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E O'C Acker '86 Jinzoc Adachl '88 Frederic R Abbe '97 T H Aldrich '96 Truman H Aldrich '78 Walter H Aldridge '89 Anson W Allen '87 John H Allen '84 Thomas Andrews '94 William R Appleby '90 R M Atwater, Jr '97 Lawrence Austin '82 S Ayres '73 H Foster Bain '97 David Baker '86 John Henry Banks '83 Henry C Banon '90 Thomas J Barbour '97 Alonzo F Bardwell '89

Jan 1, 1952

By Willard L. Hunter

Four solvent extraction systems were studied to determine their efficiency jor extraction and separation of tantalum and columbium. Aqueous feed solutions of varying HF-HCl concentrations and metal content were contacted with equal volumes of cyclohexanone, 3-methyl-2-butanone, and 2-pentanone and solutions of varying HF-H2S04 concentrations were contacted with equal volumes of 2-pentanone. One multistage continuous test was made in a polyethylene pulse column using cy clohexanone as the organic phase. In each system studied, columbium and tantalum purities in excess of 95 pct with respect to each other were obtained in single-stage tests at low acidities in the feed solution. Separation factors ranging from 1700 to 2400 were obtained when rising HF-HCl mixtures in the aqueous phase. Best results were obtained when a solution of HF-H2S04 was used as the aqueous phase and 2-pentanone as the organic phase. A separation factor in excess of 6000 was obtained in one stage with aqueous solution concentrations of 2 _N HF and 2N H2S0,. When acid concentrations were increaszd to 52 HF and 10 _N H2S0,, 99.9 pct of the tantalum and 98.2 pct of the columbium initially present in the feed solution were transferred to the organic phase. The separation of columnbium and tantalum obtainable by means of the solvent extraction systems presented in this paper was found to corn -pare favorably with other systems, including the HF-H2SO4-methyl isobutyl ketone system currently used by most producers for the extraction and separation of these metals. TANTALUM and columbium are always found together in minerals of commercial significance, although the proportion of the two metals in ores varies within broad limits. Columbium is estimated to be 13 times more abundant than tantalum. Five methods generally employed for the separat:ion of these metals are: 1) fractional crystallization (the Marignac process),2 2) solvent separation, 3) fractional distillation of their chlorides, 4) ion exchange, and 5) selective reduction. Of these methods, the one currently used by industry to the greatest extent is that of solvent separation. One of the early technical developments in solvent separation of tantalum from columbium was reported by the Bureau of Mines: the HF-HC1-methyl isobutyl ketone system; data were presented for both laboratory and pilot-plant experimentation.3 Of twenty-eight organic solvents tested for their ability to extract tantalum from an HF-HC1 solution of columbium and tantalum, 3-pentanone (diethyl ke-tone), cyclohexanone, 2-pentanone, and 3-methyl-2-butanone were chosen for further study. Data on the HF-HC1-diethyl ketone system has been published4 and data describing the use of cy clohexanone, 2-pentanone, and 3-methyl-2-butanone as the organic phase are included in this report. RAW MATERIAL The source of tantalum and columbium oxides for this study was ('Geomines" tin slag from the Manono Smelter, Cie Geomines, Gelges, S.A., Congo. In order to extract the valuable Ta-Cb content, the slags were carbided, chlorinated, and the sublimate from chlo-rination was hydrolized and washed free of chloride with water. The washed material was air-dried and stored in a stoppered container. Throughout the paper, "feed material" refers to this mixture of hydrated oxides which was employed because of its high solubility in aqueous solutions. Typical analysis of the hydrated oxides is shown in Table I. I) HF-HC1-CYCLOHEXANONE SYSTEM Batch Separation. Effect of Acid Concentration. To determine the effect of varying the acid concentration upon the transfer of tantalum and columbium, a series of tests was made in which approximately 2.5 g of feed material was added to 25 ml solutions of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 N HF and 0 through 5 N HC1. Tantalum pentoxide concentration of the solu%ons was approximately 21 g per liter and columbium pentoxide was 14 g per liter. These starting solutions were shaken with equal volumes of cyclohexanone in 100 ml polyethylene bottles for 30 min. The phases were carefully separated in 125 ml glass separatory funnels. The time of contact of the solutions with the separatory funnels was kept at a minimum to reduce silica contamination. The measured phases were separated into 400 ml polyethylene beakers and the metal contents of each were precipitated by addition of an excess of ammonium hydroxide. Precipitate from each phase was filtered on ashless filter paper, ignited at 800" to 1000°C for 45 min, weighed, and analyzed by X-ray fluorescence.5 Data tabulated in Table I1 and illustrated in Fig. 1, show that maximum separation of tantalum from columbium for each HF concentration was obtained with no HCl present. The purest tantalum product was obtained with some HCl present. The highest separation factor was obtained at 2 N HF and

