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By L. B. Hales

Expert control of grinding and flotation plants has been successfully used in the minerals industry since the 1970?s. The earliest of these systems were written in a hard-coded fashion in FORTRAN, BASIC or Pascal. Second generation systems were built using the first experimental expert system shells that were being developed in the artificial intelligence community. Later systems were deployed in expert systems designed for real-time processing plants that also include the ability to model the process with neural network models and optimize setpoint selection through the use of genetic algorithms. [1,2] In spite of the fact that significant performance increases have been achieved using these systems they are not perfect and can be improved. They suffer from the static nature of their rules and to a degree the process models. There is an opportunity to further increase system performance by systematically taking advantage of the tremendous amount of data produced by the expert system to improve the design, the heuristic rules, the model topologies and the use of the models. Data mining refers to extracting or mining knowledge from large amounts of data where the objective is to automatically analyze, classify and summarize the data to automatically discover and characterize trends in it and to automatically flag anomalies. [3] Clearly, modern process control systems are capable of collecting vast amounts of data. Without a doubt, these data contain important information on the operation of our plants and their ultimate optimization. Coupling the information mined from these data with Expert Control Systems should produce more effective control and greater knowledge of the grinding process and the flotation process. Now, with the advent of effective monitoring of entire minerals plant electric consumption it is possible to not only optimize plant production in real-time it is possible to analyze total plant electrical consumption and incorporate it into the plant control logic thereby improving the overall plant economic performance. This is particularly important with the ever more complex power contracts that plants operate under.

Jan 1, 2012

By G. Azimi, C. A. Ang, F. Zhang

"Nickel recovery from laterite ores generates large amounts of solid and liquid wastes. This is primarily due to the low concentration of Ni (about 1.4 wt%) in the feed ore to the High-Pressure-Acid-Leaching (HPAL) process. It is known that the HPAL residue contains a high concentration of hematite, a commercially important source of iron in the steelmaking industry. However, the balance is natroalunite, containing sulfur, which is a detrimental element in the steelmaking process. Hence, to make the HPAL residue a suitable feed for steelmaking, natroalunite must be removed. The current work is focused on: 1) a thorough characterization of the HPAL residue obtained from Vale, and 2) a systematic investigation of an alkaline leach process to remove natroalunite. The characterization results indicated that there are about 83 and 12 wt% hematite and natroalunite in the HPAL residue, respectively. The leaching results indicate that sodium hydroxide is the best leaching agent, which results in 55 wt% reduction in the sulfur content. The results of this work enable the conversion of an otherwise waste product into a useful feedstock for steelmaking. Furthermore, this project could potentially have significant environmental benefits by reducing the amount of residue produced during the HPAL process.INTRODUCTION Conventionally, crude steel has been obtained by reducing iron ore containing oxides such as hematite (Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4), and wüstite (FeO) in a blast furnace with coke. The product is then refined in a basic oxygen furnace to produce steel with useful properties (McGannon, 1969; Turkdogan, 1978). Steel has been sought for its desirable properties and its application is widespread throughout modern civilizations. Surpassing the growth rate of other materials, the annual demand of steel has increased at a compound growth rate of 5% over the last 20 years (Baddoo, 2008). The global demand for steel was reported to be 1501 Mt in 2016 and demand is expected to double by 2050 (Cullen, Allwood, & Bambach, 2012; World Steel Association, 2016). In recent years, to meet the rapid growth of demand, secondary resources for iron have been identified as strategic sources of iron (Das, Kumar, & Ramachandrarao, 2000; Li, Sun, Bai, & Li, 2010; Matschullat et al., 2000). The residue produced from high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) of laterite ore has been identified as one of the important secondary sources of iron (McDonald & Whittington, 2008). Laterite ore represents 60% of the world’s nickel resources and accounts for approximately 40-50% of the world annual nickel production (U.S. Geological Survey, 2016). Therefore, the amount of iron residue produced by the process is substantial and its utilization will produce both economic and environmental benefits."

