Search2020 Vol. 27, No. 2
The mining industry faces a number of challenges that promote the adoption of new technologies. Big data, which is driven by the accelerating progress of information and communication technology, is one of the promising technologies that can reshape the entire mining landscape. Despite numerous attempts to apply big data in the mining industry, fundamental problems of big data, especially big data management (BDM), in the mining industry persist. This paper aims to fill the gap by presenting the basics of BDM. This work provides a brief introduction to big data and BDM, and it discusses the challenges encountered by the mining industry to indicate the necessity of implementing big data. It also summarizes data sources in the mining industry and presents the potential benefits of big data to the mining industry. This work also envisions a future in which a global database project is established and big data is used together with other technologies (i.e., automation), supported by government policies and following international standards. This paper also outlines the precautions for the utilization of BDM in the mining industry.
Cemented tailings backfill (CTB) structures are important components of underground mine stopes. It is important to investigate the characteristics and dynamic behavior of CTB materials because they are susceptible to disturbance by dynamic loading, such as excavation and blasting. In this study, the authors present the results of a series of Split–Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) single and cyclic impact loading tests on CTB specimens to investigate the long-term dynamic mechanical properties of CTB. The stress–strain relationship, dynamic strength, and dynamic failure characteristics of CTB specimens are analyzed and discussed to provide valuable conclusions that will improve our knowledge of CTB long-term mechanical behavior and characteristics. For instance, the dynamic peak stress under cyclic impact loading is approximately twice that under single impact loading, and the CTB specimens are less prone to fracture when cyclically loaded. These findings and conclusions can provide a new set of references for the stability analysis of CTB materials and help guide mine designers in reducing the amount of binding agents and the associated mining cost.
Nanobubble flotation technology is an important research topic in the field of fine mineral particle separation. The basic characteristics of nanobubbles, including their size, concentration, surface zeta potential, and stability have a significant impact on the nanobubble flotation performance. In this paper, bulk nanobubbles generated based on the principle of hydrodynamic cavitation were investigated to determine the effects of different parameters (e.g., surfactant (frother) dosage, air flow, air pressure, liquid flow rate, and solution pH value) on their size distribution and zeta potential, as measured using a nanoparticle analyzer. The results demonstrated that the nanobubble size decreased with increasing pH value, surfactant concentration, and cavitation-tube liquid flow rate but increased with increasing air pressure and increasing air flow rate. The magnitude of the negative surface charge of the nanobubbles was positively correlated with the pH value, and a certain relationship was observed between the zeta potential of the nanobubbles and their size. The structural parameters of the cavitation tube also strongly affected the characteristics of the nanobubbles. The results of this study offer certain guidance for optimizing the nanobubble flotation technology.
The thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms of Taixi anthracite during its graphitization process were explored. To understand the variation trends of carbon arrangement order, microcrystal size, and graphitization degree against temperature during the graphitization process, a series of experiments were performed using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Subsequently, the influencing factors of the dominant reaction at different temperatures were analyzed using thermodynamics and kinetics. The results showed that the graphitization process of Taixi anthracite can be divided into three stages from the perspective of reaction thermodynamics and kinetics. Temperature played a crucial role in the formation and growth of a graphitic structure. Meanwhile, multivariate mechanisms coexisted in the graphitization process. At ultrahigh temperatures, the defects of synthetic graphite could not be completely eliminated and perfect graphite crystals could not be produced. At low temperatures, the reaction is mainly controlled by dynamics, while at high temperatures, thermodynamics dominates the direction of the reaction.
Based on a current coherent jet, this study proposes a supersonic combustion (SC) coherent jet in which the main oxygen jet is surrounded by a supersonic fuel gas. The characteristics of the proposed coherent jet are analyzed using experimental methods and numerical simulations in the high-temperature environment of electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking. The SC coherent jet achieved stable combustion in the EAF steelmaking environment. The simulated combustion temperature of the supersonic shrouding methane gas was 2930 K, slightly below the theoretical combustion temperature of methane–oxygen gas. The high speed and temperature of the supersonic flame effectively weakened the interaction between the main oxygen jet and the external ambient gas, inhibiting the radial expansion of the main oxygen jet and maintaining its high speed and low turbulence over a long distance. These features improved the impact capacity of the coherent jet and strengthened the stirring intensity in the EAF bath.