Jan 1, 1970

By Carl F. Floe, John Chipman

THE system molten copper-oxygen-sulphur is of interest from both the practical and theoretical standpoints; practically, because oxygen and sulphur play an important role in the commercial production of copper, and theoretically because it offers a chance to study the reaction between an oxide gas, SO2, and a molten metal. Reactions of this type, such as that between CO or CO2 and molten iron, are important in many metallurgical operations. Again, the determination of any gas-metal equilibrium is of theoretical interest and value insofar as it contributes to the general development of the laws for solution of gases in metals. This problem is being given an increasing amount of attention in modern metallurgy. This paper is the first of a series and presents the results of a determination of the solubility of sulphur dioxide in molten copper at temperatures from 1100° to 1500°C., and pressures from about 20 mm. of mercury to somewhat above atmospheric. REVIEW OF PREVIOUS WORK The solubility of gases in most liquids has been found to obey Henry's law, which states that for a fixed temperature the amount of gas dissolved is directly proportional to the pressure. However this law does not hold for liquid metals. Instead, it appears that for many gases, particularly the simple diatomic ones such as 02, N2 and H2, the amount dissolved in liquid metals is directly proportional to the square root of the pressure. This is known as Sieverts' law. It may be recognized as a special case of Henry's law, which applies when the solute gas is dissociated into atoms or when it reacts with the solvent metal to form solute molecules containing single atoms of the gaseous elements, as, for example: [(MG) l 2M +G2 = 2MG K = Ma X Pa, [I]] which, if the solubility is not too high and the concentration of metal therefore nearly constant, can be simplified to: [MG = Kl Pa,[2]] Following the same reasoning, it would be expected that the solubility of SO2 in copper would be proportional to the cube root of the pressure, the reaction being as follows: [6Cu + SO2 = Cu2S + 2Cu20[3] K _ Cu2S X (Cu20)2 (Cu)6(Pso2)[4]] or, neglecting the change in metal concentration and considering that the concentrations of sulphur and oxygen are both proportional to the volume V of gas absorbed: [8 =KI = Pte, or VSO2= K2 '~/PeO, [S]]

Jan 1, 1941

By F. T. Davis

Many contributors have added to the fund of knowledge in the basic sciences related to mineral dressing during the past year. During 1964, the French edition of the Proceedings of the VIth International Mineral Processing Congress together with discussions was printed. Also, complete Preprints of papers delivered at the VIIth IMPC were published in September1. Over a third of the papers presented at VIIth IMPC dealt with fundamentals. COMMINUTION It has been postulated by Ponceleta that flaws need not exist before a stress is applied but rather the flaws are created at the tip of a propagating crack at a stress well below the theoretical breaking stress.

Jan 2, 1965

By James C. Fulton

Since publication of the First Edition of "Basic Open Hearth Steelmaking," in 1944, this book has been a major reference on the subject of steelmaking. The Second Edition of 1951 was so fundamental that it has retained its general usefulness to the present date. However, recently some of the material has been updated in connection with the writing of a companion book, "Electric Furnace Steelmaking." The sponsor of these two books, the Physical Chemistry of Steelmaking Committee, has felt that the new material should be made equally available to purchasers of either book. Accordingly the subject matter of Chapters 14, 15, and 16 of this new edition is duplicated by corresponding chapters in "Electric Furnace Steelmaking." It was also recognized that the use of oxygen in the open hearth and in the new basic oxygen processes represents a major development that should not be omitted from any basic reference. Thus the major new feature of this Third Edition is the supplement on "Oxygen in Steelmaking." The cooperation of the Iron and Steel Division's Acid Converter and Basic Oxygen Steel Committee (now merged to form the National Open Hearth and Basic Oxygen Steel Committee) is specifically recognized. In addition to the authors of chapters listed elsewhere, it should be noted that Arthur B. Wilder was the Committee Chairman. Although the changes in the Third Edition are important, the Committee cannot overlook the classic character of the Second Edition. This edition was edited by W. O. Philbrook and M. B. Bever in collaboration with H. B. Emerick and B. M. Larsen. It is anticipated that the Third Edition will maintain the value of the book until the current rapid changes in all basic steelmaking processes stabilize themselves sufficiently to justify a complete revision of the entire text in Part I. The experienced service of Wesley Burr in incorporating the new material in the index is also recognized.

