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By J. P. Doan, G. Ansel

The important literature concerning zirconium in magnesium-base alloys is predominantly contained in patent references. Sauerwald, Eisenreich, and Holubl-4 discovered the profound grain-refining influence of small amounts of zirconium on cast magnesium and the attendant increases in strength and ductility. They extended their work to reveal that limited amounts of certain other elements, including zinc, could be added for further improvement in strength and hardness. British Patent 5111375 relates to the parent discoveries of Sauerwald, Eisenreich, and Holub. All of these references deal primarily with casting characteristics and properties in the cast state. Minor mention is made of desirable tensile strength, ductility, and toughness of wrought Mg-Zr alloys* modified by one or more additional elements. No extensive reference in the literature5. has been found to the particular characteristics of wrought blg-Zn-Zr alloys, with which the present paper is concerned. The work to be discussed represents essentially an extrusion study of the blg-Zn-Zr alloys and indicates that this system is highly interesting in the wrought state both academically and commercially. Accordingly, an important aim of this paper is to describe the hot-workability, tension and compression properties, metallography, and toughness of these alloys. Compositional variations are limited to the ranges 0 to 7 per cent Zn and 0 to I per cent Zr. Experimental Procedure Alloying and Casting Alloying ingredients were cell magnesium, commercial zinc (intermediate grade), and a chloride salt containing approximately 50 per cent ZrCl² and 50 per cent alkali chlorides. This salt is produced by Titanium Alloy Manufacturing Company. Melting, alloying, and pouring procedure essentially followed the crucible process as described by Nelson.6 The magnesium was melted using Dow No. 310 flux, and the temperature raised to 1350° to 1400°F for the alloying operations. After alloying of the zinc, the zirconium containing salt was added in small portions with vigorous stirring. This is an adaptation of the method described in British Patent 533264.7 The alloying efficiency of zirconium was approximately 30 per cent. During the alloying of zirconium, fluorspar was added in amount required as a flux-inspissating agent. Next the melt was refined with Dow No. 310 flux and held quietly for 15 min. Finally billets were cast in a book-type permanent mold

Jan 1, 1947

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

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

Jan 1, 1947

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

In a previous paper' the authors have investigated the structure of the oxide films formed on most of the metals that make up the alloys of this study. The metals were studied in order to provide basic information on the structures, both physical and chemical, of the oxide films and to determine how these structures are effected by the temperature, time of oxidation, and surface preparation. It was felt that an understanding of the physical and chemical structure as well as the stability of the oxide film might furnish clues as to the nature of the reaction process and the protective quality of the film. The oxidation of the metals was studied over the temperature range 300' to 7o0°C. except for copper, wherc the range selected was 100' to 500°C. The results of these studies were presented in graphical form as existence diagrams of the oxides on a time-temperature scale. For some of the metals the existence diagrams were simple and showed few chemical transitions, but there were numerous cases where the physical state of the oxide surface was a function of time and temperature. In general the physical state of the oxide surface changed with increasing temperature so as to increase the sharpness of the diffraction patterns and to cause orientation effects to be more pronounced. Deviatiois in lattice Darameters from X-ray values were noted. In general these deviations were of positive nature and may be due to solid solution of the metal in the oxide lattice. This effect might be expected in thin oxide films. In a study of the oxidation of alloys containing two or more metals, there may arise the complicating factor of identification of the oxides formed. A thorough understanding of the oxides formed on the pure metals, therefore, was, essential before investigation of the oxidation of alloys. In this paper it is our purpose to present a study of the following problems: 1. The existence diagrams of various alloys. 2. The effect of the structure of the alloying metal on the existence diagram of iron. 3. The effect of the percentage of chromium on the oxides formed on Fe-Cr alloys. 4. The relationships, if any, between the oxides formed and the protective quality of the oxides. The following alloys are included in this study: alloys of iron with body-centered cubic, face-centered cubic and other metals, 13 Cr-Fe, 18-8 stainless steel, K4²B, Nichrome V, Hipernik, Inconel, Stellite "²I," Refractaloy, Kovar, mild steel, a series of Cr-Fe alloys and a series of Co-Fe alloys. Since many of the commercial alloys in this list contain more than two metals, various complicating factors in the identification of the oxides formed may arise.

