Search Documents

By P. J. Spencer, J. N. Pratt

The vapor pressure of manganese over liquid Mn-Sn alloys has been determined by a high-temperature torsion-effusion technique. Alloys containing from 8 to 100 at. pct Mn were investigated in the temperature range jrom 1280" to 1580" and the measured pressure values were used to calculate the partial and integral thermodynamic properties of the liquid alloys. The activities show small negative departures from ideality while the integral heats and excess entropies of mixing are asymmetric inform, changing from positive to negative with increasing manganese content. The possible contribution of various factors to the observed thermodynamic properties is discussed. COMPARATIVELY few thermodynamic data are available for manganese alloy systems.' Therefore, as part of a continuing program of studies of the thermodynamic properties of transition metal alloys, measurements have been made on various binary alloys involving this element. In recent publications,2~3 investigations of liquid Mn-Cu alloys and of the Mn-Au system in both solid and liquid states have been reported. For the first-mentioned system the work suggested that magnetic interactions may be responsible for the observed form of the thermodynamic properties, while in the second the influence of the electrochemical factor appears to be dominant. The present paper describes a similar study of liquid Mn-Sn alloys. Again the thermodynamic properties have been obtained from vapor pressure measurements made by use of a high-temperature torsion-effusion technique.4 A detailed description of the apparatus and of the experimental procedures used in alloy preparation and pressure measurement may be found elsewhere.2'4 EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS Sixteen alloys, ranging in composition from 8 to 100 at. pct Mn, were prepared from spectroscopically standardized manganese of 99.99 pct purity and tin of 99.999 pct purity, both supplied by Johnson-Matthey and Co., Ltd. One-gram samples of the alloys were obtained by carefully weighing appropriate amounts of the pure components into an effusion cell; this was then suspended in the apparatus and the metals melted together in situ by heating under vacuum to approximately 1550°K. After allowing sufficient time for a homogeneous liquid alloy to be formed, vapor pressure measurements were commenced. These were determined as rapidly as possible at a series of steady temperatures within the range of interest. The duration of experimental runs on individual samples was kept sufficiently short to ensure insignificant varia- tion of alloy composition during investigation. After completing pressure measurements, the alloys were rapidly cooled and their compositions checked by weighing or chemical analysis. All experiments were conducted using effusion cells machined entirely from boron nitride. Measurements were made using a variety of cells with orifice areas ranging from 0.0032 to 0.0075 sq cm and lengths of the order of 0.04 cm; the usual effusion correction factors for orifice geometry and molecular distribution were calculated using Freeman and Searcy's equation5 and had values between 0.6 and 0.75 for the orifices employed here. The vapor pressures of manganese over the alloys were measured at approximately 20°K intervals in the temperature range 1280" to 1580°K. In view of the close approximation of the measured pressures to Clausius-Clapeyron behavior in the experimental temperature range, the data for each alloy have been expressed by equations of the form: logp(atm) =-A/T + B A least-squares computer treatment was applied to the vapor pressure values in order to obtain the coefficients A and B with their associated error. The resulting equations are listed in Table I, together with the equation for pure solid manganese obtained from a previous study.4 To minimize the effect of possible apparatus calibration errors, the activities and partial free energies of manganese in the alloys were calculated by initial reference to the latter equation, obtained from identical torsion-effusion measurements. The immediately resulting thermodynamic quantities, based on a solid manganese reference state, were then converted to refer to the more appropriate supercooled pure liquid manganese standard; tabulated values of the free energies of solid and liquid manganese from Hultgren et al.' were used for this purpose. Partial entropies of solution of manganese were calculated from the temperature coefficients of the free energies and partial heats from the Gibbs-Helmholtz relationship.

