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By J. Chipman, N. J. Grant, J. C. Fulton

This paper contains data on the distribution of silicon between liquid iron-silicon-carbon alloys saturated with respect to graphite and CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 slags under 1 atm of CO at 1600°C. The ranges of slag compositions studied were extended from the dicalcium silicate saturated liquidus composition up to silica concentrations at which Sic appeared as a stable phase. IN blast furnace operation it is not to be expected that slag and metal reach equilibrium with one another. Nevertheless, the silicon content of the metal varies with slag composition and with temperature in a manner which would be predicted from equilibrium considerations. Similarly, the distribution of sulphur between slag and metal does not attain an equilibrium state, yet the influence of slag composition is strongly analogous to its effect on the distribution equilibrium. The desulphurizing power of metallurgical slags has been shown to be highly dependent upon the FeO content of the slag. Moreover, the rate of removal of sulphur from slags is influenced by the oxygen potential of the slag-metal system. Thus it was shown by Grant, Kalling, and Chipman1 that the presence of MnO in slags which are low in FeO causes a marked slowing down of the transfer of sulphur from metal to slag. This led to the hypothesis that the slow removal of sulphur by blast furnace slags of more acid composition might be due in part to the effect of SiO2 on the oxygen potential of the system. This was verified in the work of Grant, Troili, and Chipman,' who found that the desulphurizing power of the more acid blast furnace slags could be markedly improved by an increase in the silicon content of the underlying metal. Their explanation of this improvement was that the higher silicon content of the metal decreased the rate of transfer of more silicon and, along with it, of oxygen from the slag to the metal. The slowness of the transfer of sulphur from metal to slag was the result of the slow reduction of SiO2 from slag to metal. Attempts to study the rate of sulphur removal had in the past resulted in very slow rates corresponding to the rates of silica reduction. It has become evident on the basis of these studies that further experimental studies on the rate of removal of sulphur must take these factors into consideration if there is to be a clear understanding of the rate of sulphur transfer under conditions simulating those existing in the blast furnace. It will be necessary, at least in a part of such study, to employ combinations of slag and metal in which the disturbing effect of silica reduction has been eliminated; in other words, to employ slag-metal combinations which are already in equilibrium with respect to the transfer of silicon. In preparation for such studies of desulphuriza-tion, a preliminary program of research on the distribution of silicon between slag and metal has been undertaken. This will ultimately include a comprehensive survey of the effects of temperature and slag composition on the equilibrium distribution of silicon between slag and metal. The present paper is a report on experimental methods employed and on

Jan 1, 1954

By H. L. Riley, B. W. Gandrud

A froth flotation unit was added to the DeBardeleben Coal Corporation's Empire washer at Empire, Alabama, in the fall Of I94O following an investigation of possible ways and means of recovering coal values from settling-tank overflow or slurry. Officials of the DeBardeleben corporation hoped that some practical and reasonably economical way could be found for recovering fine coal from overflow water, although there had as yet been very little progress along this line in the Alabama coal fields. The Bureau of Mines was asked to cooperate in the project through its Southern Experiment Station, at University, Alabama. This paper presents a brief description of the process and the installation that resulted from the investigation of the overflow water or slurry problem at the Empire mine. The experimental data include' as a Part of this Paper were obtained during the course of the investigation in 1940 Since that time, however, the flotation unit has been running more or less continuously without significant operational changes and is still Performing pretty much in accordance with the data obtained in 1940. Flowsheet at Empire and Type of Coal Treated The Empire mine is developed on the Black Creek bed near the the border of the Warrior field. The coal in this bed is extremely low-ash and although there is an almost complete absence of bone coal and partings, the bed is so thin that, with mechanized mining, a high percentage of rock from roof and floor inevitably gets into the run-of-mine coal. The thickness of the Black Creek bed throughout the part of the Warrior field in which it is mined extensively is rarely over 30 in. and probably would average about 25 in, the coal is of the high-volatile A rank and of excellent quality, but as a result of admixture of roof and floor material, the run-of-mine product usually contains I ; to 20 pct rock by weight. he following is a proximate analysis on an "as-received " basis of a typical seam sample from the Empire mine:' moisture, 3.0 pet; volatile, 34.6 fixed carbon 58.3; ash, 4.1 This sample shelved 15,070 Btu per pound and 0.9 pct sulphur on a moisture-and-ash-free basis. In the Empire preparation plant the lump sizes above 3 in. are removed and hand-picked on a Marcus conveying Screen, the 3 to ? -in. size is removed by vibrating screens and washed in two Montgomery single-cell jigs, and the ?-in. to o slack is cleaned on four diagonal

