KejuruteraanPolimer di PPKBSMPelajar kumpulan pertamabermula pada sidangakademik 2002/2003

Nibong Tebal, 1 April - Bermula darihari ini Kejuruteraan Polimer secara ras-minya adalah salah satu daripada rancan-gan pengajian bagi Pusat PengajianKejuruteraan Bahan dan Sumber Mineral(PPKBSM).

Semua kakitangan di bawah rancan-gan Teknologi Polimer daripada PusatPengajian Teknologi Industri ditukarkan kePPKBSM, Kampus Kejuruteraan, USM,Nibong Tebal.

Pelajar kumpulan pertama kejuruter-aan polimer mula mendaftarkan diri padabulan Mei 2002.

Pelajar-pelajar lama yang mengikutirancangan teknologi polimer, meneruskanpengajian mereka di kampus kejurute-raan, Nibong Tebal.

Maka bermula dari hari ini PPKBSMterdiri daripada tiga rancangan iaituKejuruteraan Bahan, Kejuruteraan SumberMineral dan Kejuruteraan Polimer.

Gunakan Bahasa Inggerisdalam kuliah danmesyuarat

Nibong Tebal 11hb Mac - NaibCanselor mengesyorkan supaya BahasaInggeris digunakan dalam sebahagiankuliah dan semasa mesyuarat.

Profesor Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razakmenyatakan demikian semasa perasmianhari Q Pusat Pengajian KejuruteraanBahan dan Sumber Mineral (PPKBSM) bagitahun 2001.

Pada hari ini beberapa orang kaki-tangan telah dianugerahkan khidmatcemerlang dan juga beberapa orang siswadan siswi dianugerahkan senarai dekan.

Profesor Dato’ juga menasihatkankepada kakitangan dan pelajar USMsupaya tidak mengamalkan fahaman

berpuak-puak kerana sikap ini dalambanyak keadaan menghalang sesuatukerja itu daripada disempurnakan denganbaik.

Dalam ucapannya Naib Canselormempertekan kepada kualiti kerja dan initerbukti apabila USM telah memperolehi30 anugerah dan 10 daripadanya bertarafantarabangsa.

Pelajar-pelajar juga dinasihatkan olehNaib Canselor supaya melakukan sesuatuitu seikhlas mungkin dan jangan membu-at sesuatu hanya dengan tujuan untukdapat tinggal di Desa USM.

Beliau juga menambah supaya semuakakitangan dan pelajar cuba memainkanperanan betul menurut tanggungjawabmasing-masing.

Profesor Dr. KamarudinRektor KUKUM

Nibong Tebal, 1hb April - Satu MajlisSekalung Budi telah diadakan di DewanKuliah 2, kampus kejuruteraan, USM sem-

pena pertukaran PengarahKampus dan mantanDekan Pusat PengajianKejuruteraan Bahan danSumber Mineral (PPKBSM)ke Kolej UniversitiKejuruteraan UtaraMalaysia (KUKUM).Profesor Dr Kamarudin

Hussin akan memulakan tugasnya sebagaiReaktor KUKUM bermula bulan April ini.

Majlis ini diadakan sebagai ucapanterima kasih kepada Dr Kamarudin yangsudah banyak berjasa kepada UniversitiSains Malaysia, terutamanya kepadaKampus Kejuruteraan.

Dr Kamarudin Hussin adalah wargaUSM tulin kerana beliau belajar sejakperingkat sarjana muda hinggalah keperingkat Doktor Falsafah di USM.

Beliau juga telah terlibat secara lang-sung dengan perpindahan kampus keju-ruteraan sejak daripada Pulau Pinang keIpoh, daripada Ipoh ke Tronoh dandaripada Tronoh ke Nibong Tebal.

Prof. Madya Dr. Azmisebagai Pengarah PusatPenyelidikan Mineral,

Malaysia26hb Mac - Prof. Madya Dr. Azmi

Rahmat telah dilantik oleh KerajaanMalaysia sebagaiPengarah PusatPenyelidikan Mineral,Jabatan Mineral danGeosains, Malaysiabermula daripada 1hbJulai 2002 ini.

bersambung di ms 5

Bahagian hadapan Pusat Pengajian Kejuruteraan Bahan dan Sumber Mineralyang semakin hari semakin menarik persekitarannya

Profesor DrProf. Madya Dr Azmi Rahmat

JIL. 05 BIL: 01 No. ISSN: 1511-5275 http://www.usm.my Jun 2002

ENJINIERBuletin Pusat Pengajian Kejuruteraan Bahan & Sumber Mineral, USM

School of Materials & Mineral Resources Engineering, USM Bulletin

Tema hari Q PPKBSM :“Improving EfficiencyMaximizing Quality”Nibong Tebal, 11 Mac 2002 - Hari Q

untuk tahun 2001 telah diadakan di kam-pus kejuruteraan di sini dengan tema“mempertingkatkan kecekapan untukmemaksimumkan kualiti”.

Pada Mei 2001 kampus kejuruteraantelah berpindah daripada Tronoh keNibong Tebal. Maka sambutan hari Qdibuat di kampus baru.

Profesor Madya Dr Khairun AziziMohd Azizli selaku Dekan PPKBSM dalamucapannya telah menerangkan perkem-bangan terkini mengenai pusat pengajiansempena hari Q yang dirasmikan olehNaib Canselor Profesor Dato’ DzulkifliAbdul Razak.

Menurut Dekan PPKBSM pada tahun2001, PPKBSM terdiri daripada 480 orangpelajar yang mengikuti rancangan keju-ruteraan bahan dan kejuruteraan sumbermineral dengan 24 orang kakitanganakademik.

Menurutnya lagi PPKBSM sentiasamengambil berat tentang penguasaanbahasa inggeris di kalangan pelajar. Ini

telah dibuat melalui pameran posterlatihan industri yang diadakan pada tahunlepas dengan mewajibkan semua pelajarterlibat membuat poster dan memberipenerangan dalam bahasa inggeris.Begitu juga untuk pembentangan projektahun akhir.

Mengenai geran penyelidikan pula, DrKhairun menyatakan PPKBSM pada tahun2001 mempunyai 9 geran penyelidikan.Buat masa ini permohonan baru jugadibuat yang berjumlah lebih kurang 8 jutaringgit.