Jan 1, 1969

By C. G. Fink, G. L. Putnam

The dissolution of gold by cyanide solutions was studied by determining the time required for the solvents to dissolve gold leaf. Minute traces, even 0.5 ppm, of sulphide ion retard the dissolution of gold, and this behavior cannot be accounted for by the presently accepted hypotheses involving oxygen-depletion or thiocyanate formation. On the other hand, traces of the salts of lead, bismuth, mercury, and thallium considerably accelerate the dissolution. The beneficial effect of lead is dependent upon the pH and cyanide ion concentration of the solution. ALTHOUGH cyanide solvents are used very ex-x*. tensively for the recovery of gold from ores and concentrates, the normal rate of solution of the precious metal as determined by Barsky, Swainson, and Hedley,1 and others2 is less than about 3 mg per sq cm of exposed gold surface per hour, corresponding to a corrosion depth of approximately 1.5 microns (0.00006 in.) per hr. Although the slow rate may be increased to some extent in certain cases, as, for example, when the the gold is partially imbedded in iron pyrites,3 the leaching operation is generally the most time-consuming step of the cyanide process. Frequently it is necessary for the leaching solvents to remain in contact with the ores for 50 to 200 hr in order to dissolve all of the gold particles.' Not only does the slow solution rate cause some increase in the capital costs, but the cyanide consumption also may be increased because of vaporization of hydrocyanic acid and secondary reactions with minerals such as malachite (CuCO3 • Cu(OH)2), and pyrrhotite, which often are associated with gold. It is not surprising that numerous attempts have been made to accelerate the dissolution of gold in cyanide solutions. Experimental Gold Leaf Test: The gold leaf test was apparently originated by M. Faraday, who, by means of it, discovered that dilute cyanide solutions would dissolve gold readily in the presence of oxygen. The usefulness and reliability of the test have been discussed elsewhere.5,6 Essentially, the method consists of determining the time required for 5-ml portions of cyanide solvents to dissolve squares of 23 carat gold leaf, 0.5 cm on edge, when shaken in 10-ml test tubes with the solvents. The weight of gold leaf per test was 0.051 mg as determined by the direct weighing of a leaf 8.6x8.6 cm (weight = 15 mg) and measuring the area of the test sample (0.25 sq cm). Gold leaf is of remarkably uniform thickness.6 Since gold leaf, like native gold, contains small amounts of copper and silver, the results are comparable with those one might expect in cyaniding gold ores. As six or more tests can be made simul- taneously, the relative efficiencies of the solvents can be evaluated readily. All dilute solutions of lead, bismuth, thallium and mercury salts were prepared by the ordinary dilution method used by chemists. Our C.P. sodium cyanide and buffering reagents had no detectable amounts of either sulphide ion or heavy metals. Soluble Sulphides in the Cyanide Process: The action of soluble sulphides is of interest in the study of the dissolution of gold in cyanide solutions. That gold ores which contain compounds of arsenic and antimony often are not amenable to direct cyanide treatment is well known, and it said that arsenic and antimony are "cyanicides."7 It is commonly believed that part of the sulphur content of such ores is soluble in alkaline solutions to give sulphide ion, which reacts with the free cyanide content of the leaching solutions to form inert thio-cyanates or reacts with the dissolved oxygen to form sulphites or sulphates.8 A purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that sulphide ion may behave in a manner that cannot be explained by either the oxygen-depletion or thiocyanate formation theories and to prove directly that concentrations of sulphide ion which cannot be detected even by colorimetric methods may retard the dissolution of gold.

Jan 1, 1951

By C. G. Fink, G. L. Putnam

The dissolution of gold by cyanide solutions was studied by determining the time required for the solvents to dissolve gold leaf. Minute traces, even 0.5 ppm, of sulphide ion retard the dissolution of gold, and this behavior cannot be accounted for by the presently accepted hypotheses involving oxygen-depletion or thiocyanate formation. On the other hand, traces of the salts of lead, bismuth, mercury, and thallium considerably accelerate the dissolution. The beneficial effect of lead is dependent upon the pH and cyanide ion concentration of the solution. ALTHOUGH cyanide solvents are used very ex-x*. tensively for the recovery of gold from ores and concentrates, the normal rate of solution of the precious metal as determined by Barsky, Swainson, and Hedley,1 and others2 is less than about 3 mg per sq cm of exposed gold surface per hour, corresponding to a corrosion depth of approximately 1.5 microns (0.00006 in.) per hr. Although the slow rate may be increased to some extent in certain cases, as, for example, when the the gold is partially imbedded in iron pyrites,3 the leaching operation is generally the most time-consuming step of the cyanide process. Frequently it is necessary for the leaching solvents to remain in contact with the ores for 50 to 200 hr in order to dissolve all of the gold particles.' Not only does the slow solution rate cause some increase in the capital costs, but the cyanide consumption also may be increased because of vaporization of hydrocyanic acid and secondary reactions with minerals such as malachite (CuCO3 • Cu(OH)2), and pyrrhotite, which often are associated with gold. It is not surprising that numerous attempts have been made to accelerate the dissolution of gold in cyanide solutions. Experimental Gold Leaf Test: The gold leaf test was apparently originated by M. Faraday, who, by means of it, discovered that dilute cyanide solutions would dissolve gold readily in the presence of oxygen. The usefulness and reliability of the test have been discussed elsewhere.5,6 Essentially, the method consists of determining the time required for 5-ml portions of cyanide solvents to dissolve squares of 23 carat gold leaf, 0.5 cm on edge, when shaken in 10-ml test tubes with the solvents. The weight of gold leaf per test was 0.051 mg as determined by the direct weighing of a leaf 8.6x8.6 cm (weight = 15 mg) and measuring the area of the test sample (0.25 sq cm). Gold leaf is of remarkably uniform thickness.6 Since gold leaf, like native gold, contains small amounts of copper and silver, the results are comparable with those one might expect in cyaniding gold ores. As six or more tests can be made simul- taneously, the relative efficiencies of the solvents can be evaluated readily. All dilute solutions of lead, bismuth, thallium and mercury salts were prepared by the ordinary dilution method used by chemists. Our C.P. sodium cyanide and buffering reagents had no detectable amounts of either sulphide ion or heavy metals. Soluble Sulphides in the Cyanide Process: The action of soluble sulphides is of interest in the study of the dissolution of gold in cyanide solutions. That gold ores which contain compounds of arsenic and antimony often are not amenable to direct cyanide treatment is well known, and it said that arsenic and antimony are "cyanicides."7 It is commonly believed that part of the sulphur content of such ores is soluble in alkaline solutions to give sulphide ion, which reacts with the free cyanide content of the leaching solutions to form inert thio-cyanates or reacts with the dissolved oxygen to form sulphites or sulphates.8 A purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that sulphide ion may behave in a manner that cannot be explained by either the oxygen-depletion or thiocyanate formation theories and to prove directly that concentrations of sulphide ion which cannot be detected even by colorimetric methods may retard the dissolution of gold.

