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By M. P. Du Plessis

"The paper discusses coal research in relation to the special needs of Western Canada, with its large resources of lignite and subbituminous coals. Research programs are presented under the following headings: Coal Liquefaction, Pyrolysis, Fluidized-Bed Technology, Underground Coal Gasification and Supporting Investigations. Typical processes are presented and their relevance to Canadian coals is described. The longterm plan of the Alberta Research Council for coal research and the steps taken for its implementation are discussed. Finally, some innovative concepts arising from basic research in coal chemistry are discussed.Canada's Coal ResourcesCanada is richly endowed with coal reserves. With estimated ultimate reserves of 600 billion tons in O.76-m (2.5-ft) thick seams under less than 762 m (2500 ft) of overburden, Canada rank s fourth after the USSR, the USA and Chinatu (see Table I) . Canada's reserves are incompletely explored and estimates are constantly being upgraded. Preliminary information from deeper test-hole logs suggest that similar , if not larger, tonnages occur at depths greater than 762 m (2500 ft).The types of Canadian coals and their regional Distribution(2) is shown in Figure 2. Alberta's subbituminous Plains coal represents about 70% of estimated national reserves. A large portion of the coal can be mined at relatively low cost by surface mining techniques, and it is currently being used exclusively for power generation in conventional thermal plants. This coal, however , also represents a large potential .source of liquid fuels which could equal or exceed that of oilsands and heavy oil. Table 3 compares Federal Government estimates for resources and reserves of fossil fuels in Canada and their recoverable oil content or equivalent.A conservation estimate of only the reserves of thermal coal represents an oil equivalent of 27.6 billion barrels , which equals the recoverable reserves of oil-sand bitumen and heavy oil. A more realistic estimate is probably several times this amount. Although coal can be converted to many other end products, such as fuel gas and synthesis gas for hydrogen and ammonia production, liquid fuels remain the most desirable product mainly because they can be transported more cheaply over long distances and their high energy density makes them uniquely suitable as fuels for transport and agriculture."

Jan 1, 1981

By G. V. Smith, R. F. Mehl

The decomposition of austenite in steels, because of its immerse practical importance, has been subjected to extensive study in recent years from the point of view of the mechanism of the process.1"3 Although much information has been acquired, a number of questions, principally of theoretical interest, remain. One is that of the atomic-crystallographic mechanism by which each of the various reaction products forms. The isothermal reaction products of the eutectoid decomposition in plain carbon steels (to which this study is restricted) have conveniently been classified in three general groupings—pearlite, bainite, and martensite. Of these several products, pearlite and martensite have been studied extensively, but bainite has received only scant attention. -As a result, the mechanism of the formation of pearlite and that of martensite are now fairly well understood while a great deal of uncertainty exists regarding bainite. Pearlite Pearlite forms from austenite by the precipitation of alternate platelets of cementite and ferrite, which grow into the austenite matrix.2--5 The rate of reaction may be described in terms of a rate of nucleation and a rate of growth.2.3 Mehl and Smith6 have attempted to determine the lattice relationships existing between the ferrite in pearlite and the' parent austenite. Using a pole-figure method of analysis, it was found that a limited number of ferrite orientations resulted from the decomposition of a single grain of austenite; it was not possible, however, to decide between two assumed ideal relationships, both of which appeared to account for the experimentally determined pole figure. It was definitely shown, however, that the relationship obtaining was quite different from that determined for the proeutectoid separation of ferrite.7 No attempt was made to determine the habit plane (matrix plane to which the precipitate lies parallel) of the pearlite lamellae. Belaiew8 earlier had stated that the number of directions assumed by the pearlite lamellae in a single grain of austenite was 12 (no details were given) and concluded wrong!:!, as Mehl and Smith6 have pointed out, that the lamellae delineate the {2I0} planes of ferrite.* Martensite It is known that martensite is a transiti0nal constituent of body-centered tetragonal lattice,' and that it forms suddenly