Selain daripada pengajian pra-siswazah, PPKBSM juga menitikberatkanpengajian peringkat pengajian siswazah.Menurut Dekan buat masa ini terdapatlebih kurang 40 orang pelajar pascasiswazah. Untuk menggalakkanpermohonan untuk kursus ini, Dekanmengesyorkan supaya roadshow diadakan ke kilang-kilang pembuatanseperti Intel, Seagate dan sebagainya.

Beliau juga menambah, untuk mem-pertingkatkan pengetahuan di kalanganpelajar sarjana, pusat pengajian sedangmengadakan seminar pasca siswazahpada setiap petang rabu.

Mengenai prestasi pelajar pula Dekanmenyatakan bahawa pada tahun 2001lebih 50% pelajar telah mendapat PNGKlebih daripada 3.0. Keputusan ini adalahmenggalakkan dan diharapkan pelajarakan terus berusaha untuk mendapatkankeputusan yang lebih baik.

PPKBSM juga menggalakkan perkhid-matan perundingan atau perkhidmatanujian oleh kakitangan. Menurut DrKhairun lagi, ini akan meningkatkan sum-ber kewangan USM dan dengan secaralangsung akan memperkembangkanpengetahuan dan pengalaman ataupendedahan kepada industri di kalangankakitangan.

Dr Khairun juga mengistiharkanbahawa satu persidangan antarabangsaRAMM 2003 (Recent Advance in Materialsand Minerals) akan diadakan di PulauPinang pada tahun 2003.

Majlis tandatanganakujanji

Nibong Tebal, 9 Mac - KakitanganPPKBSM telah mengadakan upacaramenandatangani akujanji untuk mematuhiperaturan-peraturan tatatertib Badan-Badan Berkanun dan Kerajaan sepanjangberkhidmat dengan Universiti SainsMalaysia.

Prof. Madya Dr Khairun Azizi MohdAzizli, Dekan PPKBSM memberi taklimatdan menyatakan bahawa ini adalah seba-gai peringatan terhadap tanggungjawabutama sebagai pegawai kerajaan.

Upacara menantangani akujanji inibermula dengan taklimat oleh DekanPPKBSM dan diikuti dengan setiap kaki-

tangan menandatangani surat akujanjidan diikuti dengan bacaan beramai-ramaiisi kandungan akujanji yang sudahditandatangani.

MOU antara ITB dan USM

April - Prof. Madya Dr. Ir. EmmySuparka daripada Institut TeknologiBandung (ITB) datang melawat PusatPengajian Kejuruteraan Bahan danSumber Mineral (PPKBSM) untuk berbin-cang mengenai memorandum persefa-haman (memorandum of understanding -MOU) di antara ITB dan USM.

Dekan Falkultas Teknologi Mineraldan Ilmu Kebumian, Institut TeknologiBandung, Indonesia, berkunjung kePPKBSM untuk berbincang dengan DekanPPKBSM, Prof. Madya Dr Khairun Azizimengenai kerjasama penyelidikan dalambidang sumber mineral. Selain itu Dr.Emmy juga dibawa melawat makmal dankelengkapan lain di pusat pengajian ini.

Deraf MOU ini sedang diusahakanoleh Dr Rizal Astrawinata selaku wakilUSM dan dijangka siap tidak berapa lama.

Kelab Ijazah TinggiPPKBSM

olehYeoh Fei Yei

Presiden Kelab Ijazah Tinggi PPKBSM

Dalam sidang akademik 2002/2003,beberapa aktiviti telah dijalankan oleh KelabIjazah Tinggi PPKBSM. Antara aktiviti yangtelah dilaksanakan adalah pemilihanjawatankuasa baru untuk sidang baru.

Dalam bulan April yang lepas ahli-ahlikelab telah bergotong-royong menyusun mejadan kerusi serta peralatan lain dalam usahamenyediakan tempat bagi warga baru daripadaKejuruteraan Polimer dan diikuti dengan majlissuai-kenal.

Aktiviti pertama adalah sambutan pelajarIjazah tinggi pada 5hb Jun. Dekan PPKBSMtelah memberi ucapan tentang aktiviti PPKBSM,pertambahan bilangan pelajar ijazah lanjutan,geran-geran serta sumber kewangan yangdidapati oleh pusat pengajian ini.

Kelab ini juga membantu pusat pengajiandalam anjuran seminar teknikal USM-Intel padasetiap Rabu pertama bagi tiap-tiap bulanbermula 12.6.2002. Seperti biasa, seminarpembentangan projek dan hari sukan padasetiap Rabu telah menjadi tradisi kelab untukmemberi peluang kepada pelajar ijazah tinggibersukan dan berinteraksi dengan kakitanganPPKBSM. Ahli kelab juga memainkan peranandalam slot “Interaksi dengan pelajar IjazahTinggi” semasa Minggu Intergrasi Siswa untukmenerangkan kehidupan kampus dan seba-gainya.

Kelab juga telah menganjurkan per-jumpaan Timbalan Dekan, Dr Azizan denganpelajar-pelajar ijazah tinggi supaya pusat pen-gajian lebih memahami situasi dan masalahyang dihadapi oleh mereka.

Sidang Pengarang

Ir Mior Termizi Mohd Yusof(Ketua Pengarang)

Prof. Madya Dr Zainal ArifinAhmad

Encik Samayamutthirian

Encik Mohd Nazri Idris

Sidang Pengarang Enjinier menjem-put semua staf, pelajar-pelajar dangraduan PPKBSM/USM memberisumbangan rencana dan pandanganmereka kepada:

Sidang Pengarang Enjinier,Pusat Pengajian Kejuruteraan Bahan& Sumber Mineral,Kampus Kejuruteraan,14300 Nibong Tebal,Seberang Perai.

The Enjinier Editorial Board invitesall staff, students and graduates of the School of Materialsand Mineral Resources/USM to con-tribute articles and views to:

Enjinier Editorial Board,School of Materials and MineralResources Engineering,Engineering Campus,Universiti Sains Malaysia,14300 Nibong Tebal,Seberang Perai.