The co-oxidation of As(III) and Fe(II) in acidic solutions by pressured oxygen was studied under an oxygen pressure between 0.5 and 2.0 MPa at a temperature of 150°C. It was confirmed that without Fe(II) ions, As(III) ions in the solutions are virtually non-oxidizable by pressured oxygen even at a temperature as high as 200°C and an oxygen pressure up to 2.0 MPa. Fe(II) ions in the solutions did have a catalysis effect on the oxidation of As(III), possibly attributable to the production of such strong oxidants as hydroxyl free radicals (OH·) and Fe(IV) in the oxidation process of Fe(II). The effects of such factors as the initial molar ratio of Fe(II)/As(III), initial pH value of the solution, oxygen pressure, and the addition of radical scavengers on the oxidation efficiencies of As(III) and Fe(II) were studied. It was found that the oxidation of As(III) was limited in the co-oxidation process due to the accumulation of the As(III) oxidation product, As(V), in the solutions.
In high-temperature applications, like exhaust manifolds, cast irons with a ferritic matrix are mostly used. However, the increasing demand for higher-temperature applications has led manufacturers to use additional expensive materials such as stainless steels and Ni-resist austenitic ductile cast irons. Thus, in order to meet the demand while using low-cost materials, new alloys with improved high-temperature strength and oxidation resistance must be developed. In this study, thermodynamic calculations with Thermo-Calc software were applied to study a novel ductile cast iron with a composition of 3.5wt% C, 4wt% Si, 1wt% Nb, 0‒4wt% Al. The designed compositions were cast, and thermal analysis and microstructural characterization were performed to validate the calculations. The lowest critical temperature of austenite to pearlite eutectoid transformation, i.e., A1, was calculated, and the solidification sequence was determined. Both calculations and experimental data revealed the importance of aluminum addition, as the A1 increased by increasing the aluminum content in the alloys, indicating the possibility of utilizing the alloys at higher temperature. The experimental data validated the transformation temperature during solidification and at the solid state and confirmed the equilibrium phases at room temperature as ferrite, graphite, and MC-type carbides.
Macrosegregation is the major defect in large steel ingots caused by solute partitioning and melt convection during casting. In this study, a three-phase (liquid, columnar dendrites, and equiaxed grains) model is proposed to simulate macrosegregation in a 36-t steel ingot. A supplementary set of conservation equations are employed in the model such that two types of equiaxed grains, either settling or adhering to the solid shell, are well simulated. The predicted concentration agrees quantitatively with the experimental value. A negative segregation cone was located at the bottom owing to the grain settlement and solute-enriched melt leaving from the mushy zone. The interdendritic liquid flow was carefully analyzed, and the formation of A-type segregations in the mid-height of the ingot is discussed. Negative segregation was observed near the riser neck due to the specific relationship between flow direction and temperature gradient. Additionally, the as-cast macrostructure of the ingot is presented, including the grain size distribution and columnar–equiaxed transition.
Claw poles are a key component of automobile generators. The output power performance of the generator is very dependent on the magnetic properties of its claw poles. Plastic deformation is known to significantly change the magnetic behavior of ferromagnetic materials in claw poles. In this paper, changes in the magnetic properties of low-carbon steel, used for claw pole components due to their plastic deformation, were investigated for different strains and temperatures. Ring-shaped material samples were prepared by machining and their magnetic properties were measured. The surface roughness was first evaluated and a machining process with an arithmetic average of roughness Ra 1.6 μm was selected as enabling the lowest measurement error. Hysteresis loops at different applied magnetic fields of the material were obtained for different plastic strains and forming temperatures. The magnetic parameters of magnetic flux density, coercivity, and remanence were obtained and compared with magnetic flux density as the primary focus. Results showed that machining, cold forming, and hot forming all led to lower magnetic flux density, larger coercivity, and smaller remanence. Magnetic flux density showed a sharp decrease at the start of plastic deformation, but as the strain increased, the decreasing trend gradually reached a constant value. The decrease was much larger for cold forming than for hot forming. For example, at 500 A/m, the degradation of magnetic flux density with a reduction percentage of 5% at room temperature was about 50%, while that of hot forming at 1200°C was about 10%. Results of this research may provide a reference for the future process design of hot-forged claw poles.
Currently, developing supercapacitors with robust cycle stability and suitability for wide-temperature-range operations is still a huge challenge. In the present work, few-layer hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (h-BNNSs) with a thickness of 2−4 atomic layers were fabricated via vacuum freeze-drying and nitridation. Then, the h-BNNSs/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite were further prepared using a hydrothermal method. Due to the combination of two two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals-bonded materials, the as-prepared h-BNNSs/rGO electrode exhibited robustness to wide-temperature-range operations from −10 to 50°C. When the electrodes worked in a neutral aqueous electrolyte (1 M Na2SO4), they showed a great stable cycling performance with almost 107% reservation of the initial capacitance at 0°C and 111% at 50°C for 5000 charge−discharge cycles.
