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By Ralph Hultgren, David W. Mitchell

MAGNESIUM alloys usually are superheated before casting in order to ensure fineness of grain. Superheat temperatures in common use range from 1600° to 1700°F while the casting temperature, which depends upon the mold shape, is usually 200° to 300°F lower. The process of superheating requires considerable time and seriously shortens the life of the iron pots used. Recently it has been reported' that if acetylene, carbon dioxide or natural gas is bubbled through molten electrolytic A.S.T.M. No. 4 alloy at 1400°F. for 5 min., grain refinement equivalent to that of superheating will take place. Addition of certain solids such as graphite or aluminum carbide accomplishes the same results.2 As will be shown in this paper, it is possible to achieve grain refinement in magnesium casting alloys at low temperatures by mechanical stirring of the molten metal for a short time. This process was developed in the course of research work, supervised by the War Metallurgy Committee under the "Restricted" Project NRC-550, for the Office of Production Research and Development of the War Production Board. This paper, based on that work, has been released for publication by the O.P.R.D. MATERIALS AND METHODS The alloys studied were the most common American sand-casting alloys designated as No. 4 and No. 17 by the American Society for Testing Materials. The magnesium used in these alloys was of both carbothermic3 and electrolytic4 origin. Chemical analyses supplied by the producers are shown in Table I. Each heat consisted of approximately 5 lb. of alloy melted in a Tercod crucible. It was refined by fluxing with Permanente No. 7* refining flux at 1300° to 1350°F. After cooling to 1200' to 1250°F., portions of approximately one pound each were ladled into iron crucibles contained in an electric furnace at about 1250°F. The molten metal was covered with Permanente No. 21† covering flux and then heated to the temperature to be investigated. Normally each of the four portions was given a different treatment. In a typical case one portion was stirred vigorously for 5 min., acetylene gas was passed through a second portion for 5 min., a third portion was superheated to 1600°F for 15 min., then cooled to casting temperature, and the fourth was held for 5 min. at the temperature of stirring or gassing without other treatment. Each portion was then cast into one-inch diameter cylinders in three "nonturbulent" molds of identical shape. One mold was made of cast iron and the other two of baked sand. The cast-iron mold and one of the baked sand molds were heated to 360°F., the other baked sand mold was at room temperature. The freezing times in these molds were

Jan 1, 1945

By A. W. Fahrenwald

CELL depth has been for many years a controversial question in a flotation-machine performance. In the impeller type of machine, we are really talking about impeller submergence-i.e., the depth in the pulp at which the impeller is required to produce aeration. THE FLOTATION MACHINE A COMPRESSOR A flotation machine can be considered as an air compressor or blower in which the aeration mechanism takes in air under atmospheric pressure[t] (14.7 lb. per sq. in.) and blows it into the pulp (the pulp being the receiver) against a head of 14.7 plus cell depth in feet times 0.4333 lb. per sq. inch. In commercial machines the impeller is submerged in the pulp to depths ranging from about 2 ft. in the smaller machines to as much as 5 ft. in some of the larger ones. In the 2-ft. cell, the hydrostatic head on the impeller is (2 X 1.25 =) 2.50 ft. (assuming a pulp density of 1.25), equal to (2.50 X 0.4333 =) 1.078 lb. per sq. in. For the 5-ft. cell, the hydrostatic head against which the impeller must make air is (5 X 1.25 X 0.4333 =) 2.708 lb. per sq. inch. In the small 2-ft. machine, the volume reduction is (1.078 [-] 0.147 + 0.01078 =) 6.85 per cent and in the large, 5-ft. machine, the volume reduction is (2.708 [=] 0.147 + 0.02708 =) 15.5 per cent. It is obvious that for unit volume of free air intake the larger machine receives a lesser (8.65 per cent less) volume of aeration* than the smaller machine. The bubbles in escaping from the pulp expand and are greater in volume at the surface than at the moment of their formation in the pulp; 7.33 and 18.4 per cent larger, respectively, in the small and large machines. Just how this situation affects flotation is not known. It is interesting to note, however, that the bubbles are smaller in the zone of the coarsest particles and largest in the upper zones of the finer, more easily suspended mineral particles. It would seem that the relationship might be reversed advantageously. The deep cell is at a greater disadvantage in this respect than the shallow cell. Nothing, however, presumably can be done about this situation. The shallow cell is a partial corrective. Not only does the compression ratio of aeration increase with impeller submergence but the hydrostatic head against which the impeller must operate also increases. THE FLOTATION MACHINE AS A PUMP Since, in impeller machines that rely upon their own operation to produce aeration, pulp passes through the im-