Jan 1, 1942

By R. F. Mehl, G. V. Smith

The decomposition of austenite in steels, because of its immerse practical importance, has been subjected to extensive study in recent years from the point of view of the mechanism of the process.1"3 Although much information has been acquired, a number of questions, principally of theoretical interest, remain. One is that of the atomic-crystallographic mechanism by which each of the various reaction products forms. The isothermal reaction products of the eutectoid decomposition in plain carbon steels (to which this study is restricted) have conveniently been classified in three general groupings—pearlite, bainite, and martensite. Of these several products, pearlite and martensite have been studied extensively, but bainite has received only scant attention. -As a result, the mechanism of the formation of pearlite and that of martensite are now fairly well understood while a great deal of uncertainty exists regarding bainite. Pearlite Pearlite forms from austenite by the precipitation of alternate platelets of cementite and ferrite, which grow into the austenite matrix.2--5 The rate of reaction may be described in terms of a rate of nucleation and a rate of growth.2.3 Mehl and Smith6 have attempted to determine the lattice relationships existing between the ferrite in pearlite and the' parent austenite. Using a pole-figure method of analysis, it was found that a limited number of ferrite orientations resulted from the decomposition of a single grain of austenite; it was not possible, however, to decide between two assumed ideal relationships, both of which appeared to account for the experimentally determined pole figure. It was definitely shown, however, that the relationship obtaining was quite different from that determined for the proeutectoid separation of ferrite.7 No attempt was made to determine the habit plane (matrix plane to which the precipitate lies parallel) of the pearlite lamellae. Belaiew8 earlier had stated that the number of directions assumed by the pearlite lamellae in a single grain of austenite was 12 (no details were given) and concluded wrong!:!, as Mehl and Smith6 have pointed out, that the lamellae delineate the {2I0} planes of ferrite.* Martensite It is known that martensite is a transiti0nal constituent of body-centered tetragonal lattice,' and that it forms suddenly

Jan 1, 1942

By D. V. J. W. Groenewald, T. M. Louw, L. Auret, S. M. Bradshaw, A. V. Cherkaev

Unexpected equipment failures lead to financial losses due to production disruption. Time-based maintenance, based on checks over regular time periods, has been employed to minimise disruption. However, the improvements it can offer are limited as it may lead to unnecessary service of healthy equipment or missed failures occurring between service intervals. Condition-based maintenance (CBM) provides a further improvement to equipment reliability by detecting faults and predicting remaining useful life (RUL) based on equipment health monitoring. Its application in the mineral processing industry is hindered due to the high cost of health monitoring equipment. In this study, two stochastic process models, the adaptive auto-regressive model and the gamma process, are compared in their ability to forecast the degradation state and to provide RUL prediction. The gamma process model was found to be effective in both tasks. Due to its simplicity and minimum hyperparameters requirements, it is proposed to use the gamma process as a baseline for comparison with other models. Keywords: Condition-based maintenance, remaining useful life, slurry pump, adaptive autoregressive mode, gamma process

Jan 1, 2020

By P. L. Loyselle, B. D. Comilsen, D. H. Carlson, J. H. Johnson

"In-mine airborne particulate samples have been successfully collected and the relative amounts of diesel and coal determined using the Laser Raman Quantitative Analysis (LRQA) method. This method allows analysis of filters which have been collected by a method similar to that used to determine the airborne respirable dust concentration in us underground coal mines. Samples were taken near the feeder-breaker, on haulage vehicles, and in the returns. Sampling methodologies were developed for coal-only and diesel-only particulate reference samples with sufficient filter loading for the LRQA method. A statistical analysis of reproducibility has been carried out. Samples have been collected simultaneously at two locations using the LRQA and the size-selective sampling methods. Good agreement between the two methods has been found.INTRODUCTIONThe goal of this research has been to develop the Laser Raman Quantitative Analysis (LRQA) method to measure the composition of respirable particulate, i.e. the fractions of coal and of diesel particulate, in the mine ambient air. In earlier Bureau of Mines sponsored research, we successfully demonstrated that the LRQA method could be used to measure the fraction of Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) in coal/diesel particulate mixtures which were prepared in the laboratory.(I) 'The immediate objective was to test and refine this LRQA method on samples collected in a diesel underground coal mine.Specific objectives required to meet this goal include:I) Develop in-mine sample collection methods which will insure sufficient particulate loading on filters for LRQA. ,2) Develop methodology for in-mine collection of reference samples (""coal-only"" and ""diesel-only"" filters) which arc required for quantitative LRQA. 3) Analyze precision and accuracy of the LRQA method. 4) Compare composition measurements with another analytical method, i.e. the University of Minnesota/Bureau of Mines size selective sampling Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor (MOUDI) method.An advantage of the LRQA method is that it allows analysis of filters which have been collected by a method similar to that used to determine the respirable dust concentration in US underground coal mines. No new sampling instruments and techniques are required. Transfer of sample from collection substrate to analysis substrate is not necessary. Furthermore, other analyses can be made on the same sample since the technique is nondestructive."

