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By A. M. Hall

Sulphur, even in small amounts, may often be harmful to nickel and high-nickel alloys, causing impairment of mechanical strength and destruction of malleability and ductility, as shown by Merica and Waltenberg.l,2 It may act either in the form of nonmetallic inclusions produced in the liquid state during furnacing or as reaction products resulting from its diffusion into the solid metal. In recognizing the action of this element, ability to identify its various forms by means of the microscope is often of considerable importance, especially when direct quantitative methods are inapplicable. Of the sulphur compounds associated with nickel and high-nickel alloys, the sulphides that may be found in malleable nickel, Monelt and Inconel are an important group. These sulphides were investi- gated by metallographic methods in order to provide descriptive data by which to identify them. The nominal compositions of malleable nickel, Monel and Inconel are given in Table I. The term "sulphide" is employed here in a very general sense, to designate a substance in which sulphur and one or more metallic elements are combined. The term includes any combinations of compounds and solid solutions. Method of Investigation Three groups of small laboratory melts were made, one group to represent each of the three types of alloy under investigation. Within each group, a number of ingots with a sufficient variety of chemical analyses were prepared so that the effect of each of the elements entering the complete commercial alloy could be isolated and observed. In most cases, to facilitate metallographic study by exaggerating the number and size of the resulting sulphides, somewhat greater amounts of the minor elements were added than are present in the commercial alloys. Likewise, considerably more sulphur was added than is normal, but not enough to complicate the system. Transverse sections were cut at a point one third of the distance from the butt to the head of each ingot, polished and examined with an inverted stage metallo-graph equipped with a combination polar -izing-analyzing vertical illuminator. The light source was a tungsten-mercury vapor arc lamp.

Jan 1, 1943

By P. H. Bohart

THe answer to the title question will be found by considering the ultimate influence of the petroleum engineers on industry and by considering the tools with which petroleum engineers must be equipped. Some 2000 to 3000 petroleum engineers are being absorbed by the industry yearly, indicating the magnitude of influence which they may exert on the industry. The petroleum industry is a highly technical one and it is inevitable that management be entrusted more and more to executives with technical training. The industry, therefore, expects the petroleum engineering schools to provide a broad basic training and a social and economic orientation which goes beyond merely supplying the minimum technical qualifications necessary to discharge responsibilities for a particular job. Because of the many branches of industry, emphasis must be placed on the Student's being trained in fundamentals, as well as grounded in other engineering branches, such as mechanical, civil and electrical engineering. The petroleum engineering graduate must know how to outline and organize the material for an engineering report and should be thoroughly grounded in English, both written and spoken. Even to the end that a five-year course may be required, they should receive instructions in auxiliary cultural and social science courses, industrial relations, and public speaking. Training in the method of approach to an engineering problem is something in which industry is deeply interested. A standard of ethics, a desire to arrive at the truth, and leadership training should be stressed. Introduction The basis of an an to any ques- tion concerning the petroleum engineering schools' responsibility to the industry will be found by considering the ultimate influence of the petroleum engineers on the industry and by considering also the tools with which petroleum engineers must be equipped in order to achieve success and happiness in the role in which their training, individual talents and choice of a profession ultimately will cast them. The problem must always be considered as it relates to a large group and not as it relates to a particular individual possessing strong natural talents and destined, by virtue of them, to pursue a certain course. The question implies that petroleum engineering schools have a responsibility, and indeed they do, not only to the industry but also to the students and even to the public. Because the responsibility is concentrated in a relatively few schools whose graduates are absorbed largely by the one industry, the responsibility is more apparent and the effect of failure to discharge the responsibility fully is more serious than the effect of similar failure on the part of schools supplying a smaller portion of the industry's intake of engineering graduates. This fact is especially true with respect to an industry such as the petroleum industry whose ratio of technical to nontechnical employees is relatively high and is increasing.