Jan 1, 1946

By C. M. Moncrief, B C. Craft

A bentonite-clay drilling mud when treated with tetrasodium pyroarsenate underwent substantially the same reduction in viscosity and water loss as when treated with the complex phosphates. The complex arsenate showed a slightly higher reversion after heating; the other arsenates showed poor viscosity-reducing properties. Introduction During the past 10 years the chemical control of drilling mud has become of major importance in affecting the successful drilling and working over of wells. The desired properties of drilling mud have been well established, and in obtaining these characteristics there has developed a large market for viscosity-reducing chemicals. Viscosity reduction produced by humic acid, tannic acid, sodium silicate, sodium tannate, Calgon, and the complex phosphates has been described by Loomis, Ford, and Fidiam.l The effects Of treatment with complex phosphates and ammonium PolyPhosPhates on the rheological properties of muds were investigated by Fancher2 and the alkali vanadates have been described by Williams.3 Laboratory Investigations It is the purpose of this paper to point out the effects of arsenates in controlling the viscosity and gelling characteristics of a drilling mud. Viscosities and gel strengths were measured at room temperatures with a Stormer viscosimeter calibrated in centipoises and operated at 600 r.p.m. Water loss was determined at 80°F. with the Baroid low-pressure wall-building tester at a pressure of I00 lb. per sq. in. for 30 min. The hydrogen-ion concentration was measured with a glass electrode. The bentonite-clay suspensions were prepared in the laboratory and allowed to age several days before testing. Members of the Arsenic Group in the periodic Table include arsenic, antimony and bismuth, but this investigation was limited to arsenic. Phosphorus also occurs in Group V of the Periodic system and phosphorus and arsenic form many closely related compounds such as pH3 and AsH3, P2O5 and As2O5, H3PO4 and H3AS04 Samples of tetrasodium pyroarsenate were prepared by fusing c.p. disodium arsenate (Na2HA5O4.7H2O). According to Friend,' this re-forms the ortho-arsenate on dissolution in water. Sodium trihydrodiorthoarsenate was prepared as described by Mellor,5 from arsenic pen-toxide as follows: As2O5 + 3H20 -> 2H3AsO4 2H3AS04 + 3NaOH Na3H3(AsO4)2 .3H20 Sodium dihydrogen orthoarsenateWaHz-As04) was obtained by fusing together equivalent quantities of arsenious Oxide and sodium nitrate, dissolving the residue in water and allowing it to crystallize.

Jan 1, 1946

By C. M. Moncrief

A bentonite-clay drilling mud when treated with tetrasodium pyroarsenate underwent substantially the same reduction in viscosity and water loss as when treated with the complex phosphates. The complex arsenate showed a slightly higher reversion after heating; the other arsenates showed poor viscosity-reducing properties. Introduction During the past 10 years the chemical control of drilling mud has become of major importance in affecting the successful drilling and working over of wells. The desired properties of drilling mud have been well established, and in obtaining these characteristics there has developed a large market for viscosity-reducing chemicals. Viscosity reduction produced by humic acid, tannic acid, sodium silicate, sodium tannate, Calgon, and the complex phosphates has been described by Loomis, Ford, and Fidiam.l The effects Of treatment with complex phosphates and ammonium PolyPhosPhates on the rheological properties of muds were investigated by Fancher2 and the alkali vanadates have been described by Williams.3 Laboratory Investigations It is the purpose of this paper to point out the effects of arsenates in controlling the viscosity and gelling characteristics of a drilling mud. Viscosities and gel strengths were measured at room temperatures with a Stormer viscosimeter calibrated in centipoises and operated at 600 r.p.m. Water loss was determined at 80°F. with the Baroid low-pressure wall-building tester at a pressure of I00 lb. per sq. in. for 30 min. The hydrogen-ion concentration was measured with a glass electrode. The bentonite-clay suspensions were prepared in the laboratory and allowed to age several days before testing. Members of the Arsenic Group in the periodic Table include arsenic, antimony and bismuth, but this investigation was limited to arsenic. Phosphorus also occurs in Group V of the Periodic system and phosphorus and arsenic form many closely related compounds such as pH3 and AsH3, P2O5 and As2O5, H3PO4 and H3AS04 Samples of tetrasodium pyroarsenate were prepared by fusing c.p. disodium arsenate (Na2HA5O4.7H2O). According to Friend,' this re-forms the ortho-arsenate on dissolution in water. Sodium trihydrodiorthoarsenate was prepared as described by Mellor,5 from arsenic pen-toxide as follows: As2O5 + 3H20 -> 2H3AsO4 2H3AS04 + 3NaOH Na3H3(AsO4)2 .3H20 Sodium dihydrogen orthoarsenateWaHz-As04) was obtained by fusing together equivalent quantities of arsenious Oxide and sodium nitrate, dissolving the residue in water and allowing it to crystallize.

