RETROSPECT Reflections on Issues Gone By Professor Dennis F. Hasson

with the assistance of Judy Parker

MARCH-1976

T his issue instituted the now yearly tradition of review-ing extractive and process metallurgy. Synopses on

such metallurgical processes as hydro-, electro- and pyrometallurgy were presented. The status of commodity metals, such as copper, precious metals, nickel, cobalt, aluminum and titanium, was also included with special topics on physical chemistry and environmental issues.

The issue also noted the then recent passing of Dr. RF. Mehl and highlighted both his career and many outstanding accomplishments.

MARCH-1956

academia at the University of Minnesota. Later, Profes-sor Swalin wrote a very useful thermodynamics text.

MARCH-1936 The "Editorials" include many interesting and provoc-

ative titles, including "Gloomy But True." The lead sen-tence observes, "Those that deny-and there seem to be some-the close connection between the largely expanded consumption . . . of metals and the darkening war clouds over Europe, Africa, and Asia are either deceiving them-selves or are trying to deceive others." The comment is astute and, unfortunately true. Less critical to world history, "Copper Steels," by C.H. Lorig, highlights some

The lead technical article, "Industry Learns From a pioneering work on HSLA Steels. Another feature, enti-Turbine Spindle Failure," by Matters, Lochen, Dedinas tIed "Scholarship," pops the bubble "that the brilliant and Ihrig, speaks of then current failure analysis equip- student is more than likely to fail in the arena of practi-ment and techniques. Somewhat surprising to me was cal life." Research by Hugh A. Smith on University of the extensive application of ultrasonics. The ultrasonic Wisconsin graduates between 1890 and 1920 showed that signals were originally interpreted as showing the pres- 92 percent of students with the highest grades were ence of inclusions, but the failure analysis ultrasonics those that became "the most worthy, successful, or proved them to be flakes and thermal -------------- eminent." "Puzzling," on the other cracks. Absent from the study were scan- hand, was certainly a precursor of the ning electron microscopy and fracture future as the lead paragraph contains mechanics which, of course, were not the comments, "Most economists seem readily available for another ten years. to agree that if the U.S. Government

Another article, "Financing Tomorrow's continues long enough with an unbal-Steel Plant Demands-Realistic Depreci- anced budget, it will be bankrupt," and ation and Pricing Policy," by E.J. "One may wonder what that condition Hanley, President, Allegheny Ludlum would be like." Yesterday's speculation Steel Corporation, suggests a seemingly is today's reality. correct solution to the problems of 1956's "The Technique of Powder Metallur-steel industry. Says Hanley, "Tomorrow's 'gy," by Charles Hardy is an excellent furnaces are going to have to be charged qualitative article on this process even ... on a sound and realistic basis and though it was "still in its infancy." paid for by investors attracted by profits. Robie's "The Drift of Things" contains . . ." Obviously, the suggestion has the article "The Woman Pays." It seems thus far not been accomplished. The arti- that Ii Duce, in an effort to support his cle includes an aerial photo with the war in Ethiopia, asked Italian women to caption: "As part of the industry's surrender their gold wedding bands. Not expansion, Bethlehem Steel Company W YM AN - GO •• O N COM PANY without respect for Italy's womanhood, will spend $300 million ... to extend .• "." ••• ; .. ~,,: ~.: ::::. : .. :.... . ....... he generously ordered 350,000 stainless the capacity of the Sparrows Point, steel weddings rings as substitutes. Maryland plant, ... making it the This ad appears on the inside front Kennedy's "Tomorrow's Metallurgy" world's largest steel plant .... " Despite cover of the March 1956 Journal of features a report on transcrystalline dis-

. Metals. Sparrows Point's recent installation of a integration of 18-8 steel. It concludes, $250 million continuous slab/bloom caster, one of the "This unusual service failure is a perplexing problem nation's largest and most technologically advanced, the that still awaits solution from a practical point . . . as optimism and positive attitudes of the Bethlehem's thirty- well as an explanation from the metallurgist." Also in-year-old quote have been squelched by the cold reality of cluded is a summary of RF. Mehl's "Diffusion of Metals" time. for the 1936 Annual Institute of Metals Division Lecture.

Also in this issue, "AIME News" announces that Willy "Proposed for Membership" to the grade of junior mem-Ley, noted rocket expert, will be the principal speaker at ber by C.S. Barrett, RF. Mehl and C.H. Mathewson is the AIME Regional Conference. The announcement in- Frederick Nims Rhines, assistant professor, Carnegie In-cludes the prophetic sentence: "For the last ten years, stitute of Technology. Willy Ley has advocated a program of artificial It is particularly interesting to note that Professor satellites." Mehl was cited for his activities in '36 and then forty

The "Personals" section includes Dr. Richard A. years later when he passed away. March was obviously a Swalin's change from General Electric-Schenectady to special month in the life of this metallurgical giant.

80

40 Years of Reporting the Traditional, the Innovative and the Revolutionary

JOURNAL OF METALS· March, 1986