Jan 1, 1964

By R. F. Stilwell

There are three things that all coal consumers look for when they burn coal: (1) suitability for their particular requirements and burning equipment, (2) uniformity of shipments, and (3) quality as expressed by heating value and other chemical and physical tests. Suitability, or proper application, is determined generally from previous buying experience. It is a function of (1) the reliability and integrity of the shipper and distributor, (2) of a certain coal field or seam and of (3) uniformity and quality. Quality is limited by the location and geology of the seam and mine, the mining and preparation methods and equipment and the knowledge and ability of the personnel. Uniformity of shipments is in many ways the most important factor in coal selection. Lack of uniformity in chemical quality, size consist and treatment cause most of the customer complaints that arise from faults of the coal shipper. Lack of uniformity destroys suitability and quality standards, causing a large customer turnover, and greatly increases sales expense and reduces the net return to the operator. Oil and gas fuels are more uniform in quality than solid fuels, and there will be more gas and oil competition for coal markets after this war than before, because the size of their market is a direct function of the dimensions of their pipe lines, which have been greatly increased during the war. Present mechanical coal-cleaning equipment based upon gravity concentration has gone a long way toward giving us a coal of uniform ash content. The chart in Fig. I, by Hebley,1 shows the greater uniformity of the ash content of washed coal as compared with that of raw coal. Wide variation in the nature and amount of ash in the coal feed to the washer leads to a coal of non-uniform ash content. Mechanica1 cleaning equipment does not understand such terms as ash-softening temperature, coking properties, size consist and sulphur content. Unless the feed to the washer is uniform, the washed coal probably will not be uniform. Table I shows the ash, sulphur and ash-softening temperature of two mines in the Pittsburgh bed, both raw and washed, loaded over the same tipple; also No. 3 and No. 4 Pocahontas seams, both raw and washed, loaded from the same preparation plant. It is obvious that they must be blended or loaded separately if a uniform product is to be obtained. Why Is Blending Necessary? It was natural for the operators of captive mines producing by-product coals to recognize the necessity for blending raw coals of different quality and coking characteristics. They have had many years of experience with blending high, low and medium volatile coals at their oven plants. They have found that careful blending gives a coke of more uniform quality and better structure. Coals that could not be

Jan 1, 1947

By R. F. Stilwell

There are three things that all coal consumers look for when they burn coal: (1) suitability for their particular requirements and burning equipment, (2) uniformity of shipments, and (3) quality as expressed by heating value and other chemical and physical tests. Suitability, or proper application, is determined generally from previous buying experience. It is a function of (1) the reliability and integrity of the shipper and distributor, (2) of a certain coal field or seam and of (3) uniformity and quality. Quality is limited by the location and geology of the seam and mine, the mining and preparation methods and equipment and the knowledge and ability of the personnel. Uniformity of shipments is in many ways the most important factor in coal selection. Lack of uniformity in chemical quality, size consist and treatment cause most of the customer complaints that arise from faults of the coal shipper. Lack of uniformity destroys suitability and quality standards, causing a large customer turnover, and greatly increases sales expense and reduces the net return to the operator. Oil and gas fuels are more uniform in quality than solid fuels, and there will be more gas and oil competition for coal markets after this war than before, because the size of their market is a direct function of the dimensions of their pipe lines, which have been greatly increased during the war. Present mechanical coal-cleaning equipment based upon gravity concentration has gone a long way toward giving us a coal of uniform ash content. The chart in Fig. I, by Hebley,1 shows the greater uniformity of the ash content of washed coal as compared with that of raw coal. Wide variation in the nature and amount of ash in the coal feed to the washer leads to a coal of non-uniform ash content. Mechanica1 cleaning equipment does not understand such terms as ash-softening temperature, coking properties, size consist and sulphur content. Unless the feed to the washer is uniform, the washed coal probably will not be uniform. Table I shows the ash, sulphur and ash-softening temperature of two mines in the Pittsburgh bed, both raw and washed, loaded over the same tipple; also No. 3 and No. 4 Pocahontas seams, both raw and washed, loaded from the same preparation plant. It is obvious that they must be blended or loaded separately if a uniform product is to be obtained. Why Is Blending Necessary? It was natural for the operators of captive mines producing by-product coals to recognize the necessity for blending raw coals of different quality and coking characteristics. They have had many years of experience with blending high, low and medium volatile coals at their oven plants. They have found that careful blending gives a coke of more uniform quality and better structure. Coals that could not be