Jan 1, 1946

By Ralph Hultgren, David W. Mitchell

Magnesium alloys usually are superheated before casting in order to ensure fineness of grain. Superheat temperatures in common use range from 1600" to r 7o0°F.; the casting temperature, which depends upon the mold shape, is usually 200° to 300°F. lower. The process of superhcating requires considerable time and seriously shortens the life of the iron pots used. Recently it has been reported1 that if acetylene, carbon dioxide or natural gas is bubbled through molten electrolytic A.S.T.M. No. 4 alloy at 1400°F. for 5 min., grain refinement equivalent to that of superheating will take place. Addition of certain solids such as graphite or aluminum carbide accomplishes the same results? As will be shown in this paper, it is possible to achieve grain refinement in magnesium casting alloys at low temperatures by mechanical stirring of the molten metal for a short time. This process was developed in the course of research work, supervised by the War Metallurgy Committee under the "Restricted' project NRC-550, for the Office of Production Research and Development of the War Production Board. This paper, based on that work, has been released for publication by the O.P.R.D. Materials and Methods The alloys studied were the most common American sand-casting alloys designated as No. 4 and No. 17 by the American Society for Testing Materials. The magnesiun used in these alloys was of both carbothermic3 and electrolytic' origin. Chemical analyses supplied by the producers are shown in Table I. Each heat consisted of approximately 5 lb. of alloy melted in a Tercod crucible. It was refined by fluxing with Permanente No. 7* refining flux at 1300° to 1350°F. After cooling to 1200° to 1250°F., portions of approximately one pound each, were ladled into iron crucibles contained in an electric furnace at about 1250°F. The molten metal was covered with Permanente No. 21 † covering flux and then heated to the temperature to be investigated. Normally each of the four portions was given a different treatment. In a typical case one portion was stirred vigorously for 5 min., acetylene gas was passed through a second portion for 5 min., a third portion was superheated to 1600°F. for 15 min., then . cooled to casting temperature, and the fourth was held for 5 min. at the temperature of stirring or gassing without other treatment. Each portion was then cast into one-inch diameter cylinders in three "nonturbulent" molds of identical shape. One mold was made of cast iron and the other two of baked sand. The cast-iron mold and one of the baked sand molds were heated to 360°F., the other baked sand mold was at room temperature. The freezing times in these molds were

Jan 1, 1945

By Robert Livermore

IT has been a noteworthy feature of the Cobalt camp, that many of the valuable ore deposits have been covered, wholly or in part, by small but usually deep lakes, such as Cobalt, Cart, and Peterson lakes, and with the subject of this article, Kerr lake. In the early days of the camp many water-covered areas, which have since been found to be valuable, were ignored, or neglected by owners, or simply perfunctorily staked for water rights. Kerr lake is probably the evidence of a fault or sharp fold, having a general east and west strike, and containing a series of ore-bearing fissures, parallel generally to the strike, although having some notable exceptions to the general rule. On the north side of Kerr lake the formation is of diabase, while on the south side it is of Huronian slates and conglomerates. These Huronian measures extend out under the lake, dipping gently to the north to a lateral distance not yet definitely determined, owing to the lack of development under the deepest parts of the lake. Probably the contact between the diabase and Huronian or else between the former and the .underlying Keewatin formation occurs somewhere near the center of the lake. Kerr lake originally covered 45 acres. Of this the Kerr Lake Mining Co. owned 12, the Drummond Mine, 7, and the Crown Reserve Mining Co. the remainder of 26 acres. Since the latter's property was originally entirely under water, it was necessary for the owners to make land for buildings and shaft room. Accordingly, in 1908, a trench was blasted out which deepened the outlet, and lowered the lake 8 ft. As many of the rich veins of the Crown Reserve and Kerr Lake companies were under water, mining was pursued under some disadvantages. Fortunately the rock is tight and solid, and mining has been done sufficiently far from the surface to avoid unnecessary risk. Nevertheless, there was always danger of encountering open seams, through which too large a flow of water for comfortable working might come. Careful soundings were made over the veins, y means of steel-shod pipe, through mud and water to bedrock, but there was sometimes an element of uncertainty as to whether actual bedrock had been reached. Furthermore, the necessity of leaving safe backs between workings and lake tied up large quantities -of-ore, -and- made development- in certain