PermasyhoranRaja Permaisuri Agong

sebagai Canselor USM

Pulau Pinang, 2 Mei - Duli yang MahaMulia Seri Paduka Baginda Raja PermaisuriAgong telah dimasyhorkan sebagaiCanselor baru Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Baginda telah dimasyhorkan sebagaiCanselor USM oleh Menteri Pendidikan,Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Haji Musa Mohamaddengan disaksikan oleh Seri Paduka Yangdi-Pertuan Agong XII.

Upacara permasyhoran telahdiadakan di Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra.Turut hadir di majlis tersebut ialah TuanYang Terutama Tun Dato’ Seri AbdulRahman Abbas dan Yang AmatBerbahagia Toh Puan Hajah MajimoorShariff, Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, YABTan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, Pro CanselorUSM, Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Lin See-Yan,Pengerusi dan ahli-ahli Lembaga PengarahUniversiti, ahli-ahli senat, para pensyarahserta para kenamaan lain.

Selepas permasyhoran baginda berti-tah bahawa Universiti mesti menghasilkansiswazah yang berkualiti mengikut kehen-dak masyarakat dan negara.

Titah baginda lagi, siswazah kitamestilah mampu bersaing di peringkatdunia tanpa mengenepikan adab danbudaya. Siswazah kita mesti menguasaiilmu dalam bidangnya serta turut mem-punyai sahsiah diri yang terpuji.

Seri Paduka Baginda Raja PermaisuriAgong dimasyhorkan sebagai CanselorUSM apabila Seri Paduka Baginda YangdiPertuan Agong melepaskan jawatannyasebagai Canselor untuk menumpukantanggungjawapnya sebagai YangdiPertuan Agong.

Final Year Project in English

Nibong Tebal, 12th March - For thefirst time the final year students for thesession of 2001/2002 presented their finalyear projects in English.

The final project is one the compulso-ry courses that the student have to passwith at least a grade C in order to grad-uate.

The students from MaterialsEngineering programmes performed theirpresentation in three parallel sessionsfrom 12th March to 14th March and thestudents from the Mineral ResourcesEngineering programme from the 13thMarch to 14th March in two parallelsessions.

The exercise was carried out toexpose the students to the language as itis a fact that english language is the lan-guage of the industry.

Professor Shiojiri atPPKBSM

Nibong Tebal, 5 Februari – ProfessorMakato Shiojiri from Kyoto Institute ofTechnology, Japan had visited the Schoolof Materials and Mineral ResourcesEngineering and gave a talk on “AdvancedElectron Microscopy and Application inMaterials Science”.

Dr Shiojiri was born in 1936 in Kyotoand was conferred DSc from KyotoUniversity in 1962. He is an expert incrystal and thin film physics and electronmicroscopy.

At Kyoto Institute of Technology, heserved as the associate professor ofphysics since 1967 and as a full professorsince 1975.

In March 1999, Dr Shiojiri retiredfrom Kyoto Institute of Technlogy and is aprofessor emeritus of the same institute.

the graduate school in Kanazawa MedicalUniversity as a guest professor of anatomyand involved in bio-medical electronmicroscopy as well as materials electronmicroscopy.

21 Mei - Pelajar yang gagal peperik-saan semester akan diberi statusPercubaan sebanyak 2 kali sahaja dan iniberkuatkuasa kepada kumpulan pelajaryang akan mendaftar pada sidangakademik 2002/2003 .

Peraturan baru ini diberitahu olehProf. Madya Dr Ahmad Fauzi Mohd Noor,Timbalan Dekan (Akademik danPembangunan Pelajar) semasa taklimatpenasihatan akademik kepada semua kak-itangan akademik PPKBSM.

Pelajar yang gagal (PNG kurang 2.00)diberi status P1 untuk kali pertama danstatus P2 untuk kali kedua yang berikut-nya. Setelah status P2, jika pelajardidapati masih gagal, maka ia akan diber-hentikan.

Sebelum ini pelajar diberi peluanguntuk gagal berturut-turut semestersebanyak tiga kali sebelum diberhentikan.

21 Mei - Pelajar yang mendapat PNGkurang daripada 2.00 akan digantung bia-siswa/pinjaman.

Menurut Prof. Madya Dr Ahmad FauziMohd Noor, Timbalan Dekan (Akademikdan Pembangunan Pelajar), bahawaKementerian Pendidikan telah menetap-kan bahawa pelajar yang mendapat statusP1 atau memperolehi PNG kurangdaripada 2.00, biasiswa/pinjaman pelajaryang terlibat akan digantung.

Pelajar tahun pertamamendaftar

Nibong Tebal, 27 Mei - Pelajar tahunpertama yang mengikuti berbagai-bagairancangan kejuruteraan yang ditawarkanoleh USM mula mendaftar di Desa hari ini.

Semua pelajar akan mendaftar kursusbagi semester pertama di pusat pengajianmasing-masing pada 2hb Jun ini.

Bagi PPKBSM seramai 210 orangpelajar baru dijangka membuat pendaf-taran kursus pada 2hb Jun ini. Semuapelajar ini akan mengikuti rancanganKejuruteraan Bahan, Kejuruteraan Polimerdan Kejuruteraan Sumber Mineral.

Sesi ini adalah hari bersejarah bagiPPKBSM dengan adanya kumpulan perta-ma yang mengikuti rancangan baru iaituKejuruteraan Polimer.

Raja Permaisuri Agong bertitah semasa permasyhorannya sebagaiCanselor Universiti Sains Malaysia

Anugerah kakitangancemerlang

hari Q tahun 2001

Nibong Tebal 11 Mac - Anugerahpelajar senarai Dekan untuk semester 12001/2002 dan anugerah kakitangancemerlang telah dibuat semasa hari Q.

Senarai pelajar yang diberi anugerahadalah seperti senarai pelajar yangtercetak di muka surat ini bagi semesterpertama sidang 2001/2002.

Bagi penyampaian anugerah kaki-tangan cemerlang pula terdiri daripadalima kategori di mana kakitanganakademik (Pensyarah dan Guru), teknikal,kakitangan pentadbiran dan juga pelajarijazah tinggi yang cemerlang diberikanpenghargaan.