Jan 1, 1951

By J. T. Norton, H. Blumenthal, S. J. Sindeband

The interstitial phases formed by the transition elements with carbon, nitrogen and boron constitute a unique class of substances which are of considerable technical interest because of their well developed metallic properties and their high hardness and melting points. They are also of interest from the point of view of structure. It was pointed out by Hagg1 some years ago that the principal factor determining these structures was the relative sizes of metal and metalloid atoms. He predicted that if the ratio of the radii of metalloid to metal atoms was less than 0.59, the metal atoms would be arranged in a close-packed fashion of relatively simple type. This prediction has been amply confirmed. It appears, however, that this specification applies most generally to those structures in which the metalloid atoms occupy isolated positions in the lattice and there is no tendency for strong binding between the metalloid atoms themselves. The series of borides of the type MeB2 formed from the transition elements of the fourth (Ti, Zr) and fifth (V, Cb, Ta) groups of the periodic table provide an opportunity to investigate this situation further. If one takes as a basis the radius of 0.87 A for the boron radius and the Goldschmidt values for the metal atoms in 12 coordination, then the radius ratio varies from 0.54 for zirconium to 0.64 for vanadium, which latter is considerably greater than Hagg's limit of 0.59. It was of interest, therefore, to see if these five elements would form borides of the MeB2 type and have simple isomorphous structures. When this investigation was initiated, relatively little information had been published on the structure of this group of borides. McKenna2 reported the preparation of ZrB2 by a carbon reduction process. Its structure was hexagonal and the approximate lattice constants were given as a = 3.15 A, c = 3.53 A. Ehrlich3 reported the structure of TiB2 as being of the C 32 type with a = 3.02, c = 3.21 and c/a = 1.06 A. Recently, Kiessling4 published the results on ZrB2, showing it to be one in which the metal atoms are arranged in a simple hexagonal lattice with the boron atoms in flat sheets, midway between the layers of metal atoms. The structure is C 32 type with a = 3.169, c = 3.530 and an axial ratio =1.11 A. He also states that CbB2 and TaB2 are isomorphous with ZrB2. Preparation of Borides The borides of titanium, zirconium, columbium and tantalum were made by the electrolysis of fused salt baths after the method described by Andrieux.5 The bath, totalling about 6500 g in each case had the following general composition: Metal Oxide + B2O3 + CaO + CaF2. The actual proportions of the ingredients were determined for each individual case. Although Andrieux reports the preparation of vanadium boride by the same electrolytic method, several attempts proved unsuccessful. However, it was possible to prepare VB2 by the carbon reduction method used by McKenna to produce ZrB2. The mixture consisted of V2O5 + 6B2O3 + 11C and the reduction was carried out in an induction heated graphite crucible. This method proved satisfactory for ZrB2 and TiB2 and undoubtedly the others could be made in the same way. The borides, which were all in the form of fine gray metallic crystals from the electrolytic bath or gray powders from the reduction process, were carefully separated from other constituents and analyzed chemically for metal and boron content. The densities of the boride powders were measured using a standard 10 cc pyenometer at 18°C and ethyl benzene proved to be the most satisfactory liquid for this purpose. X Ray Technique The boride crystals, as prepared, were too small for single crystal examination so that powder techniques were employed. Patterns of the finely ground borides were prepared, using the Norelco recording X ray spectrometer. The lines on these patterns were indexed with the aid of Hull-Davy charts and the approximate dimensions