Jan 1, 1949

By H. O. Hofman

Jan 1, 1890

By Edward Keller

About a dozen years ago the art of bessemerizing copper- * matte, brought to these shores from France, was first established at the smelter, in Butte, Montana, of the Parrot Silver and Copper Company, which had bought the process from Mr. Manhks, the inventor. Through the efforts of Mr. J. E. Gaylord, general manager, and Mr. A. J. Schumacher, snperintendent,, assisted by an able staff, the new method rapidly underwent, at the Parrot establishment, an evolution towards higher perfedion, and within a few years its success and its advantages were so marked that all the great works in the west followed in the footsteps of this pioneer. The converter-process has now practically superseded the reverberatory-process in this country. The latter will undoubtedly, in a not very distant future, be relegated to metallurgical history. The writer has availed himself of what was perhaps the last chance to make comparisons of the two methods, working practically on the same material on an extensive scale, the reverberatory process being that of the Baltimore Copper Smelting and Rolling Company,* while the converter-process is that of the Anaconda Copper Company—both using the matte from the latter company's works in Anaconda, Montana. For the greater portion of the material considered in this paper, the writer is indebted to the two companies. In order to understand the difference of behavior of the several elements, and the difference of the copper produced in the two processes, it is best to study and follow those elements

Jan 1, 1899

By M. E. Lombardi

ThE Coalinga oil field is located on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, California. The structure is in general a monocline, the edges of the oil horizon resting on the foot hills and dipping gently toward the east. One prominent anticline occurs plunging southeast. The earlier drilling was done in the foot hills comparatively near the outcrop and the wells were shallow. The sands were followed eastward and, in the case of the anticline, along the plunge, the wells becoming deeper and deeper until the depth of 4,000 ft. was reached and passed. There is nothing to show that the oil will not be found in quantity at still greater depth. In fact, some of the best producers have tapped the sand at close to 4,000 ft. The recovery of oil still farther to the east, and therefore at greater depth, seems to be mainly a question of drilling. In this territory the formations drilled through are chiefly sands and shales; they will not "stand up" in an open drilling hole; the casing has to be carried close to the bit, and it is always difficult to keep the casing free for any considerable distance. Ability to carry casing of comparatively large diameter without conductor pipes for distances of 2,000 or 3,000 ft. or over is desirable in such territory chiefly for two reasons. It makes it possible to enter the oil sand with a pipe of ample diameter; it eliminates one or more expensive strings of casing which act only as conductors for the water string, and furthermore, in territory where waters are encountered which corrode steel rapidly, it makes possible the construction of a rust- and alkali-resisting water string. It is always desirable to shut off top waters, which may lie within 100 ft. or less of the oil sand, with 10-in. pipe. Where the depth is so great that a practical weight of 10-in. pipe will not withstand the probable collapsing pressures, 81/4 in. at least is desirable. About the limit of rotary drilling to date in California seems to be the setting of the 10-in. string at 3,200 ft., although the rapid advance in rotary work during the past year seems to indicate that this depth may soon be increased. It is my purpose now, however, to treat only of cable-tool drilling. The problem is to reach a depth of 4,000 ft. or more with a string of