Pemilihan ini adalah berdasarkankepada mutu kerja, interaksi, ketrampilan,pro-aktif, initiatif bekerja dan produktivitiyang ditunjukkan oleh individu tersebut.Calon kakitangan berkenaan dipilih dariundian terbanyak yang diadili oleh AJKHari Kualiti 2001.

Anugerah-anugerah cemerlang mengikutkategori adalah seperti berikut:

kategori kumpulan pentadbiran:En. Syed Mohamad Syed Mohd Yusoff

kategori kumpulan teknikal:En. Sharul Ami Zainal Abidin

kategori pensyarah:Ir. Mior Termizi Mohd Yusof

kategori guru:En. Samayamutthirian Palaniandy

kategori pelajar ijazah tinggi:En. Khairul Nizar Ismail

Anugerah sukanSempena sambulatan Hari Q pusat penga-jian, Kelab Sukan dan Rekreasi dengankerjasama Kelab Ijazah Tinggi PPKBSMtelah menganjurkan pertandingan bad-minton (beregu) Hari Q.

Para pemenangnya ialah:Pertama: P. M. Dr Azmi Rahmat dan Mohd Shahid Abdul Jalal.Kedua: En. Mohd Helmi Khir danEn. Mohd Hatta Saman.Ketiga: En. Kemuridan Md. Desa dan En. Saarani Ijak.Keempat: P. M. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi Mohd Noor danEn. Sharul Ami Zainal Abidin

Penubuhan Institute of Materials

Malaysia(Northern Region)

Nibong Tebal, 22hb Jun - Institute ofMaterials Malaysia (Northern Region)telah ditubuhkan melalui mesyuarat kalipertamanya yang berlangsung di PusatPengajian Kejuruteraan Bahan danSumber Mineral (PPKBSM), UniversitiSains Malaysia pada hari ini.

Pada mesyuarat ini perlantikan ahlijawatan kuasa (AJK) telah dibuat. Apayang menarik ialah sebahagian besarAJKnya terdiri daripada keluarga PPKBSM.

Berikut adalah senarai AJK IMM(Northern Region):

Pengerusi: Prof. Madya Dr Ahmad Fauzi MohdNoor

Naib Pengerusi:En. Mohamad Za’aba L. Sharif

Setiausaha & Bendahari:Prof. Madya Dr Zainal Arifin Ahmad

Ahli-ahli Jawatan Kuasa:Dr. Norlia BaharunEn. SamayamutthirianEn. Hasan ZuhudiCik Srimala SreekhantanEn. Khairul Nizar Ismail

Sebarang pertanyaan mengenai IMM(Northern Region) boleh dibuat melaluie-mail afauzi@eng.usm.my

Perlantikan Profesor Madya

17hb Jun - Kenaikan pangkat pensyarahkepada Profesor Madya telah diisytiharkandan tiga orang daripadanya adalah pen-syarah PPKBSM. Kenaikan pangkat iniberkuatkuasa pada 1 hb April 2002.

Pensyarah-pensyarah ini adalah sepertiberikut

Dr. Umaru Semo IshiakuDr Azizan AzizDr Baharin Azahari

Kepada ketiga-tiga pensyarah ini diucap-kan tahniah.

SIJIL DEKAN SEMESTER 1 SIDANG2001/2002Tahun 1Chua Boon KweanLarry Tan Chun HaiTahun 2Choo Soo NeeChow Swee KeatChum Pak KuanKoay Han KeongLaw Choon LinLee Chee KitLim Ting YiLooi Ming HooiLum Wai YeeNg Hui PingNoraiham MohamadOoi Lee ChuenSeow Eng HengS. Neoh Soon ChyeTan Leng HinZaileen Suhaili Saari

Tahun 3Chan Chee LingChan Choi KengChin Kim PengChoo Jen LingIvy Tan Ghim WooiKoo Eng LuonLok Shok ChengLow Mei YunSee Bee KeeSimon ChoongSyed Taha S.AbdullahTan Siong HengYap Chin SengYap Wei Wei

SIJIL DEKAN SEMESTER 2

SIDANG 2001/2002Tahun 1Ee Xun HongKhoo Wei WeiLee Siew WeeTung Wai CheeCho Cheong ChangChua Boon KweanEng Kok MooiLarry Tan Chun HaiLee Boon YeowLee Hong GuanLee Jian HueiLu Lian SoonMok Boon YongOng Chiew SiangPuah Lee SanPuah Sze SienSoo Siew SuanTan Chong LingTee Dee InVegneswaryWong Yoke PeiTahun 2Looi Ming HooiNoraiham MohamadOoi Lee ChuenSeow Eng HengTahun 3Al Lizanoreremy Chan Chee LingChan Choi KengChew Kah MengChien Mei LingChin Kim PengChoo Jen LingChuah Yew ChinHafizah TajuddinHalimatussa’adiah

Ivy Tan Ghim WooiKoek Kee HeanKoo Eng LuonLee Shak FuiLeong Jenn SeongLiza @ Sri Redzeki Loh Yeat HuiLok Shok ChengLoo Leong YewLow Mei YunMohd Fazrol IzanieNor Aida RosliNor AkmahBaharomNur Maizatul Shima Rafeah WahiSee Bee KeeSimong ChoongSyed Taha S.Abdullah Tan Siong HengTeh Peh HeanTeoh Thiam KooiToh Kar WaiWaong Choon SeanYap Chee HsiangYap Wei WeiJeong Shee Wei

Prof. Madya Dr Azmi sebagai Pengarah PusatPenyelidikan Mineral,

Malaysia(bersambung dari ms 1)

Dr Azmi merupakan pensyarahPPKBSM yang kedua yang pernah dilantikDekan PPKBSM sejak tahun 1989 hinggatahun 1997.

Menurutnya semasa Beliau mulamemangku jawatan Dekan, PusatPengajian Kejuruteraan Bahan & SumberMineral berusian tiga tahun dimulakan.Masalah yang timbul ialah untukmendapatkan tenaga pengajar yangsesuai terutamanya dalam bidang keju-ruteraan sumber mineral.

Beliau menceritakan pengalaman-pengalamannya semasa menjadi DekanPPKBSM semasa jamuan tengah hari yangdi adakan di Parit Buntar Inn sempenakenaikan pangkat sebagai Pengarah PusatPenyelidikan Mineral sebagai Pengarah.