Jan 1, 1947

By Otto H. Henry, Edward L. Badwick

Up to the present time, according to Hansenl and Haughton,² the constitution of the bismuth-indium system has not yet been published. The generally accepted value for the melting point of indium, as listed in most scientific journals and textbooks, is 155°C. Recently, however, H. M. Davis3 has determined a new melting point for indium of 157.3²C O.l°C. Since bismuth has been used in preponderance as an alloying element in the majority of low-melting alloys, and indium has been used with considerable success in lowering the melting points of low-melting alloys, 4,6 an interest has been developed in the application of these two metals, making a complete knowledge of the constitution of its alloys desirable. In this investigation, the melting point of indium reported by H. M. Davis has been found to be substantially correct. A value of 157. ²°C ± O.5°C was determined. The two eutectic compositions have been placed at 34 and 50 pct bismuth with their respective eutectic temperatures as 72.4°C ± 0.5°C and 90°C ± 0.5°C. The bismuth-indium phase diagram has been determined by thermal and microscopic analysis and is shown in Fig I. Thermal Analysis Granulated bismuth and indium shot, having a guaranteed purity of 99.99 and 99.95 pct, respectively, were melted in a carbon crucible by means of a laboratory heater. To minimize oxidation of the alloys, a heavy mineral oil (Nujol) having a high- flash point was used. A platinum-platinum rhodium thermocouple of fine wire encased in a thin-walled Pyrex glass tube, about 1/8 in. in diameter, was connected to a type K potentiometer for temperature measurements. The thermocouple was calibrated against the melting points of tin, bismuth, and the silver-copper eutectic and the boiling point of water. Since the temperature readings could be reproduced to 0.²°Cl and the accuracy of the temperature standards in this range is slightly better than 0.5°C, it scems reasonable to assume that the temperature readings are reliable to approximately 0.5°C. The cooling rate could be controlled by varying the amount of insulation surrounding the crucible. Three or four layers of asbestos paper, 1/16 in. thick, sufficed to give a cooling rate of from I° to ²°C per minute. Undercooling was slightly noticeable. This condition was minimized by vigorous stirring, since the advantage of using slower rates was too small to justify the greater expenditure

Jan 1, 1947

By Alexander Squire

One of the principal factors that have contributed to the hesitancy of design engineers to use metal-powder parts is the difficulty experienced in the determination of the mechanical properties of compacted components. Because standard test methods cannot usually be applied in the inspection of such parts, and because adequate special test methods have not been developed, it has been considered desirable to investigate the methods that are applicable. These may then be included in specifications for metal-powder materials and components in order that the design engineer may be assured that the subject parts possess the desired mechanical properties for satisfactory performance. It is known that direct relationships exist between usually nonmeasurable properties as tensile strength and elongation and shear strength and the angle through which compacts may be plastically deformed before fracturing. These correlations are valuable in the inspection of specific parts, but it is necessary to set up standards before they may be satisfactorily employed. Apart from the use of correlations, the number and character of the inspection methods that are applicable to almost all powder parts is limited to three—chemical analysis, density, and hardness. The last of these may or may not be a pertinent characteristic, since the indentation hardness of many powdeied-metal materials is so low as to have little significance. It is, however, occasionally desirable to use hardness measurements as an indication of the uniformity of the structure of pieces of a given type. Chemical analysis reveals very little about the physical properties of metal-powder compacts, since the unpressed powder is usually of a composition almost identical with that of the finished pieces. Density determinations are simple to perform and have the advantage of being nondestructive in character. If the dimensions of a machine part are known (and usually they are), the average density may be determined by weighing a given number of pieces and dividing by the calculated volume of the parts. More accurate measurements may be made by the water-displacement method. It is recognized that mechanical properties of metal-powder materials are related to their density, but usually these relations are determined for only one type of powder, processed under a given set of conditions. Comparisons of the pioperties of compacts formed from different types of powders are made on the basis of compacting pressures instead of density, and for this reason the results obtained by using powders of different types appear widely variant.

