about 1920, saw special study given to belt construction and idler design. The latter part of this era saw the beginning of the present-day antifriction idler. The third era followed World War I, when industry began to expand rapidly. Mines and quarries, steel mills, and power-generating plants became larger and greater quantities of ore, stone, and coal were being handled. It became vital that belts handle larger capacities, that they be longer, and that they be dependable for 24 hours per day. In this third era a radical change in belt conveyor design and application occurred. The design has became more scientific. Studies have been made to find out what factors influenced the power required for a belt conveyor and it was found that the sag of the belt between idlers and the flattening of the load between idlers had considerable effect on power requirements. So definite initial tension was put into the belt at the loading end and idler spacing was reduced at the foot end to limit this sag. Belt manufacturers made tougher and stronger belts.

Jan 1, 1947