Jan 1, 1988

By H. Rush Spedden, A. M. Gaudin

Although the number of minerals that are ferromagnetic‡ or highly paramagnetic is strictly limited, it has been known for some time that many minerals have slight but supposedly characteristic magnetic susceptibilities. With the exception of pyrrhotite, however, sulphides have been thought nonmagnetic. A new magnetic separator has been made available recently in limited quantity to research laboratories. This device, the Frantz Isodynamic Separator, has been used for the separation of various non-sulphides from each other. Its application to the separation of sulphides, however, does not seem to have been reported. In the Richards Mineral Dressing Laboratories, the success achieved through the use of this device in separating associated sulphides has been so startling as to lead us to believe that it constitutes a magnificent adjunct to heavy-liquid separation and to quantitative mineragraphy as a tool for the mineral investigator. The separator (Fig. I) consists of: 1. A powerful magnet, the strength of which can be adjusted by, means of a rheostat; 2. A vibrating chute of nonmagnetic metal on which the mineral to be separated is made to flow (Fig. 2); 3. A feed bin and adjustable feeder; 4. Receptacles for the collection of products; 5. Means for changing, setting, and accurately reading the two slopes of the chute; viz., the cross slope and longitudinal slope. The separator is made operative by the special shape of its pole pieces, which ensures a strongly converging field. It is said by the makers of the machine that the pole pieces apply a constant mechanical force to a particle of given susceptibility, regardless of its position in the operating space of the separators." Susceptible particles, therefore, behave as though of lower specific gravity than under ordinary circumstances. This effect, combined with the slopes of the chute and the action of the vibrator, causes a stratification not unlike thai obtainable on a shaking table. The chute is of rectangular cross section, and shallow; it is broadened toward the discharge end and divided longitudinally by a partition into two compartments that lead to the collecting receptacles. Although the separator probably can be used to make separations at fairly coarse

Jan 1, 1943

By R. F. Mehl, R. W. Parcel

THE rate of the decomposition of austenite in eutectoid steels, forming only pearlite, may be expressed fundamentally in terms of the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of pearlite nodules. This matter has received much attention in recent years. (The basic references are listed in ref. 1; references of particular import to the present work will be given separately.) Systematic data have been developed for plain carbon eutectoid steels.:! Although the physical factors affecting the rate of nucleation, N, in case of plain carbon steels have presumably been identified, they cannot as yet be evaluated quantitatively.' Several somewhat successful attempts, however, have been made to calculate the rate of growth, G. In the latter case the important factors determining the edgewise growth of pearlite have been assumed to be: 1—the interlamellar spacing; 2—the concentration extremes and concentration contours of carbon in austenite in front of the growing pearlite interface; and 3—the rate of diffusion of carbon in austenite.* The only systematic data on N and G for pearlite in alloy eutectoid steels are those for Co-steels;6 there are no data on alloy eutectoid steels in which the alloying element is known to decrease the rate of formation of pearlite, apart from a few scattering data reported earlier' for steels containing manganese. This paper reports a systematic study of N and G for eutectoid alloy steels containing molybdenum and nickel, respectively. In order to provide information of help in understanding the results, new data are presented on the effect of molybdenum on the interlamellar spacing of pearlite, So; data on the effect of nickel on So have already been published.' The alloys used were in five groups: 1—Pure Fe-C-Mo alloys (Table I) were supplied by the Climax Molybdenum Company of Michigan, Detroit. They were made from Armco ingot iron of standard analysis, Acheson graphite, and ferro-molybdenum, melted in silica-lined crucibles in a high frequency induction furnace. The ferromolyb-denum was added to the melted steel, followed in 5 min by 0.08 pct Al. The ingot as-cast measured 23/4x 31/4x10 in.; it was hot-forged at 1150°C to a bar 1 in. sq.