Jan 1, 1947

By J. C. Fisher, J. H. Hollomon

The fundamental problem concerning the fracture of both crystalline and noncrystalline solids is the divergence between the actua1 and the theorcticallY computed fracture stresses; the stress required for fracture, computed from the forces between atoms, is many times that actually observed with commcrcinlly available materials. Computatiolls have been made,,2 indicating that the theoretical fracture stress should be from 100 to 1000 times that actually observed. There are other incidental problems that have arisen, perhaps the most importallt of which is the problem of size effect often observed in the measurement of the fracture stress of non-metallic solids, such as glass. Another effect conccrns the relation between deformation and the stress required for fracture, Experiments recently made with pearlitic steels indicate that the tensile fracture stress increases with increasing tensile deformation and decreases with increasing prior com-pressive deformation, This marked ani-sotropy of the effect of deformation on the fracture stress is in contrast with the essential isotropy of the flow stress. Early experiments on rock salt crystals by Joffe, et al.3 have illustrated the effect of tensile strain in increasing the tensile stress required for fracture. A consistent theory must be constructed that will explain not only the divergence, of the measured fracture stress from the theoretical value, the size effect, and the ergence of deformation; but will also explain and predict the effects of combined stress, of temperature, of strain rate, and of metallurgical structure. With respect to this last variable, it has now been relatively well established that the carbide particle is the clement of structure controlling the fracture of steels. In steels carbide particles vary in shape from plates to spheroids. It has been found that not only docs the magnitude Of the Fracture stress depend upon the size and shape of these particles. but also its dcpendencc upon strain is affected by changes in 'hap' an' size Or the particles. The precipitate resulting from the age hardening Of duralumin also modifies the fracture stress of this alloy. Nonmetallic inclusions greatly lower the fracture stress of all metals. The magnitude of the lowering depends 0' the size and shape of the included particles. In glass, the major source of the low fracture stress has been fairly conclusively demonstrate' by Griffith4 '0 arise from real flaws or cracks present in the material. He showed that the stress concentration at the end of a defect was of suficient magnitude to raise the stress at this location to a value comparable with the theoretical strength Of the material. If the cracks were reduced in size, Griffith showed that the observed fracture slrength the by virtue Of the decrease in stress concentration. He also pointed out that cracks disposed perpendicularly to the applied tensile stress would be more effective in lowering the fracture

Jan 1, 1947

By Thomas Fraser, Alvaro Abreu

The work described in this paper was carried out under the sponsorship of the Foreign Economics Administration and in cooperation with the Departamento Nacional da Produggo Mineral, Rio de Janeiro. The project was undertaken to obtain complete data on the variations in washability of coal to be used for coke manufacture in the steel industry and to determine the economy of preliminary hand-sorting operations. The coal-producing industry of Brazil is in that pioneering stage in which operating practices and methods are just being developed. Increased wartime demand for fuel, coincident with a drastic curtailment of foreign supplies due to lack of shipping facilities, has put a tremendous pressure on the national industry to furnish more coal. Under this incentive, production facilities are being -expanded- and new methods of operation are being tested. Such changes are being developed both by improvement of existing methods that originated in the field and by adaptation and modification of methods introduced from the United States and Europe. These mining conditions and mining practices in Brazil are typical of what the American mining engineer will find in many instances when he goes pioneering into the developing coal fields of the Southern Hemisphere. The producing coal fields of Brazil are all in the southern states of that country. The coal measures are in a band roughly paralleling the coast and extending in a generally southwesterly direction from northern Sao Paulo through the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul to near the Uruguayan border in the vicinity of Bajé. The accompanying map1 (Fig. I) shows the general location of these fields and also the principal routes of movement of both national and imported coal in a late pre-war year (1940). Statistical data on production by states up to that year are given in Table I. Rio Grande do Sul is still the largest producer among the coal states; but wartime