Jan 1, 1948

By C. G. McLachlan

THIS paper outlines a series of tests carried out during the first six months of 1927, in the laboratory and mill of the Moctezuma Copper Co. The object of the tests was to determine whether the soluble salts present in the mill circuit water were having a detrimental effect on the recovery made by flotation. To accomplish this object a series of water analyses were made, followed by flotation experiments in which definite quantities of the salts found were added as addition agents. Before proceeding to describe the results obtained in the course of the investigation, reference will be made to five articles that have appeared during the last two years in which the action of such salts is discussed. Two of these are by A. T. Tye1,2 and describe flotation practice at Cananea and the way in which water high in ferrous and ferric salts is conditioned for differential flotation. Two, one by A. C. Munro and H. A. Pearse3 and the other by H. A. Pearse,4 outline Britannia milling methods, and the advantages that have been derived from ore washing; while in the fifth, A. W. Hahn5 summarizes the results of laboratory experiments in which ferrous, ferric and aluminum sulfates have been added in varying amounts. The mill of the Moctezuma Copper Co. has a daily capacity of 3000 tons, and is situated about 75 miles south of Douglas, Arizona, on the Rio de Nacozari, in the Mexican state of Sonora. The ore treated is mined from the company's mine at Pilares, about 5 miles southeast of the Concentrator. This ore contains about 2.5 per. cent. copper -- present almost entirely as chalcopyrite-and 10 per cent. iron, of which

Jan 1, 1928

By John Dilworth

THIS paper treats primarily of the valuation of developed coal properties by the method of capitalizing their estimated average future earnings. However, in it reference is also made to valuations of undeveloped coal lands and to various methods of appraisal other than by future earnings. FUNDAMENTAL VALUATION PRINCIPLES Before discussing in detail coal property valuations, a few statements bearing on the general subject will be made to present certain of the writer's views on the question as a whole. 1. A certain property at a given time has but, one true value. This is not universally admitted. The appraiser rather frequently finds that a coal owner has in mind three valuations for his holdings; one, the figure at which he feels they should be appraised for taxation purposes; another, the much higher one that should be used if a loan is to he negotiated on the property; and a third, intermediate between the other two, the price for which he would be willing to dispose of his holdings were they for sale. The last is usually nearest to the true value, and because this is so the statement is generally accepted that the fair value of such a property is the price arrived at by negotiation between a willing seller and a willing buyer who are otherwise disinterested. 2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is only very generally and approximately true that the proper measure of the value of a given developed1 coal acreage is the unit or per-acre price for which one or more bodies of similar coal in the salve district have been sold recently. To give a few reasons why such a measure of value can not be strictly applied, it may be noted:

Jan 1, 1927

By Russell Salter, Edwin J. King

SINCE 1950, when perhaps two or three cyclones were being tested in Arizona, the number in use has grown to about 100. Most of these have come into operation within the last two or three years, and according to information supplied by various mining companies, the number will continue to grow for several years more. In mills that have been recently constructed, cyclones dominate the fine classification field, removing grit from lime slurries, producing smelter flux, reducing concentrate thickener overloads, classifying molybdenite in grinding circuits, and conditioning flotation feed. Four major copper companies are now testing cyclones in primary grinding circuits, and one concentrator soon to begin operation will classify entirely with cyclones. In at least two instances these versatile machines have been given a vital role in the construction of tailings disposal systems.