Jan 1, 1915

By Henry P. Ehrlinger, James C. Bradbury

Tripoli is a naturally occurring, very finely divided form of silica found chiefly in some midwestern and southeastern states and used commercially as fillers and abrasives. Definitions Tripoli is a microcrystalline, finely particulate, more or less friable form of silica that appears to be the product of leaching of siliceous limestone or calcareous chert. The term was originally applied to a deposit near Seneca, Mo., that resembled material of that name found near Tripoli in North Africa (Hovey, 1894). The two deposits were subsequently found to have different physical characteristics -the North African tripoli, now called tripolite, is a diatomite, composed of the siliceous skeletons of microscopic marine plants called diatoms, and the Missouri tripoli contains no diatom remains; the term tripoli, however, continued to be used for the Missouri material and is now applied in a general way to most silica deposits similar to it in characteristics and geologic origin. In commercial trade tripoli is commonly understood to designate material from the Missouri-Oklahoma field; silica from southern Illinois, the other major producing area, is referred to commercially as amorphous silica. Each term, however, may be used commercially for material, regardless of place of origin, that has the characteristics or uses commonly ascribed to the material from one or the other major producing area. For example, in the commodity price listings, Engineering and Mining Journal routinely lists under Tripoli, prices "f.0.b. Elco, III." and "f.0.b. Seneca, Mo., and Rogers, Ark.," and under Silica, amorphous, prices "f .o.b. Ill.," and "f .o.b. Dierks, Ark." Amorphous silica, the commercial designation given to southern Illinois tripoli, is, like the term tripoli, a misnomer. Mineralogically, the southern Illinois deposits are composed of microcrystalline quartz, and no amorphous material has been detected during X-ray and scanning electron microscope investigations (Leamnson, Thomas, and Ehrlinger, 1969; Thomas et al., 1970). Soft silica is another term that has been applied to Illinois and Tennessee tripoli, presumably to distinguish it from the more compact Missouri material. It has also been used in the ceramic trade to distinguish tripoli from "hard" silica, or silica flour, produced by pulverizing silica sand (Heinz, 1937). Rottenstone, produced commercially in Pennsylvania, is similar to tripoli in that a major constituent is finely particulate silica, and its uses are much the same as those of tripoli- as abrasives and fillers. The origin of rottenstone also is similar to that of tripoli-decomposition of a siliceous sedimentary rock. The parent rock is defined as a siliceous limestone (Gary, McAfee, and Wolf, 1972; Thrush, 1968) or as shale (personal communication). Heinz (1937) quotes a brief statement describ-

Jan 1, 1975

By Ernest R. Lilley

While American scientific literature contains much information upon geologic conditions controlling the production of oil in Rumania, copper in Chile, and other fuel and metallic resources in many foreign countries, it is singularly lacking in data about the nonmetallics outside of the United States. Thus, though the United States is the outstanding market for European high-quality refined kaolin, and for the chinaware, porcelain, and other products of the European ceramics industries, American literature contains only the briefest references to the deposits from which the raw kaolin utilized is obtained. To the writer, to whom has come in the past year the opportunity of visiting a number of these deposits personally, they have proved of extreme interest both commercially and geologically. It is the latter phase that is discussed in this paper. The older and now largely crystalline rock areas of France, Germany, and other parts of western Europe contain numerous pegmatite dikes of which the upper portions have been subjected to surface weathering and kaolinization in much the same way as those of the eastern portion of the United States. Like the latter, the European pegmatite kaolins have long been known for their freedom from iron and other impurities offensive to the china and porcelain manufacturer. Unfortunately, they are also, like the American deposits, individually of small size and noted for their high costs of production. Deposits of sedimentary clay similar in many respects to the high-quality sedimentary kaolins of Georgia and South Carolina are known and worked, notably in southern Germany and in the Newton Abbott district of Devon and Dorset in England. In general, their relationship to the parent rock from which they were derived is more evident than in the United States and the individual deposits are of smaller areal extent and less regular in outline. While these deposits are of considerable economic importance they did not, because of their similarity to deposits in America, attract and hold the interest of the writer to the extent that several other types of deposits did. It is to the latter, which are so different from the kaolin

Jan 1, 1932

By R. J. Wysor

MoRe than two years ago, in making efficiency tests on our hot-blast stoves, I was surprised to discover a marked difference in temperature as indicated by a pyrometer inserted near a stove on blast, and the regular recording instrument situated near the bustle pipe. A special hole was then provided at the junction of the hot-blast main and the bustle pipe, and portable pyrometers with bare fire ends were used, both at this point and in the stove necks. I had occasion to make a number of such tests on various stoves on the same, furnace, the difference in temperature as shown by the two pyrometers varying chiefly with the temperature of the blast, and the distance of the stove from the furnace. However, this difference was always great, often averaging above 100" F., for the entire period of a stove on blast. Later, experiments were made with similar results on another group of stoves. The pyrometers used were properly standardized and checked against each other before and after each test. However, there was still a slight doubt as to the accuracy of the results obtained, as subsequently explained. But I have obtained corroboration of the magnitude of heat losses from blast-furnace hot-blast mains from two independent sources. I have learned from H. A. Brassert, Superintendent of Blast Furnaces, South Works, Illinois Steel Co., that he has recently done some experimental work similar to my own, and found temperature drops of the same order of magnitude. Also, C.,R. Lyle, of the Armstrong Cork Co., has made some interesting theoretical calculations, based on the thermal conductivity of fire brick, for the particular conditions of several of our tests; and his theoretical interpolations, all facts being considered, check our actual observations fairly well. I understand that Mr. Lyle expects to publish the results of his investigations. Method of Conducting the Tests The location of the pyrometer fire ends is shown in Fig. I, a plan of Bethlehem Steel Co.'s "G" blast furnace, hot-blast stoves, and main. Bare fire ends were used at both positions "A" and "B," being inserted