Jan 1, 1947

Jan 1, 1947

By Harry K. Ihrig

The hot-working of iron and steel is an art dating back to antiquity, but until about 25 years ago, relatively few alloying elements were used, and these were present only in small percentages. With the exception of sulphur, the amounts of other elements in steels did not markedly affect their hot-workability. The references in the literature on the effect of other elements on the hot-workability of steel are usually reports of failure of these steels in forging or rolling.1-8 With the increased use of alloying elements, and their use in larger amounts, it was observed that many of the new steels were red short in certain critical ranges or at all hot-working temperatures. The stainless steels are particularly difficult to hot-work. The determining of the correct conditions for piercing, rolling and forging of these alloys by experimentation in the mill often results in large losses of these expensive metals. It also is found that the hot-workability limits of many types vary from heat to heat, and hence poor results are obtained on changing to a new heat after a previous one has rolled satisfactorily. To determine the effect on hot-workability of iron to which various elements have been added, it was necessary to devise a method that could be used on small quantities of metal. In such a method, the minimum number of variables should be present, and the procedure should be simple, quick and correlatable with large-scale hot-working operations. Sauveur,9 in the first Henry Marion Howe lecture in 1924, described the effect of carbon on the ductility of steels in torsion near their critical points. He found that carbon increases the plasticity of gamma iron. In the 1930 Campbell Memorial lecture,10 he gives the effect of carbon, chromium, and chromium and nickel on the ductility of steels under 2000°F. in torsion. Ellis11 has studied the malleability of steels at various elevated temperatures by means of a single-blow drop-hammer test. In this test the percentage decrease in height of standard cylinders is taken as a measure of their malleability. He has shown that in the low-alloy steels studied, carbon has a greater effect than nickel, chromium and vanadium. In 1938 the first tests were run on a new quantitative hot-workability test in the laboratories of the Globe Steel Tubes CO. Thum12 mentioned it in 1940. An illustration of the apparatus was published in January 1942.'' The effect of a few alloying elements on the hot-workability of metals was shown in a description of the test in 1944.14 Description of Test Method The method adopted after a trial of several others is a rapid twisting of bars to failure in a furnace. The standard-size bar was chosen as 9/16 in. It is prepared from larger pieces by forging and cold-

Jan 1, 1947

By Harry K. Ihrig

Jan 1, 1947

Jan 1, 1947

By Marcus A. Grossmann

The Institute has established this lectureship to honor the memory of a great American metallurgist, one whose fame has continued long after his passing. As one scientist recently stated it, "All metallurgical texts gradually become outdated and outmoded, except those of the great Henry Marion Howe." It seems fitting, then, that, once every year, we shouId review, in his honor, some aspects of the science in which he was such a distinguished leader, and also discuss any new data that may help to clarify our concepts. It is my privilege, for which indeed I express the deepest appreciation to this Institute, to offer for consideration a few thoughts on the toughness and fracture of hardened steels. Before proceeding to the data, I wish to express my great indebtedness to many associates whose stimulating discussions, generous contributions of data and cooperation in experiments are gratefully acknowledged. (But I wish to absolve them of any blame that may arise from the way in which their discussions and data have been used!) First, Dr. Edgar C. Bain, Vice President, Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, whose amiable but merciless criticisms and always constructive and thoughtful suggestions help unfailingly to guard against pitfalls. Then to associates at Gary Steel Works, especially Mr. H. B. Wishart, Mr. W. K. Smith and Mr. V. Elliott, for great assistance in securing data. Also to Col. C. H. Greenall, Director of Laboratories, Frankford Arsenal, and his metallurgical staff, including Messrs. J. K. Desmond, H. Markus, D. F. Armiento, H. Rosenthal and Henry George, for numerous data and illustrations. Further to Dr. J. R. Low and Dr. M. Asimow, for helpful discussions of effects of states of stress during deformation and rupture, to Mr. J. M. Hodge for discussions and data, to the staff of the U. S. Steel Corporation Research Laboratory for advice and data, and to the Metallurgical Staff at Duquesne Steel Works. The individual acknowledgments will also be found under illustrations. Acknowledgment is also due to Mr. S. C. Snyder for incredibly meticulous scrutiny of manuscript. To all of these, grateful thanks. Introduction The discussion to be offered here will deal with quench-hardened steels only, and may perhaps be considered under three headings: 1. It was found that, when ferrite was precipitated in the (prior austenite) grain boundaries of hardened steel, the notch-bar toughness was much less than in pieces fully hardened. The fracture took place in the ferrite, and the loss in toughness is attributed to the lower cohesive (cleavage) strength of the ferrite, as cornpared with martensite. 2. When notch-bar impact test pieces of quenched and tempered steels were examined as to their mode of fracture, it