Jan 8, 1957

By K. L. Moazed, G. M. Pound

An investigation was made of the deposition of silver from a thermal beam onto tungsten field-emitter tips at 300°K. "Island"-type nuclei were observed to form and grow. The nucleation of silver crystals occurs preferentially on non-close -packed planes of a tungsten tip at a critical volume free-energy change of about —2900 cal per cc. The adatom population which is critical for appreciable nucleation rate of silver crystals is about 0.2 of a monolayer and is essentially independent of beam flux, time, and source temperature. This result is strong evidence that a metastable equilibrium exists between adatoms and critical nuclei, as assumed in the present theory. SOME of the more significant studies of nucleation in deposition of metals from vapor beams have been conducted by measuring the thermal beam flux which is critical for appreciable rate of nucleation on a substrate surface held at a given temperature.'2 The observed critical supersaturations may be described in terms of Eq. [7] which was derived3'3a on the model of an adsorption, surface migration, and statistical fluctuation mechanism. However there usually made with a low-power optical microscope, a fairly insensitive method of detection. The object of the present study was to overcome some of these difficulties by measuring the critical supersaturation for condensation of a thermal beam of silver onto a tungsten field-emitter tip. Such a tip may be cleaned by electrically heating it to a high temperature in situ, and the high vacuum obtainable in a field-emission tube (10-10 torr) precludes adsorption of residual gases for convenient periods of time. Furthermore, the degree of cleanliness, the orientation, and the state of imperfection of the tip may be ascertained from the field-emission pattern. Detailed explanations of theoretical considerations and experimental procedures relating to the field-emission microscope may be found in a number of excellent review articles12'13 and thus only a brief description will be given here. The electronic work function of a metal is defined as the energy that an electron needs to escape from the potential field of the solid. By applying a large field between the surface of the solid and a suitable collector, it is possible to free the electrons by the tunnel effect. Fields of approximately 30 million v per cm are needed to produce this effect, and such fields are obtained in practice by using microscopic surfaces of high curvature (tips). Because the work function of a metal is a function of surface orientation, the emission from the various planes is different, and thus it is possible to obtain a representation of the surface in the emission microscope. In general, the work function is higher for the more densely packed planes. Fig. 1 shows a pattern for "clean" tungsten in which the central dark region represents the (110)

Jan 1, 1964

By G. W. Jarman

THE purpose of this paper is to present briefly a description of some of the special methods of separation or concentration, either singly or in combination with others, and to give certain operating data and examples. Explanation of the usual methods of large-production mill treatment, such as flotation or wet tabling, or of chemically treating industrial minerals, is not included in the scope of this paper, although one of these methods might be, in certain instances, augmented by one or more of the special methods that will be enumerated herein. Description of these special methods will be centered on magnetic separators, electro- static separators and air flotation or air tables. MAGNETIC SEPERATORS In general, separating is achieved by exerting upon a particle some kind of force opposed to gravity, either directly or at an angle. For example, in the Wetherill or cross-belt type of magnetic separator some particles are lifted vertically from the others because they have been exposed to a force to which they respond more readily than particles of lesser magnetic susceptibility. Of course, there is a limitation to this vertical rise, for the particle must be of a high enough susceptibility to receive a magnetic force greater than the 980 dynes per gram of gravitational urge. To overcome this limitation, the induction type of magnetic separator was developed, so that it is only necessary to instill, say, 30 to 60 dynes per gram instead of the 980, to cause a deflection away from the vertical in falling, and that deflection can be used advantageously when falling by inserting a dividing knife-edge. The induction magnetic separator (Fig. 1) has become a fairly well known method of concentrating and purifying. For example, abrasive grain was among the materials that did not respond to the previously best known type of magnetic separator, such as the Wetherill type, and the development of the induction magnetic separator in the plant of a