Jan 1, 1953

By H. Rush Spedden, A. M. Gaudin

Although the number of minerals that are ferromagnetic‡ or highly paramagnetic is strictly limited, it has been known for some time that many minerals have slight but supposedly characteristic magnetic susceptibilities. With the exception of pyrrhotite, however, sulphides have been thought nonmagnetic. A new magnetic separator has been made available recently in limited quantity to research laboratories. This device, the Frantz Isodynamic Separator, has been used for the separation of various non-sulphides from each other. Its application to the separation of sulphides, however, does not seem to have been reported. In the Richards Mineral Dressing Laboratories, the success achieved through the use of this device in separating associated sulphides has been so startling as to lead us to believe that it constitutes a magnificent adjunct to heavy-liquid separation and to quantitative mineragraphy as a tool for the mineral investigator. The separator (Fig. I) consists of: 1. A powerful magnet, the strength of which can be adjusted by, means of a rheostat; 2. A vibrating chute of nonmagnetic metal on which the mineral to be separated is made to flow (Fig. 2); 3. A feed bin and adjustable feeder; 4. Receptacles for the collection of products; 5. Means for changing, setting, and accurately reading the two slopes of the chute; viz., the cross slope and longitudinal slope. The separator is made operative by the special shape of its pole pieces, which ensures a strongly converging field. It is said by the makers of the machine that the pole pieces apply a constant mechanical force to a particle of given susceptibility, regardless of its position in the operating space of the separators." Susceptible particles, therefore, behave as though of lower specific gravity than under ordinary circumstances. This effect, combined with the slopes of the chute and the action of the vibrator, causes a stratification not unlike thai obtainable on a shaking table. The chute is of rectangular cross section, and shallow; it is broadened toward the discharge end and divided longitudinally by a partition into two compartments that lead to the collecting receptacles. Although the separator probably can be used to make separations at fairly coarse

Jan 1, 1943

By C. O. Worden, E. K. Landgraf, C. A. Zapffe

Following the discovery of Parke and Ham that deoxidation control of cast molybdenum can be predicated upon simple fractographic examination, a special study of that metal was undertaken to investigate those patterns ascribed to forge-ability and nonforgeability. An elaborately developed system of cleavage patterns immediately rewarded the study; and they are reported here as a necessarily preliminary contribution calling attention to information which is both new in type and in origin. In general, the present observations confirm those of Parke and Ham, and Wood-side; but they also disclose a wealth of detail and correlated phenomena which greatly expand the earlier information. For example, the oxide pattern of nonforgeability is found to be complex, perhaps involving as many as three distinctive patterns, And the nature of the carbide seems to be at least twofold. In addition, transgranular facets are here shown for the first time. Elaborately complex, but in a characteristic manner, these facets depict distortion in original crystal growth which provides truly extraordinary patterns. No carbide and oxide forms display themselves transgranularly, except in profile as exceedingly thin superficial films at the grain boundaries. Crys-tallographic features are also rare—a condition undoubtedly resulting from the great substructural distortion; but occasionally registrations are found of cleavage on {00I}, and faulted areas believed to be Neumann-type deformation on I I121. Introduction Parbe and Ham,' and again Woodside,2 have reported that the forgeability of molybdenum cast by their Vacuum-electric-arc Process can be predicted with great dependability by a simple fractographic observation. They state that nonforgeability is the result of a grain boundary oxide which can be readily identified on the fracture facet at high magnification; and they convert the nonforgeable condition to a forgeable one by increasing the carbon content of the melt until the oxide structures subsequently observed in the fracto-graph become replaced by a second strongly marked pattern characteristic of carbide and coincidentally indicative of forgeability. Considerable importance immediately attaches to such observations: (I) because of their direct commercial application to one of metallurgy's inviting and relatively unexplored metals; (2) because of a general scientific curiosity regarding the nature of these characteristic markings; and (3) perhaps more important, because of