Jan 1, 2017

By d&apos, J. A. Oliveira, A. K. L. Resende, L. F. G. Assumpção, J. D. Neto

Kaolin samples from Rio Capim Resources were treated in conventional and superconducting magnetic separators to study the main variables that influence the impurity removal process. Two coating clays and a delaminated clay were tested. The variables studied were retention time (cross-sectional velocity), magnetic-field intensity and matrix type. The feed brightness ranged, from 84.7% to 87.6% ISO, for the coating clays and ranged from 80.7% to 85.4% ISO for the delaminated clay. Using a conventional magnetic separator with an applied, field of 1.5 to 2.0 T (tesla), the brightness values were higher than 88% ISO for the unleached coating claw products and were higher than 87% ISO for the unleached delaminated product. With a maximum field intensity in the superconducting machine of 5.0T unleached brightness values higher than 88.5 % ISO were attained for both coating and delaminated clays.

Jan 1, 1997

By D Eschebach, D Mathewson

A belt press filter (BPF) handbook containing practical information for the reference of plant designers and operators has been created as part of Australian Coal Association Research Program project C23040. The handbook combines research and experience with newer generations of equipment and circuitry. BPFs are increasingly finding application in the dewatering of thickener underflow tailings slurries due to changing environmental regulations, difficulty obtaining tailings storage facility approvals and limited water availability. Sources of BPF inefficiency and low availability stem from a lack of understanding of the key operational parameters that affect their performance. This lack of understanding typically leads to increased operational expenditure due to suboptimal reagent dose rates and increased maintenance costs, or decreases in plant availability due to excessively high filter product water contents and equipment failure. It is essential for the continued economically competitive operation of Australian coal handling and preparation plants that complex factors affecting BPF operational performance are clearly defined and understood. Installation and operation handbooks are often provided to sites with new installations, but these manuals are manufacturer- or even model-specific and are often focused on mechanical maintenance. The handbook identifies industry ‘best practice’ and improvements developed by other sites, such as extra spray bars, air system bleed valves, guarding designs, feed and filtrate protection screens and roller tensioning systems. Equations to predict optimum operating conditions – such as free moisture, belt tension and reagent dose rates, with simple feed-specific variable inputs – have been developed from site-specific test work. The correlations developed provide a benchmark for plants to attempt to achieve. This provides operators and process engineers with a tool to explain BPFs and assist them in optimising the performance of BPF dewatering plants of both contemporary and less modern design.CITATION:Mathewson, D and Eschebach, D, 2015. ACARP belt press filter design, operation and maintenance handbook, in Proceedings Tailings and Mine Waste Management for the 21st Century, pp 73–82 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 27, 2015

By Heinz Hoberg, Fred Ulrich Schneider, Rudolf Diegel

The risk of contamination of dumped tailings and ground water by coal flotation reagents has been investigated by using the 14C-radiotracer method for adsorption and desorption measurements. The results indicate, that a high amount of the reagent components adsorbed on the tailings if there was no coal in the pulp. In coal flotation however a competitive adsorption behaviour could be observed, with the effect that only a low quantity of reagents adsorbed on the tailings. Mobilization tests showed, that only small quantities of reagents could be desorbed by rinsing water. Therefore the contamination of ground water should be low.

Jan 1, 1995

During the past decade, the miner-al industries have been faced with an increasing shortage of engineers. The point has now been reached where the shortage may be termed critical. This shortage may be attributed directly to declining enrollment in the mineral science programs offered by the universities on this continent. Although the reasons for declining enrollment are undoubtedly many, two major hypotheses may be postulated. The first is that high-school graduates are either unaware of the mineral industries and the opportunities in them or that they are aware of them but have somehow obtained a false image of their true nature. The second is that they are aware of the true nature of these industries and the opportunities they offer but find them exceedingly unattractive. The problem of dwindling enrollments has, in recent years, been subjected to a concerted attack by the industries and professions concerned. However, their efforts to date have been based essentially on the first hypothesis. Sufficient results are now available to suggest that either the methods of attack are inappropriate