Jan 1, 1947

By G. F. Comstock

A serious disagreement as to the effect of titanium on the hardenability of steel exists in published references to this subject. Kramer, Hafner and Toleman reported1 that acid-soluble titanium decreased the hardenability, with multiplying factors less than unity according to Grossmann's system for calculating hardenability from the composition. Crafts and Lamont, on the other hand, showed2 how titanium increased the hardenability, with multiplying fdctors up to nearly I.; for about 0.1 per cent titanium, though reducing the hardenability with higher titanium. Their data, however, were obtained almost exclusively from steels containing more than 1.4 per cent manganese, and thus should be considered as applying mainly to manganese steels. Likewise, the results of Kramer, Hafner and Toleman regarding titanium are subject to the limitation that although they eliminated the effect of the insoluble titanium compounds from their calculations, they did not make a similar correc- tion for the carbon that was combined with titanium and therefore occurred in a similarly ineffective form. It is suggested by the literature referred to that titanium may have different effects on hardenability, depending on the mode of its occurrence in the steel. The different effects on strength, ductility, etc., have already been discussed by the author.3 In the present discussion some comparisons, on the basis of hardenability as revealed by the Jominy end-quench test, are given between three titanium and two non-titanium steels heat-treated in the same ways, and between other titanium steels heat-treated in several different ways. Comparison of Plain-carbon, Vanadium and Titanium Steels The five steels used for these experiments were cominercially melted and rolled products received in the form of 1.5-in. rounds from three different mills. Their analyses are given in Table I. Steels 2, 3, and 4 are from the same basic electric heat1 containing 0.009 per cent of phosphorus and the same amount of sulphur. They were made by adding aluminum and low-carbon ferrotitanium to different ingots. No. I is a plain carbon

Jan 1, 1947

By Walter E. Duncan

The ores treated at the concentrating plant of the Mahoning Mining Co. at Rosiclare, III., come largely from the blanket replacement deposits of the northeastern part of Hardin County, Illinois, and consist of complex mixtures of galena, sphalerite and fluorspar in a gangue of quartz, limestone and sandstone. The several minerals are so intimately inter-grown that they are not liberated at the sizes usually treated by gravity concentration in the usual fluorspar plant. For this reason, an all-flotation method of concentration was developed in cooperation with the station of the U. S. Bureau of Mines at Rolla, Mo.1 This flotation separation made possible the commercial production of four concentrates: (I) lead, (2) zinc, (3) acid-grade fluorspar and (4) metallurgical-grade fluorspar.2,3 Although fluorspar had been floated in Canada in 1921 and a plant at Rosiclare had been floating fluorspar since March 1929, fluorspar flotation was given considerable impetus by the Mahoning developments, since some features of the separation were quickly adopted by other fluorspar companies. The Bureau of Mines6 reports that in the 10 years preceding 1938 only 50,552 tons of fluorspar flotation concentrates were produced in the United States. The rise from this almost nominal figure to 153,750 tons (largely acid grade) in one year (1944)6 is indicative of the activity in fluorspar flotation occasioned by the war. The industry thus proved to be in a position to expand and keep up reasonably well with the requirements imposed upon it by such developments as occurred in high octane aviation gasoline alkylation, in the use of Freon as a refrigerant and as carrier in the Aerosol "bug bomb," and in the atomic bomb project as well as in the expansion of other activities requiring hydrofluoric acid; for example, the aluminum industry. Despite the fact that the greater portion of acid-grade fluorspar produced in the last few years went directly into war uses, the future of the acid-grade field still appears bright. As a result of the activity in fluorine chemistry during the war, it seems likely that in the relatively near future almost every phase of human endeavor will find some fluorine compound involved. The other three concentrates produced deserve some attention in these introductory remarks. The lead concentrates first produced contained both zinc and fluorspar but these did not interfere with their marketing. As will be pointed out later, the quality has steadily improved until today it is a relatively high-grade product. Although some zinc smelters accept concentrates containing limited quantities of fluorspar, it is a very objectionable impurity. Since flotation methods fail in the complete removal of the fluorspar, chemical methods were developed for