Jan 1, 1950

Jan 1, 1920

By L. J. Howell, A. S. Roy, H. H. Kellogg

KNOWLEDGE of the phase diagram of salt systems is important for selection of the optimum con- ditions for electro winning of the refractory metals from fused salts. This note summarizes the studies of the NaC1-rich portion (0 to 22 mol pct HfC14) of the NaC1-HfC14 phase diagram. Melts in this composition range have vapor pressures well below one atmosphere and melting points between 548° and

Jan 1, 1959

By M. R. J. Wyllie

In a recent publication1 wetting phase relative permeability was exvressed as: and it was stated that a similar expression applied, mutatis mutandis, to non-wetting phase relative permeability; i.e., In Equations (1) and (2), Sw and S0 are respectively the wetting and non-wetting phase saturations as a fraction of the pore volume; PC is the capillary pressure; I; the wetting phase electrical resistivity index; IN, the analogous non-wetting

Jan 1, 1951

By M. R. J. Wyllie

In a recent publication1 wetting phase relative permeability was exvressed as: and it was stated that a similar expression applied, mutatis mutandis, to non-wetting phase relative permeability; i.e., In Equations (1) and (2), Sw and S0 are respectively the wetting and non-wetting phase saturations as a fraction of the pore volume; PC is the capillary pressure; I; the wetting phase electrical resistivity index; IN, the analogous non-wetting

Jan 1, 1951

By L. P. Bayvel

The method of spectral transparency was investigated. A device for measuring particle sizes based on this method was developed, tested and applied. The device affords measurements of particle size distribution in the range from 0.1 to 4 µm. It proved possible to measure sizes not only of spherical particles but also of non- spherical ones. The spectral range in which it is necessary to determine transparency for particle size measurements was found.

Jan 1, 1980

By G. F. Bolling

Single crystals of each metal were deformed at 77°K and heated at constant rates, variously in the range 0.125" to 4o°Kper min from 77" to -390oK, while being monitored in an X-ray diffractometer. Changes in diffraction-peak heights and line breadths were used to ascertain the temperature ranges of recrystalliza-tion. The results were subjected to the analysis of nicholas' in order to obtain the rate-controlling activation energies,Q. In this analysis no recourse to a separate and distinct nucleation stage is required and the results of studying recrystallization proved consistent with the hypothesis of a constant number of nuclei or equivalent hypotheses. The values Pb = 5.5 ± 0.5 keal per mole Zn ~ 7.5 Sn - 5 Bi - 9. 5 correspond for lead, zinc, and tin to activation energies obtained elsewhere for grain boundary migration, and for bismuth and lead to previous studies of re-crystallization by Barrett.6 This correlation allows the conclusions that interference from recovery was minimal and that the observed recrystallization rates in these pure metals are effectively governed by grain boundary migration. Good agreement was not found between the results of this kind of study in zone-refined aluminum and previous work; and supplementary isothermral experiments involving hardness tests and metallography did not resolve the discrepancy. Nevertheless, at least a range,Q = 11.5 ± 2 keal per mole, can be assigned to the activation energy for boundary migration in aluminum. An experimental study of one aspect of the recrystallization process is presented here for four metals of different crystal structure. The metals chosen for study were all zone-refined to reduce impurity effects, but the attendant high purity presented a difficulty. For any reasonably high driving force a "re-crystallization temperature", TR, is in the range of 0.25 T,, where T, is the absolute melting point, and study was therefore restricted to lower temperatures. An X-ray technique under constant heating-rate conditions adequate above 90°K was devised for the study; in consequence, a newer type of analysis following Nicholas1 had to be used to obtain quantitative information about activation energies. The standard methods of studying recrystallization have involved the comparable analyses of Johnson and Mehl2 and Avrami3 which are reviewed by Burke and Turnbull.* The general analysis4 which is applied only to isothermal studies using any of various investigative techniques states:

