Abstract: The reducing power of gases liberated at the top of the charge of an industrial furnace is determined by a method wherein the energy radiated from the charge in the range, for example between 1 and 6 microns, covering the radiant energy emitted by the compounds CO.sub.2, CO, H.sub.2, and CH.sub.4 is continuously measured in a multiplicity of detection points distributed over the entire upper surface of the charge and outputs are formed corresponding to the energy radiated at each of the points. An energy image of the energy radiated at the points in the range is formed from the outputs. This energy image is converted into respective specific images for the compounds by isolating from the energy image for each detection point the radiant energy emitted by the compounds. The concentration of each of the compounds at each of the points is calculated from the intensity of the respective specific image.

Abstract: Iron or steel products are produced from oxide ores in a unique process which utilizes air and regular coal as its primary energy source and wherein the ore is melted in a carbon dioxide zone for separation and absorption of the iron oxides into a slag which is transferred to a carbon-monoxide generating zone. In the latter zone the iron oxides are reduced to form the iron or steel product. Carbon monoxide containing flue gas from the latter zone is burned with air and utilized as a heat source in the carbon dioxide zone. Slag from the various unit processes is collected and used to preheat process air by either continuous operation or in a semi-continuous regeneration process. In both modes of slag preheating, flue gas is utilized to maintain the temperature of the slag bath and high temperature air preheating prior to the slag bath.

Abstract: A method for producing fine-grain iron-containing metal oxide material, the method comprising a first reduction stage wherein the oxide material is at least partially reduced in a fluidized state at a temperature of approximately 1025.degree.-1275.degree. K. by a reducing gas which is carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide mixed with hydrogen, followed by a smelting and final reduction stage to form a metal melt, the reducing gas used for the first reduction stage obtained from the smelting and final reduction stage. Prior to the first reduction stage, relatively large cakes or shaped pieces are formed from the fine-grain metal-oxide material in the presence of moisture and a hydraulic binder and the cakes or pieces caused to harden.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the recovery and recycling of heat from hot exhaust gases, specifically from exhaust gases in metallurgical processes and from warm gases having an exiting temperature of below about 800.degree. C. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, warm or hot exhaust fuel gases transfer their retained heat to the lower portions of vertically positioned, capillary-type action heat transfer pipes. Cold air is then directed past the upper portion of the heat pipes, thereby transferring the heat of the heat transfer pipes to the cold air. The now heated air gains further heat, prior to introduction into the blast furnace, by passing over, previously heated refractory gratings.

Abstract: Energy consumption may be minimized when reducing iron oxide with reducing gases which are at least partially re-circulated in the process and where the re-circulation gas is washed to remove the reaction product CO.sub.2 in what is known as a CO.sub.2 wash to enable it to be re-used, by the heat requirement necessary for regenerating the washing liquid in the CO.sub.2 wash being entirely or partially covered by the physical heat content in top gas from the shaft furnace and/or gas leaving the sponge-iron cooler of the shaft furnace.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a uniform stable operation of a blast furnace susceptible to erratic behavior because of large disturbances introduced into the furnace is described. The method includes:(a) determining a high temperature heat parameter (HTH) over a predetermined period of time,(b) determining a CEEP parameter over a predetermined period of time,(c) comparing the differences between the HTH and the CEEP parameters and their respective averages during selected time periods of operation, and(d) changing the temperature and/or moisture content of the hot blast air dependent upon the values in step (c).

Abstract: Aluminum base 7000 series alloys can have improved tensile properties when, after heat treatment and subsequent quenching, they are subjected to a three-step aging process comprising a first aging step at 190.degree.-230.degree. F., a second aging step at over 230.degree. F. and a third aging step at 315.degree.-380.degree. F. The improved process is particularly effective in improving the tensile properties of slowly quenched materials such as large extrusions or forgings.

Abstract: The magnesium content in used aluminum scrap is reduced by preheating the scrap to a temperature sufficiently high to promote migration of the magnesium to the surface of the scrap. Thereafter, the magnesium is removed by oxidation.

Abstract: A new material consisting of a coherent multilayer crystal of two or more elements where each layer is composed of a single element. Each layer may vary in thickness from about 2 .ANG. to 2500 .ANG.. The multilayer crystals are prepared by sputter deposition under conditions which slow the sputtered atoms to near substrate temperatures before they contact the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of aluminum metal from aluminum ores, clays ashes, bauxites or wasted effluents containing aluminum. The process involves the following steps: (a) a homogeneous mixing of the aluminum-bearing material with a reducing agent, alkali metal chloride selected from sodium chloride and potassium chloride and mixtures thereof and optionally silica; (b) coking the mixture; (c) heating the mixture at a temperature in the range of 900.degree. C. to 1200.degree. C.; (d) reacting the mixture obtained at a temperature in the range of about 1200.degree. C. to 1800.degree. C., optionally in the presence of oxygen and additional energetic coke, obtaining aluminum monochloride gas and molten alkali metal silicate, and (e) rapid cooling of the aluminum monochloride and carbon monoxide at a temperature in the range of about 650.degree. C to 800.degree. C. with a molten sodium-aluminum chloride producing aluminum trichloride and pure aluminum metal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method including a runner system for transferring molten metal from a blast furnace to transfer cars. The runner system comprises a single main runner with primary and secondary outlets. In the preferred embodiment the secondary outlet is a nozzle positioned midway between the lower end of the runner and the blast furnace. During tapping the nozzle is opened and closed to control the flow of metal. When the nozzle is closed molten metal flows down the runner, through a primary outlet and into a bottle car. When the nozzle is open, metal flows through the nozzle into a bottle car positioned beneath the nozzle.