Jan 1, 1965

By Donald W. Scott, Nathaniel Arbiter, A. C. Richardson

This paper describes the application of amine flotation to a specific problem—that of increasing the grade of magnetite concentrates derived from an iron ore requiring extremely fine grinding for mineral liberation. Experiments conducted on an iron ore from Wisconsin had shown that concentrates containing 60 to 62 per cent iron and 12 to 14 per cent silica could be produced by magnetic separation. The residual silica occurred as quartz and hornblende, either entrained or locked with magnetite. Most advantageous utilization of the concentrate, however, necessitated that the silica content be reduced to about 5 per cent, equivalent to an iron content of 67.5 per cent. It had been demonstrated that tabling of the magnetic concentrate removed sufficient quartz and hornblende to yield an acceptable concentrate, but disadvantages inherent in tabling dictated that flotation be investigated as a substitute. The goals set for the flotation investigation were: (I) the production of concentrates of about 68 per cent iron content from the magnetic concentrate; (2) an iron recovery of about 85 per cent of that in the feed to flotation; and (3) minimum reagent cost. Both batch and continuous flotation tests were employed; the former, to establish the procedure and the latter to verify it. Although the data were obtained on a specific ore, and with a commercial application in view, it is believed that they have a bearing on other problems where amine flotation is being used or is anticipated. Samples Two samples, designated "(minus 100-mesh magnetic concentrate" and "minus 150-mesh magnetic concentrate," were used for the batch experimental work. They differed only in the degree to which the crude ore was ground prior to magnetic separation. They were stored moist in steel drums in quantities sufficient for all the experimental work reported. This procedure had the advantage of allowing all tests to be made on common samples, but had the disadvantage that the individual flotation samples, because of the difference in storage time, were subject to various stages of surface alteration. Previous work had indicated that common samples were desirable for the batch studies, and it was decided that if these data appeared sufficiently promising the effect of surface alteration could be checked best by continuous tests. The size distributions and the assays of the samples are given in Table I. The minus 150-mesh magnetic concentrate, on which most of the flotation tests were made, assayed 60.9 per cent iron, 13.3 per cent silica, and 0.016 per cent phosphorus. The minus 325-mesh portion represented 78.I per cent of the sample by weight, and assayed 67.9 per cent iron. Thus, the insoluble, mainly silica, was concentrated

Jan 1, 1947

By B. H. Richard, P. J. Wolfe, T. G. Holdeman

Guided seismic wave propagation was studied in the Lower Freeport (6A) coal seam in the Oak Park No. 7 mine near Cadiz, OH. Three component geophones were implanted in the coal at distances ranging from 72 m to 183 m from the seismic source. Both Love- and Rayleigh-type modes were observed but the Love-type mode produced the best data. Detailed analysis was performed on the best Love data and a Dziewonski map of group velocity vs. frequency was constructed. This map was in excellent agreement with a theoretical dispersion curve calculated for a model of the coal seam. The Love wave group velocity was found to have a minimum value of 510 m/sec at 275 Hz. Only the fundamental mode contributed significantly to the observed signal and it was observed up to the maximum distance available.

Jan 1, 1987

By J. F. Strunk Jr., K. M. Maestas, Y. Chai, R. Legrand, R. L. Henry

"Groundwater with elevated sulfate and metals was treated using a sulfate-reducing pilot PRB consisting of a series of six 55-gallon drums filled with ZVI (Fe0), wood chips, brewer’s grain, limestone, and emulsified vegetable oil (EVO). Sulfate was reduced from >3000 to <250 mg/L and Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn concentrations declined up to 3 orders of magnitude in 2 months. After 6 months of operation at a 7.5-day retention time, sulfate broke through. The system was then rejuvenated by injecting EVO in each drum and operated for 5 more months at a 9-day retention time. Sulfate-reducing bacteria in the pilot system grew by 3 to 4 orders of magnitude in 2 months. Some cementation of the PRB media was observed in the first 2 drums after processing 25 pore volumes of water, due to preferential upstream precipitation of sulfides; this can be avoided through operational modifications. Resulting permeability losses were estimated at 0.1% to 1% per year. Absorption/desorption was tested at bench scale to evaluate the use of various oil-soaked sorbents as a slow-release source of dissolved carbon. The tests show that oil sorbents can increase the useful life of a PRB between oil refills to over 100 pore volumes. INTRODUCTION High sulfate concentrations, low pH, and dissolved metal exceedances are common characteristics of mining-influenced water (MIW). Above-ground such MIW is commonly treated using biochemical reactors (BCR). In a BCR, water generally flows vertically downward through a layer of biomass, such as wood chips, manure, etc. The dissolved organics resulting from the decay of this material are oxidized first by microbes using oxygen; when oxygen is exhausted, other bacteria can use nitrate, and then sulfate to oxidize organics. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) reduce sulfate to sulfide, which quickly reacts with metals to form largely insoluble and stable metal sulfides. These reactions can be summarized as follows:"