Pelajar ego bukan tempatnya di Universiti

“Engkau belajar teruk-teruk pun tidakjuga score dalam peperiksaan”. Ini adalahperkataan yang biasa didengar daripadapelajar yang iri hati kepada pelajar lainyang tekun belajar. Biasanya berlakukepada pelajar tahun satu yang barumasuk ke universiti daripada alampersekolahan. Orang yang berkatademikian biasanya adalah daripada pela-jar yang mempunyai keputusan yang baikdalam matrikulasi atau STPM. Ini timbuldaripada perasaan ego seseorang pelajar.

Di universiti pelajar tidak perlu lagimemakai pakaian seragam. Jadual waktukuliah pula tidaklah hanya tertumpu padasesuatu masa sahaja. Walaupun ada

peraturan tertentu, tetapi tidak begitumembebankan seperti di sekolah. Pelajardianggap sebagai orang dewasa yangboleh berfikir dan membezakan yang-mana yang baik dan mana yang tidakbaik. Pelajar tidak lagi dirotan. Walaupunterdapat poster-poster yang tidak mem-benarkan merokok di kawasan kampus,tetapi pihak universiti tidak pula akanmengambil tindakan keras kepada pela-jar yang masih merokok. Pensyarah-pen-syarah pula begitu baik dan tidak adatekanan ke atas pelajar seperti di sekolah-sekolah. Kebebasan yang diberi inimelalaikan sebahagian pelajar. Tidakhairanlah di universiti terdapat pelajaryang mendapat keputusan cemerlangdalam SPM, matrikulasi atau STPM tetapiditendang keluar kerana gagal denganteruk dalam peperiksaan.

Kumpulan pelajar sedemikian adalahsedikit tetapi ia adalah merugikan negara.Sekira difikirkan secara logik, pelajar yangbaik adalah pelajar yang baik. Dengan

lain perkataan sekiranyaia tekun belajar sepertisemasa di alam perseko-lahan, ia akan berjayadengan cemerlang. Iaakan memberi kebaikanpada dirinya untukmemudahkannya mem-perolehi pekerjaan, dansecara amnya memberifaedah secara tidak lang-sung kepada universitidan negara.

Pelajar-pelajar yangbijak tetapi besar kee-goannya akan sedarakhirnya tetapi kebi-asaannya ia sudah ter-lambat. Biasanya pelajar

jenis ini akan mendapat keputusan yangcemerlang pada semester satu, walaupunhanya memberi sedikit tumpuan sahajasemasa di kuliah. Orang bijaklah katakandan mempunyai photographic mind pulatu. Apabila dibandingkan dengan kawansebilik dengan yang tekun belajar daripagi hingga ke petang sambung pula kemalam, tetapi tidak mendapat keputusanyang baik sepertinya. Egonya bertambahtinggi dan mula cuai, seperti pontengkuliah, buat tugasan secara “fotostat”daripada kawan. Apabila ditanya pen-syarahmengenai masalahnya, ia akanmemberi seribu satu jenis alasan.Pensyarah yang cuba membantu di buatmusuh.

Di universiti pelajaran bermula den-gan yang mudah dan kemudian akanmenjadi bertambah susah bagi tahun-tahun berikutnya. Kuliah diberi hanyasekali untuk sesuatu topik kerana banyak

Pelajar mestilah sentiasa membuat pem-bacaan sendiri sama ada merujuk kepadabuku-buku rujukan ataupun berjumpadengan pensyarah itu sendiri apabilamenghadapi masalah.

Untuk berjumpa dengan pensyarahbukannya mudah, kerana pensyarahsendiri tidak dapat duduk di dalambiliknya sepanjang hari kerana ia mem-punyai tanggungjawab lain seperti terpak-sa menghadiri mesyuarat, seminar dansibuk dimakmal atau kerja luar membuatpenyelidikan. Jika dapat berjumpa punmasanya adalah terhad.

Bagi pelajar yang tekun akan cubamendapatkan rujukan di perpustakaanatau berbincang sesama pelajar danbertanya pensyarah apabila ada peluang.Bagi pelajar yang ego pula, ia cubaberjumpa pensyarah tetapi apabila tidakdapat berjumpa ia salahkan pensyarah.Hendak berbincang dengan rakan puladianggap rakannya kurang“martabat”nya. Membuat rujukan di per-pustakaan akan mengambil masa yanglama, jadi apa yang dibuat hanyalahlepak-lepak sahaja. Rakan-rakan sibukpergi kuliah dia baru nak bangun daripa-da tidur. Pelajar sedemikian, walau punasalnya bijak, ia akan menjadi lebih“bodoh” daripada rakannya yang diang-gapnya kurang kemampuan untuk men-dapat markah yang lebih baik darinya. Iniadalah kerana otaknya sudah menjadilembap kerana kurang digunakan. Apatidaknya, kuliah selalu ponteng dantugasan atau tutorial hanya meniru kawansahaja.

Otak kita adalah seperti badan seo-rang ahli sukan. Ahli sukan terpaksaberlatih sentiasa untuk menjaga kesihatandan kekuatan otot. Begitu juga otak kita.Semasa menghadiri kuliah, pelajar akanmelatihkan otak untuk cuba memahamipelajaran yang diajar, melatih otak ataudiri untuk mengambil nota yang pentingdengan cekap. Membuat rujukan diperpustakaan dan berbincang denganrakan-rakan akan juga melatih otak untukberfikir. Pelajar yang sedemikian akhirnyaakan berjaya. Seperti contoh, adaseorang insan yang dahulunya hanyamemperolehi gred dua semasa MCE(setaraf dengan SPM) dan gagalmatematik tambahan tetapi sekarangberkelulusan PhD dan menjadi seorangprofessor di sebuah Universiti tempatan.

Jadi bagi yang mempunyai sifat egoitu, ingatkan tuhan dan kikiskan sifat yangtidak elok ini dan belajar bersungguh-sungguh dengan harapan memperolehikeputusan yang baik. Bagi yang kurangberkemampuan pula, cubalah sedayaupaya dan ikutlah pepatah “belakangparang jika diasah sedikit demi sedikit ia

Dr Azmi (kiri) menerima cenderahati daripada Dr Khairunbagi pihak PPKBSM di majlis makan tengah hari di ParitBuntar Inn.