Jan 7, 1914

By R. K. Hopkins

For a great many years fusion welding has been used in and around petroleum refineries, but it is only within six or seven years that the more important pressure vessels have been constructed by this process, because before that time the properties of fusion welds would not with-stand such rigorous service. Since the adoption of fusion welding for the construction of this equipment, the refiner has required pressure vessels suitable for operation over a very wide range of conditions. On the one hand, vessels must operate at extremely high temperatures, in the range of 950° to 1000° F., and on the other vessels must be suitable for operation at sub-zero temperatures down as low as -75° F. Also, vessels are required suitable for operation at pressures upwards of 1000 lb. per sq. in., and as low as a 29-in. vacuum. In addition, vessels are required to withstand the attack of very corrosive mediums. It has been a rather difficult task for the fabricator to meet all of these require-ments, but as a result of the extensive research carried on by steel manu-facturers and several fabricators of class I vessels, practically all of these demands have been met. In order to meet the refiners' requirements for this wide range of conditions, the fabricator has worked closely with the metallurgist. This has enabled him to choose the proper base metal for each service condition, but it has been the fabricator's problem to develop a welding rod and welding technique, as well as a heat-treatment, that would produce in the welded vessel characteristics in and around the weld comparable to those in the base metal. Where corrosion is not a serious problem, and where the operating temperatures are not too high, ordinary carbon steel has served very well. But when corrosion is serious, and/or when the temperatures are either very high or very low, it is necessary to use some form of alloy steel to give satisfactory service.

Jan 1, 1935

By J. W. Lacey, F. H. Brinkman, J. E. Faris

This paper presents an analysis of the high-pressure, gas-driven LPG-slug process, based on fluid flow tests in areal models. Two types of tests were made. One series was made in low-pressure models which permitted observation of fluid movement. Three completely misci-ble analog fluids were used. A second series of tests was made in high-pressure models using methane, propane and a light refined oil saturated with methane at room temperature and 1,550 psig. Under the test conditions of room temperature and a pressure level of 1,550 psig, the phase diagram for the fluids used is similar to those for many of the field systems where the process is considered for use. A method for using these laboratory data to calculate field performance of the process is outlined. As a result of this work, it is concluded that small banks of LPG (5 per cent HV or less) are not effective in increasing oil recovery in horizontal reservoirs. Znstead, where small banks are used, the driving gas quickly penetrates the LPG bank because of fingering and channeling; and from this point on, the process behaves essentially as an immiscible gas-injection project. The validity of this conclusion was substantiated by: (1) laboratory studies of the effect of rate, model size and mobility ratio on miscible displacement in areal models; and (2) calculation of field recovery, which compared closely with actual field recovery. INTRODUCTION Field applications and pilot tests of the gas-driven, LPG-bank, oil-recovery process are on the increase. Most of these tests are employing small banks (2% to 5 per cent hydrocarbon volume) of LPG, which is miscible with both the driving gas and the oil in place, in an effort to attain an effective yet economical miscible displacement of oil by gas. The expectation of miscible displacement with small banks is based on the concepts that: (1) lengths of solvent-oil mixed zones, measured during miscible displacements in long slim cores, are representative of those that will occur in the field; and (2) areal sweep efficiencies5 measured in electrolytic model studies are applicable to miscible displacement in reservoirs. Our experimental evidence indicates that the mixed-zone lengths and sweep efficiencies mentioned are not applicable to miscible displacement in reservoirs. In this paper we present an evaluation of the gas-driven, LPG-bank oil-recovery process based on fluid flow experiments in areal models. These results are used to predict the performance of a field pilot test of this process, and the results are compared with the actual test results. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LPG BANKS The effectiveness of LPG banks of various sizes in accomplishing miscible displacement of oil by gas was determined by displacement tests in a model representing one-quarter of a confined five-spot pattern. The model, 12 X 12 X 1/4 in. in size, was packed uniformly with glass beads. It was operated at a pressure of 1,550 psig and at room temperature; the fluids used were methane, propane and refined oil saturated with methane at 1,550 psig. The saturated oil had a viscosity of 1.2 cp at room temperature. The results of these tests are shown in Fig. 1, where recovery is plotted as a function of the volume of fluid injected for: (1) an immiscible-gas drive with an oil-to-gas viscosity ratio of 85; (2) three sizes of LPG banks; and (3) two completely miscible displacements with mobility ratios of 85:1 and 10:1. (The miscible displacement data plotted are the averages of several tests.) The results show that a 2½ per cent bank of LPG does not increase oil recovery over that obtained by immiscible-gas drive. The 7 and 17 per cent banks are, respectively, about 30 and 50 per cent effective (with reference to the M = 85 miscible-displacement curve) in increasing oil recovery at the point where 2½ hydrocarbon volumes (HV) of fluid have been injected. The percentage effectiveness of the banks at a given volume of fluid injected is defined as Recovery by Bank — Recovery by Gas Drive Recovery by Miscible Recovery by Flooding Gas Drive We conclude from these results that banks of LPG smaller than about 5 per cent HV in an individual stratum will cause from little to no increase in oil recovery. This finding was substantiated by work in low-pressure models, which permitted visual observation of fluid movements. In these tests, three completely miscible fluids having the same viscosity ratios as those used in

