Charles H. Herty, Jr.9 Beth­lehem Steel, president of the American Society for Metals; W. H. Eisenazan, secretary of ASM; Kent R. Van Horn, AU coaf retiring president of ASM

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National Metal Congress and Exposition Held at Cleveland

Ο, J VER 15,000 metals men went to Cleveland during the week of Feb. 4 to 8 t o attend the 27th annual Metal Congress and Exposition of the American Society for Metals. Technical sessions, round table discussions, and lecture courses fea­tured the congress which had been post­poned from the fall of 1945, and 440 ex­hibitors showed equipment, materials, and methods of metal working that featured wartime techniques in the exposition that occupied more than eight acres of floor space in Cleveland's Public Auditorium and underground exposition hall. At ­tendance at the exposition exceeded 35,000.

Three papers were scheduled in each technical session, of which a total of 15 were held during the first three days of the congress. Following each paper, pre­prints of which were distributed before the meeting, written and oral discusssions were presented. Round table discussions, etarted by a panel of authorities and later

ROBERT F. GOULD, Associate Editor

opened to questions from the floor, were held on the first three evenings in the audi­torium. Topics were: decomposition of austenite, superalloys for high tempera­ture service in gas turbines and jet engines, and atomic energy and its implications. Four series of educational lectures, of five lectures each, were held on the last two days of the congress on the topics: mag­nesium, induction heating, effect of sur­face stressing of metals on endurance in repeated loadings, and corrosion of metals.

Annual reports of the American Society for Metals were given a n Wednesday morning. Kent R . Van Horn, of the Aluminum Co. of America, retiring presi­dent of the society, reported the role of the society in training inspectors during the war a n d cited the record of service to industry of the war products advisory com­mittees. Progress was reported in the re­vision of the society's books and in plans for a series of technical books for students.

Revision of the Meta l s Handbook has a probable publication date in early fall. I n his report, W. H . Eisenman stated that membership of t h e society was 19,600 a s of Aug. 1, 1945.

Following the annual reports, the Camp­bell Memorial Lecture w as delivered b y Maxwell Gensamer, of the School of Mineral Industries, Pennsylvania State College. Speaking on "Mechanical Metal­lurgy", Dr. Gensamer discussed how alloy composition influences properties i n serv­ice. V. N. Krivobok presided.

The Annual Dinner of the American Society for Metals , held on Thursday evening at the Hote l Statler, was featured by a number o f medal presentations. The President's Medal w a s awarded t o Marcus A. Grossman; the Henry Marion Howe Medal for the technical paper of highest merit published i n the Transac­tions of the society was awarded to Morris Cohen, Stewart G . Fletcher, and Dara P .

L. S. Soplop demonstrates Du Font's sodiuwn hydride descaling process

V O L U M E 2 4, N O . 6 » » » M A R C H 2 5, 1 9 4 6 7 7 5

Edwin S. Hodge demonstrates AKL-Dietert CoSs 2-meter spectrograph

J. O. Vadeboricoeur, General Motors; V. S \ Pat­terson, Β mise h and JLornb; R. L. Dowdell* Uni­versity of Minnesota. Below. L.W.KempJ, &lum\i-num Co. of America ς R. H. Harrington, General Electric; C. B. Sa&vyer, Brush Beryllium Co.

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M". 4. Grossman, recipient of ASM President's Medal; E. C Smith, of ASM Gold Medal. Belovo. K. R. Van Morn, Alcoa, retiring president, ASM,

presents Sauveur Award to R. S. Archer

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776 C H E M I C A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G N E W S

Antia—all of MIT; the Albert Sauveur Achievement Award was presented to Robert S. Archer, of Climax Molybdenum Co., who developed the alloys on which the present-day aluminum forging in­dustry is built; the ASM Medal for the Advancement of Research was presented to Gerard Swope, of General Electric Co. ; and the ASM Gold Medal was presented to Earl C. Smith, of Republic Steel Co., for outstanding metallurgical knowledge and ability in converting scientific findings to practical use.