Jan 1, 2016

By P. R. Sperry, P. A. Beck, J. Towers

Dahl and Pawlek1 found that electrolytic copper develops extremely coarse grains at 1000°C after about 90 pct reduction by rolling. This coarsening occurs only under conditions of penultimate grain size, deformation, and alloying which lead to the "cube" recrystallization texture.l,2,3,5 The peculiar angular shapes and straight grain boundaries of the coarse grains were noted by several investigator.1,4,5 On the other hand, coarsening in Fe-containing aluminum or in AI-Mn alloys8 does not depend on a "cube" (or any well developed) recrystallization texture. It is true that increasing deformation by rolling, and, therefore, an increasingly well developed re-crystallization texture, are associated with decreasing incubation periods of coarsening.6-7-8 Nevertheless, coarsening readily develops in aluminum even after only 30 pct reduction by rolling, where the recrystallization texture is very weak.6,8 Also, coarsening was observed by Jeffries9 many years ago in sintered thoriated tungsten, which presumably has no preferred orientation. In all these cases coarsening is associated with grain growth inhibition by a dispersed second phase.8,9 The annealing temperature has to be suficiently high to overcome the inhibition at a few locations. But if it is too high, growth starts at many points, and the resulting grain size becomes much smaller.9 Normally, the coarse grains are more or less equiaxed, and the boundaries have a typical ragged appearance.6.8 Cook and Macquarie4 demonstrated that, in addition to the texture-dependent coarsening previously found at 1000°C,l electrolytic tough pitch copper may also coarsen at 800°C after 50 pct reduction by cross rolling. The coarse grains formed under such conditions have rounded shapes and ragged boundaries, like those in aluminum. When the annealing temperature is higher, the tendency for their formation decreases. All these observations suggest that the coarsening at 800°C is associated with inhibition by a second phase. Actually, coarsening at 800°C after 50 pct reduction by cross rolling was observed only in tough pitch copper,4 which contains Cu2O particles. On the other hand, the texture-dependent 1000°C coarsening occurs in both tough pitch and oxygen-free copper;4 it does not appear to depend on the presence of a dispersed second phase. However, the interpretation of the 800°C coarsening in Cu after 50 pct rolling as an inhibition-dependent process, similar to the coarsening in A1-Mn alloys, is somewhat weakened by the fact that this coarsening was reported4 to occur only after cross rolling, and not after straight rolling. It was, therefore, decided to re-examine this question. A 1 in. diam electrolytic tough pitch copper rod, No. 2 hard drawn, was annealed for 20 min at 700°C, rolled to 0.5 in., annealed 10 min at 700°C, and straight rolled to 0.064 in. It was then given a penultimate anneal of 20 min at 500°C and it was cut into four sections, which were given final reductions by straight rolling as follows: A 30 pct reduction of area B 50 pct reduction of area C 70 pct reduction of area D 90 pct reduction of area Specimens cut from the four sections were finally annealed at 800°C in an oxidizing atmosphere. Strip A remained fine grained up to 10 hr, but the specimen annealed 12 hr consisted of only 2 large grains. Strip B had a few scattered large (1/2 to 3/4 mm) grains after 1 min, although the balance of the specimen consisted of fine grains of about 0.02 mm. After 5 min there were several 10 to 15 mm grains present, and after 1 hr strip B was completely coarsened. The coarse grains had the same characteristics (see Fig 1) as those obtained by Cook and Macquarie at 800°C after cross rolling. Strip C had several grains of 0.05 to 1 mm after 1 min, but it was still largely fine grained after 12 hr. After 48 hr it consisted entirely of grains of about 0.5 to 4 mm, with an extraordinarily large number of twin bands. Strip D remained com- pletely fine grained after 4 hr at 800°C. These results indicate that, in the deformation range of 30 to 70 pct reduction, the incubation period for coarsening as well as the rate of growth and the final size of the coarse grains decreases with increasing deformation. Similar