Jan 1, 1947

THE illustration below shows the design of the face of the clock to be erected as a memorial to the American engineers who gave their lives overseas in the World War. It will be placed in the tower of the library at Louvain, which has been rebuilt through contributions from America. Large clocks seldom have figures on their faces, and each hour on this one will be marked by a gold star, the four faces containing 48 stars, one for each State of the Union. Contributions toward the memorial have been received from every one of the States, and from Alaska and Hawaii as well, but additional subscriptions are invited by the Com-mittee which is arranging for the memorial.

Jan 3, 1928

By L. E. PORTNER

INCREASING military demands on the petroleum industry have brought into bold relief the crude-oil reserves now available to meet combined military and civilian demands, emphasizing the necessity for a greater efficiency in recovery from what has been discovered than ever before, particularly in light of the absence of new discoveries. This situation-and the fact that the industry, as well as members of the Government charged with governing oil production, desire to meet all crude-oil demands made of the industry with the least loss in tangible reserves through production practices-paves the way for increasing application of sound principles of production engineering and conservation.

Jan 1, 1944

By William R. Webster

In view of the great interest now taken in the tests of castiron and details of foundry practice, with the number of investigators at work, and recent improvements in the methods of research, it would seem that the time is ripe to attempt the solution of some of the many problems with which iron founders have to contend. Recent papers and discussions on these subjects* have opened up s large field for investigation, and have emphasized the importance of many considerations generally overlooked. With the view of promoting a comprehensive and systematic discussion, I have attempted to tabulate, in conveilient form, some of the most important points for investigation, on the general plan suggested, with such good results, by our former President, H. M. Howe, for the discussion on the Physics of Steel, at the Virginia Beach meeting, last year. This table can, no doubt, be modified or enlarged to advantage, and put in shape to serve as a guide or reminder to all who are interested in this line of work. Suggested Lines for Discussion and Investigation. I.—Correspondence between chemical composition and melting point, fluidity, shrinkage, fracture, chill, micro-structure, and other physical properties. II.—Influence of: I. Cupola mixture, use of steel and other scrap, oxidized or clean material, 2. Manner of melting, flux, etc., 3. Casting temperature, A. Fracture. 4. Manner of handling melted metal and B. Micro-structure. method of casting, C. Physical properties. 5. Size and form of casting, D. Shrinkage. 6. Kind of mould, green sand (under dif- on 1 E. Chill. ferent conditions of ramming, amount F. Residual stress. of moisture, and skin-dried), dry sand, G. Condition and quan loam, and chills, tity of carbon and 7. Rate and mode of cooling castings, other elements. 8. Manner and temperature of heating for annealing, 9. Additions of nickel or aluminum,

Jan 1, 1896

By H. OSBORG

THE patent literature of alloys for the last two decades or so indicates that the number of liatents referring to smaller and smaller percentages of essential alloying constituents is on the increase, whereas the number of patents relating to considerable percentages of alloying additions becomes smaller. The claims regarding physical properties indicate consistently higher and more rigid values and show the possibility of modifying the physical properties by only slight changes in the percentage of minor constituents or by applying different methods - of treatment. Alloys of the same base have been made suitable for a number of different applications by intelligently and rigid- ly controlling their composition, melting, casting, working, and heat-treatments. Other trends indicated in the development of modern alloys are higher corrosion resistance, higher fatigue limits, and "stability" in volume.