Nano graphene platelet (Gr) reinforced nano composites with a zinc–aluminum alloy (ZA27) matrix were produced by powder metallurgy at four different mass ratios (0.5wt%, 1.0wt%, 2.0wt% and 4.0wt%) and three different sintering temperatures (425, 450, and 475°C). In order to investigate the effect of sintering temperatures and nano graphene reinforcement materials on the composite structure, the microstructures of the composite samples were investigated and their densities were determined with a scanning electron microscope. Hardness, transverse rupture, and abrasion wear tests were performed to determine the mechanical properties. According to the test results, the porosity increased and the mechanical strength of the nano composites decreased as the amount of nano graphene reinforcement in ZA27 increased. However, when the composites produced in different reinforcement ratios were evaluated, the increase in sintering temperature increased the mechanical structure by positively affecting the composite structure.
The WC/CoCrFeNiAl0.2 high-entropy alloy (HEA) composites were prepared through high-gravity combustion synthesis. The preparation method is presented below. First, using a designed suitable multiphase thermite system, the molten CoCrFeNiAl0.2 HEA was fabricated using low-cost metal oxides. The molten HEA was subsequently infiltrated into the WC layer to fabricate WC/CoCrFeNiAl0.2 composites in a high-gravity field. The porosity of the WC/CoCrFeNiAl0.2 composites was down-regulated, and their compressive yield strength was up-regulated when the high-gravity field was increased from 600g
to 1500g
because this infiltration process of a HEA melt into the WC layer is driven by centrifugal force. The WC particles in the composites exhibited a gradient distribution along the direction of the centrifugal force, which was attributed to the combined action of the high-gravity field and the temperature gradient field. The Vickers hardness of the sample was down-regulated from 9.53 to 7.41 GPa along the direction of the centrifugal force.
Magnesium has wide application in industry. The main purpose of this investigation was to improve the properties of magnesium by reinforcing it using B4C nanoparticles. The reinforced nanocomposites were fabricated using a powder compaction technique for 0, 1.5vol%, 3vol%, 5vol%, and 10vol% of B4C. Powder compaction was conducted using a split Hopkinson bar (SHB), drop hammer (DH), and Instron to reach different compaction loading rates. The compressive stress–strain curves of the samples were captured from quasi-static and dynamic tests carried out using an Instron and split Hopkinson pressure bar, respectively. Results revealed that, to achieve the highest improvement in ultimate strength, the contents of B4C were 1.5vol%, 3vol%, and 3vol% for Instron, DH, and SHB, respectively. These results also indicated that the effect of compaction type on the quasi-static strength of the samples was not as significant, although its effect on the dynamic strength of the samples was remarkable. The improvement in ultimate strength obtained from the quasi-static stress–strain curves of the samples (compared to pure Mg) varied from 9.9% for DH to 24% for SHB. The dynamic strength of the samples was improved (with respect to pure Mg) by 73%, 116%, and 141% for the specimens compacted by Instron, DH, and SHB, respectively. The improvement in strength was believed to be due to strengthening mechanisms, friction, adiabatic heating, and shock waves.
In this study, we prepared Ti/IrO2–ZrO2 electrodes with different ZrO2 contents using zirconium-n-butoxide (C16H36O4Zr) and chloroiridic acid (H2IrCl6) via a sol–gel route. To explore the effect of ZrO2 content on the surface properties and electrochemical behavior of electrodes, we performed physical characterizations and electrochemical measurements. The obtained results revealed that the binary oxide coating was composed of rutile IrO2, amorphous ZrO2, and an IrO2–ZrO2 solid solution. The IrO2–ZrO2 binary oxide coatings exhibited cracked structures with flat regions. A slight incorporation of ZrO2 promoted the crystallization of the active component IrO2. However, the crystallization of IrO2 was hindered when the added ZrO2 content was greater than 30at%. The appropriate incorporation of ZrO2 enhanced the electrocatalytic performance of the pure IrO2 coating. The Ti/70at%IrO2–30at%ZrO2 electrode, with its large active surface area, improved electrocatalytic activity, long service lifetime, and especially, lower cost, is the most effective for promoting oxygen evolution in sulfuric acid solution.
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