Manufactured sandfrom

waste products

Khairun Azizi M. Azizli, Roshazita C. Amatand Samayamutthirian Palaniandy

Crusher waste or more commonlyknown as ‘quarry waste’ is a wasteproduct from crusher operation andconsidered by most quarry operators asnon-marketable and non-environmentalfriendly materials.

The material may look like sand, butit seldom complies to sand specifications.As such, concrete producers worldwideprefer natural sands to these wastematerials for the manufacture of concreteproducts.

limited resources of natural sand

However, there are emerging prob-lems related to natural sands. Nowadaysmore and more natural sand deposits arebeing protected from exploitation tosafeguard the environment, and in someplaces, these resources are limited.

As a result, these have led to theneed to find a substitute for natural sands.Literatures have shown that sand can bemanufactured from crusher wasteproducts with the introduction of shapespecification. This would add value andensure the quality required in constructionmaterials.

manufactured sandfor concrete

However according to Barry Hudsonfrom Svedala, manufactured sand pro-ducers should try to take advantage of theproperties offered by good manu-factured sand that may enhance the con-crete performance, rather than trying tosynthesize natural sands.

This could only be possible, if themanufactured sand and concreteproducers have a better understanding ofthe differences between natural andmanufactured sand.

Today, a similar scenario is observedin Malaysia. With tighter control overquarrying for sand and depleting sandresources. Manufactured sand canprobably be the answer to fulfill therequirements for building materials in thenear future.

However, more information andunderstanding on the production andproperties of manufactured sand,including its impact on the performance ofthe concrete and other constructionmaterials is needed.

Joint researchUniversiti Sains Malaysia is currently

conducting a joint research project withMetso Minerals with a view to assist both

aggregates producers (coarse and manu-factured sand) and concrete manufactur-ers on the technology in producing andusing manufactured sand and also highquality coarse aggregates for construc-tion materials.

Agregat RinganSebagai Bahan

Binaanuntuk kegunaan dinding kalis haba,struktur seperti tiang, rasuk, asas

dan sebagainya

Khairul Nizar Ismail, Kamarudin Hussin, Khairun Azizi Mohd

Azizli & Sabarudin Mohd

Sejarah penggunaan agregat ringantelah bermula pada zaman pra-Roman lagiyang mana penggunaan batuan poroshasil dari letupan gunung berapidigunakan sebagai bahan binaan.

Namun begitu penggunaanyaadalah terhad kerana bergantung kepadaaktiviti gunung berapi. Pada awal abad ke20, penyelidikan penghasilan agregatringan dari jermang relau bagas telahdimulakan di Eropah.

Agregat ringan yang diproses muladigunakan secara komersial pada 1935Ianya dihasilkan dari jermang relau bagas(blast furnace slag) di United Kingdom.Ini telah mendorong kepada penghasilanpiawaian ‘British Standard’ (BS 877) padatahun 1939 sebagai panduan kepadapenggunaan agregat ringan

kajian oleh ASDi Amerika Syarikat, kajian menge-

nai agregat ringan telah bermula padatahun 1913 selepas penemuan lempungtanah liat yang mengembang selepasdipanaskan.

Penemuan ini telah mendorongkepada penghasilan agregat jenis ‘Hydate’pada 1917 di Kansas City, Missouri.Agregat jenis ini telah digunakan untukpembinaan kapal tentera laut USS Selmapada tahun 1919 (Concrete SocietyTechnical Report, 1978).

sebagai bahan binaan baruSeiring dengan pembangunan di alaf

baru, bahan-bahan binaan yang baruperlu diperkenalkan di dalam industripembinaan di Malaysia. Pergantungan ter-hadap batu baur atau granit untuk peng-hasilan konkrit perlu dikurangkan atas fak-tor alam sekitar. Kesedaran mengenai

pentingnya pemeliharaan alam semulajadimenyebabkan kerja-kerja pengkuarianperlu dikurangkan atas sebab hakisan danjuga pencemaran udara.

abu arang batuPeningkatan penggunaan arang

batu untuk penjanaan elektrik telah men-dorong kepada penyelidikan dijalankan keatas abu bahan api terhancur (pulverizedfuel ash) sebagai agregat ringan.

Abu bahan api terhancur terhasildari pembakaran arang batu bitumin di lojijanakuasa elektrik. Penggunaan semulasisa-sisa buangan industri untuk kegu-naan industri lain adalah penting teruta-manya di negara membangun sepertiMalaysia.

Abu bahan api terhancur adalahsalah satu sisa buangan yang terhasil daripembakaran arang batu yang bolehmenyebabkan pencemaran air dan udara.

Sungguhpun di Malaysia bekalanelektrik dijanakan oleh janakuasa hidro,tetapi janakuasa elektrik yang menggu-nakan arang batu masih terus digunakan.Menurut sumber Tenaga Nasional Berhad,kira-kira 9800 Megawatt telah dibekalkanke grid kebangsaan untuk pengguna diSemenanjung Malaysia. Dari jumlah terse-but kira-kira 2200 Megawatt dihasilkanoleh Stesen Janakuasa Elektrik SultanAbdul Aziz Shah di Kapar Selangor denganmengunakan arang batu.

Sebanyak 100 tan arang batu diper-lukan setiap jam untuk menjanakanbekalan elektrik dan 15% hingga 20%dari jumlah ini akan membentuk abubahan api terhancur selepas pembakaran.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad menerusianak syarikatnya iaitu TNB JanamanjungSdn.Bhd sedang dalam pembinaansebuah lagi janakuasa elektrik yangmenggunakan arang batu di Lekir Lumut,Perak yang berupaya menghasilkan 2100Megawatt elektrik. Janakuasa elektriktersebut dijangka siap pada tahun 2003 .

Oleh yang demikian satu usahamenggunakan sisa indusrtri ini perludilakukan supaya ianya dapat diman-faatkan oleh industri binaan.

Ianya tidak terbatas untukkegunaan dinding kalis haba,malahan boleh digunakanuntuk kegunaan strukturseperti tiang, rasuk dansebagainya.