Jan 1, 1968

By David J. Mack

The structures and properties of the copper-aluminum alloys have been the subject of much study since the classic investigation of Carpenter and Edwards1 focused attention on. the engineering utility of these alloys. It was recognized at an early date that the metallographic structures developed in the aluminum bronzes were similar to those developed in steels, both in the annealed and the rapidly cooled state. Most investigators have been concerned with the acicular, martensitic-like structure formed from the 0 solid solution upon rapid quenching; the transformation of the ß under equilibrium cooling to a lamellar eutectoid having been relatively neglected. With the introduction in 1930 by Davenport and Bain2 of the isothermal transformation technique for studying eutectoidal decompositions, a new field was opened. Although an enormous amount of work has since been done on the isothermal transformation of steel, study of structurally analogous systems has been almost totally overlooked. The outstanding exception was the prize-winning paper† of Smith and Lind1ief³ ho investigated the decomposition of the 0 phase in copper-aluminum alloys by isothermal methods. This was followed in 1934 by Wasserman's review' of available information on analogous transformations in eutectoid alloys. Since that time no comprehensive study of isothermally transformed eutectoids analogous to steel has appeared, although many valuable contributions have been made to an understanding of the structures developed in such systems. Important papers have been published by Kurdjumow, Gridnew and co-workers, Obinata,18.'9 Greninger,20.21 and Others. The work to be described in this paper was an outgrowth of preliminary studies on the isothermal transformation of a entectoid aluminum bronze, after it became apparent that the alloy under study was reacting somewhat differently than the similar alloy used by Smith and Lindlief. Preliminary Experiments The material used in this study was a high purity aluminum bronze especially prepared by Ampco Metal, Inc. It analyzed: Copper—88.07 pet, Aluminum—11.89 pct, Iron-—0.02 pet, Manganese—-.OI pct, Others—Balance. Although some disagreement exists on the exact composition of the eutectoid, this alloy was believed to be of essentially eutectoid composition even though some pro-eutectoid* delta particles existed in the microstructure of furnace cooled specimens. Specimens transformed isothermally at temperatures slightly below the eutectoid showed relatively large amounts of pre-eutectoid delta, but as will be shown later, this results

Jan 1, 1949

By Walter C. Lawson

The first plans were made in 1930 for the mining by open-pit methods of the low-grade disseminated ore body now known as the Morenci open pit. It was not until 1937, however, that final plans were completed and the decision reached to go ahead with the actual development. Many advances were made in open-pit mining equipment during that period of seven years, therefore the ways and means of attack actually used were very different from those originally contemplated. Diesel-operated bulldozers, big trucks, full-revolving electric shovels and electric churn drills constitute the major equipment finally purchased for this modern stripping operation. Neither the bulldozers nor the big trucks were considered in the early operating plans, for at that time bulldozers had not been used in mining operations and the trucks as yet were undesigned. The full-revolving shovel and the churn drills were not new developments in open-pit equipment, but both had undergone remarkable manufacturing transition, emerging far more efficient and far more dependable than their predecessors. Even the ordinary drilling steel had been fundamentally changed. It was now threaded so that the dulled cutting bits could be detached and replaced, thus eliminating the costly transportation of long bars to the drill shop for resharpening. The decision to use trucks in the preliminary stripping operations was based on the desirability of this type of transportation to economically prepare the pit for rail haulage, coupled with the success that the contractors had had with them on other big excavation jobs. There are at present no plans for the use of trucks beyond the preliminary work, inasmuch as rail haulage will give lower costs after roadbeds and benches are once established. For many years to come, both ore and waste haulage will be over favorable grades. The average length of ore haul between the pit and an assembly yard will be about two miles. From there the crushers will be 1? miles with a connecting track grade of 0.4 per cent. The upper ore benches of the pit will be reached from the yard by a series of four switchbacks over a ruling grade of 4.0 per cent compensated for curvature. Tracks to the dumps will be on 0.2 per cent grades.

Jan 1, 1940

By Walter C. Lawson

The first plans were made in 1930 for the mining by open-pit methods of the low-grade disseminated ore body now known as the Morenci open pit. It was not until 1937, however, that final plans were completed and the decision reached to go ahead with the actual development. Many advances were made in open-pit mining equipment during that period of seven years, therefore the ways and means of attack actually used were very different from those originally contemplated. Diesel-operated bulldozers, big trucks, full-revolving electric shovels and electric churn drills constitute the major equipment finally purchased for this modern stripping operation. Neither the bulldozers nor the big trucks were considered in the early operating plans, for at that time bulldozers had not been used in mining operations and the trucks as yet were undesigned. The full-revolving shovel and the churn drills were not new developments in open-pit equipment, but both had undergone remarkable manufacturing transition, emerging far more efficient and far more dependable than their predecessors. Even the ordinary drilling steel had been fundamentally changed. It was now threaded so that the dulled cutting bits could be detached and replaced, thus eliminating the costly transportation of long bars to the drill shop for resharpening. The decision to use trucks in the preliminary stripping operations was based on the desirability of this type of transportation to economically prepare the pit for rail haulage, coupled with the success that the contractors had had with them on other big excavation jobs. There are at present no plans for the use of trucks beyond the preliminary work, inasmuch as rail haulage will give lower costs after roadbeds and benches are once established. For many years to come, both ore and waste haulage will be over favorable grades. The average length of ore haul between the pit and an assembly yard will be about two miles. From there the crushers will be 1? miles with a connecting track grade of 0.4 per cent. The upper ore benches of the pit will be reached from the yard by a series of four switchbacks over a ruling grade of 4.0 per cent compensated for curvature. Tracks to the dumps will be on 0.2 per cent grades.