Principal speaker at the dinner was Gerald Wendt, editor of Science Illus­trated, who spoke on the subject, "The Atomic Age Opens". Stating that the atomic bomb has undone one of the great­est accomplishments of science—freedom from fear of the unknown—Dr. Wendt assailed the secrecy of the-present pro­gram as "sticking our heads in the sand" and called for a more liberal release of information on nuclear energy to industry. Commenting on the MacMahon Report which recommends a plan of international inspection by scientists and that those who violate the code be prosecuted by the UNO, Dr. Wendt termed this the first note of optimism of a political nature and stated that from it we may see the end of the atomic bomb as a military weapon.

Technical Papers Speaking on the partition of molybde­

num in hypoeutectoid iron-carbon-molyb­denum (containing 0.40% C), Fred E. Bowman, of Climax Molybdenum Co., de­scribed the role of molybdenum in the transformation of austenite and revealed that the formation of a large and complex face-centered carbide of iron and molyb­denum, (Fe,Mo)»Ce, explains the effect of molybdenum upon hardenability of steel in so far as the hardenability is de­termined by the eutectoid. The formation of this large complex under conditions favoring a relatively high molybdenum, concentration in the carbide decreases the rate of carbide nucleation and growth. Dr. Bowman stated that the delay of the proeutectoid reaction is essential to com­plete, hardening in hypoeutectoid alloys.

On the same program, on the heat treat­ment of alloys in steel, George F. Corn-stock, of Titanium Alloys Co., reported the effect of variations in composition and heat treatment on some properties of 4 to 6% chromium steel containing molyb­denum and titanium. Chief conclusions from this work were that titanium-carbon ratios between 3.5 and 5.5 in the 5% chromium-molybdenum-titanium steel gave better notch toughness and high-temperature rupture strength than with the highur titanium together with satis­factory ductility and restriction of air hardening. Silicon around 1% is bene­ficial to oxidation resistance of this steel.

At the session on aluminum alloys, R. H. Harrington, of General Electric Co., described new heat-treatable compositions

containing small amounts of beryllium which were said to have superior strength properties as castings made by gravity-sand, centrifugal, and lost wax methods High thermal stability and unusual oxida­tion-corrosion resistance were obtained. Alloys of two types were described: an aluminum-copper-beryIlium alloy with the copper and beryllium in the critical ratio of 7 to 1, and an aluminum-copper-beryi-lium-cobalt alloy with the cobalt and beryllium in the critical ratio of 6.5 to 1. The results of foundry practice were re­ported to favor the alloy containing 3.8% Cu,0-2% Be, 1.3% Co, and the remainder Al for its all-around casting properties.

la discussing this paper, C. B. Sawyer, of Brush Beryllium Co., drew a parallel between these alloys and the German hydronaliuun 5-11 alloys in which magne­sium is used in place of copper. Beryllium in these German alloys was said to pre­serve thermal conductivity, conferring liquidity to the melt and keeping it free from dross in casting. Also discussing Dr. Harrington's paper, L. W. Kempf, of Aluminum Co. of Ajnerica, confirmed the influence of beryllium in changing the pre­cipitation hardening conditions but defi­nitely did not check his indications that beryllium and cobalt increased mechanical properties.

Gas evolution from cast steel was dis­cussed by H. A. Schwartz, of National MalLeable and Steel Castings Co., who re­ported that all steels evolve mixtures of carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen on standing at room temperature and that while the sum of carbon monoxide and nitrogen evolvable from different stceLs is somewhat constant, the evolvable hydrogen varies considerably. There were many contradictions in the results, such as the fact that the increase in the rate of evolution with temperature points toward & solubility relation while the time-volume relation of gas evolution is in the form of a first-order reaction, indicating that a molecular dissociation might be involved. Thus a theory as to how the gases exist in the alloy could not be formulated although it was tentatively concluded that gas evolution is best inter­preted as a diffusion phenomenon; the proportion of gas evolving at room tem­perature was not accepted as sufficient explanation for significant differences in properties.