Penyelidikan di USMDi Pusat Pengajian Kejuruteraan

Bahan dan Sumber Mineral,USM, usahasedang dijalankan untuk menghasilkanagregat ringan dengan menggunakan abubahan api terhancur ini. Bahan-bahanmentah lain seperti tanah liat, debu kuaridan juga sekam padi turut digunakandalam campuran tersebut. Bahan-bahanmentah yang telah di campur akanmelalui proses pengumpalan mengikutsaiz yang dikehendaki.

Proses terpenting adalah prosespengerasan agregat yang mana teknikpersinteran digunakan. Suhu persinteranyang tinggi digunakan untuk kajian iniiaitu diantara 10000C hingga 12000C den-gan menggunakan relau pemanas.

Hasil yang diperolehi dikaji kekuatan-nya dengan konkrit dan beberapa ujianlain yang telah dikenal pasti.

Kegunaan agregat ringan

Penggunaan agregat ringan dapatmengurangkan ketumpatan konkrit danpada masa yang sama boleh digunakanuntuk menghasilkan konkrit ringan.

Ianya tidak terbatas untuk kegunaandinding kalis haba, malahan boleh digu-nakan untuk kegunaan struktur sepertitiang, rasuk, asas dan sebagainya lagisekiranya kekuatan mampatan konkritmenepati piawaian yang ditetapkan.

Agregat ringan yang dihasilkan dariabu bahan api terhancur adalah mempun-yai ketumpatan yang rendah, kuat dandapat mengurangkan beban mati dan kospengangkutan bahan binaan.

Dengan kata lain, ianya boleh digu-nakan untuk mengantikan batu baur(granit) dalam penghasilan konkrit untukkegunaan struktur. Ianya juga boleh digu-nakan untuk tujuan penebat haba, danbunyi, gelanggang sukan, dan juga di litarperlumbaan.

Agregat ringan yang telah dihasilkan di PPKBSM, USM

Effect of attrition scrubbing on tailing sand

grainsSand from tailings of tin minescan be utilized for the glass or

ceramic industry

Hashim Hussin and Khairun Azizi Mohd Azizli

AbstractSilica is the raw material for making

glass. The suitability of the silica will dependmostly on the amount of impurities attachedon the grains of the sand. In the preparation ofsilica sand, the term “attrition scrubbing” isthe detachment or loosening of impuritieslodged or firmly attached on the surface ofindividual quartz grains. This process helps toremove stains of iron oxide and other cement-ing materials from the grain surfaces.However with this process, it was found thatthe shape of the particles was also changedfrom sharp angular to rounded particles andthus reducing the grain sizes. With the aid ofsome acid medium the process become moreefficient.

IntroductionTailing sand which is of unconsolidat-

ed or uncemented compacted waste prod-uct contains more than 90% SiO2, andsome other minerals such as heavy min-erals, slime, and carbonaceous materials.Due to the presence of those minerals andthe need for further processing, only lim-ited amounts of tailing sand are beingexploited for related industries.

However, with the increasing demandfor silica sand which is generated by therapid development of silica based indus-tries such as glass-making, ceramics andtiles, fillers (paint, rubber, etc.), thesetailing sand deposit can be exploited.

According to the statistics of theMines Department Perak (MinesDepartment, 1991), there are 54,209 hec-tres of ex-mining land and 67,993 hectresof mining reserves in Perak in 1990.Tailing sand also found in abundance insome other states in Malaysia likeSelangor, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan andJohor.

However, the production of highervalue added products from the tailingsand are not being fully utilized. This isprobably due to lack of information andinvestigations for better utilization of thisresources.

Tailing sand needs to be processed toremove impurities and to obtain thedesired particle size distribution asrequired by customers. For example, in

glass industries, different grades andgrain sizes of silica are required to caterfor the various different products.

Materials and Methods

Tailing SandRaw tailing sand samples within the

size range of -600µm + 106µm, wereobtained from an ex-mining land inTronoh, Malaysia. The area was previous-ly mined for tin by gravel pump method.

Characterization StudyThe chemical composition of raw

samples was determined using X-rayflourescence (XRF) and the particle sizedistribution of the sample was determinedfollowing the 2 series using laboratory testsieve BS 410/1986.

MineralogicalEach size fraction was observed

under ore microscope (model WildHeerbrugg) to identify minerals presentand to examine physical characteristicssuch as surface properties, size and shapeof the particles etc.

The samples were also examined bythe scanning electron microscope (SEM)model S200 Cambridge, United Kingdom,with a resolution of 60 Å (6.0 nm) to lookat their surface morphology, grain sizesand the shape of the grain.

For the sample preparation, thegrains were mounted on copper stub withdouble-sided tape. To reduce the possibil-ity of the electrical charge buildup, thegrain surfaces were coated with a con-ducting layer of 10 to 15nm thick film ofgold-palladium before observation underthe SEM can be done. Microphotographsof features observed were taken at asuitable magnification that showed theclearest morphological characteristics ofthe sand grains.

Attrition And ScrubbingAttritioning and scrubbing were car-

ried out in a Denver Attrition Machine(Model no. 533000) at impeller speed of1500 r.p.m. for 30 minutes. In thisprocess, tailing sand of about 70% solidswas charged in the attrition machine. Bythis process, fine particles, coating orstaining of iron oxide, clay minerals, andother cementing materials on the grainsurfaces will be removed to the slime.

In this process, supphuric acid wasalso added to the unit to improve theattritioning process. The product wasthen washed repeatedly with tap water toclean the surfaces and to maintain the

Increasing demand for silica sandfor glass-making, ceramics,tiles,fillers for paint .....

pH between 6.5 to 7.0. The sample wasthen sized and dried in the oven between1000C to 1050C

Results and Discussion

Table 1 shows the chemical compositionof the sample and table 2 is the sizeanalysis of the sample.

Characterization study

The tailing sand samples were studiedunder a mineralogical microscope andfound that the samples were made up ofgrains of quartz (SiO2)and some impuri-ties. About 90% of the quartz grains werestained with iron and clay mineral, about5%interlocked with tourmaline and onlyabout 2% appeared to be of clean parti-cles of sand. Types of quartz found with-in the samples were identified through thecolour. Among others are the milky

quartz, smoky quartz, rose quatrz andcrystal quartz (transparent). Majority ofthe grains are sub-angular and the restare angular, and rounded.