Jan 1, 1949

By R. M. Brick, M. A. Williamson

CERTAIN features of the response of copper and brass to deformation and recrystallization remain obscure. The textures obtained on rolled sheet are listed by Schmid and Boas1 as: No adequate explanation has been advanced for the presence of the secondary deformation texture of copper and its absence in brass or for the origin of the cubic recrystallization texture of copper.2 A recent publication3 attempted to rationalize the above empirically described annealing texture of brass on the basis of retention of the (110) [112] rolling orientation plus twinning about the central octahedral poles of the usual secondary (110) [115] orientation. The difference in the textures of annealed copper as compared to 70-30 brass is also shown by the difference in the position of ears for drawn copper, at o° and 90°, as compared with drawn brasses, at 45°, for all compositions between 90-10 and 70-30.4 Data on individual crystals are as yet too few to permit of an analysis of these textures comparable to that of mild steel as made by Barrett and Levenson.5 EXPERITMENTAL METHODS The materials studied included copper specimens cut from the central, equiaxed crystal portion of a tough-pitch wirebar; brass made from this copper and high-purity (99.99 per cent) zinc including alloys of 7 per. cent, 15 per cent, 24 per cent, 29 per cent and 36 per cent Zn and large single crystals of 70-30 brass. Sections ¼ in. thick of the cast polycrystalline copper and brasses were reduced 40 per cent by rolling, recrystallized to a common grain size of 0.045 mm. and then rolled directly to foil 0.002 in. thick. Hardness readings employing both the Vickers and Rockwell machines were taken at intervals during the reduction. For comparison, similar specimens were cross-rolled-i.e., turned through 90 for each pass-and comparable hardness data were secured. Finally sections from the single crystals of brass were cut to obtain the following initial orientations; these sections were rolled, hardness data secured and a complete micrographic record of structural changes obtained:

Jan 1, 1941

By A.A. Grubb, F.L. Wolf

The tests here described were rrlade to obtain information regarding costs, efficiency, etc. of baking cores in an oil-fired oven and two electric ovens, which were installed, early in 1920, in the core room of The Ohio Brass Co. and were used almost continuously during the rest of that year. Operating costs were rather high so a complete test was undertaken early in 1921. The ovens will be referred to as Nos. 1, 2, and 3. Nos. 1 and 2 are electric ovens of different makes while No. 3 is an oil-fired oven made by the firm that made No. 2. The three arc. equipped with similar ventilating devices. They have full-height doors at front and rear. The cores are placed on iron racks, which arc lifted by Cowan trucks and rolled into the ovens through the front doors. When baked, they are removed through the rear doors. Fig. 1 shows the general plan of the elecric ovens while Fig. 2 shows the plan of the oil-fired oven. Oven No. 1 is 91 in. (231 em.) wide, 83 in. (210 em.) high. and 79 in. (200 cm.) deep, inside measurements. The walls are constructed ill panels about 18 in. (46 cm.) wide and 43/16 in. (10.6 em.) thick, packed with blocks of insulating material and covered with sheet iron. Thc concrete floor oil which the owns set is 13 in. (33 cm.) thick. 4 recess about 5 in. (13 cm.) deep was cut in the floor to provide room for the heating units. Channels and plates supported on I beams serve as supports for the trucks and racks. The ventilating system consists of a Sirroco No. 11/2 fan, connected so as to draw air from the top of the oven or from the room, through damper C, and to deliver it either to the bottom of the oven or to the floor; the delivery is controlled by the vane A. The fan 2nd pipes are covered with 1/4-in. (6.3 mm.) asbestos-cement lagging. The heating units have a capacity of 91.4 kw. and arc located along

Jan 1, 1923

By F. L. Wolf, A. A. Grubb

The tests here described were rrlade to obtain information regarding costs, efficiency, etc. of baking cores in an oil-fired oven and two electric ovens, which were installed, early in 1920, in the core room of The Ohio Brass Co. and were used almost continuously during the rest of that year. Operating costs were rather high so a complete test was undertaken early in 1921. The ovens will be referred to as Nos. 1, 2, and 3. Nos. 1 and 2 are electric ovens of different makes while No. 3 is an oil-fired oven made by the firm that made No. 2. The three arc. equipped with similar ventilating devices. They have full-height doors at front and rear. The cores are placed on iron racks, which arc lifted by Cowan trucks and rolled into the ovens through the front doors. When baked, they are removed through the rear doors. Fig. 1 shows the general plan of the elecric ovens while Fig. 2 shows the plan of the oil-fired oven. Oven No. 1 is 91 in. (231 em.) wide, 83 in. (210 em.) high. and 79 in. (200 cm.) deep, inside measurements. The walls are constructed ill panels about 18 in. (46 cm.) wide and 43/16 in. (10.6 em.) thick, packed with blocks of insulating material and covered with sheet iron. Thc concrete floor oil which the owns set is 13 in. (33 cm.) thick. 4 recess about 5 in. (13 cm.) deep was cut in the floor to provide room for the heating units. Channels and plates supported on I beams serve as supports for the trucks and racks. The ventilating system consists of a Sirroco No. 11/2 fan, connected so as to draw air from the top of the oven or from the room, through damper C, and to deliver it either to the bottom of the oven or to the floor; the delivery is controlled by the vane A. The fan 2nd pipes are covered with 1/4-in. (6.3 mm.) asbestos-cement lagging. The heating units have a capacity of 91.4 kw. and arc located along