Jan 1, 1950

By J. A. Cordier

USINOR has conducted four blast furnace tests with formcoke made from marginal coals in the pilot plant of HBNPC ("H. B. N." process) in four different blast furnaces of various sizes and with medium and high grade burdens. The tests in which up to 30% of the blast furnace fuel burden was replaced by HBN formcoke yielded good results on furnaces ranging in hearth diameters from 5.6 to 9.5 m. The tests demonstrated that: - the slight increase of pressure drop in the stack did not prevent smooth operation at record production rates with the same blowers - the total coke rate was not significantly affected, but there was a slight increase of the calorific value of the top gas - the hot properties of the formcoke are satisfactory as seen from the samples withdrawn at the tuyeres and tapholes. At the end of the two months test on BE nº 2 of Dunkerque, the hearth was as permeable and clean as with good standard coke. Our conclusion is that HBNPC formcoke made from lean coals is an adequate substitute for conventional coke in the range of 20 to 40% replacement, which is of interest to USINOR.

Jan 1, 1977

By Bernard Greifer, Walter Rose

The purpose of this note is to call attention to a source of difficulty which can be responsible for inaccurate estimates of wetting liquid pressure gradients in mixture flow experiments of the Hassler1 type. It has been our experience occasionally to observe what were indicated to be negative pressure gradients, and these were regarded as anomalous in the sense that physically they seemed to contradict the requirement that the flux be in the direction of the potential field. At first it was thought that our scheme of assembling barriers and core sample led to such asymmetry in the distribution of isobars that the manometric leads at each end of the core were responding to internal pressures (within the core sample) which could be either positive or negative with respect to each other, and which in fact might tend to reflect on different effective core lengths in an unpredictable fashion as the wetting liquid saturation was changed. However, no compelling evidence of this possibility has been established. In addition, we were cognizant of the requirements to be satisfied in selecting manometric instrumentation to minimize the delay in response of the manometer to the differential pressures being measured, and were thus assured that our observations of anomalous pressure gradients could not be explained by faulty instrumentation. What we suggest is that if a leak sink occurs in the fluid lines connecting the core to either side of the differential manometer, errors exceeding 100 per cent may result in the estimation of wetting liquid pressure gradient, even though the leak is of such small magnitude that its existence would tend to be obscured by evaporation effects. This is because in a system with leaks at the specified places, the manometer rec- ords at steady state the pressure drop across the manometer barrier elements in addition to the pressure drop across the core sample. This possibility will be illustrated below analytically and by numerical example for the special case where the leak occurs on the high presure side of the core, since we are especially desirous to explain the significance of our observations of the so-called negative pressure gradients. It will be indicated, however, that leak sinks on the low pressure side of the core can account for observations of anomalously high values of pressure gradient, and that multiple leaks on both sides of the core can provide for some compensation so that the errors in pressure estimation are reduced. However, the major point to be emphasized is the fact that the impractical-ity of detecting the small leak sinks which give rise to the difficulties makes it a complicated task for the experimenter in a particular case to know with certainty that his estimation of pressure gradient lies within the limits of error which can be tolerated. Fig. 1 shows the electrical analog of the flow system we have employed in our studies. The inflow and outflow barriers. Rbl and Rb2, the manometer barriers, Rm1, and Rm2, and the core sample, Rc— for a particular fluid saturation and distribution— are all designated as resistance elements; the flowmeter is designated by an ammeter, A; the pressure source is designated by E; and the manometric device is designated by the voltmeter, V. Included in the circuit are the variable resistances, Rx and Ry, which may be regarded as the leak sinks, and which, in general, can vary in magnitude from zero (i.e., a large hole or shunt in the system) to infinity (i.e., no

