Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for inerting the surface of a metal charge in an induction furnace. The process generally involves use of a porous plug positioned near the surface of the metal charge. Argon (or other blanket gases) is flushed through the porous plug to back fill the volume of the induction furnace above the metal charge with an inert gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of cobalt comprising: (i) providing a high tenor cobalt solution wherein the high tenor cobalt solution comprises cobalt and nickel; (ii) contacting the high tenor cobalt solution with an N-(2-hydroxypropyl)picolylamine resin to load the N-(2-hydroxypropyl)picolylamine resin with cobalt and nickel; (iii) eluting the cobalt from the loaded N-(2-hydroxypropyl)picolylamine resin; and (iv) eluting the nickel from the loaded N-(2-hydroxypropyl)picolylamine resin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for recovery of a metal using plants. The method for recovery of a metal involves bringing a protonema of a moss plant belonging to the family Funariaceae into contact with a metal-containing solution in which a metal(s) having an ionization tendency lower than that of silver is dissolved.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a smelting operation or the like, by which molten metal is produced from a metal oxide after metal oxide agglomerates are directly reduced and melted with a carbonaceous material in an electric heating and melting furnace. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electric furnace for producing molten metal that has material recycling capability, especially in-process material recycling capability.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of uranium from pregnant liquor solutions that comprise levels of chloride of 5 to 80 g/L by using an amino phosphonic functionalized resin. The method includes providing an amino phosphonic functionalized resin; providing a pregnant liquor solution comprising and uranium; passining the pregnant liquor solution over the amino phosphonic functionalized resin to separate the uranium from the pregnant liquor solution; and eluting the uranium.

Abstract: An indium adsorbent is provided that is obtained by the following process. A hydrophilic polymer having a carboxyl group in which indium is incorporated in advance is caused to absorb an aqueous solution of a water-soluble monomer, a cross-linking agent, and a polymerization initiator, and an acid treatment is performed on a polymer obtained by polymerizing the water-soluble monomer, to obtain the indium adsorbent. The indium adsorbent has a template architecture with respect to indium. Accordingly, the indium adsorbent is capable of adsorbing indium with a high selectivity. An indium selection rate is 2.0 or more with respect to zinc.

Abstract: One-dimensional materials are prepared from an array of nanoparticles positioned in one or more recesses of a substrate, wherein the recesses and the positioned nanoparticles have a comparable diameter of the same order of magnitude such that one nanoparticle is positioned within each of the one or more recesses; wherein a depth of the one or more recesses is from 10 nm to 40 nm; and wherein a diameter of the one or more recesses is adjusted by conformal film deposition and is between one and two times the mean diameter of the nanoparticles, and wherein the nanoparticles have a mean diameter of from 1 nm to 50 nm, and wherein the nanoparticles are catalytic sites for the growth of the one-dimensional materials; wherein the one dimensional materials are non-aggregated and extend in a direction that is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the horizontal surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An abrasive article includes an abrasive body having abrasive grains within a bond material, the abrasive body further including a spinel material disposed at an interface between the abrasive grains and the bond matrix.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing molten iron, the method being capable of minimizing the generation of converter dust and increasing the thermal degree of freedom in the converter process. In addition, the present invention provides a method for improving a converter operation method in the production of steels. The present invention relates to a method for producing molten iron including the steps of: 1) supplying carbon-containing molten pig iron to a converter, 2) continuously supplying iron oxide into the converter, and 3) blowing a mixed gas comprising a fuel gas and a combustion-supporting gas at a speed equal to or faster than the speed of sound to the molten pig iron to cause a combustion reaction, thereby heating the molten pig iron by heat of the combustion reaction.