Jan 1, 1938

By Schlumberger, C

IN the search for practical geological problems amenable to solution by the potential methods, the geophysicist is led to study mathematically various theoretical cases. In these idealistic discussions, the media under consideration are generally supposed to be homogeneous and iso-tropic. The geophysicist, of course, realizes perfectly that these condi-tions do not occur in their entirety in reality. However, the assumptions made are justified, because very often they are necessary in order to render possible an exhaustive study of a given problem, which otherwise would be too complicated, and would not lend itself to a complete mathe-matical analysis. Of the above two assumptions, that concerning the homogeneity of a given geological formation is satisfactorily realized except in so far as isotropy is concerned, since this property is not often encountered in practice. As a consequence, it is very desirable for the geophysicist to have quite an extensive knowledge of the properties of anisotropic forma-tions, and of the laws that govern the propagation of electric current therein. With such principles in mind, he will be able to decide whether the conclusions arrived at in simple, isotropic conditions are still correct in more complex cases, or in what way they must be modified or adapted in order to constitute a sound basis for the interpretation of the results obtained in anisotropic media. On the other hand, the fact that in anisotropic formations themobility of the ions is greater along the strike than perpendicular thereto can be utilized for determining the direction of the dip by induc-tion measurements. We therefore propose to study in three successive chapters the following points: 1. Propagation of the electric current in anisotropic media. 2. Some consequences of the anisotropy of geological formations with reference to the surface electrical measurements, and their interpretation. 3. Determination of the direction of the dip of anisotropic formations by surface induction measurements.

Jan 1, 1933

By William Price

DURING the past three or four years, the fabricators of silicon-bronze alloys have endeavored to induce risers of phosphor bronze to use instead the silicon-bronze alloys, claiming that the silicon bronzes are superior to the phosphor bronzes for switches and springs, or where high fatigue resistance is desired. This paper gives the results of tests comparing several phosphor bronzes with a 3 per cent silicon bronze and a copper-nickel-tin alloy (Adnic), all processed by the Scovill Manufacturing Co. So far as the authors are aware, sheet-metal fatigue tests have not been made on any of the alloys included in this report, except on one phosphor bronze, material C, Table 1, which was tested by Townsend and Greenall1.

Jan 1, 1937

By A. C. Fieldner, F. H. Gibson, W. A. Selvig

A foRmer paper1 described in detail various methods of calculating coal analyses to obtain the composition and calorific value of the pure coal substance—that is, of the coal free from its mineral matter. The paper included a table showing calorific values of pure coal, as calculated from float-and-sink portions, by means of the Parr formula for "unit coal" and by the customary moisture-free and ash-free formula. A modification of the Parr formula was proposed, based on the assumption that one-half the sulfur present in Coal occurs as pyritic sulfur and one-half as organic sulfur. In the published discussion of the paper Cady gave a table of results on a large number of Illinois coals as obtained by the Parr formula and the proposed modification thereof. The results obtained by Cady indicate that the Parr formula applies better to Illinois coals than does the modified formula proposed by Fieldner and Selvig. The present paper gives results obtained by applying the modified Parr formula to the analyses of the float-and-sink portions of the coals shown in the former paper, and results obtained by applying the Parr formula, the modified Parr formula, and the simple moisture-free and ash-free formula to various coals of the United States ranging in sulfur content from less than 1 per cent to more than 4 per cent sulfur. A graphic method of estimating the calorific value of pure coal and determining the relation of the coal ash to the mineral matter of coal, as proposed by Stansfield and Sutherland,2 was applied to a number of coals, and the results are given herein. Testing Formulas with Float-and-sink Separations The former paper by Fieldner and Selvig gave heat values of pure coal of the float-and-sink portions of 21 coals, as calculated by the Parr formula

Jan 1, 1932

By C. H. Herty

The results of a study of the open-hearth process from the physicochemical viewpoint are given. This study includes experimentation in small laboratory furnaces and in standard 100-ton furnaces. The behavior of manganese, carbon and phosphorus are quantitatively explained. The action of "residual" manganese is discussed with reference to its relation to iron oxide dissolved in the metal. The solubility of CO in steel and its relation to dissolved FeO and carbon is given. The equation for phosphorus elimination has been tested out on a 200-ton furnace and the results are given in the text. The effect of temperature and slag composition on the elimination of metalloids in the basic open-hearth process has been qualitatively understood since the early days of steel making. The quantitative effect has, however, only recently been brought to attention. The effect of slag composition has received more attention than that of temperature, primarily because the range of finishing temperatures in the basic open-hearth process is small compared to the large variations found in the composition of the slag at different periods during the process, and to the variations occurring with the use of raw materials of different degrees of impurity. The effect of slag composition on the elimination of metalloids has been studied by Styril from the thermochemical standpoint. This method is open to serious errors, in that thermochemical data at 2900' F. are very inaccurate and in many cases completely lacking. Feild2 has calculated equilibrium constants from the rate at which the metalloids are eliminated. The effect of slag viscosity on rate of elimination will affect the constants calculated by this method. Whitely,a Colcough4 and others have used slag compositions as the basis for calculation of constants by which the extent of elimination may be calculated.