Jan 1, 1923

By C. H. Mathewson

Discussion of the paper of C. H. MATHEWSON and ARTHUR PHILLIPS, presented at the New York meeting, February, 1916, and printed in Bulletin No. 109, January, 1916, pp. 1 to 50. ZAY JEFFRIES, Cleveland, Ohio (communication to the Secretary*).¬The authors are to be congratulated for this interesting and valuable contribution. The paper as a whole shows very careful experimentation coupled with rare judgment in drawing conclusions. I have been working along similar lines for the last two years with other metals and alloys. In a short conversation with Dr. Mathewson about July 1, 1915, he mentioned the fact that different degrees of cold work greatly affect the temperature of recrystallization on annealing, Later I determined the recrystallization temperatures of iron, mild steel, and copper, with different degrees of cold work and found that the greater the degree of cold work, the lower the temperature of recrystallization on annealing. In the course of these experiments, I conceived practically the same ideas regarding the reasons for recrystallization as those advanced in the article under discussion. After a metal has been reduced by cold work to about one-fourth of its original area, the differences in orientation of different parts of a given grain can be seen plainly at a magnification of about 1,000 diameters. It is interesting to note that in Fig. A, Plate I, the lines of deformation are not parallel. For example,. in the large grain at the lower left corner of the micrograph, if the lines of deformation about 3g in. from the left edge are continued in a straight line, this line will intersect a straight line drawn as a continuation of the lines of deformation on the extreme right of the grain, at an angle of about 20°. Similarly, if the lines of deformation at the extremities of the large grain in the right central portion of the micrograph are extended, the lines intersect at an angle of about 35°. The individual lines of deformation are not straight. In some of these the parts of the broken lines intersect at angles as great as 15°.

Jan 5, 1916

By H. H. Kellogg

An invitation to address you on the occasion of the one-hundredth anniversary of AIME represents an honor, a challenge and an opportunity: an honor that you judge me worthy; a challenge that I present to you a picture of extractive metallurgy in the years ahead that contains some ideas of value; and finally, an opportunity for me to express some deeply felt beliefs about our profession and our industry. My topic concerns the technology of metal production in the future - the processes, new and old, that will be used to extract metals. The nature of these processes will be shaped by many forces - some technical, some economic, some political or social. A forecast of future technology must recognize the role of each of these forces, and I have endeavored to do this in the analysis that follows. In brief, my outline consists of an analysis of the forces (perhaps better called "problems") that will influence the future of our industry, followed by consideration of likely lines of technological development to meet them. Let me dwell for a moment on the nature of this industry and the profession that serves it. I have been engaged in the profession of extractive metallurgy - teaching, researching and consulting - for 30 years. I have always found the subject stimulating and rife with challenges of a scientific, engineering, economic and socio-political nature. It is a big subject - it encompasses most of the elements of periodic table; we measure the U. S. production of six metals in millions of tons per year; new plant costs range to $100 million and more. The supply of metals from our extractive plants plays an essential role in our modern industrial economy. We could do without DDT, or phosphate detergents or 300-page Sunday newspapers; we cannot do without a huge and increasing supply of metals. The Basic Goal of Extractive Metallurgy Understanding of some basic forces that shape this industry can be gained by consideration of the question: What determines the utility of metals to man? We think immediately of the inherent properties of metals - strength, ductility, electrical conductivity and so forth - but these tell only part of the story. Metal price and the available supply play equally