Jan 1, 1950

By Chien D. Ngo, Andre Bachmann, Rainer Bunge

The remediation of contaminated sites has gained great importance in many industrialized countries. One method for cleaning the polluted soils from such sites is "soil washing," the scope of which is the separation of the contaminants from the soil. Soil washing is an outstanding example for a successful transfer of technology from Mineral Processing to Environmental Engineering. This presentation intends to introduce the Mineral Processing Engineer to soil washing through a short review of the fundamentals, and the discussion of an example for a successful soil cleaning operation in Switzerland.

Jan 1, 1995

By Shirley Mason, L. G. Huntley

The predominant sedimentary formations in Colombia are those of Tertiary age. They form the floor of the Magdalena Rivcr valley and the coastal plain that borders the Caribbean Sea: this is also true of the southern part of the narrow coastal belt of the Pacific coast.

Jan 1, 1923

(Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members) Member, aged 32. Fifteen years&apos; experience in the mining, quarrying, and manufacture of gypsum and gypsum products, as purchasing agent, designer, operating manager and managing executive. Thoroughly familiar with the business in all branches, especially the organization of efficient producing forces and machinery and the value of cost and their application to manufacturing. Desires responsible position with a financially reliable concern in the same or similar business in which an interest may be obtained at a later date. Now doing consulting work, but free for appointments after April 1. New York or Philadelphia. No. 345. Member, technical graduate. Unmarried. Aged 32. Seven and one half years&apos; experience in mining, timbering, and mine sampling. At present, and for past two and a half years, mine sampler for well known and highly successful mining company. Desire change. Go anywhere. Prefer assisting Mining Engineer. No. 346. Member, 40 years old. 18 years&apos; experience in examinations and operation in the United States, Mexico and South America. Especially successful with poor class of labor. Open for engagement in any part of the world, in technical, administrative or consulting work. No. 347. Member, technical graduate. Sixteen years&apos; experience as engineer, superintendent, and manager in metal mines. Exploratory . work, developing and equipping new properties. Operation of large mines, and various systems of mining. Low costs. Specialized in iron and copper mining, but have had some experience in zinc, lead and pyrite mining. No; 348.

Jan 4, 1917

By J. H. Nead, J. J. Thomas

This investigation was undertaken to determine, if possible, the relation between static and dynamic tensile tests as measured by the work required to break test specimens slowly, in a tensile testing machine, and rapidly, by means of a falling weight. It was hoped that the investigation would throw some light on the role played by ductility under different rates of application of load. In problems of design, it is usually assumed that the moduli of elasticity of all steels are equal; viz., about 30,000,000. The stress-strain diagram within the elastic limit is a straight line, as shown in Fig. 1, where OA is the curve of a hard steel and OB that of a soft steel. If the modulus of elasticity is constant, as assumed, the slope of the line OC