Jan 1, 1940

By Nicholas J. Grant, Noboru Komatsu

Metallographic and X-ray studies were made of oxide dispersion strengthened Cu-12 vol pet SiO2 and Cu-3.5 vol pet Al2O3 alloys following time exposures at temperatures approaching the melting. point of the matrix metal. Changes in hardness, oxide particle size and crystal structure were studied to determine the time-temperature stability of these alloys. An interpretation of the mechanism of oxide agglomeration is proposed. One of the most striking features of dispersion strengthened metal-metal oxide alloys is their stability at elevated temperatures, both with respect to recrystallization and maintenance of mechanical properties after exposure at high temperatures. A small amount of work has been done on the re-crystallization phenomenon in dispersion hardened metal-metal oxide alloys'l and several theoretical treatments have been advanced regarding the stability of these alloys by Lenel and Ansell,8 and by Grant and his co-workers.9, 10 This paper reports on metallographic and X-ray studies following various heat treatments of Cu-AI2D3 and Cu-SiO2 alloys at elevated temperatures and the effect of subsequent cold work on the recrystallizalion temperature. An interpretation of the recrystallization behavior of this type of alloy, based on the decomposition and agglomeration of oxides, is proposed. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Cast ingot bars of copper-1.59 pet Si and Cu-0.77 pet Al, 7/8 in in diam, were annealed in argon for 80 hr at 1000CC for homogenization. The homogenized rods were machined into fine chips and ball milled. Milled particles in the range minus 20 to plus 60 mesh were separated for internal oxidation. The internal oxidation was accomplished by the same method used by Preston and Grant,9 except that the oxidalion temperature for the Cu-Si alloy was 750°C, and for the Cu-A1 alloy was 800°C. These powders were then hydrogen-reduced at 450°C, compacted in a copper container, evacuated at room temperature to 0.04 µ, and sealed for extrusion. They were extruded at 1400°F (760°C) with a ram speed of 55 in. per min for an extrusion ratio of 15.6 to 1 to give a rod 0.38 in. diam by about 3 ft long.

Jan 1, 1962

By Walter C. Lawson

THE first plans were made in 1930 for the mining by open-pit methods of the low-grade disseminated ore body now known as the Morenci open pit. It was not until 1937, however, that final plans were completed and the decision reached to go ahead with the actual development. Many advances were made in open-pit mining equipment during that period of seven years, therefore the ways and means of attack actually used were very different from those originally contemplated. Diesel-operated bulldozers, big trucks, full-revolving electric shovels and electric churn drills constitute the major equipment finally purchased for this modern stripping operation. Neither the bulldozers nor the big trucks were considered in the early operating plans, for at that time bulldozers had not been used in mining operations and the trucks as yet were undesigned. The full-revolving shovel and the churn drills were not new developments in open-pit equipment, but both had undergone remarkable manufacturing transition, emerging far more efficient and far more dependable than their predecessors. Even the ordinary drilling steel had been fundamentally changed. It was now threaded so that the dulled cutting bits could be detached and replaced, thus eliminating the costly transportation of long bars to the drill shop for resharpening. The decision to use trucks in the preliminary stripping operations was based on the desirability of this type of transportation to economically prepare the pit for rail haulage, coupled with the success that the contractors had had with them on other big excavation jobs. There are at present no plans for the use of trucks beyond the preliminary work, inasmuch as rail haulage will give lower costs after roadbeds and benches are once established. For many years to come, both ore and waste haulage will be over favorable grades. The average length of ore haul between the pit and an assembly yard will be about two miles. From there the crushers will be 1 1/3 miles with a connecting track grade of 0.4 per cent. The upper ore benches of the pit will be reached from the yard by a series of four switchbacks over a ruling grade of 4.0 per cent compensated for curvature. Tracks to the dumps will be on 0.2 per cent grades.