Jan 1, 1926

DAVE BARTLEY and Edwin F. Gray, miners, late of Shasta County, California, young, healthy, and "dead broke," arrived at Ely, Nevada, one evening in the summer of 1900. Before rustling jobs and going to work, they decided to look around the camp, and in pursuance of this plan they visited a number of claims owned by D. C. McDonald, Justice of the Peace and pioneer of the district. Among the claims he showed them were the Ruth (named after his daughter) and the Kearsarge. Both were regarded as possible gold or silver properties. For no very definite reason the two miners changed their plan and took a lease and option to buy the two claims for $3500. After the transaction was closed and the partners were alone, Gray asked Bartley what he thought of the ground. "If she's good for anything, it's copper" was the reply; and, so far as the records disclose, that was the first time that anyone ever thought of Ely or the Robinson mining district, as it was called, as a possible copper area. There were some slight surface indications of copper, but it is probable that the fact that Bartley had just come from a copper district had something to do with his predilection for a metal that was much despised around Ely. In any event, his hunch was good, and he spoke with the wisdom of an oracle. For thirty years prospectors had sought gold and silver around the camp. Several stamp mills and cyanide plants had been put up and a hundred shafts had been sunk, but fate had been indifferent in its rewards to the optimistic owners. Copper ore would have to be hauled by wagon, 150 miles down Steptoe Valley to the Southern Pacific Railroad, and there was scant hope of finding ore that would bear this cost. W. B. Graham, who ran the general store in Ely, grubstaked Bartley and Gray, furnishing them with food and mining

Jan 1, 1933

Slovenliness is as reprehensible in words as in clothes. Much writing that we recognize as poor in style is merely sloppy. Just as some students postpone the necessary shave or forget to change their collars, so young engineers in writing drop their articles, definite and indefinite, or omit prepositions where they are required, possibly to compensate for those they use unnecessarily The work will begin [on] Saturday. Influenza seriously affected many mines [during] the last three months. Flotation in America [during] the last two years has made tremendous strides. Construction of the mill started [on] August 12, 1915, at which time 75% of the excavation was completed. The idea I wish to convey is [that] there are mineral deposits to which the present law applies badly. For this reason, if there was [for] no other, the ownership of the ore below and [of] the surface above should go together. When a unit of mapping is furnished, be the unit a claim or [a] group of claims, it is necessary . . . A fully stocked store was started in Park City and all employees [were] sold merchandise on a strictly cost basis. The word "merchandise" is left without government or agreement. 'I suggest: ". . . and merchandise was sold to all the employees on a strictly cash basis." The verb 'be' is serving concurrently both as a principal and as an auxiliary in the following: At first the work was interesting and [was] liked by most of the men. The sulphide ore was more complex or [was] milled at an increased cost. The failure to repeat the auxiliary verb in successive clauses is a common error, as in The filter is filled with liquid allowed to empty, and then ignited.