New Jersey Zinc Co. - The Plants Canon City Palmerton Depue

Jan 12, 1953

By Norman Pilling

The effects of lead and tin up to maximum contents of about 0.1 per cent. each, in the presence of oxygen between 0.04 and 0.30 per cent., have been studied. Tin is retained efficiently in the oxidized condition, whereas lead is not. An approximate relation between the lead-oxygen and tin-oxygen contents is deduced which, if observed, permits the presence of these elements without detrimental effect. Excess of lead beyond this limit affects ductility and rolling properties adversely and an excess of tin correspondingly diminishes the conductivity. It is shown that copper carrying a combined lead and tin content of several hundredths per cent., yet fully equal in quality to electrolytic wirebar, may be produced under commercial conditions. TIN is not normally found in more than bare traces in current grades of American electrolytic copper, and lead is rarely found to more than a few thousandths per cent. In the electrolytic refining of copper these metals do not present great difficulty in separation and their presence in any considerable amount in copper that has been refined by this method need not be tolerated. On the other hand, the effect of these elements is not entirely academic, as a considerable tonnage of scrap copper liberally contaminated with them has been reclaimed by the fire-refining process into metal with a residual lead and tin content of several hundredths per cent., yet having excellent working properties and fully equal in quality to current grades of electrolytic wirebar. Such copper has been found entirely suitable for use in the manufacture of electrical apparatus. In the absence of oxygen, tin is known to depress the conductivity rapidly, and lead to impair ductility and the rolling properties, yet the effects of these metals on commercial grades of copper-i. e., copper containing from 0.03 to 0.10 per cent. of oxygen-apparently has not received systematic attention. Occasional reference is made to the fact that in the presence of oxygen lead may be tolerated, yet Addicks says,1 in regard to overpoling: "The unstable condition can be controlled by adding certain substances, notably lead, in small quantities, but as mere

Jan 2, 1926

By Willard L. Hunter

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

Jan 1, 1970

By Paul F. Kerr

Uranium mineralization occurs in the footwall of the Sunshine vein from the 2900 to the 3700 level. Veinlets of uraninite associated with pyrite and jasper have been so extensively divided and recemented that units more than a few feet in length are seldom observed. The wall rock is St. Regis quartzite of the Belt series. The age of the uraninite, on the basis of isotopic analyses, is 750 t- 50, which agrees with geological data suggesting that phases of the Sunshine mineralization are pre-Cambrian.

Jan 5, 1953

By Y. G. Shiau, J. E. Burke

Several attempts have been made to account for the fact that grains in a fully recrystallized metal will coarsen on annealmg. Two fundamentally different hypotheses have been advanced, with several variations of each. One school considers that the cause of grain growth is the surface energy of the grain boundary. The theory of Jeffriesl that grain size and grain size contrast control growth is an example. The second school considers the primary cause to be a difference in the lattice energy on either side of the grain boundary. The more perfect grains are considered to grow at the expense of their less perfect neighbors, with a decrease in free energy, and a consequent increase in the stability of the system. Burgers2 presents the case for the strain or lattice imperfection theory of grain growth quite completely. The latter theory is attractive, since there is no doubt that differences in lattice energy or lattice perfection can cause grain boundary migration. A recrystallization nucleus grows for this reason as was beautifully demonstrated by van Arkel and Ploos van Amstel.³ Although it is generally stated that grain growth does not precede recrystallization, several workers4-5 have shown that small strains may induce a single crystal in an aggregate to grow, or at least may cause some grain boundary migration. The origin and nature of the imperfections that are considered to be responsible for normal grain growth have never been clearly described, but it is generally agreed that they are a consequence of the difficulty of atomic reorientation in the solid state, and that they do not seriously differ from the type of imperfection that can be introduced by mechanical deformation. An object of the present work was to determine whether the introduction of mechanical deformation would cause grain growth in a specimen which would not otherwise show it under the conditions used. It was also planned to determine the effect of such deformation on the rate of growth in a specimen which would show growth in the unstrained condition. Recently Maddigan and Blank6 have indicated that slightly strained specimens of alpha brass can undergo considerable growth prior to recrystallization if annealed at low temperatures. French7 has reported that at deformations less than 17 pet it is very difficult to detect the beginning of recrystallization in the same material. It was therefore planned to broaden this work to include a complete study of the microscopic behavior of alpha brass under condition~ of temperature, time, grain size and deformation such that recrystallization would not occur or would occur to only a Small extent. Experimental Procedure The brass was prepared by melting cathode copper and commercially pure zinc