Jan 1, 1916

By Benjamin Smith Lyman

It has seemed that it might be a highly useful contribution to the study of structural geology to assemble, in as compact a form and on as large a scale as practicable, a great number of

Jan 1, 1896

By C. E. Nighman, R. S. Foster

The following is a description of the methods used in rescuing men and extinguishing the underground fire at the Pennsylvania mine, Butte, Mont. , This fire, which cost the lives of 21 men, began about 9 p.m., Feb. 14, 1916, at or near a ventilating fan on the 1,200 air-shaft station. This shaft at that time was downcast, while the main hoisting shaft was upcast. Owing to the proximity of the fire to the air shaft, the air in the latter soon became heated, and as the fan on the level was not running— the power having been cut off shortly after the outbreak of the fire—the air shaft became upcast to the 300 level. At this point a blanket of cold air from the surface caused the smoke and gases to be drawn in on that level and carried down again through the workings to the 1,200. A short time after the discovery of the fire, water was turned down the air shaft through a series of pipes around the collar of the shaft, which caused the smoke to recede below the 300, so that within 2 hr. it was possible to search that level for the missing men. From the above it will be apparent why the air shaft was upcast instead of downcast, as under normal conditions, and why men were suffocated at considerable distances from the seat of the fire. The smoke and gases that came up the main hoisting shaft did not diffuse through the workings to any extent. There are doors on all levels in the connections to the main hoisting and air shafts, but in the confusion and running around many of these doors were left open, and this undoubtedly caused the smoke and gases to spread more rapidly than they would otherwise have done. It was necessary for most of the men on the various levels to pass close to the air shaft in going to the hoisting shaft, and when they encountered the smoke and gases in that vicinity a number turned back and climbed down with the direction of the air currents and were then suffocated, while all those who passed through the pall of smoke to the main shaft were saved. There were 220 men in the mine that night, and all but 25 were hoisted to the surface within 30 min. after the discovery of the fire. Of the 25, five went out through the Tramway mine, and one through the Moun-

Jan 1, 1918

By Hans Lundberg

IN ORDER to comprehend the help and information that may be expected from electrical prospecting, it is necessary to have at least a general knowledge of the methods and principles involved in preparing and interpreting results obtained in the field. Electrical prospecting is rather complicated, both in theory and practice, and in order to make a brief description clear to the practical mining man it has been necessary to idealize and generalize the problems, at the risk of having such simplification criticized by the theoretical man. This simplification must not be misinterpreted as showing a lack of theoretical knowledge. FIG. 1.-FLOW OF CURRENT IN AND AROUND A CONDUCTING BODY. For its operation, electrical prospecting mainly depends on the fact that most metallic ores conduct an electric current much more readily than barren rocks. If an electric current flows through a block of ground within which a body of chalcopyrite is enclosed in country rock of schist, the current will find less resistance to its passage through the chalcopyrite than through the schist, even though the passage through the latter be much shorter. This is because the longer path through the chalcopyrite offers less resistance, owing to the superior electrical conductivity of the chalcopyrite (Fig. 1).