Jan 1, 1931

By Clarence E. Jackson, George G. Luther

THE ever increasing array of information concerning the measurement of the effect of the welding process on the properties of a steel is an indication of the tremendous effort that is being expended in this field. The methods that have been considered may be divided into two groups: first, those that measure directly the effect of welding on the ductility of a steel, and, second, those that observe the change in some property, such as the hardness of the heat-affected zone, and assume a direct correlation between this change and the resultant ductility. The nick-bend test is a direct method designed for studying the effect of welding on the ductility of a steel. The test specimen (Fig. I) consists of a bar cut from a plate with a bead weld on the surface. The specimen is prepared with a saw-notch placed so as to restrict deformation to the heat-affected zone under the bead weld when tested as a static bend. Failure is caused by rupture of the low-ductility metal in the heat-affected zone. The angle at maximum load is used as an index of the effect of the welding process on the material. In the development of the nick-bend test considerable scatter was noted in some of the results, although the agreement of duplicate specimens welded at the same time and tested consecutively was excellent. Upon further investigation it was found that the change in ductility was dependent upon the interval of time between the welding operation and the testing of the specimen. For the six steels of Fig. a, the angle at maximum load in four cases was doubled and in one case was tripled. All steels that have been studied show an improvement in the angle of bend for longer intervals between welding and testing. This same behavior has been found in weldability tests using the Navy T-bend

Jan 1, 1945

By W. D. Robertson, H. H. Uhlig

The intermetallic compounds MgzSn and Mg2Pb are two of the important series of stoichiometric compounds which magnesium forms with elements of the fourth group of the periodic system. Since there is a complete series of compounds, all possessing the same comparatively simple structure, a unique opportunity is presented to study their properties with respect to increasing atomic number of the anion as it varies from silicon and germanium, through tin and lead. The present work deals with the two lower members of this group, and it is hoped eventually that additional data regarding the silicide and germanide will be obtained. The results of such a complete study provide part of the essential basis for the empirical correlation and theoretical treatment which, in other systems, has contributed to an understanding of inter-metallic compounds and the metallic'state in general. Some experimental data are already available in the literature. However, they are fragmentary and limited in significance owing to the methods of preparation employed and the impure materials available at the time. It was our objective, therefore, using pure metals and improved metallurgical methods of preparation, to produce stoichiometric compounds of high purity for the study of their electrical and chemical properties. We felt that a detailed investigation of chemical properties, about which relatively little is known, combined with electrical properties, would be a significant contribution to the understanding of these compounds and in particular to the mechanism of corrosion associated with types of bonding in alloy systems. The chemical studies are reported elsewhere. Previous Investigations Previous work concerning the electrical properties of these compounds was undertaken in connection with the establishment of the two phase diagrams which are available in Hansenl and Beck. The first comprehensive investigation of the electrical conductivity of magnesium-tin and magnesium-lead alloys was made by Kurnakov and Stepanov.3 This was followed by Grube and Voss-kiihler4 who studied electrical conductivity and thermal expansion over a wide range of temperature and who, unlike Stepanov, appreciated the significance of the large solid solubility of tin in magnesium and took some precautions to obtain an equilibrium state. However, at the time these investigations were made, neither pure magnesium nor

Jan 1, 1949

By Robert Anderson

DURING the past 5 years no subject has aroused more interest or received more attention among mill operators than flotation. One reason for this is, undoubtedly, the remarkable success of the process in Australia where that country has risen to the position of furnishing one-fifth of the world's Supply of zinc. The plant of the Butte & Superior Copper Co., designed by James M. Hyde in 1912, was the first important large flotation plant in this country; other installations have been made since then with considerable frequency, particularly so in the last 2 years. Without going into complete detail, it may be safely said that although flotation is a highly successful commercial process, it is more or less on an empirical basis. Upon scanning the literature, it is found that the flotation investigations have, in the main, dealt with a solution of the problems which accrue to practise; until recently no attempt was made to remove the difficulties in the way of the formulation of a consistent and harmonious theory. Of late this phase of the work has been receiving considerable attention, particularly by the United States Bureau of Mines at its Salt Lake City station, by the Mellon Institute at Pittsburgh, by the General Engineering Co. at Salt Lake City, by many of the mining schools, and private individuals almost ad infinitum. There is, at present, an enormous amount of laboratory work being carried on in flotation research, and probably the time is not far away when a generally acceptable explanation of flotation phenomena can be Set forth. However, at this time, it seems as though the current technology is befogged with a super-abundance of contradictory evidence; this confusion can only be dispelled as time proceeds and the knowledge of the subject becomes more complete.