Jan 1, 1938

By R. H. Richman

Coarse-grained Fe-Ni-C martensites formed at subzero temperatures were strained in compression at room temperature and the plastic deformation modes examined as a funclion of carbon content. At very low carbon levels, defovmation occurs hy wavy slip; commencing at about 0.05 pct C, mechanical twinning accounts for an increasing proportion of the plastic flow. Beyond approximately 0.4 pct C the deformation appears to be entirely by mechanical twinning. The habit planes of the operative twin modes were determined to be (113), (0131, and "(089)" in decreasing frequency of occurrence. Some of the implicaticms of Ihe o6served deformation modes upon the structure and properties of ferrous martensites are discussed. METALLURGISTS have long sought to explain the mechanical properties of ferrous martensites, particularly the extraordinary hardness and strength of the high-carbon varieties. Until recently the lack of precise knowledge of the structure of martensite crystals was the most serious barrier to understanding; however, the advent of thin-foil techniques for transmission electron microscopy has removed much of the mystery from martensite structure. Observations by Kelly and Nutting,"' and many others since, indicate that Fe-C based martensite crystals are internally twinned to a degree dependent upon the carbon content, and that a martensite plate containing 0.8 wt pct C or more consists of a stack of twin-related lamellae with each lamella on the order of l00A thick. Such a structure would be expected to influence greatly all aspects of metallurgical behavior, and many of the properties of Fe-C based martensites have been rationalized accordingly. Recent independent experiments led Winchell and cohen3 to conclude that the strength of ferrous martensite is derived primarily from solid solution hardening of the iron lattice by interstitial carbon atoms. Strength contributions from precipitation, dislocation-atmosphere interactions, clustering, short-range order, crystallite size, and so forth, were considered to be of secondary importance. In the view of Winchell and Cohen, the twinned structure of martensite serves mainly to limit the effective length of dislocation lines in the lattice, and thereby confers an added measure of hardening. Few properties of metallic crystals are as sensitive to metallurgical structure as are deformation mechanisms. It is somewhat surprising therefore, that, except for metallographic evidence of mechanical twins in strained martensite,4 no systematic examination of plastic deformation

Jan 1, 1963

By A. M. Kivari

OPERATIONS at the cement plant of the Permanente Corporation, in the hills about 45 miles south of San Francisco and 12 miles west of San Jose, are interesting to the members because of the adoption of modern hydrometallurgical methods for handling and beneficiating raw materials. Closed-circuit grinding, classification, hydro-separation, flotation, agitation, and thickening are familiar terms at this cement plant. These methods make it possible to process refractory limestone into suitable materials for the manufacture of modern cements. Construction of the plant, having originally a design capacity of 7000 bbl. of cement per day, was started in June 1939, and the first clinker was ground on the following Christmas Day. At present the capacity is about 12,000 bbl. of finished cement per 24 hr., most of the production being low-heat cement.† About 3130 tons of limestone, 620 tons 0f clay and 100 tons of gypsum are required daily for this output. Occasionally iron oxide is added to the clay to obtain the desired composition. This, together with the gypsum, is purchased from outside sources. Up to the present time, the corporation has produced low-heat, normal, moderate heat, moderate-sulphate-resisting, high-early-strength, oil-well, modified-oil-well, and plastic cements. Most of the present production is for Shasta Dam, near Redding, Calif., the total demand being 5,800,000 bbl, of cement. Following are some of the cement requirements of the Shasta Dam specifications: [PERCENT Chemical composition: Loss in ignition2.25 Insoluble residue0.75 SO32.25 MgO5.00 Uncombined lime in clinker (CaO)1 .25 Percentage of iron oxide to alumina ratio1.5 Compound composition: Tricalcium silicate (3CaO.Si02)Not more than 3,5 Dicalcium silicate (2CaO.Si02)Not less than 40 and not more than 65 Tricalcium aluminate (3CaO.Al2O7)Not more than 7 Tetracalcium aluminoferrite (4CaO.A12O3.Fe203) Not more than 0 Fineness:] The average specific surface in the bin sampled shall be not less than 1800 sq. cm. per gram and no individual sample less than 1600 sq. centimeters. Compressive strength: The average compressive strength-in pounds per square inch of three mortar cubes composed of one part cement and 2.75 parts fine testing sand, by weight, shall be equal to or greater than the following:

Jan 1, 1941

By P. A. Fisher, J. B. Wilson, D. J. Whitehead, C. J. P. Ball, A. C. Jessup

The properties of a new magnesium alloy ZT1 containing 3.0 pct Th, 2.5 pct Zn, 0.7 pct Zr are described. The alloy possesses good creep and fatigue resistance up to 650°F, is free from microporosity, and is readily sand-cast. ZT1 is shown to be superior to zinc-free Mg-Th-Zr alloys. THE advent of the jet engine created a demand for a light sand-casting alloy capable of being cast into large complex shapes and capable of resisting creep at temperatures up to 500°F. This demand has been largely met by alloys of the magnesium-cerium mischmetal-zirconium types, containing about 3 pct Ce mischmetal and 0.7 pct Zr, typified by Elektron magnesium alloys MCZ and ZREI, the latter alloy also having a zinc addition of 2.5 pct. These alloys utilize the valuable properties at elevated temperatures conferred by the addition of rare earth metals to magnesium, a fact which has been known for many years and discussed by several investigators.1-1 Murphy and Payne8 showed that the addition of the powerful grain-refining element zirconium to Mg-Ce mischmetal alloys produced alloys with attractive room temperature properties combined with good creep properties and castability. With the increasing power of modern jet engines the temperatures to which some of the magnesium parts are subject are likely to exceed the safe working range of the cerium-mischmetal-containing alloys, and at the beginning of the research considerable interest had been shown by aeroplane engine designers in a magnesium sand-casting alloy suitable for service at higher temperatures, e.g., 600°F and above. At an early stage in the development of this type of alloy a check on the fatigue properties at elevated temperatures indicated that, since the fatigue limit even at 108 eversals was appreciably higher than any permissible creep stress, the main emphasis of the research could be concentrated on creep behavior. The primary aim in developing the new alloy has therefore been to attain maximum creep resistance; but due consideration has also been given to other important properties such as castability, tensile strength, and cost. It is by now well established that it is not possible to correlate creep strength with other short time mechanical properties such as are obtained in tensile