Jan 1, 1928

By Stuart H. Ingram

DEFINITION THE term lightweight aggregate implies material which may be substituted for the usual rock, sand and gravel commonly used as the major part of concrete, but distinguished by being much lighter in weight. BACKGROUND The art of making and using concrete is old and well developed. Research and experience have pretty well determined the qualities necessary in its constituents, and time has tested theories and applications. Elaborate specifications and tests have been devised and generally adopted governing all phases of concrete work, from selection of material, through engineering design and down to mixing and placing. Standard practices have become routine to executives and laborers, and operations have been simplified and costs lowered. Though many lightweight aggregates meet the basic specifications necessary for usefulness, their physical qualities are so different that they frequently will not pass standard tests, and some of them cannot be mixed and placed with the usual formulas for water and slump. As a rule their use produces a concrete with a lower modulus of elasticity which requires design change, and being produced in much smaller quantities than ordinary aggregate, production costs are higher. This latter works in a vicious circle to restrict their use and maintain prices that are not competitive, except as against each other. INCREASED DEMAND In spite of such handicaps consumption has grown steadily for the past two decades and is apparently growing even faster today. It is evident that lightweight concrete must have better qualities, and be sufficiently better to overcome the higher cost and the other difficulties and disadvantages pertinent to the use of a new and different material in an old industry. Hence the study of its main ingredient should be of interest to all engineers. Our group has a double interest in the subject since most of the materials which have been used as sources of lightweight aggregate are either mined, or are by-products of mining operations. We are directly interested in their production as well as their use, and since available supplies of materials suitable are limited, the increasing use, and rising demand, make the discovery of new sources, or the development of processes to adapt other natural materials to this use, a promising field; and one in which our profession should take an active part. RECENT DEVELOPMENT Descriptions of ancient work contain references to the use of spalls of tuffs or pumice in concrete masonry, but it is only since the nineteen twenties that serious attempts have been made to produce and market lightweight aggregates. A period of rapid advance in theory and practice in cements, mortars and con-

Jan 1, 1947

Jan 8, 1951

By AIME AIME

WINFIELD SCOTT MORRIS, known from Coast to Coast within the petroleum industry as "Buck" Morris, is and has been for several years an outstanding man in the Petroleum Division of the A.IM.E., so it is most natural to have him as the Chairman of the Division. "Buck" has been such a vociferous promoter of everything TEXAS that most of his friends believe him to be a "Longhorn" by birth-but the records show he was born at Wilmington, N. C., on July 29, 1901. He worked his way through college and graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1924 with a B.S., followed by a C.E. in 1927. His graduation thesis was entitled "De¬sign of a Modern Oil Refinery."

Jan 1, 1944

By Thomas L. Garwood, F. C. Menk

I T is generally accepted that no method of coal cleaning except froth flotation is effective in cleaning dust. In the majority of coals mined in the United States the dust sizes contain a high percentage of impurities, hence the removal of the dust from the coarse sizes lowers the impurity content of these sizes. Dedusted coal is desired as a means of providing a better feed to cleaning plants because of increased efficiency in both dry and wet plants. In dry-cleaning plants, a dedusted feed makes for a pervious and uni¬form bed. With a dusty feed the fines tend to segregate in the feed stream and pass en masse over the air separators, causing a lack of uniform aeration and fluidity of the bed necessary to efficient cleaning. In wet-cleaning plants deducting of the feed often decreases the sludge problem to the point of eliminating the necessity of wasting wash water. It may be advantageous to eliminate sludge-settling equipment in favor of dedusting equipment, to provide the advantages of a dedusted feed to the wet-washing process. Dedusting advantages may include: (1) the removal of fusain, especially advantageous in plants washing coal intended for metallurgical coke; (2) prevention of the gradual build-up of solids in the wash water, with a consequent variation in the washing ability of the system; (3) prevention of the loss of dust to the sludge ponds, providing instead a fuel for local consumption or special markets.

Jan 1, 1943

By H. W. Ahrenholz

Seven weeks of 1971 were devoted to a nationwide coal walkout resulting in lost production of some 70 million tons and leaving 1971 coal production at about 550 million tons. Compounding the problem, consumption of coal in 1971 by electric utilities rose by about 5% to 336 million tons. In the mean- time, numerous contracts were awarded for coal R&D including $24.8 million given by the Office of Coal Research to Bituminous Coal Research for the construction of a coal-to-gas pilot plant using the BIGAS process. Exports declined mainly due to Japan's decrease in steel production and to that country's increase in coal imports from Canada and Australia. The advances in equipment design and mining procedures made 1971 a noteworthy year. Introduction of the variable pitch I dipper, the trend toward wheeled vehicles, the greater use of scrapers in reclamation and battery-operated vehicles and oscil-mining, and the increased activity in the areas of ventilation and dust control were given widespread approval. There were also strides made in computerization, longwall mining, roof bolting, rock dusting, mine haulage and methane detection.