Jan 7, 1916

By A. Gatti

Studies were made on the system iron plus alumina. Various methods of dispersing and various amounts of alumina were used. Powder metallurgy techniques were used to produce the final product. Microstructures and some mechanical properties are presented. Alloys containing up to 16 pct alumina by weight are ductile at all temperatures tested. The ivon-alumina materials have a higher yield stress and improved creep resistance over that of pure iron. SINCE the development of SAP' an A1- Al2O3 powder metallurgy product, great interest has been shown in the development of a SAP-like structure in metals and alloys other than aluminum. The outstanding properties of this class of materials are: 1) Good creep resistance at high temperature. 2) High yield strengths and high hardness at high temperatures. 3) High recrystallization temperature. However, the lack of ductility and formability has thus far limited the applications of SAP-like materials. The following report deals with methods of dispersing A12O3 in Fe, processing of powders into rod, structures produced after processing, and mechanical properties of the iron-alumina material produced. Methods of dispersing the alumina and also the volume fraction of alumina added were varied. MATERIAL Powder Processing— Four methods of obtaining dispersions of alumina in iron were studied. 1) Oxidation-reduction of a Fe + 8 pct Al alloy. .2) Coprecipitation of Fe(OH)3 + Al(OH)3 from aqueous solution. 3) Colloidal mixing of Fe,O3 and Al2O3. 4) Colloidal mixing of Fe powder and A1,O3. Fig. 1 is a processing flowsheet which outlines the processing steps taken to produce a final extruded bar 1/4 in. in diameter and about 30 in. long. The - 100 mesh iron-aluminum alloy was oxidized by placing a thin layer of powder on an alumina plaque. The reduction step was modified to include 1/2 hr at 1000°C since the powders tended to become pyro-phoric unless sintered slightly after low-temperature reduction. Compacting was done in a 1-1/8-in.-diam pressing die. The slugs produced averaged 1 in. in length. The billets were encased in low-carbon steel cans shown schematically in Fig. 2. The blank is included for structure and property comparison purposes. TESTING PROCEDURE All tests were made on as-extruded material.

Jan 1, 1960

By P. E. Doherty, R. S. Davis

Sub boundaries and micropores, as well as certain other imperfections, may be revealed in aluminum by the formation of pits on the surface during cooling from elevated temperatures. The pits are attributed to the condensation of vacancies from supersaturated solution. This "vacancy pit" phenomenon has been used as an etching technique for studying the structure of aluminum specimens grown from the melt. Three fundamental structures were studied: stria-tions, cells, and dendrites. Two types of striations, as well as a crosswise structure are reported. Mic-roporosity is observed to occur in the cell walls on freezing. Subboundaries between primary, secondary, and tertiary branches are observed in dendritic growth. A special case is cited in which cellular growth suppresses the formation of striations. SMALL, well-defined pits have been observed to form on the surfaces of electropolished aluminum specimens during cooling from elevated temperatures.' This phenomenon was attributed to the condensation, from supersaturated solution, of vacancies at particular points on the surface. It was shown that the amount of cooling required for the formation of pits increased exponentially with decreasing holding temperatures in a way that was consistent with the thesis that a critical supersaturation of vacancies was required for the pits to form. Pits do not form in the vicinity of certain imperfections, namely, subgrain or normal graind boundaries, phase boundaries, certain surface irregularities, and pores. The width of the pit-free region increases with decreasing cooling rate. This observation suggests that the imperfections in question are effective sinks for vacancies and that the pit-free region around them is material that is not sufficiently supersaturated with respect to vacancies to nucleate the surface pits during cooling.