Jan 1, 1947

By Henry Schaefer

Solution by electric analogy of performance problems of reservoirs containing oil and gas has heretofore depended upon a process of successive approximations based on material-balance calculations, because of variation in fluid compressibility. By the addition or subtraction of electric condenser capacity, the analogy network can be adjusted automatically for changing compressibility due to evolution of gas in the reservoir. The addition of a condenser is accomplished by an electronic circuit, which is described; subtracting a condenser is done by merely opening the electrical circuit by means of a relay. Introduction V. Paschkis and H. D. Baker1 first developed in this country a method of applying the analogy of flow of electric current in noninductive circuits to solution of heat-flow problems and suggested its application for certain other problems, such as flow of fluids or mass transfer and chemical diffusion. Necessary details for applying the analogy to flow of fluids in porous media were developed by IV. A. Bruce;= he classified3 the types of analysis and predictions that can be made by the analogy in class I, when the reservoir contains oil but no gas for the period under consideration; in Class 2, when both oil and gas exist in the free state in the reservoir sometime during the period under consideration. Duplication of bottom-hole pressure history and predictions for class I reservoirs can be obtained directly by electric analogy. Until now, the solution of problems pertaining to reservoirs in class 2 was obtained by successive approximations along with material-balance calculations. The object of this paper is to present a method for simplifying the application of electric analogy to class 2 reservoirs, resulting in a solution of these problems as direct as is possible for class I reservoirs. This is accomplished by an electronic control circuit, which adjusts the analogy network for changing compressibilities of fluids contained in the reservoirs. Analogy Network In electrical phenomena the analogy to two-dimensional fluid flow in a porous media is that of current flow through an ideal conducting sheet. This sheet, perfectly insulated on both sides, has resistance and capacitance uniformly distributed throughout its area but is of negligible inductance. The need for having the surface boundaries perfectly insulated is that good correspondence may be had with a permeable fluid-conducting stratum bounded above and below by impermeable media. 111 actual application the ideal conducting sheet, which has distributed parameters, is replaced by a network having lumped values of resistance and capacitance—the resistances are series elements and the capacitances are shunt elements. The larger the number of lumped

Jan 1, 1947

By Helmut Thielsch

In recent years an ever increasing amount of interest has been directed toward research studying the principles and various applications of sonic and supersonic waves. Though still in their early stages of practical development, sonic vibrations are already used in the emulsifi-cation and degasification of liquids. Metals exposed to sonic or ultrasonic vibrations while solidifying show a considerable amount of grain refinement. Often sound waves are applied instead of radiography to test engineering materials for internal cracks and flaws.' In the field of pure research these waves are used in dispersion and also in coagulation of particles or liquids in gaseous or, under certain conditions, in other liquid systems. In the settling and thickening of slurries considerable time is necessary to compress the solid particles and to squeeze out the liquid to obtain as low a dilution (liquid to solid ratio) as possible. Various methods have been developed to increase the amount of coagulation of the very fine solids (colloidal or semicolloidal) and to shorten the over-all time. The addition of small amounts of electrolytes and the warming of the suspension represent merely the more important techniques. Some of the effects of supersonic vibrations have been reported previously. From preliminary studies, therefore, it was hoped that by application of sonic vibrations it would be possible to reduce the time required to thicken such materials to a specific dilution, as well as to thicken to lower ultimate dilutions than could be obtained by quiescent settling alone. By increasing the volume thickened per unit time—i.e., improving the plant efficiency— great savings in equipment and time would be obtained for industrial processes. Also, faster settling rates should result if coagulation of particles could be increased. Experiments have been conducted for a period of several months in the Allis-Chalmers laboratory to study the effect of sonic vibrations on settling of particles of different sizes and concentrations. Apparatus The sedimentation apparatus used in these experiments is illustrated in Figs. I and 2. The essential features are the stationary field coil and the movable voice coil. Both windings are placed around a solid iron core. A leather diaphragm connected to the steel frame holds the voice coil in place. A brass rod is fastened to the voice coil with a metal disk connected to the other end. This disk is sealed to the lucite cylinder with a flexible rubber diaphragm. The lucite tube is 17 in. long; its inner diameter is 2½ in. and the wall thickness is ¼ in. The tube is calibrated on the outside in 10 c.c. divisions for a total of 1000 cubic centimeters.