Jan 1, 1922

By J. S. Fulton

THOSE who live in steel-mill towns are so accustomed to the sight of flames spouting from the mouth of a Bessemer vessel that they seldom pause to think of the amazing process behind it. Actually cold air is being blown through a hot liquid and, instead of cooling it, raises the temperature of the liquid. When coffee is too hot to drink, we know that blowing on it will cool it, so it was no wonder that when Henry Bessemer (or William Kelly, as your patriotism chooses) first proposed this cycle of steel production, he was considered mad. When Bessemer and Kelly started their investigations around 1852, there was not much practical knowledge of metallurgy and, in consequence, there was wide variation in the product made by their process. It was appreciated that the silicon, carbon and iron were all potential fuels, but not until Mushet discovered the beneficial effects of having manganese in the pig iron did the process really become commercial. Bessemer&apos;s patent of 1855 covered a crucibleful of liquid iron into which a refractory tuyere was lowered and the blow started. Since that time virtually every conceivable form of vessel, bottom arrangement, tuyere size and location have been suggested or tried. There have been stationary vessels with fixed bottoms, that were side, top or bottom blown; tilting vessels with two sets of side tuyeres at different elevations; vessels like a three-compartment septic tank; vessels of a cylindrical form supported on the long axis with tuyeres along the side submerged by a partial rotation of the vessel (this type continues in copper refineries) ; portable vessels to make the blow in a ladle over a mold in a foundry; a combination of a cupola and converter in one shell, and various other arrangements. But in all these experiments, compressed air for the blast was presupposed and there was little discussion of the quantity or quality of the air delivered to the tuyeres. At one time or another various practices that now are forgotten have been tried or suggested: for instance, the use of inert gas at the end of the blow; the addition of fuel to the blast; the use of hot-blast stoves; the drying of the air to a minimum moisture in the blast. Except in the last-named method little attention was paid to the quality or quantity of the air blown. PHASES Of the many papers published on various phases of the Bessemer process, nearly 170 according to one bibliography, over go per cent were concerned with the metallurgical phase and less than 10 per cent discussed various sections of the pneumatic phase. Since the two phases are coincidental, apparently nine times as much thought has been given to the result as has been given to one of the causes of the Bessemer process. Is it not possible that if more attention had been paid to the pneumatics so many papers would not have had to be written on the troubles in the metallurgical phase? A study of published papers and conversation

Jan 1, 1941

By Morris Cohen, Dara P. Anita, Frank S. Gardner

There is a conspicuous lack of information in the literature on the precise role played by residual quantities of austenite in heat-treated steels. While retained austenite may be expected to have significant effects on such important properties as the impact resistance of tools and carburized parts and the dimensional stability of dies and gauges, attempts to study these problems systematically have suffered from the absence of a reliable technique for ascertaining absolute amounts of austenite. With such a technique, not only could the relation between residual austenite and service behavior be investigated, but the chemical and heat-treatment factors that control the quantity of the austenite could also be established. Thus, the retained austenite content could then be regulated in accordance with the results desired. The presence of retained austenite may be inferred by observing the changes in properties (hardness, specific volume, electrical resistance, etc.) due to its decomposition on subatmospheric cooling1 or on tempering,2 but these indirect measurements are not readily translated into percentages of austenite. Quantitative determinations have been achieved in special cases by means of dilatometric3 and magnetic4,5 measurements; but the former procedure requires that observations be conducted during the hardening and involves difficult calibrations that limit its applicability, while the magnetic procedure is very sensitive to extraneous influences and depends upon assumptions that can only be considered as approximate in an absolute sense. Furthermore, both the dilatometric and magnetic effects are volume properties, and cannot be conveniently utilized to explore variations in retained austenite from point to point in a suecimen. Some microstructures lend themselves to accurate evaluation of retained austenite contents by metallo-graphic methods,3 but such instances are not too common, and at best, the procedure is tedious. The characteristic X-ray diffraction lines of austenite permit positive identification of its presence; and in the present paper the intensities of these lines, or the corresponding densities* on photographic film, are employed to measure the amount of the retained austenite. In order to cancel the effect of uncontrollable variations in the X - ray exposure and film - development conditions, a standard reference line is Superimposed on each film by maintaining a foil of aluminum in the path of the incident X-ray beam during the entire exposure. With different samples of steel and the same foil, the ratio of the density of some one austenite line to the density of

Jan 1, 1943

Mineral Processing Engineering Education in China - Bringing up the Engineering Diathesis and Design Competence of the College Students

Sep 13, 2010

By Albert E. Ketler

The AirBoss*200 is a unique ambient airflow sensor with important improvements in accuracy, especially in the critical low end, 0-61 m/min (0-200 fpm) where MSHA regulations apply. All solid state, its design is rugged, and there are no moving parts or delicate filaments. An on-board microprocessor calculates air velocity, linearizes and corrects for temperature, while driving voltage and current loop analog outputs to .3 meters/minute (1 ft/min) resolution. Recent developments also cover both positive and negative flow directions. A hand held computer is available to readout data and to adjust stored range selection, alarm set points, calibration data and the speed of response. Installation in hazardous areas is covered by MSHA Classes G, H and L.

Jan 1, 1993