ISonferrous Alloys

Papers on soft solders, gold alloys, and tellurium core washes made up the session on nonferrous alloys. James 0. Vade-boncoeur, of General Motors, reported that tellurium-base core washes have been particularly successful as a means of local control in preventing shrinks in casting gray iron. Washing or dipping a core with a suspension of tellurium metal casses surface chilling of the molded part. The more rapid solidification is said to be due to the increase in the crystallization

velocity of the melt in consequence of the diffusion of tellurium into the iron. Judicious use of tellurium core wash is indi­cated, however, because too much can cause porosity and migration of chills, maki ng the surface difficult to machine.

Reporting the cold working and heat treating characteristics of a 10-karat gold alloy containing 41.6% Au, 9.2% Ag, 41.0% Cu, 6.3% Zn, and ?.9% Ni, Vernon H. Patterson, of Bausch and Lomb Optical Co., concluded that cor­rosion resistance of 10-karat gold is af­fected more by a combination of cold working and heat treatment than by cold working alone. Aging at temperatures of 370° C. or above caused a marked in­crease in resistance to attack by con­centrated nitric acid but decreased its re­sistance to artificial perspiration.

A discussion of substitute solders and fluxes was presented by Ralph L. Dowdell, of the University of Minnesota, who had studied a number of solders containing arsenic, antimony, zinc, cadmium, bis­muth, silver, and tin by capillary rise be­tween steel strips and joint strength. "Perhaps the best Unless solder for steel and tinplate, when both cost and per­formance are considered," reported Dr. Dowdell, "is the alloy of 87.5% lead, 12% antimony, and 0.5% arsenic." It can­not, however, be used for copper or brass because of the formation of an objection­able compound.

In the study of fluxing mechanism, it was observed that a great many solder fluxes are able to dissolve the oxide dross films which form on molten solder and that some fluxes can dissolve a thin oxide coating on the base metal; chloride fluxes are the most efficient from this standpoint. Fluxes containing ZnCl2 or NH4CI will dissolve molten tin or lead; fluxes con­taining SnCfe or PbCl2 can plate tin or lead on steel or copper. Tin-lead solders spread satisfactorily with ZnCl2 fluxes alone, but high lead solders require the presence of SnCl* or PbClj for satisfactory spreading. It was concluded that the wetting properties of all unless solders can be improved by using fluxes containing PbQ: or SnCl2. For general soldering an aqueous mixture of 3 parts ZnCls and 1 part PbCl2 by weight is recommended.

Steel

Investigation of failure of exhaust mani-foldsi reported by Richard Wachtell, of Republic Aviation Co., at the session on stainless steels, indicated that corrosion was being caused by carbon picked up from the exhaust atmosphere. Absorption of carbon consumes the stabilizing element (titanium in this case) whereupon carburi-zation takes place with the formation of chromium carbides. It was suggested that carbide precipitation occurring under these conditions could be prevented by a coating of some impervious heat-resisting substance, properly applied.

Nickel has a rather pronounced

V O L U M E 2 4, NO. 6 » · » MARCH 2 5, 1 9 4 6 777

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Panel on discussion of atomic energy: Zay Jeffries; S. Κ. Allison and Cyril S. Sm;?h, University of Chicago; A. B. Kinzel, Union Carbide & Carbon; John Chip man, MET. Right. C. J. Woods demonstrates North American Philips CoSs Norelco Geiger-counter x-ray spectrometer

strengthening effect on cast chromium-molybdenum steels (2.5-9.0% Cr, 0 .5 -1.5% Mo) without reducing to any ap­preciable extent the ductility and impact resistance, according to a report by N. A. Ziegler and W. L. Meinhart, of the Crane Co., on the same program. In steels con­taining 0.05 and 0.15% carbon and up to and including 5 % chromium, the strengthening effect of 1% nickel is about equal to an increase of 0.15% in the carbon content, but its effect on reducing ductility and impact resistance is much less. When the percentage of chromium is increased beyond 5 % and up to 9%, the effect of nickel becomes less pronounced. Like­wise, the effect of nickel is enhanced at carbon contents below 0.15%. The paper also reported data on chromium-molyb­denum-nickel steels including analysis, physical properties, and thermal cooling curves of normalized and drawn steels.