Jan 1, 1971

By L. C. Uren

Some of US have been impressed with the need for a better understanding of the future place of the engineer in the petroleum industry. In academic work we are continually asked to advise students as to the opportunities in different directions, to guide them in their selection of professions, and it would be extremely helpful to those in academic lines of work to have the opinion of engineers from the industry relative to the need for petroleum engineers. IS the industry going to require a continually growing number of engineers in the future years, or have we perhaps reached equilibrium in that regard ? In anticipation of this meeting, I undertook to canvass opinion among a number of engineers of my acquaintance and I have been rather astonished to learn that the expenditure on engineering salaries in the producing branch of the oil industry is extremely low. I have figures from eight or 10 of the larger oil companies and it seems to be a fair statement on the basis of these figures to say that the average American oil company is devoting less than 2 per cent. of its gross expenditures in oil production to the payment of engineering salaries. A few examples will be of interest. I shall not mention names of individual companies, but one large Mid-Continent company is spending slightly less than 1 per cent. of its gross expenditure—that is, less than 1 per cent. of the total expenditure in the producing department—on engineering salaries and about as much on engineering research, which might properly be regarded as a phase of its engineering work. Another Mid-Continent company is spending about 11/4 per cent. on engineering salaries. A large California company is spending about l1/2 per cent. The largest figure that has come to my attention is that of an important Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent company that is spending a little more than 6 per cent., but that is apparently an extreme case. The petroleum producing industry is a highly technical business in these days. It is spending in excess of $500,000,000 annually in new

Jan 1, 1929

By Jheison Lopes dos Santos

Neste trabalho, pela primeira vez, o sistema cerâmico Al2O3-Nb2O5-LiF teve suas propriedades mecânicas investigadas. Foram investigadas diferentes composições, em peso, para o composto (Al2O3–4%Nb2O5)–nLiF, com n variando entre 0 e 1,50%, a três temperaturas de sinterização diferentes (1300, 1350 e 1400 ºC). Como caracterização mecânica, avaliou-se a microdureza Vickers para todas as composições. A adição de LiF que apresentou os maiores valores de densificação teve seus módulos de Young e de cisalhamento, e as velocidades de ondas elásticas determinadas. Os resultados mostraram que todas as adições de LiF elevaram a microdureza do composto Al2O3–4%Nb2O5. Este fato pode estar relacionado com a densificação e fases obtidas após a sinterização. A adição de 0,5% de LiF ao composto cerâmico Al2O3-4% Nb2O5, promovendo maior densificação, quando sinterizado a 1300 ºC obteve valores de propriedades elásticas comparáveis aos obtidos por Al2O3–4%Nb2O5 sem LiF, sinterizado a 1400 ºC. Os resultados relevaram ainda uma coerente correlação entre dureza, módulo de elasticidade e densificação. Dessa forma, a adição de fluoreto de lítio ao sistema cerâmico alumina-nióbia possibilitou a redução em pelo menos 100 ºC na temperatura de sinterização, com propriedades mecânicas comparáveis.

Oct 30, 2017

By John A. Church

When, in 1879,I examined the mines of the Tombstone Mill and Mining Company, at Tombstone, Arizona, I found a bed of tailings containing 12,000 tons, which had a value of 9 to 12 ounces of silver per ton and some gold. The ore had been amalgamated in pans, in which each charge had been ground for four hours, having been pre viously stamped through rough-punched screens, which gave a pro duct varying from 1-100th to 1-20th of an inch, according to the state of wear of the screen. It was certain that a large proportion of the tailings must be in fine slimes, and the question of recovering their value was difficult. Even now the concentration of slimes is . an unwelcome task, and at that day very little was known about it. Nevertheless, after considering the results of a test by repanning the tailings, I advised the company to concentrate and smelt, although they had to face the difficulty of making a smelting-product from slimes containing only 3 per cent. of lead. Limestone was abundant enough, but no iron suitable for flux was to be had for hundreds of miles. One of the company's claims con tained an argeutiferous manganese-ore, which gave but poor results by amalgamation. This was one reason for recommending smelt ing ; for if manganese would play the part of a precipitant, as iron does, the company could smelt by combining two of its silver ores, without other flux than the small amount of lime that might be needed. At that time no smelter had ventured to trust manga nese as a precipitant, though large quantities of this ore containing silver were bought and used by custom-smelters, who looked upon the manganese solely as a basic flux for silica. I believe that no other furnace has been obliged to trust this metal, and that the man ganese practice of Tombstone remains unique among the records of smelting lead-ores in the shaft-furnace. The bright side of the problem was given by the fact that the mines were shallow and that the enterprise would at least begin with oxidized ores. The tailings contained about 85 per cent. of silica,