Abstract: Refinement of impure aluminum is accomplished by a method which comprises placing the impure aluminum in a molten form as an anode on one side of a porous article impregnated with a fused-salt electrolytic bath, disposing a cathode on the other side of the porous article, and passing direct current between the cathode and the anode.

Abstract: Metal is separated from a gaseous mixture formed during reduction of a compound and which contains metal vapour by contacting the compound with an absorbent capable of absorbing the metal vapour and under thermodynamic conditions such that the metal vapour is directly absorbed by the absorbent.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for achieving improved reduction efficiency and economy in the reduction of particulate metal ores, e.g. iron ore, in a vertical shaft, moving bed reactor having a reduction zone in which a heated reducing gas is caused to flow through a portion of the ore bed to reduce the metal ore thereof to metal; e.g. sponge iron. The improved efficiency and economy is achieved through an integrated reduction system in which a conventional reformer is used without the need to upgrade the reformed gas prior to feeding it directly to the reduction reactor as a reducing gas.

Abstract: In a process for injecting a fine-grain carbon carrier including ash-bearing bituminous or hard coal into a blast furnace hearth, use is made of a mix of fine-grain bituminous coal and at least one other solid fine-grain ash-bearing carbon carrier. The composition of the mix is so selected that the degree of basicity of the overall resulting ash of the mixture is adapted to the degree of basicity of the furnace slag.

Abstract: A process for recovery of platinum group metals (PGMs) from refractory ceramic substrates containing an aluminium silicate and/or alumina, for example, wash-coated auto emission control catalysts and Pt reforming catalysts. A charge, in divided form, containing the substrate, one or fluxes and a collector is heated in a high heat intensity furnace, to a temperature of at least 1420.degree. C. to produce a molten metallic phase including a substantial proportion of the said metals and a molten slag phase. These are then separated and the platinum group metals subsequently extracted from the metallic phase. By choice of suitable fluxes, at least some alumina can be converted to an aluminium silicate which becomes molten at the operating temperature.

Abstract: A process for metal-enrichment of lead bullion, wherein an alkali metal-desired metal intermetallic, such as sodium-antimony intermetallic, is added as a refining dross to the bullion and the desired metal is stripped from the dross and recovered as an enriched bullion. The process includes the steps of heating the lead bullion, in which the desired metal is to be recovered, to a temperature between 650.degree. F. and 900.degree. F.; agitating the molten bullion; adding said alkali metal-desired metal intermetallic to said bullion; mixing said intermetallic into said bullion; adding a stripping reagent for stripping said desired metal from said intermetallic; forming a desired metal-enriched lead bullion and a residue dross substantially void of said desired metal; and separating said enriched bullion from said residue dross. The process may also require a cleansing step to cleanse said enriched lead bullion of any said alkali metal in solution.

Abstract: This invention relates to the recovery of precious metals which may be present in or associated with ceramic materials, that is to say the secondary refining or recovery of such metals rather than the primary refining of the ore containing them.In particular, the invention relates to a process for the recovery of precious metal deposited upon or contained in refractory ceramic materials comprising preparing in divided form a charge containing the said refractory ceramic materials bearing precious metal, optionally a flux and optionally a metallic collector such that at least 2% by weight of precious metal plus collector metal (if included) is present, subjecting the charge to a temperature of at least 1400.degree. C. to produce a molten metallic phase containing a substantial proportion of the said precious metal=and collector metal (if included) and a slag phase containing ceramic residues and the remainder of the metal and separating the two phases. The flux may be SiO.sub.2 or a mixture of SiO.sub.

Abstract: A gas sparging apparatus particularly useful with molten aluminum includes a sparging box having an inlet, an outlet for the metal with a plurality of baffles arranged to alternately project from the top and bottom of the box into the molten metal stream. The bottom of the box also includes a graphite block connected with a manifold structure. The graphite block is gas permeable so that a sparging or cleaning gas may flow through the block into the molten metal stream to purify the metal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering visible gold plate from scrap material generated in the production of printed circuit boards and the like without dissolving the gold. The visible gold which is generally adhered to a substrate by a base metal underplating is undermined by etching of the base metal with an aqueous nitric acid etching solution preferably including froth producing compounds. The visible gold plate is recovered as gold flake of substantially the analysis of the gold plate of the scrap.