Jan 1, 1947

By H. F. A. Hergt, K. L. Sutherland, J. Rogers

In 1938 Ralston4 reviewed the many attempts to find a satisfactory collector for the separation of cassiterite from its ores and in 1944 Dean and Ambrose2 summarized some further attempts. Generally, soaps and amines are effective but nonselective collectors. We have discovered that reagents containing either the polar group — SO4- or — SO3- are excellent collectors for cassiterite and promise to be selective. The response to these reagents of cassiterite and of minerals commonly associated with it was studied, using the captive-bubble technique. Using these fundamental data, the practicability of separation and concentration of tin was investigated by flotation tests in a 2000-gram Denver cell. Experimental Methods Reagents All inorganic reagents were of Analar grade. The preparation and purification of sodium cetyl sulphate, cetyl trimethyl-ammonium bromide, laurylamine and cetylamine have been previously described.5 The other collectors were commercial surface-active agents, which were used without purification. Tests Captive-bubble Tests and Cylinder Flotation Tests have been previously de- scribed.5,10 The full lines shown in the figures relating solution composition to contact (flotation) distinguish solutions in which contact (flotation) is possible from those in which it is not. The curve is derived by successive approximation and the accuracy is ±0.2 pH units and ± 5 mg. per liter of collector or depressant. Solution compositions for which it was shown experimentally that contact or flotation is possible are marked by a circle, those for which it is not possible, by a cross, and those for which it is doubtful by a cross within a circle. It is assumed that at all other solution compositions within (without) the curve, contact or flotation is possible (not possible). After testing in the collector solution, the mineral was removed, washed, and tested by the captive-bubble method in water, or floated in a cylinder with frother only. In this way the composition of solutions in which a mineral was conditioned but in which properties of the collector solution prevented contact or flotation can be defined. The composition of solutions in which conditioning was possible lie between the full and broken curve, and the experimental results are indicated by a square. The curves show the limits of composition of solutions in which flotation in a cell would be possible but many factors other than those considered in these the determine recovery and grade of a given mineral in practice. Flotation Tests in 500 and 2000-gram Denver SUbmachines,—Melboume tap water, containing 12 parts calcium, 6 parts

Jan 1, 1947

By S. C. Oliphant, R. Floyd Farris

Presented in this paper is a summary of the results of experiments conducted in both the laboratory and the field during the past three years in connection with casing-perfora. tion problems. Included are studies of gun features that influence bullet performance and penetration, and studies of the effect of perforator bullets on casing and the neat cement in the annulus. Discussion and data are also presented relative to the accuracy of depth measurements in deep wells. Introduction It is a common practice in the oil industry to effect the completion of oil wells by setting and cementing casing through the producing horizons and perforating the section of casing opposite the desired interval by means of a gun lowered into the well on a cable or on the tubing. This practice has been followed for some time, and this method of completion has been given considerable study by the companies that render perforating service as well as by the oil companies that utilize their services. Through continued research on this subject, it has been possible to develop guns, bullets, and powder that will permit controlled firing at great depths, and penetration of as many as two strings of casing. It is the object of this paper to present the results of studies made of gun perforating in both the field and the laboratory. These studies were made to determine the factors that affect penetration of the bullet, burring of the casing, accuracy of depth measurements, and other items. It is hoped that by presenting the results of these investigations a better understanding may be obtained of certain of the factors involved in gun perforating and further investigation of the subject will be prompted. Subsurface Tests A well approximately 9000 ft deep, which was being prepared for abandonment, was selected for subsurface tests of gun-perforating experiments, In preparing the well for the experiment, 51/2-in. casing in the hole was pulled and racked in the derrick. A test section of pipe, which consisted of 65 ft of 5-in. 18-lb J-55 casing centered inside 7-in. 28-lb N-80 casing, was placed in the derrick corner and the annulus between the two pipes was cemented from the bottom up with 161/2 lb per gal neat cement, which was mixed and displaced with a cementing truck in the usual manner. After the cement had been allowed to harden for about a week, the test section was lowered into the hole on the 51/2-in. casing to a depth of 6600 ft by casing measurements. The hole was filled with drilling fluid weighing 10 lb per gallon. A perforating company was called to perforate the pipe, but was not advised that an experiment was being conducted. The company was asked to check the total depth (to cross pins in the bottom of the test section), then to raise the gun a given distance and fire a given number of shots with 1/2-in. bullets, pick up another distance and fire a given number of 3/8-in