Jan 1, 1895

By Charles Catlett

My attention having been called several years ago to the possibility of increasing the yield of coke per ton of coal, as obtained in certain bee-hive ovens, I called the attention of the Institute to the matter at the New York meeting in 1899. I have had occasion since to witness the indifference with which this matter is ordinarily considered, and, on the other hand, the marked improvement which comes from even a most perfunctory effort in that direction; and I am almost tempted to say that nothing in connection with the coking of coal is at present so important. There are other factors, which are fundamental and necessary; but they have been considered already ; while the question of yield is, as a rule, absolutely ignored, or some figure is taken as the result of a special burning of one or two ovens, and the assumption is made that the whole battery is yielding at that rate. The uncertainty of this assumption I may illustrate by saying that, in my own observation, the burning of a single oven in a battery frequently gives, by actual weight, as much as 69 or 70 per cent. of merchantable coke, while the battery as a whole was yielding only an average of 63 per cent. Only from careful records, checked at least once a month, of the weight of the coal going to the ovens and the weight of coke produced, can any correct idea of the actual yield be gained, or methods be modified so as to produce good results; yet, as a rule, the crudest estimates are usually the only available data. In many cases there are reasons for this loose practice. The coal is mined by measurement; the payment for drawing the ovens is in proportion to the amount of cod which goes to them; and, not uncommonly, the royalty is so much a ton of coke, not of coal. The mine-manager is tempted to increase the volume of coal mined which is paid for as a ton, and to do the same thing in charging the ovens. Nor does he

Jan 1, 1903

By N. Lilienberg

Refractory materials play much the same part in the producion of metals as houses and shelter for men, and it therefore seems useful to discuss sometimes the ways of manufacturing them. In fact, it appears to me that too little has been said on this important matter, probably because the manufacturers of fire-brick do not care to publish details for the benefit of competitors, but perhaps, also, by reason of the indulgent indifference of consumers. Judging from the revolutions in the manafacture of iron and steel caused by using calcareous materials for the furnace-bottoms, it does not seem improbable that in the future basic bricks may be produced suffciently strong for building also side-walls and arches, and perhaps, also, for use in blast-furnaces. But the existence of the present difficulties of great shrinkage in burning and small strength against compression, which limit the possibility of using basic bricks to Bessemer converters and such open-hearth furnaces as permit the bottom to be separated from the superstructure, seems to indicate still a long and extensive use of silica fire-bricks. I am not prepared to say anything about American fire-brick making, but knowing that industries abroad are watched with increasing interest by American manufacturers, I have imagined that this association would like to hear some facts about the way firebricks arc made in my country—Sweden. Well-known as it is that Sweden produces a high quality of iron, it is perhaps not so universally known that the same country produces a very high grade of silica fire-brick, whereby most of its own wants are supplied. In giving the following sketch I can, of course, not claim that all the facts are entirely new, but shall consider my object attained if American manufacturers can derive some benefit from the comparison of the following methods with their own, and if some discussion on this important subject can be aroused which will contribute to further progress. In order to show the extensive use of domestic fire-bricks in Sweden, where English bricks are easily obtainable, I mention the fact that about twelve millions of all kinds of fire-bricks (reduced to

Jan 1, 1885

Discussion of the paper of W. R. SHIMER, presented at the New York meeting, February, 1915, and printed in Bulletin No. 99, March, 1915, pp. 557 to. 585. WILLIAM R. WEBSTER, Philadelphia, Pa.-I would like to ask Mr. Shimer how the finishing temperature of the H-beams and other beams rolled on the Gray mill at Bethlehem compare with the rolling temperatures of the rails referred to in this paper. Also, how the reductions in the rolling of the beams compare with the reductions in the rolling of the rails. I would also like to know if any drop tests were' made on the rails referred to as having been allowed to cool and then annealed; in other words, what results, if any, were obtained from tests on rails after the internal strains of rolling had been removed; and in the matter of the rail blooms, I would like to ask if they are not often heated to a higher temperature than is desirable on account of the thin flanges in order to carry the heat through to the finishing pass. The tensile strength of the steel in these rails is given as 125,000 lb. per square inch, which is almost as high as tire steel. If some of these blooms were rolled into rounds of about the same section as the head of the rail, would you not get better results from tension tests than those from the head of the rail? In other words, in rolling rounds, whether you would not be able to control the rolling and finishing temperatures better than is possible in the rail, owing to thin section of the rail flanges. Some years ago I had experience with the rolling temperatures of tire steel, running from about 127,000 to 133,000 tensile strength. These tires had the tensile strength and the deflection specified. One of the manufacturers had no trouble whatever, after a little experimenting, in meeting the conditions of the specification. Another manufacturer who made some of these tires came to the office and stated that he had tried tires from three heats of steel and could not meet the specifications and

Jan 5, 1915