The effect of minute quantities of boron in hardening steel was reported by R. A. Grange and T. M. Garvey, of XJ. S. Steel, at the session on quenching of steels. "As little as 0.001% boron may suffice to develop the maximum increase in hard-enability producible by boron in steel." But while boron may serve to reduce the quantities of other alloying elements such as nickel, chromium, manganese, and molybdenum,, it does not completely take the place of any of them in so far as all properties of steel are concerned. Re­garded as a "needling" factor, boron used as an additive really intensifies the harden-ability function of standard alloying ele­ments. Study of boron-hardened steels revealed that the precipitated boron con­stituent always appears in austenite grain boundaries where it lowers the rate of grain boundary nucleation, thereby in­creasing hardenability.

Speaking at the session on induction hardening, James W. Poynter, of the Air Service Technical Command, Dayton, Ohio, concluded that the response to heat treatment, the resulting hardness, and the xnetallographic structure of SAE 4340 steel are the same whether the specimens are

heated in a furnace or b y induced high-frequency electric currents. The depth of hardening is controlled more by the power input and time of heating than by the frequency of the induced current. The so-called "superhardness" found in some induction hardened steel is apparently related t o the presence of internal stresses and not produced by the induced currents.

The improvement to b e gained by the use of antirefiection films on the objectives of metallographic microscopes was re­ported by James R . Benford, of Bausch and Lomb Optical Co., a t the session on inspection. Such films reduce flare en­countered with vertical illumination and increase image contrast of specimens with low reflectivity and long tone range. With filming, it becomes possible t o etch lightly and still secure high contrast. Since filming increases light transmission, the time of exposure in photographing specimens is shortened. For example, filming a 10.25 mm. 0.40 N.A. objective with 6 air-glass surfaces shortened ex­posures by 29% on manganese bronze, 3 2 % on cast iron, and 4 2 % on cast steel. Ob­jectives with fewer air-glass surfaces show less gain in this respect and vice versa. Photographs of a number of specimens with different objectives, with and without filming, were shown.

Technical sessions were also held on carburizing and decarburizing and on stresses in metals.

X-Ray Society Meeting in conjunction with the Metal

Congress for its fifth annual convention, Feb. 6 and 7, the American Industrial Radium and X - R a y Society, Inc., held three technical sessions and a symposium on a program that opened with the second Lester Lecture by O. R . Carpenter, of Babcock and Wilcox Co., who spoke on "Advances in Steel Weldmcnts".

Speaking on "Quantitative Analysis by X-Ray Diffraction" at one of the tech­nical sessions of the X-Ray Society, Stan­ley A. Brosky, of t h e Pittsburgh Testing Laboratories, described a method of read­

ing per cent composition directly from powder photographs as applied to analysis of silica dusts. The method consists in using nickel oxide as an internal standard in the ratio to the sample of 1:1 . An aluminum foil step wedge is placed across the film, in the camera at a position 90° from the central beam which places i t over a quartz line a t 1.374 A. between two nickel lines. With the step wedge (termed "percentage gage") used i n the work reported, each step which the silica line penetrates is equivalent to 1 0 % silica in the original sample when the nickel line at 1.474 Â. just penetrates the tenth step. Economy, speed, and an accuracy of =*=2% as compared with chemical re­sults b y the microphotometric method were claimed.

Other papers on the program included "The Uti l i ty of Radium in Complex Radio­graphic Studies", by Lt. Comdr. David H. Wise, U S N R , I N M , San Francisco; "Fluoroscopic Examination of Metallic Objects", by Donald S. Clark and Bene­dict Cassen, of California Institute of Technology; "Gamma-Ray Examination of Rail Welds in the Moffat Tunnel", by Ray McBrian and R. Wayne Parcel, of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad; and "X-Ray in the Inspection of Ammunition", by Capt. Roy'E. Thorpe, USA, Iowa Ordnance Plant.

Concluding the program of the X - R a y Society was the all-day symposium, held on Friday, sponsored by Committee E-7 of A S T M , a t which papers were presented on the betatron, induction and electron ac­celerators, high-speed radiography, and radiography with the van de Graaff ma­chine. Also held were the Industrial Gas„ Breakfast of the American Gas Associa­tion, o n Wednesday morning a t the Hol-lenden Hotel, and a meeting of the board of directors of the American Welding Society on Wednesday.

778 C H E M I C A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G N E W S