Jan 1, 1949

By J. E. Burke, Y. G. Shiau

Several attempts have been made to account for the fact that grains in a fully recrystallized metal will coarsen on annealmg. Two fundamentally different hypotheses have been advanced, with several variations of each. One school considers that the cause of grain growth is the surface energy of the grain boundary. The theory of Jeffriesl that grain size and grain size contrast control growth is an example. The second school considers the primary cause to be a difference in the lattice energy on either side of the grain boundary. The more perfect grains are considered to grow at the expense of their less perfect neighbors, with a decrease in free energy, and a consequent increase in the stability of the system. Burgers2 presents the case for the strain or lattice imperfection theory of grain growth quite completely. The latter theory is attractive, since there is no doubt that differences in lattice energy or lattice perfection can cause grain boundary migration. A recrystallization nucleus grows for this reason as was beautifully demonstrated by van Arkel and Ploos van Amstel.³ Although it is generally stated that grain growth does not precede recrystallization, several workers4-5 have shown that small strains may induce a single crystal in an aggregate to grow, or at least may cause some grain boundary migration. The origin and nature of the imperfections that are considered to be responsible for normal grain growth have never been clearly described, but it is generally agreed that they are a consequence of the difficulty of atomic reorientation in the solid state, and that they do not seriously differ from the type of imperfection that can be introduced by mechanical deformation. An object of the present work was to determine whether the introduction of mechanical deformation would cause grain growth in a specimen which would not otherwise show it under the conditions used. It was also planned to determine the effect of such deformation on the rate of growth in a specimen which would show growth in the unstrained condition. Recently Maddigan and Blank6 have indicated that slightly strained specimens of alpha brass can undergo considerable growth prior to recrystallization if annealed at low temperatures. French7 has reported that at deformations less than 17 pet it is very difficult to detect the beginning of recrystallization in the same material. It was therefore planned to broaden this work to include a complete study of the microscopic behavior of alpha brass under condition~ of temperature, time, grain size and deformation such that recrystallization would not occur or would occur to only a Small extent. Experimental Procedure The brass was prepared by melting cathode copper and commercially pure zinc

Jan 1, 1949

By C. G. Dunn

It is well known that plastic deformation alters many of the properties of a metal and subsequent heat-treatment partially or completely restores these properties.l In the deformed or strained state, the metal is unstable and tends to change toward a condition called a "strain-free state." The transformation occurs through recovery, recrystallization, and grain growth—processes that may take place singly or in combination. The distortion of the lattice of an individual grain of a metal in a state of strain may be rather complex in nature, because plastic deformation produces: (I) dislocations within mosaic blocks; (2) elastic variations of the lattice spacings; and (3) gross alterations throughout the lattice, especially along slip planes, along composition planes between a grain and its mechanical twins, and along boundaries of deformation bands. These gross alterations are of the nature of bent planes or rotated regions of the crystal lattice and are revealed by a spread in the orientation of the grain. Although we cannot describe these strains and their formation accurately because of insuffcient knowledge, we can, nevertheless, use the information as well as possible to obtain a better understanding of recovery processes. In recovery, the lattice of a grain is not made anew as it is in recrystallization, but is improved or mended in such a way that the basic structure remains unaltered: Until recatly observations were .that recovery produced no marked changes in the shapes of spots in Laue diffraction patterns, whereas recrystallization did, but now it is known for silicon ferrite2 that Laue spots may become quite sharp entirely through recovery. Consequently, the shape of Laue spots alone would not be a suitable test to distinguish between recovery and recrystallization. There is considerable evidence that the micro-structure usually does not change visibly during recovery. Absence of a visible change in the microstructure, therefore, provides a sufficient test of recovery in many cases. However, including this observation in a definition of recovery as a necessary condition (this is usually done) is unfortunate, because recovery may, as will become evident later, produce new grain boundaries that are visible not only in the microstructure but also in the macrostructure. For the present, therefore, let us say that a necessary condition for a process to be one of recovery is that the principal orientation or orientations of a deformed grain be essentially unchanged throughout the transformation toward the strain-free state. Several transformations may occur that fulfill this condition, and the nature of the distortion in a grain indicates what these must be if the lattice is to be mended in part or fully. Consequently, it will be convenient as well as