Jan 1, 1954

By F. J. Martin, W. G. Hubler

The Beattie mine is at about the center of Duparquet township in the Province of Quebec, Canada. It is 22 miles northwest of the town of Noranda. The elevation is approximately 1200 ft. above sea level. This locality, long considered a favorable one from the geological point of view, has been prospected for over 20 years, but no discoveries of economic importance were made until the present orebody was found by John Beattie in 1930. The specific gravity of the ore is 2.77. The gold occurs in intimate association with the sulfides, pyrite and arsenopyrite, which in turn are very finely disseminated in a silicified porphyry. The bulk of the gold is associated with the pyrite, only a small proportion being with the arsenopyrite. There are small amounts of magnetite, ilmenite and chalcopyrite present in the ore. There is also some hematite in the ore that is mined from near the surface in the open pit. Metallurgical Problems and Methods or Attack 1. The ore is extremely hard and resistant to grinding. 2. The sulfide minerals are finely disseminated in the gangue. 3. The gold, in turn, is so intimately associated with the sulfides that grinding to even 5 microns will not release all of the values for cyanidation. 4. It is necessary to make a high ratio of concentration in order to obtain a product sufficiently high in gold to meet high shipping and treatment charges. Hardness of the Ore.—Owing to the extreme resistance of the ore to grinding, it was recognized that grinding costs would be high. Microscopic tests showed that grinding to 95 per cent minus 325 mesh would be necessary to liberate a sufficient amount of the values in order to obtain a tailing assaying 0.02 oz. gold per ton, which is considered to have the economical minimum gold content that can be obtained. It is not feasible to grind this hard low-grade ore (0.18 to 0.20 oz.) to 95 per cent minus 325 mesh, so it was necessary to overcome the problem in another way. The following method was decided upon: (1) Fine crushing to minus 1/4 in.; (2) relatively coarse primary grinding; flotation of low-grade concentrates in the primary and rougher circuits and discarding the

Jan 1, 1935

By H. F. Gossenberger, J. J. Tietjen, J. J. Gannon, C. J. Nuese

External quantum efficiency measurements at 300" and 77°K are presented for vapor-grown GaAs and GaAs1-xPx electroluminescent diodes as a function of junction depth and doping. In GaAs, external efficiencies are found to decrease exponentially with increasing junction depth, defining an average absorption coefficient of 900 cm-1 at 300°K and 350 cm-1 at 77°Kfor epitaxial layers of p-type GaAs. It is shown that photon absorption losses dominate at room temperature and, in fact, account for most of the external efficiency degradation between 77° and 300°K. Healever, the internal ('junction) quantum efficiency is also found to decrease by a factor of 3.5 between 77" ALTHOUGH rapid progress has been made in recent years with GaAs, Gap, and their alloys for use in electroluminescent diodes, there are still important unknown factors related to the performance of these de- and 300°K. The dependence of GaAs efficiencies on donor and acceptor concentrations is presented, illustrating best efficiencies at donor concentrations of 1.5 to 2x 1018 cm-3 . External efficiencies are found to be independent of acceptor concentrations less than 3 x 1019 cm-3 but to degrade at higher doping. The fabrication of GaAsi-xPx electroluminescent diodes is briefly discussed. External efficiencies here for planar uncoated diodes are about 0.035 pct at 300°K and 0.4 pct at 77°for x = 0.42. A brightness of about 8500 ft-Lamberts is attained at 77°K and of 315 ft-Lamberts at 300° K. for curvent densities of 10 amp per sq cm. vices. For example, although the external efficiency is known to decrease by factors of typically 10 to 30 between 77°K and room temperature, the exact causes of this are still uncertain. Experimental results of ill' and carr2 with zinc-diffused electroluminescent diodes suggest that this external degradation is almost entirely due to increased absorption losses at room temperature, with a relatively temperature-independent internal efficiency; recent calculations by Gonda et al.3 corroborate this hypothesis. In contrast, Pilkuhn and Rupprecht4 find the internal efficiency of solution-grown GaAs laser diodes to degrade from 100 to 66 to 40 pct as the temperature is increased from

Jan 1, 1969