Spheroidal graphite iron production of furnace roof hangers

The wire rod mill of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited produces coils, wire rods and re-bars of different sizes. Without the furnace hangers, it will be difficult for the mill to continue to operate. This paper describes the production of furnace roof hangers that are required for re-heating furnace using the spheroidal graphite iron (SGI), highlighting the sand-casting process, charge calculation, and the chemical compositions. The facilities within the foundry shop of the steel company are used to produce furnace roof hangers. The available materials used for the casting of the hangers are the pig iron, scrap ends, foundry returns and magnesium. The process of production was performed through the reheating furnace for the heating of 120 m x 120 m x 120 m billets. One ton induction furnace of low frequency was used as the melting vessel. Also, 6 kg of magnesium was introduced in the ladle before the liquid metal was teemed into it. A Spectro analytical instrument was used to determine the chemical compositions of the materials before and after the casting processes. The analysis of the chemical compositions of produced sample of SGI are presented and discussed

Heavy metals pollution potentials in the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe

Heavy metals pollution potential in National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe was investigated. Two mining sites located at the east mining pits such as M3O, which is 370 m above sea level and M2O, which is 350 m above sea level were studied.  Sequential extraction techniques was utilised to examine the distribution effect of the heavy metals pollution potential on the environment. Twelve representative (six-soil, two-sediment, two-plant and two-water) samples were collected, pre-treated and prepared for this study. The atomic absorption spectrometer was used to analyse the concentration of the metals after the sequential and single-stage extractions were determined. Results showed that Chromium, Arsenic, Cadmium and Copper are more bioavailable in the study area than Lead and Iron. This findings indicate that human, animals and plants are exposed to toxic elements (metals and metalloids)

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Pressed Palm Oil Fruit Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composite for Building Partition Panels

The density, water absorption, and mechanical properties of the pressed palm oil fruit fiber (PPOFF) epoxy composite were investigated. The fibers were matted randomly and laminated with epoxy resin and hardener using hand-lay-up method. The result of the analysis of the developed composite indicated that mass fraction of the PPOFF used in this study was less than the threshold to effect increase in the tensile properties of the resin. However, the properties increased with increase in the fiber content. Also, the density of the composite decreased while the water absorption increased as the fiber content increases. The XRD result indicated that the fibers has high crystallinity index indicating rich cellulose content but the scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrograph revealed weakly bonded fibers to the matrix due to the poor dispersion and wet-ability between the two phases. The developed composite can be useful in building partition panels