Subject: Steel information

From: "Dr. Mark E. Williams" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 08:21:59 -0400

While looking for other info, I came across this web page of the SMA - Steel
Manufacturers Association

http://www.steelnet.org/index.html

It's worth looking at.

-- 
Dr. Mark E. Williams
Bldg N-159, Rm E-215
NASA/GSFC/WFF/EG&G
Wallops Island, VA 23337
804-824-1744
[email-masked]

I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.
Grouch Marx

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From: "Albin F. Drzewianowski" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 7 Jul 1996 09:11:19 -0400 (EDT)

I have seen a number of references (don't remember the exact sources) and 
have heard others mention the fact that wetting down the green coal helps 
in the coking process, i.e. converting the green coal into coke.  The 
references never go into any details other then to sometimes say 
something about the steam generated when the wet coal gets near the heat 
of the fire.

Can anyone out there give me a more detailed explanation as to why wet 
coal, or sprinkling green coal, cokes up better than dry coal??

I demonstrate at the local Farm Museum and I am always asked why I wet down 
the green coal.  I would like to have a more detailed answer about just 
how the water helps in the coking process. 

Albin Drzewianowski
Editor, Blacksmith Guild of Central Maryland,
Westminster, MD

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Sun, 07 Jul 1996 14:59:19 -0700

Actually, there are some kinds of coal that don't respond well to the 
addition of water.  Those, mostly, are the pea or walnut sized coal 
lumps.  Coal we used to get from Colorado was so fine, we had to mix it 
with water to keep the blast from blowing it all over the forge, but we 
did notice that the coke produced from wet coal was a little more dense, 
and seemed (SEEMED) to burn a little hotter or longer.  If the water has 
actually a chemical advantage, I would think the steam produced would 
help to crack out the petroleum products, and sulphur more smoothly.
  bob