Abstract: In one aspect, a vacuum-sealed can is used during the bonding process to improve the properties of an infiltrated TSP cutting element. In one embodiment, ultra hard diamond crystals and a catalyst material are sintered to form a polycrystalline diamond material (PCD). This PCD material is leached to remove the catalyst, forming a thermally stable product (TSP). The TSP material and a substrate are placed into an enclosure such as a can assembly, heated, and subjected to a vacuum in order to remove gas, moisture and other residuals that can inhibit infiltration of the infiltrant into the TSP layer. The can assembly is then subjected to high temperature, high pressure bonding to bond the TSP material to the substrate. During bonding, material from the substrate infiltrates the TSP layer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing cast iron or semi steel with reducing gas in a high pressure refractory lined shaft furnace using minimal or no coke Iron ore and slag are fed into the operative top zone of the shaft furnace while reducing gas which is generated in a refractory lined gasifier using preheated oxygen is fed through tuyeres at the operative bottom and middle zones. The shaft furnace is operated at a high pressure to increase productivity and to facilitate use of the spent reducing gas downstream. Excess oxygen is fed into the shaft furnace to reduce the carbon content in the molten iron and generate semi steel. The size of the furnace is reduced. The method is economical.

Abstract: An outer blade cutting wheel comprising an annular thin disc base of cemented carbide and a blade section is manufactured by disposing permanent magnet pieces on the side surfaces and inward of the outer periphery of the base to produce a magnetic field, providing magnetic coated diamond and/or CBN abrasive grains such that the magnetic field may act on the grains, causing the grains to be magnetically attracted to the base outer periphery, and electroplating or electroless plating whereby the abrasive grains are bound to the base outer periphery to form the blade section.

Abstract: A method is provided of etching a diamond particle including the step of heating the particle at a temperature of about 700° C. or greater in the presence of water vapor to form an etched particle. Also provided is an etched particle having a core and a surface. The core is formed of sp3 hybridized carbon atoms covalently bonded together, and the surface has substantially no chlorine atoms, oxygen atoms or oxygen species.

Abstract: A method of forming a cutting element that includes filling at least one non-planar region on an upper surface of a carbide substrate with a diamond mixture, subjecting the substrate and the diamond mixture to high pressure high temperature sintering conditions to form a reduced-CTE substrate having polycrystalline diamond that extends a depth into the reduced-CTE substrate in an interface region, and an upper surface made of a composite surface of diamond and carbide, and attaching a polycrystalline diamond body to the composite surface of the reduced-CTE substrate is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing particle-reinforced composite materials through utilization of an in situ reaction to produce a uniform dispersion of a fine particulate reinforcement phase. The process includes forming a melt of a first material, and then introducing particles of a second material into the melt and subjecting the melt to high-intensity acoustic vibration. A chemical reaction initiates between the first and second materials to produce reaction products in the melt. The reaction products comprise a solid particulate phase, and the high-intensity acoustic vibration fragments and/or separates the reaction products into solid particles that are dispersed in the melt and are smaller than the particles of the second material. Also encompassed are particle-reinforced composite materials produced by such a process.

Abstract: An abrasive compact may include an ultra-hard phase that may include ultra-hard particles having a Knoop hardness of 5000 KHN or greater, a sinter catalyst, and a reaction phase that may include a catalyst-ceramic compound having a Knoop hardness lower than that of the ultra-hard phase.

Abstract: A window of solid light-transmissive polymer is formed in a polishing pad, and at least one surface of the window is treated to increase the smoothness of the at least one surface. Treating the surface of the window can include heating the at least one surface and pressing with a solid rigid part.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a refractory which is resistant to corrosion which degrades the refractory during titanium-ore beneficiation in a furnace, particularly a rotary hearth furnace. In particular, the disclosure relates to a layered refractory lining for a furnace, for use in a titanium ore beneficiation process wherein a titanium oxide-rich molten slag is formed, comprising: (a) a first layer comprising a major proportion of alumina and a minor proportion of zirconia; (b) a second layer comprising a resistant agent for the molten slag; wherein the second layer is between the slag and the first layer.

Abstract: A compound represented by General Formula (1) below, where R denotes a C1-C10 hydrocarbon group, Z denotes any one of a sulfide group, a sulfinyl group and a sulfonyl group, and n denotes an integer of 4 to 8 is described. A method for extracting metals and a metal recovery method using a metal extractant comprising the compound represented by General Formula (1) are also described.

Abstract: A molten alumina/zirconia grain mixture having the following chemical composition, in wt %: ZrO2+HfO2: 35 to 45.5%; Al2O3: 43.7 to 65%; other oxides: <10%; SiO2: <0.8%, which simultaneously adheres to a granulometric condition and to a densimetric condition.