Jan 1, 1962

By Alan Morris

The investigation of the hot-working properties of metals and alloys furnishes a problem which has been attacked in many ways. Tensile, impact and hardness tests on heated specimens have furnished interesting data, but in most cases either the tests are difficult to make or the results hard to translate into terms of practical value. Some investigators have used the drop hammer to advantage. It furnishes a rapid and simple method of comparing the plasticity of metals at elevated temperatures. The indications obtained by its use are of value only in so far as their significance is understood and they can be intelligently used to predict the behavior of a given metal under given hot-working conditions. The work reported here was undertaken not only to add something to the existing volume of such data but also to contribute to our understanding of the results. Doerinckel and Trockels1 used cylindrical specimens and determined the work required to reduce the specimen to one-half the original height. Ellis2 studied the effect of constitution on the malleability of steel at high temperature. His method and that of Kent3 were similar to the one used in the present work. The tests described by Kent were made on samples of tin, zinc, aluminum, copper, lead, 70:30 and 60:40 brasses, with and without a small quantity of lead. He concluded that the test would "indicate whether a material can be forged at a given temperature without cracking." This interpretation must be used with caution. While it is probably true within limits, one must consider the severity of the forging operation. Again, it will not apply strictly to forms of hot working other than forging. For instance, an alloy running 61.0 per cent. copper, 3.25 per cent. lead, remainder zinc, will crack badly in the test, yet, it is extruded commercially. When the possibility of hot-working a new alloy is being considered a study of its drop-hammer test should help

Jan 1, 1931

By Donald W. Scott

GENERALLY speaking, there is nothing very difficult about taking good micrographs of photogenic thin sections or grains with a petrographic micro-scopecamera setup. However, sometimes it is desired to show some detail that cannot be illustrated satisfactorily by the usual micrographs taken with parallel polarized light, with crossed nicols, or even with two micrographs. A simple procedure giving good results has been used at Battelle Memorial Institute for subjects falling into this classification, and it is believed to be of interest, especially to research people who must sell a point to executives through the medium of well-illustrated reports. The following problem illustrates a typical application: It is desired to photograph a thin section of an iron ore to illustrate the character and association of the iron oxides and the individual quartz crystals. A magnification of 75 dia. is acceptable. A micrograph of the field in question (Fig. I[a]) was taken with parallel polarized light. Due precaution was taken to provide critical illumination, correct exposure, a sharp focus, a good darkroom technique, and other essential conditions. It illustrates correctly the iron oxides, but it fails to show the individual quartz crystals. A micrograph of the identical field (Fig. I[b]) was taken under the same precise conditions, but with crossed nicols. It gives a better idea of the character of the individual quartz crystals but is likely to be misinterpreted unless accompanied by a lengthy descriptive note. This micrograph suggests that the centrally located, large black area is composed entirely of iron oxides. That this is an incorrect interpretation is evident by reexamining the micrograph of Fig. I[a]. The correct interpretation is that the dark area contains quartz crystals oriented with their optical directions parallel to, or nearly parallel to, the vibration directions of the polarizer and analyzer of the microscope. Thus, the executive, or anyone who had not done the work personally, would get no more than a fair interpretation, even if two micrographs were included; and in the interests of both brevity and clarity, one micrograph usually is more desirable. Exactly how many quartz crystals occur in this region cannot be told from the two micrographs, and a printing of the two negatives in register would likewise not show the detail desired. Thus, it is evident that some subjects cannot be satisfactorily illustrated by the usual procedures. In photographing Fig. is the light was subdued and, during the entire exposure of 75 sec., the analyzer nicol was rotated uniformly in its mounting from a crossed position to 45° uncrossed position to introduce the desired amount of contrast in the various individual quartz crystals. The true reproduction of the character and association of the iron oxides, and the additional structure and detail in the quartz areas, is apparent. It might be

Jan 1, 1946