Jan 1, 1947

By C. G. Dunn

It is well known that plastic deformation alters many of the properties of a metal and subsequent heat-treatment partially or completely restores these properties.l In the deformed or strained state, the metal is unstable and tends to change toward a condition called a "strain-free state." The transformation occurs through recovery, recrystallization, and grain growth—processes that may take place singly or in combination. The distortion of the lattice of an individual grain of a metal in a state of strain may be rather complex in nature, because plastic deformation produces: (I) dislocations within mosaic blocks; (2) elastic variations of the lattice spacings; and (3) gross alterations throughout the lattice, especially along slip planes, along composition planes between a grain and its mechanical twins, and along boundaries of deformation bands. These gross alterations are of the nature of bent planes or rotated regions of the crystal lattice and are revealed by a spread in the orientation of the grain. Although we cannot describe these strains and their formation accurately because of insuffcient knowledge, we can, nevertheless, use the information as well as possible to obtain a better understanding of recovery processes. In recovery, the lattice of a grain is not made anew as it is in recrystallization, but is improved or mended in such a way that the basic structure remains unaltered: Until recatly observations were .that recovery produced no marked changes in the shapes of spots in Laue diffraction patterns, whereas recrystallization did, but now it is known for silicon ferrite2 that Laue spots may become quite sharp entirely through recovery. Consequently, the shape of Laue spots alone would not be a suitable test to distinguish between recovery and recrystallization. There is considerable evidence that the micro-structure usually does not change visibly during recovery. Absence of a visible change in the microstructure, therefore, provides a sufficient test of recovery in many cases. However, including this observation in a definition of recovery as a necessary condition (this is usually done) is unfortunate, because recovery may, as will become evident later, produce new grain boundaries that are visible not only in the microstructure but also in the macrostructure. For the present, therefore, let us say that a necessary condition for a process to be one of recovery is that the principal orientation or orientations of a deformed grain be essentially unchanged throughout the transformation toward the strain-free state. Several transformations may occur that fulfill this condition, and the nature of the distortion in a grain indicates what these must be if the lattice is to be mended in part or fully. Consequently, it will be convenient as well as

Jan 1, 1947

By Warren L. Howes

Literally hundreds of designs of mill liners are in use in current grinding operations, varying in contour from smooth to the roughest of surfaces, and in materials from scrap rail to alloy steels. A certain amount of variation in materials can be expected, owing to differences in local market conditions and the character of ores. However, when one attempts to rationalize the designs in current operations of a parallel nature, there is little that can be called standard practice. Designs and opinions of designs are as divergent as day and night. Somewhere in this maze there must be dues to better practice. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors for consideration in liner design, and to propose a vigorous campaign of exploration in this phase of grinding operations. The paramount considerations in the choice of mill liners for a grinding operation are: (I) durability, in view of the cost, and (2) developed grinding capacity. Because of the strategic nature of grinding circuits in controlling the production of most mining operations: grinding capacity usually is the greater consideration. Grinding Capacity Mill liners affect grinding capacity in two ways: (I) by establishing dead space within a mill shell, which could be usefully occupied by live grinding media, and (2) by controlling the grinding action of the media. The extent to which liner thickness affects the potential volume of live grinding media, and thereby the grinding capacity, is shown in Table I. In a ball mill 7 ft. in diameter, for example, an inch of liner thickness reduces ball volume and corresponding grinding capacity by 5 per cent. With grinding capacity at a premium, this makes consideration something more than first cost of liner materials. A low-cost, voluminous material, made extra thick to secure adequate life, can be very expensive in terms of grinding capacity. On the other hand, in increased grinding capacity, a long-wearing material in a thinner pattern can save many times its value. From the standpoint of mechanics, the function of mill liners is to provide the means of driving or tumbling the load of grinding media. In this respect, an internal-spur gear-and-pinion assembly resembles a rotating mill shell with its contained load of grinding media, the mill-shell linen

Jan 1, 1947

By Warren L. Howes

Literally hundreds of designs of mill liners are in use in current grinding operations, varying in contour from smooth to the roughest of surfaces, and in materials from scrap rail to alloy steels. A certain amount of variation in materials can be expected, owing to differences in local market conditions and the character of ores. However, when one attempts to rationalize the designs in current operations of a parallel nature, there is little that can be called standard practice. Designs and opinions of designs are as divergent as day and night. Somewhere in this maze there must be dues to better practice. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors for consideration in liner design, and to propose a vigorous campaign of exploration in this phase of grinding operations. The paramount considerations in the choice of mill liners for a grinding operation are: (I) durability, in view of the cost, and (2) developed grinding capacity. Because of the strategic nature of grinding circuits in controlling the production of most mining operations: grinding capacity usually is the greater consideration. Grinding Capacity Mill liners affect grinding capacity in two ways: (I) by establishing dead space within a mill shell, which could be usefully occupied by live grinding media, and (2) by controlling the grinding action of the media. The extent to which liner thickness affects the potential volume of live grinding media, and thereby the grinding capacity, is shown in Table I. In a ball mill 7 ft. in diameter, for example, an inch of liner thickness reduces ball volume and corresponding grinding capacity by 5 per cent. With grinding capacity at a premium, this makes consideration something more than first cost of liner materials. A low-cost, voluminous material, made extra thick to secure adequate life, can be very expensive in terms of grinding capacity. On the other hand, in increased grinding capacity, a long-wearing material in a thinner pattern can save many times its value. From the standpoint of mechanics, the function of mill liners is to provide the means of driving or tumbling the load of grinding media. In this respect, an internal-spur gear-and-pinion assembly resembles a rotating mill shell with its contained load of grinding media, the mill-shell linen