Jan 1, 1937

By R. A. Deju, R. B. Bhappu

Further information on the surface characteristics of the silicate minerals was obtained by experimentally correlating the oxygen-silicon ratio of the silicates with their electrokinetic properties. Specifically, the behavior of the minerals in an electric field was investigated using zero point of charge as a parameter. A modified electrophoresis cell was used for the determination of electrophoretic mobilities. It was shown that there is an increase in the zero point of charge with increasing oxygen-silicon ratio in the silicates. Finally, a chemical interpretation was presented to describe the surface phenomena observed in the experiments. In recent years great interest in surface chemistry has produced a number of methods to study the surfaces of minerals and to observe the phenomena occurring at their interfaces. One such method is discussed in this paper. A rather complete review of the surface characteristics of the oxide minerals has been undertaken by parks,' but, a similar study has not been made for the silicate minerals. Two previous papers by the authors2'3 attempted to remedy this situation. In these papers it was demonstrated that the reaction between the silicate mineral particles and acidic water involves mainly an exchange of metal ions for hydrogen ions on the surface of the solid, leading to an increase in pH of the aqueous phase. Also, the degree of reaction was found to depend on the oxygen-silicon ratio of the silicate structure, being least for the quartz and greatest for the olivines. A hypothesis was then set forth explaining that upon the fracturing of a silicate mineral, the oxygen-metal bond (which is almost entirely ionic in character) will break more easily than the stronger oxygen-silicon bond. This results in the exposure of unsatisfied oxygen sites on one hand and active, exchangeable cations on the other. These active sites on the fractured surfaces are then available for reaction with the hydrogen ions in acidified aqueous solution. Thus, an increase in degree of adsorption of hydrogen ions occurs as the oxygen-silicon ratio increases due to the presence of a larger number of active sites on such minerals. A correlation between oxygen-silicon ratio and electrokinetic properties will be further pursued in this paper from both the theoretical and experimental points of view. Efforts will then be made to present a chemical interpretation of surface phenomena observed in the experiments. It is believed that this study may supply pertinent information on the behavior of silicate minerals in froth flotation systems. ELECTROKINETIC STUDIES Equipment: In a previous paper,2 Deju and Bhappu described a simple method for determing the zero point of charge using a potential across a cata-phoresis cell and observing particle movement by means of a Rayoscope* optical system. This setup is simple in design and operation and extremely reliable. With care, reproducible results within 1.5% accuracy may be obtained. A new setup has been developed, based partly on the design by Zeta-Meter Corp.4 and partly on previous cells used at the New Mexico Bureau of Mines. This new, modified cell is shown in Fig. 1. Although

Jan 1, 1967

Executive ARTHUR S DWIGHT, Chairman B THAYER CHARLES F RAND P MATHEWSON J V W REYNDERS Membership WILLIAM H BASSETT, Chairman W Y WESTERVELT Vice-chairman P MATHEWSON H G MOULTON F T RUBIDGE Finance WALTER H ALDRIDGE, Chairman GEORGE D BARRON GALEN H CLEVENGER

Jan 1, 1923

By T. F. McCormick

THIS year, 1950, is the golden anniversary of the construction and operation in this country of a tube mill for the sole purpose of fabricating aluminum alloy tubing. For a short period prior to the beginning of this mill, aluminum alloy tubing was obtained from foreign sources or produced in mills fabricating other metals. Indeed, it was a very short period because aluminum itself was a newcomer in the field of metals. The first sheet rolling mill had been in operation just eight years and a rod rolling mill for the production of wire and cable had been functioning one year. The first tube mill for aluminum was built by the Aluminum Co. of America in May 1900 and started production with four draw benches and five men, including the mill superintendent. The building itself was a lean-to attached to a sheet-rolling mill at New Kensington, Pa. The cost of equipment, including the draw benches, dies, mandrels, and other tools, was about $5000. This figure seems absurd in the present day but nevertheless it was questioned at that time whether or not such a large sum should be spent to embark on a new and uncertain venture. The initial production system for the new mill consisted of casting round hollow ingots in a tilting-type iron mold, reducing the ingots to bloom size outside the plant, and finally drawing to size on the draw benches. This method of producing aluminum alloy tubing survived just two years, as blooms of satisfactory quality were not obtained consistently. It was superseded by the cupping method in which a 24-in. diam circle cut from a rolled plate was formed into a tube bloom using first a small cupping press and then a push bench. It was stated that tubing so produced was limited to a maximum diameter of 2 3/4 in. and to wall thicknesses varying from 12 to 24 gage. However, for the first time all the operations were performed at one plant and the result was a quality product. Later larger cupping presses and push benches were obtained and the method continued to be the principal one for aluminum alloy tubing for almost a quarter of a century. During the interim the use of a Alan Mannesmann -type billet piercer was explored and it was used to some extent, but failed to produce consistently a smooth inside surface suitable for drawing with aluminum alloys. Experiments started during the latter stages of World War I in the production of tube blooms with a hydraulic extrusion press, led to the use of this type of equipment to make tube blooms for further drawing during a change-over period extending from 1925 until 1930. At this time the cupping method was discarded completely. From these humble beginnings, the aluminum alloy tubing business expanded until well over six million pounds were produced in a single month in the United States during World War II. The major portion of this production was in strong alloys which did not appear in the tubing picture until 1022, when 17S alloy tubing was introduced for aircraft construction.