Jan 1, 1947

By T. S. West

Completion and production data presented for three wells in the Oakville area of Live Oak County, Texas, which were completed near the gas-oil or water-oil contact, indicate that coning may not be as prevalent a cause of failure in such cases as is commonly assumed. Failure in the cases discussed is indicated to be due instead to: (I) erosion of the formation, (2) flowing out of mud filter cake, or (3) failure of the cement. An open-hole gravel-pack type of completion procedure is proposed for preventing failures of this kind by preventing movement of all solid material in the space in which completion is made. Various combinations of layers of gravel, sand, and cement are utilized for this purpose. Experimental results and theoretical discussion as to the applicability of gravel pack completion are included. Introduction This paper is primarily a study of the reasons for failure of oil-well completions near the gas-oil or oil-water contact, and suggests a procedure for increasing the efficiency of this type of completion. The value of improvement in completion effectiveness near the gas or water zone is not confined, however, to wells of relatively thin oil columns. Thick oil columns become thin as depletion progresses. It would seem to follow that the minimum distance from the gas or water zone at which completion can be made in a new well indicates the limit to which depletion may be carried in a well having an oil column of any initial magnitude. Only four ways can be postulated in which high gas-oil or water-oil ratio can initially occur if the zone exposed for production is within the oil column: 1. Failure of the cementing material. 2. Vertical coning. 3. Failure along the boundary between the cement and the wall of the well. 4. Failure of the formation comprising the wall of the well. Cementing materials such as portland cement and plastics have reached a high stage of development. Failures of this type are probably due almost always to extraneous causes such as mud contamination rather than to faulty cementing material. Vertical coning can and obviously does occur. However, the usual occurrence of thin impermeable streaks in sand sections and the success with which open-hole drill-stem tests can be made near the gas-oil contact suggest that over-all effective vertical permeability, and in turn vertical coning, is less prevalent than frequently is assumed. Much has been written on failure by flowing out of the mud filter cake between cementing material and the formation. A filter cake is always present if, prior to cementing, mud has come in contact with a permeable formation at pressures exceeding the pressure head of the fluid it contains. Mechanical methods are in use for removing filter cake during the cementing operation? which undoubtedly are of

Jan 1, 1947

By G. J. Knighton

Introduction The Sullivan concentrator treats the complex lead-zinc-iron ore from the Sullivan mine of the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada, Limited, to make a lead and a zinc concentrate for its metallurgical plants at Trail. Three miles separate the mine and mill, which are situated near the town of Kimberley, in the East Kootenay district of British Columbia. The orebody consists typically of banded sulphides, mainly galena, sphalerite, pyrrhotite, and pyrite. Important factors in the concentration of the ore are its exceedingly complex and its high specific gravity. It should be remembered throughout the paper that results and figures are based on Consolidated's experience with the Sullivan ore. The present mill feed rate is 8,500 dry tons of ore per 24 hours, for an operating week of five and a half days. Grinding and classification of the ore are carried out in three stages and, in addition, there is a re-grind section which re-treats the zinc middling. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the classification in the various stages and to give the results o comparative tests which have been carried out for the purpose of improving operations in the mill. The Primary stage consists of six units, each made up of a ball-mill and classifier (see accompanying flow-sheet). Four units operate in open circuit and two in closed circuit. The secondary stage consists of eight ball-mills operating in closed circuit with twenty-one classifiers. In the Tertiary stage are two ball-mills in closed circuit with eight classifiers. The re-treatment section for re-grinding the zinc middling comprises one ball-mill in closed circuit with two classifiers.

Jan 1, 1947