Jan 2, 1972

By W. O. Philbrook, L. D. Kirkbride

IN the normal operation of the iron blast furnace, reduction of the iron oxides is accomplished almost entirely above the tuyeres.' Blast furnace slags usually contain less than 0.5 pct FeO, although higher values may occur with abnormal operation. There is reason to conjecture, however, that incompletely reduced ore may sometimes reach the hearth and enter the slag as a result of heavy slips or, perhaps, even from cores of excessively large lumps of a charge material of poor reducibility. The possibility of reoxidation of iron droplets falling in front of the tuyeres has been considered by several writers. It would be of interest, to know how rapidly iron oxides reaching the slag for any of these reasons could be reduced by reaction with coke or with the high carbon liquid iron in the hearth. In comparison with the hundreds of papers that have appeared on various aspects of the reduction of solid iron oxides by gases and in the presence of several forms of carbon, little work has been published on the reductioin of liquid oxides or slags. Dancey measured rates of reaction of the pure liquid oxides, both FeO and Fe,O,, with molten iron containing about 4.3 pct C. The oxide was dropped into the cup formed in the upper surface of the iron by rotating the crucible and melt. Under these conditions, reduction of either FeO or Fe,O., was completed in less than 10 sec. The present study was concerned with the reduction of FeO from blast furnace-type slags containing less than 5 pct FeO and melted over carbon-saturated iron in stationary graphite crucibles. The results were considerably different from those found by Dancey, as will be discussed later. Although this work is of interest in relation to hearth reactions in the blast furnace, interpretations must be made with caution because the experimental conditions do not duplicate those within a furnace and may not even lead to the same reaction mechanism. The authors were motivated in undertaking this work by an additional interest—the part played by FeO reduction in the mechanism of de-sulphurization of iron by slags under similar experimental conditions. Derge, Philbrook, and Goldman eveloped detailed experimental evidence to support a three-step mechanism for desulphurization like that originally proposed by Holbrook and Joseph' (These reactions are written in molecular form for convenience, but this is not intended to imply the existence of molecules of FeS in the bulk metal phase nor to deny the likelihood of ionic reactions in the slag.) Earlier work by Chang and Goldman" had shown that the overall reaction follows first-order kinetics with respect to sulphur and that the rate of reaction is proportional to the slag-metal interface area, which observations have been confirmed by subsequent work. Later studiese,' have established the influence of al.loying elements on the first and last steps of the reaction. This paper reports a study of step 3 alone, uncomplicated by the simultaneous process of sulphur transfer. Apparatus and Procedure The experiments were made in a conventional high frequency induction furnace powered by a 35 kva Hg spark gap converter. The graphite crucibles used for most of the runs were 14 cm (5.5 in.) deep and 4.8 cm (1.9 in.) ID with 0.75 cm (0.3 in.) wall. An insulating cover with a small opening for withdrawing samples was used to minimize heat loss and infiltration of air into the furnace. The crucible was charged with 300 g of carbon-saturated iron and either 65 or 100 g of prefused slag analyzing 38.0 pct SiO,, 15.4 pct A10 and 47.1 pct CaO. To obtain the cleanest possible interface at the start of the reaction, the metal and slag were brought to temperature together to prevent the rejection of kish graphite that would have been caused by the chilling effect of a large addition of cold slag to carbon-saturated iron. After temperature control had been established, the desired amount of iron oxide was added in the form of a prefused slag of composition 73.6 pct FeO, 7.7 pct AWX and 19.0 pct SiOl. This slag addition was observed to be molten in somewhat less than 1 min, and a very vigorous reaction proceeded for 1 to 2 min after its introduction. Zero time was taken as 2 min after the ferrous silicate slag addition. Slag samples weighing about 0.5 g each were taken periodically by a copper chill sampler." The weight of the initial slag was large relative to the weight of samples removed, so that the slag weight never varied by more than 5 pct during any run. Temperature was measured by a calibrated W/Mo thermocouple immersed in the metal, with a graphite tip cemented over the fused silica protection tube to prevent attack by slag and metal. After some difficulties with uncertain temperatures during the first two runs, the practice adopted to position the thermocouple for reproducible results was to lower the protection tube to touch the bottom of the crucible and then raise it 0.5 cm. The apparent temperature gradient between the bottom of the crucible and the top of the slag was found to be 15°C (27°F). but much of this spread was probably the result of inadequate immersion of the protection tube to off-set conduction losses along the graphite tip when the thermocouple was inserted only into the slag. The temperature of the bath was controlled within 25°C (9°F) during a run.