Jan 1, 1951

Executive ERLE V. DAVELER. Chair u W. B. HEROY PAUL D. MERICA JOHN M. LOVEJOY WILLIAM WRAITH Finance H. G. MOULTON, Chairman H. T. HAMILTON HENRY KRUMB Admissions JOHN L. CHRISTIE, Chairman GEORGE D. BARRON, Vice-Chairman FRED H. KAY PHILIP KRAFT H. Y. WALKER

Jan 1, 1938

United Engineering Trustees, Inc. GEORGE D. BARRON WILLIAM H. BASSETT R. M. ROOSEVELT The Engineering Foundation GEORGE D. BARRON H. C. BELLINGER E. DEGOLYER Engineering Societies Library Board ROBERT PEELE PHILIP W. HENRY H. K. MASTERS A. B. PARSONS, Ex-officio R. H. SWEETSER

Jan 1, 1932

By E. H. Rose

IN a year of sober reflection and stocktaking after the mineral-squandering spree of World War II, the role that beneficiation of low-grade must henceforth play in American mineral industry has become unmistakable. From the volume of research and development progress in mineral engineering during 1946, mineral dressers evidently have ample resoluteness to meet the challenge. Perhaps ,the most conspicuous trend of the year was the renascence of interest in gravity concentrating methods and more serious effort than ever before to make them effective in finer size ranges down to 200 mesh. This has been forced by the problem in iron ores where the low value of the product will not support a high flotation reagent cost, however good flotation pilot plant results may have been and however well the acute problem of variable feed may be met. The race is on between rabbit flotation and tortoise gravity methods and a surprising amount of betting money is being laid on the tortoise which already is showing previously unsuspected talent for speed. Mostly, however, a wait-and-see attitude prevails during the present preliminary heats. As evidence of the latter, two magnetic plants are now on the boards for magnetic taconites on the eastern Mesabi to establish a reprieve against the time when nonmagnetic taconites must be addressed. Incidentally, these operations will force the blast-furnace issue on preparation of fine material since a minus-100-mesh grind is contemplated.

