There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality.

Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

I and i

Deposits of clastic carbonate-dominated (calciclastic) sedimentary slope systems in the rock record have been identified mostly as linearly-consistent carbonate apron deposits, even though most ancient clastic carbonate slope deposits fit the submarine fan systems better. Calciclastic submarine fans are consequently rarely described and are poorly understood. Subsequently, very little is known especially in mud-dominated calciclastic submarine fan systems. Presented in this study are a sedimentological core and petrographic characterisation of samples from eleven boreholes from the Lower Carboniferous of Bowland Basin (Northwest England) that reveals a >250 m thick calciturbidite complex deposited in a calciclastic submarine fan setting. Seven facies are recognised from core and thin section characterisation and are grouped into three carbonate turbidite sequences. They include: 1) Calciturbidites, comprising mostly of highto low-density, wavy-laminated bioclast-rich facies; 2) low-density densite mudstones which are characterised by planar laminated and unlaminated muddominated facies; and 3) Calcidebrites which are muddy or hyper-concentrated debrisflow deposits occurring as poorly-sorted, chaotic, mud-supported floatstones. These

Phd by thesis

Analysis of XPS spectra of Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions in oxide materials

An assessment of high voltage electron microscopy (HVEM). An invited review

Rapid growth in the market for electric vehicles is imperative, to meet global targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to improve air quality in urban centres and to meet the needs of consumers, with whom electric vehicles are increasingly popular. However, growing numbers of electric vehicles present a serious waste-management challenge for recyclers at end-of-life. Nevertheless, spent batteries may also present an opportunity as manufacturers require access to strategic elements and critical materials for key components in electric-vehicle manufacture: recycled lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles could provide a valuable secondary source of materials. Here we outline and evaluate the current range of approaches to electric-vehicle lithium-ion battery recycling and re-use, and highlight areas for future progress. Processes for dismantling and recycling lithium-ion battery packs from scrap electric vehicles are outlined.

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Recycling lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles

Iron oxides have been identified as promising materials for use as oxygen carriers in chemical looping combustion technologies as there are abundant resources available in the form of ore and in industrial wastes. The isothermal reduction of hematite (Fe2O3) in the fuel reactor and the subsequent oxidation of magnetite (Fe3O4) in air are the principal reactions of interest for these applications. Experimental investigations have been carried out to characterize the microstructural changes taking place as a result of the reduction reactions for a range of CO/CO2 gas compositions at temperatures between 1073 K and 1373 K (800 °C and 1100 °C). It has been shown that magnetite spinel is formed directly from hematite under these conditions and that porous magnetite or dense platelet or “lath” type morphologies can be formed depending on gas composition and reaction temperature. The conditions for the lath/pore transition are established. Dendritic gas pores are formed during the creation of the porous magnetite. This morphology allows continuous contact between the gas reactant and reaction interface and results in high reduction reaction rates.

Reduction of Hematite to Magnetite in CO/CO 2 Gas Mixtures Under Carbon Looping Combustion Conditions

Temperature profiles in the lead smelter sinter bed at Xstrata Zinc Mount Isa sinter plant have been measured using a wireless temperature probe. Corresponding sinter samples have been collected for characterisation. The sinter peak bed temperatures were found to be in the range of 1000-1200°C. Microstructures and softening temperatures of these sinters have been characterised. Strong correlations have been observed between peak bed temperature and peak hood temperature, and between mean sinter softening temperature and peak bed temperature. It was found that higher peak bed temperature results in higher sinter softening temperature. For the feed material used in the trials, to obtain sinters with mean softening temperatures above 1050°C, peak bed temperatures above 1130°C are required. There appears to be a direct correlation between granule size distribution in the feed and peak bed temperature attained. High peak bed temperatures are observed in sinters with narrow granule size distribution. © 2010 Maney Publishing.

Microstructures and softening behaviours of lead sinters and their correlation to sintering temperatures in Mount Isa lead smelter

The molten oxides (slag), matte and metal charges during smelting, converting and refining stages of the pyrometallurgical coppermaking processes are contained in refractory-lined vessels. The refractory materials are selected so as to provide resistance to corrosion by molten phases and thermal insulation to minimize heat losses while maintaining the charge in a molten state. However, high process temperature, highly agitated and chemically aggressive melts in furnaces can result in rapid degradation of the refractory and premature shutdown of the reactor for relining; imposing additional costs on processes in the form of planned and unplanned maintenance.

Phase Chemistry Study of The Interactions Between Slag and Refractory in Coppermaking Processes

The world continues to change and with it the supply of minerals and metals, the location of centres of production of primary metal and the increasing levels of metals and materials recycling. New technologies are being developed to meet the ongoing search by industry for lower costs, cleaner production and new markets. To keep abreast with these changes, and to utilise fully, the potential benefits of these technical advances, the industry will need a professional workforce having different knowledge, skills and professional attributes than in the previous millennium. What are these skills and attributes? How to best attract and develop the metallurgists of the future, and provide for the ongoing educational and research needs of the industry?

The Changing World of Metallurgical Education

Degradation of refractory lining in pyrometallurgical furnaces can be prevented by cooling down the furnace shell and solidifying a protective layer of slag, called freeze lining, on top of the refractory. Freeze lining behaviour in the high and low SiO region of the AlO–CaO–SiO system was investigated using the previously established cooled probe technique. Temperatures in the freeze lining were determined through a combination of direct measurements and linking measured compositions with equilibrium temperatures. Bath–freeze lining interface temperatures ranging from the solidus to the liquidus temperature were observed depending on composition. As opposed to freeze linings in other systems, considerable porosity was found to be present. A freeze lining containing dicalcium silicate was found to shatter on quenching, suggesting this type of freeze lining may not be advisable to use in industrial applications.

Peter C. Hayes

Papers

Reduction of Hematite to Magnetite in CO/CO 2 Gas Mixtures Under Carbon Looping Combustion Conditions

Microstructures and softening behaviours of lead sinters and their correlation to sintering temperatures in Mount Isa lead smelter

Phase Chemistry Study of The Interactions Between Slag and Refractory in Coppermaking Processes

The Changing World of Metallurgical Education

Freeze linings in the Al2O3–CaO–SiO2 system