Jan 1, 1957

By H. I. Aaronson, H. A. Domian, G. M. Pound

Zener's two-parameter theory of the y a reaction in Fe-X alloys is extended to encornpass austenite-stabilizing as well as fewite-stabilizing elements, and is then cottzbitzed with statistical thermodynamic theories of Fe-C alloys to permit development of a ther-modynamic description of the proeutectoid fewite reaction in Fe-C-X alloys. Equilibrium tielines are calculated for tile a + y rep'on from experimental data and frort extrapolations of the y/y +a equilibrium surface. Sectzovs of the y/y + 0 surface are calculaled for the tzetastable sstuation LYL u-kich alloyrtg eleitzents do not partition betzseen azrstenite andfer-rite. The finding that the metastable y/a + y curves Lie close to their equilibriuwz counterparts when X = Si, .Vo, Co, Al, and Cu but well below them when X = A/ln or Ari pr-elides a thermodunamic explanation for the expcri1?7e?ztally obserted absence of partition during the proeutec toid ferrite reartlon in the fortner alloys and for the occurrence of partition at hzgher ternperatures in the latter alloys. Cotarison ofno- patitzoa free-energy changes and y/y i a curr,es in Fe-C-X alloys with the equilibrium 11al1es of these quantities in Fe-C alloys furnishes additional qualitative insight into the irqluence of allojling elements upon the kinetics of the proeutectoicl ferrite reaction. THE introduction of a substitutional alloying element, X, appreciably complicates calculation of the thermodynamics of the formation of proeutectoid ferrite from austenite. As noted in the preceding paper,' the positional entropy of the interstitial species is the principal component of the free energy of an interstitial solid solution with which theory has so far been able to deal. One would expect, however, that other components of the free energy of this type of solid solution may be significantly altered by the addition of a substitutional alloying element. Even if the assumptions are made, by analogy to the case of Fe-C alloys,' that changes in the positional entropy of carbon represent a significant part of the thermodynamic effects of an alloying element, and that the remaining effects can be taken into account by fitting the equations developed on this basis to experimental data on Fe-C-X phase diagrams or on the activities of carbon in alloyed austenite and ferrite, the experimental information available on either of these quantities is not yet sufficiently accurate or extensive, respectively, to make such an approach useful. An attempt made by Zener on the former basis to explain the effects of alloying elements on the thermodynamics of Fe-C alloys in terms of a temperature-independent "free-energy change" (actually enthalpy hane') required to transfer 1 mole of an alloying element from austenite to ferrite, in which the "free-energy change" was determined by fitting the theoretical relationships developed to Fe-C-X phase diagrams, thus proved inadequate in part because of deficiencies in the available ternary-phase-diagram data.= Other difficulties of a more fundamental nature, however, also indicated the desirability of a different approach to the problem.3y4y6 zener6 subsequently proposed that the free-energy change associated with y — a transformation in pure iron can be decomposed into magnetic and nonmagnetic components. Alloying elements were assumed to affect those components separately. One parameter was used to describe the quantitative effect exerted on each component. These parameters were evaluated from Ms (martensite-start) temperature data and from other experimental information usually either readily available or measurable with acceptable accuracy. Zener applied this treatment only to the calculation of Fe-X phase diagrams in which X is a ferrite-stabilizing element. In the present study, this treatment is extended to include austenite-stabilizing elements, and then combined with treatments previously considered for Fe-C alloys1 to permit calculation of the thermodynamic quantities of interest in the austenite - proeutectoid ferrite transformation in Fe-C-X alloys, where a number of representative, and commonly used alloying elements are chosen for X, including Si, Mn, Co, Mo, Al, Cr, and Cu. The results are used to explain important features of the partition of alloying elements between austenite and proeutectoid ferrite, as reported in a companion paper7 on the basis of electron-probe analysis, and to provide some additional understanding of the influence of alloying elements upon the kinetics of nucleation and growth of proeutectoid ferrite. Portions of this treatment6 have been clarified in the course of a review by Kaufman and Cohen.3 The consolidated summary of these developments with which this section is begun provides a basis for further clarification of the treatment, from which extension to include austenite- as well as ferrite-stabilizing elements is a natural consequence. The division of the free-energy change associated with the 7 - a transformation in pure iron, into two independent components is formally stated as:

Jan 1, 1967

By Robert P. Burrows

Discussion of the paper of R. P. Burrows, presented `at the New York meeting, February, 1916, and printed in Bulletin No. 107, November, 1915, pp. 2237 to 2245. EDWIN M. CHANCE, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.-I have been very much interested in the comprehensive and able discussion of the important topic of mine lighting just given by Mr. Burrows, especially as I know by common report Mr. Burrows' ability and his close touch with the development of the electric mine lamp, and its use in mines in connection with a portable electric lamp. It is regrettable that Mr: Burrows was not able to acquaint himself more closely with the cost of mine illumination, the actual cost, as produced by a portable light as carried by miners, whether a flame safety lamp or an open light. Had he been able to acquaint himself more closely with these data, he perhaps would not have arrived at some of the conclusions which he has presented to us in his paper. For example, we find Mr. Burrows advises that the open torch is by far the cheapest source of illumination, as produced by a portable light. I am very sure that is not the fact. The cost of miners' oil varies from about 25.c. a gallon to 90b. a gallon. The various States have passed laws from time to time rendering it mandatory that the miner shall use, whether he is willing or not, a so-called better or higher grade of burning oil. These laws have entailed the use of an oil so expensive that the use of the oil torch has become practically impossible, and the acetylene or carbide miners' lamp has largely taken its place. I have evolved a few figures showing the relative efficiency and usefulness of the open oil torch and the acetylene miners' lamp. For example, the acetylene miners' lamp consumes or burns 4 liters of acetylene per hour, or 0.14 cu. ft.; the oxygen consumed is 10 liters, or 0.35 cu. ft. per hour; air consumed, 50 liters, or 1.76 cu. ft. per hour; black-damp produced, 40 liters, or 1.41 cu. ft. per hour; air rendered extinctive to the acetylene flame, 112 liters, or 3.95 cu. ft. per hour; carbide con- sumed, 13 g. per hour. The open oil torch, on the other hand, burns about 20 g. of oil per hour; the oxygen consumed is 48 liters, or 1.69 cu. ft. per. hour; air consumed, 240 liters, or 8.47 cu. ft. per hour; blackdamp produced, 191 liters, or 6.73 cu. ft. per hour; air rendered extinctive to oil flame is 1,413 liters, or 49.92 cu. ft. per hour.

Jan 5, 1916

By A. G. H. Anderson, Eric R. Jette

During the period from 1910 to 1920, there was a lively interest in the subject of grain growth and many papers were published, followed by interesting discussions. Questions dealing with the fundamentals of grain growth—why and how it occurs—were treated in papers by Howe,' .Jeffries,² Sauveur,² Chappell,4 Beilby,5 Mathewson and Phillips,6 Mc Adam,7 Carpenter and Elam,8 Stead and Carpenter,9 Ruder,l0 as well as others. Since that decade, much indeed has been done regarding the practical control of grain size, and it is now possible to order material having a size sperified in the American Society for Testing Materials classification. Also, one hears the term "spliced boundaries" used in connection with certain tungsten lamp filamentsl1 wherein it is important to prevent "sagging" between consecutive turns of the helix.12 This practical use of a certain knowledge as to the things that influence or even control grain growth should not be taken as an indication that the subject has been thoroughly explored and that nothing more can be learned from fundamental studies. It is with this thought in mind that a report of some observations and experiments on abnormal grain growth is believed justified. Abnormal grain growth is met with in heat-treating high-carbon steels in the austenitic range,'? in the hardening treatments of high-speed steels,14'15 and in the low-temperature annealing of strained low-carbon steels as in sheet and wire material. Entirely aside from these instances of exaggerated grain growth, which some might consider as freakish, it is thought that abnormal growth is simply a case where the growth forces and the forces tending to prevent growth are almost, but not quite, evenly balanced. Information relative to grain-growth characteristics in general may be obtained from a study of abnormal growth conditions, which may be looked upon as vantage points. Reflection will show at once that if growth forces are great in comparison to inertia or resistance to growth, many crystals start to grow and, for that reason, none becomes very large, whereas if inertia is

Jan 1, 1938