Jan 1, 1947

By A. Kenneth Schellinger

THE terms surface tension .and surface energy are well known when applied to liquids and are generally described by referring to the excess energy of the air: liquid interface as a result of unsaturated molecular forces surrounding the surface molecules of the liquid due to the presence of the air phase on one side. Such unbalanced forces produce the familiar water droplet of spherical form and are generally summed up as a surface tension measured in dynes per centimeter which can be shown mathematically to be equal numerically to a corresponding surface energy expressed in ergs per square centimeter. A specific surface energy, however, is best thought of as the energy necessary to produce one unit of new surface on a substance. Hence, in producing a bubble in a flotation cell the impeller must supply surface energy corresponding to the air: liquid interfacial area on the interior of the bubble. Inasmuch as it is relatively easy to extend or contract the surface of a liquid, there are a number of successful methods for liquid surface tension, or energy, measurement based upon surface deformation. This happy state of affairs does not, however, extend to solids, which are considered to possess surface energies for the same reasons as do liquids, i.e. because of unsaturated ionic bonds at the solid gas interface. As in the case of the flotation cell producing surface on liquids as new bubbles, it takes energy to produce new surface on solids as new particles. As every mill man knows, this surface is produced on mineral solids in a grinding mill by the action of a tumbling mass of iron balls. But here so much energy usually is wasted by the inefficient action of these balls that a large amount of heat is generated, and the surface energy production may be easily confused with the energy necessary to produce this ineffective heat. The tumbling balls and fracturing minerals ultimately take their energy from a rather large electric motor. It has been variously estimated that from 10 to 20 pct" only of this energy from the motor does not appear as heat and may be presumed to appear as surface energy on the minerals present.. Such a production of new surface on the mineral phases is accompanied, of course, by a size reduction that is inevitable as more and more mineral interior molecules become surface molecules by the fracture exposure. This size reduction of mineral particles, although the most obvious feature and perhaps the sole object of the milling operation, is from this energy viewpoint the outward manifestation of the production of surface energy only. Measurement of the characteristic surface energies of pure minerals and their various mixtures in ores would be a step towards understanding of the energetics of the commercial grinding operation. In addition, the characteristic surface energy of a mineral is probably a physical property specific for that mineral, and therefore, from a scientific standpoint, should be measured. It is interesting to note that, in contrast to the large body of work on the surface tensions of liquid systems and biological systems, the field of solid surface energies has been neglected. Prior to. 1920 it is difficult to find more than one or two references to work on solid surface energies in Chemical Abstracts. Since 1920 such references number somewhat less than 100, while those on liquid systems are numbered in the thousands. Much of this apparent neglect of the field of solid surface energies (the term is intended to be somewhat inclusive at this point and refers both to the solid: gas, and the solid: liquid interface) is because of the lack of a reliable method of measurement rather than any lack of scientific curiosity. It was, and still is, difficult to produce new surface on a solid without the simultaneous production of interior changes in the same solid which may consume part of the energy used. The extension in the surface area can be measured, but the interior crystal-

Jan 1, 1952

By Alfred Weiss

The Daniel C. Jackling Award, established in 1953, is presented for significant contributions to technical programs in mining, geology, and geophysics. This year's recipient, Alfred Weiss, was cited "For his pioneering achievements in applying systems analysis, operations research, and computer methods in exploration, mining, and environmental control; and in disseminating the new technology to the worldwide mining community; and for his lecture, “New Concepts and Tools in Decision-Making.”

Jan 1, 1979

By S. E. Maddigan, B. R. Zimmerman

Most metallurgists are well acquainted with the contributions already made to the study of metals by the use of X-rays. On the one hand, the radiographic method is constantly becoming of increasing importance as a nondestructive testing procedure, while on the other hand the techniques of X-ray diffraction have made important contributions to the fundamental knowledge in studies of phase diagrams, stress conditions, and so forth. A new, and as yet insufficiently appreciated, tool exists in the application of microradiography to alloy structures. This new procedure in many respects bears the same relation to microscopic investigations as does macroradiography to the gross inspection of metal surfaces. However, where macroradiography is used ordinarily to determine the soundness of the metal structure, this new method can be used not only to investigate micro-un-soundness but also to examine the distribution of the constituent elements within the body of the alloy. When combined with the normal procedures of microscopy, this offers a technique of great potential power. It is intended in this paper to present a few examples of copper-base alloys demonstrating the additional knowledge obtained from the microradiographic method. The detection of micro-unsoundness is demonstrated in Fig. I for a sample of cartridge brass as cast. The sample ap- peared quite sound when viewed under the microscope, but in reality was thickly populated with minute voids. This application of the method conforms in every way to conventional large-scale radiography and has been used to facilitate production of metal for vacuum devices.' The true potentialities of the technique are revealed by comparison of Figs, 2a and 2b, which are respectively a photomicrograph and a microradiograph of a cast alloy of 80 per cent Cu, 10 per cent Sn, 10 per cent Pb. The remarkable difference in appearance provides some concept of the additional information this method may yield when used as an auxiliary to microscopic studies. Fig. 2a shows two phases of the copper-tin system plus segregated_ lumps of lead. Fig. 2b, on the other hand, shows with exceptional clarity the actual dendritic growth of the metal crystals during solidification. The practice of microradiography depends upon the laws of absorption of X-rays. This subject has been reviewed thoroughly in recent papers,l,2,3 but for clarity a brief resume will be given here. As is well known, when a beam of X-rays is transmitted through a, layer of homogeneous material, the intensity is reduced according to the relation: where Il is the transmitted intensity, I0 is the incident intensity, µ1 is the linear absorption coefficient of the material, t1 is the thickness of the material.

Jan 1, 1944