Jan 1, 1947

By Warren L. Howes

LITERALLY hundreds of designs of mill liners are in use in current grinding operations, varying in contour from smooth to the roughest of surfaces, and in materials from scrap rail to alloy steels. A certain amount of variation in materials can be expected, owing to differences in local market conditions and the character of ores. However, when one attempts to rationalize the designs in current operations of a parallel nature, there is little that can be called standard practice. Designs and opinions of designs are as divergent as day and night. Somewhere in this maze there must be clues to better practice. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors for consideration in liner design, and to propose a vigorous campaign of exploration in this phase of grinding operations. The paramount considerations in the choice of mill liners for a grinding operation are: (I) durability, in view of the cost, and (2) developed grinding capacity. Because of the strategic nature of grinding circuits in controlling the production of most mining operations,1 grinding capacity usually is the greater consideration. GRINDING CAPACITY Mill liners affect grinding capacity in two ways: (I) by establishing dead space within a mill shell, which could be usefully occupied by live grinding media, and (2) by controlling the grinding action of the media. The extent to which liner thickness affects the potential volume of live grinding media, and thereby the grinding capacity, is shown in Table I. In a ball mill 7 ft. in diameter, for example, an inch of liner thickness reduces ball volume and corresponding grinding capacity by 5 per cent. With grinding capacity at a premium, this makes consideration something more than first cost of liner materials. A low-cost, voluminous material, made extra thick to secure adequate life, can be very expensive in terms of grinding capacity. On the other hand, in increased grinding capacity, a long-wearing material in a thinner pattern can save many times its value. [ ] From the standpoint of mechanics, the function of mill liners is to provide the means of driving or tumbling the load of grinding media. In this respect, an internal-spur gear-and-pinion assembly resembles a rotating mill shell with its contained load of grinding media, the mill-shell liners

Jan 1, 1945

By C. E. Shoenfelt

Wildcat drilling in the Rocky Mountain region did not suffer as large a decline in 1942 as was anticipated. The drilling program laid out by the Government at the beginning of the year stressed wild-catting operations and called for reduction of drilling in proved fields. The increased wildcatting campaign did not yield a great many new discoveries, nor important extensions to old fields. Several interesting wildcat wells were drilled in Colorado in 1942 but no new fields were discovered. The Wilson Creek field was extended and about 400 acres added to its reserves. In Montana two new oil fields and two small gas fields were discovered. The developments in the marketing situation had improved, however, making the prospects especially bright for 1943, as will be shown presently in the section on Montana in this report. In New Mexico eight wells were completed, which constituted discoveries ol either oil or gas but none of these was of major proportions. In Wyoming one new oil field and one new gas field were discovered, and one old oil field and one old gas field were extended. Most important was the disco-very of prolific oil producers in deeper sands in three old oil fields, of which one at least, Elk Basin, probably is of major proportions. Government Action On Dec. 26, 1942, President Roosevelt signed the O'Mahoney bill, calling for a flat 12.5 per cent royalty on lands in the public domain. It is expected that the enactment of this bill will encourage wildcatting in the public land states. Opportunity for a full discussion of the problems of reserves and production was afforded at the hearings conducted on the O'Mahoney bill by the minerals subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Public Lands and the statements submitted at these hearings last fall placed the situation, its causes and the logical remedy, clearly on record. It was established at the hearings that for several years the volume of oil discovered per wildcat well drilled has steadily declined; new fields discovered have not been of major proportions; drilling costs have advanced rapidly; a sharp decline in exploratory drilling took place in 1942, while the proportion of dry holes increased; the inescapable conclusion is that to find new reserves the search for oil must be intensified and much more wildcat drilling ' must be done. To ensure an adequate drilling campaign, the Petroleum Industry War Council, the Interstate Compact Commission and other representative oil organizations have voiced by resolution their opinion that an upward revision of crude prices is necessary to provide an incentive to the prospector to undertake the hazards of wildcat drilling, since statistics prove that only ope in five or six wells drilled results in actual production. Former Price Administrator Henderson rejected the recommendations for price increases and declared himself unalterably opposed to a general price advance, On the ground that such advances would contribute to inflation. Now that Mr. Hender-

Jan 1, 1943