The main impurities in the tailingsand samples can be classified as follows:

i. Heavy mineral

Most of the minerals occurred as free par-ticles in a wide size range with a specificgravity greater than bromoform (s.g 2.9).However, they can also be found inter-locked with quartz particle. Tourmaline,ilmenite and mica (muscovite) can easilybe observed in the 300 µm and below.Even though the sand was obtained fromthe tin mining activities but it is very rareto find the cassiterite in the sample but ifany, it can only be seen in the 106 µmfraction.

ii. Surface Contaminant

The main surface contaminant in the tail-ing sand sample is surface staining andcoating of what is probably ferric oxideand included some of the clay fractionthat was found wither trapped in the holesor fine pits on the grain surface.

iii. Other minerals

There are other discrete mineral particleswith a specific gravity of less than bromo-form such as the carbonaceous materials.However , using the sink-float analysis,mica (muscovite) with the density ofbetween 2.8 – 3.0 found accumulated inthe floated fraction together with quartzand carbonaceous material. Even thoughthe specific gravity of mica is higher thanTBE but it can be found in both fractions.This is probably due to the flaky shapeparticle affected by the surface tension ofbromoform. The presence of variety den-sities of muscovite might be another rea-son to explain the situation.

Effect of Attrition and Scrubbing

The results showed that, beside cleaningthe particle surfaces this process alsoaffect the particle size and shape.

The particles will slighrly reduced in size

due to the impact or forces betweenparticle-particle or particle-stirer especial-ly on the edges of the angular orsubangular particles during the process.

This phenomena is shown in Figure 2 andFigure 3

Figure 2: Micrograph showing the grainbefore attrition scrubbing.

Figure 3: Micrograph showing the grainafter attrition scrubbing.

Mica being a very soft mineral can easilybe broken off into fine particles and beremoved together with the slimes.Simultaneously, this process also cleanthe particles by dislodging the iron stain-ing and clays trapped in the cracks or finepits from the particles by dislodging thestains of iron and clays trapped within thecracks or fine pits from the surface of theparticle. This process will be efficientwith the air of acid medium. As a result,the surface of the quartz particles arecleaned and the grade of SiO2 increasedas the grade of impurities decreased(Table 3).

Chemicalcomposition

Percentage

SiO2 90.10 - 94.10

Al2O3 0.44 - 1.67

Fe2O3 0.11 - 1.77

TiO2 0.09 - 2.02

CaO 0.03 - 0.71

MgO 0.07 - 0.57

Na2O 0.02 - 0.11

K2O 0.03 - 0.17

LOI 0.17 - 0.97

Size range (µm) weight %

+600 0.80

-600 + 425 17.78

-425 +300 22.70

-300 +212 27.72

-212 +150 17.15

-150 +106 10.67

-106 3.12

Chemical composition

% Feed % Product

SiO2 97.88 98.10

Al2O3 0.72 0.48

Fe2O3 0.36 0.30

TiO2 0.53 0.40

Cr2O3 <0.003 <0.003

Table 3: Chemical composition ofattritioned product after desliming.

Table 2: Typical size analysis of tailingsand samples from Tronoh.

Table 1: Typical chemical compositionof tailing sand samples from Tronoh.

Figure 1.0: nature of impuritiesremaining in sample (i) surface staining(ii) iron oxide filling in pits (iii) ironoxide filling of micro-cracks.

(i) (ii) (iii)

Conclusion

From the SEM Micrograph, it can be seenthat attrition scrubbing is suitable in thecleaning of particle surfaces by dislodgingthe loose iron stains and clay trapped inthe crackts or fine pits on the particle sur-face. The process also reduced the size ofthe grain. This is mainly due to theimpact or forces between particle to par-ticle or particle-stirer.

References:1. Hashim, H., Azizli, K., Kadir, M., and Suhaili, I.“Pemprosesan Pasir Hampas Dari KawasanPerlombongan Untuk Kegunaan Industri Tempatan”.Paper presented at the National Science andTechnology Seminar, K. Lumpur, August 1994.2. Hashim, H. Upgrading of Silica Sand to upgrade ofits silica content”. M Sc thesis. Universiti SainsMalaysia.3. Hashim, H., Azizli, K., and Kadir, M. Processing ofTailing sand from ex-tin mines to produced high qual-ity silica for application in the glass/ceramics indus-tries - papaer presented at the USM seminar 1995,Langkawi, October, 1995

Titanium: past, present &

futureThe world’s demand for the metaloffers a lucrative opportunity forMalaysia to establish a titanium-

based industry.

Rizal Astrawinata

Introduction

In response to the demand for goodquality metallic alloys that can withstandstringent structural applications as well asthermal applications, titanium is an idealconstruction material.

Titanium and its alloys have the high-est specific strength among structuralalloys, especially at elevated tempera-tures (5400C). Titanium ‘s unique proper-ties – density half that of steel, excellentstrength retention to 5400C, and atmos-pheric corrosion immunity superior to thatof other metals – made it an ideal lightand high strength alloys for various appli-cations.

With its excellent biocompatibilityand mechanical and electrochemical prop-erties, titanium has also been well recog-nized as the most promising biomaterial insurgery and dentistry for prostheses andimplants. Hence titanium and its alloysare used for special applications related toaerospace system, desalination plants,heat exchangers, chemical processingequipment and surgical implants. Recentapplications include constructions, sport-

ing foods and automotive components.

Occurrence

Titanium is relatively commonelement comprising 0.63% of the earth’scrust making it the ninth most abundantelement, the fourth most abundant struc-tural element (exceeding only by alumini-um, iron and magnesium), and secondmost abundant transition element (afteriron).

As it is a persistent constituent ofpractically all crystalline rocks and coal,titanium is widely scattered throughoutthe earth’s surface, the principal oresbeing the more abundant ilmenite – titan-iferrous ore, FetiO3 (50 – 65% Ti bearing)– and rutile, essentially pure TiO2 (95%).

The known reserves of ilmenite areestimated 50 times greater than those ofrutile, and therefore it is the principalcommercial source of titanium.

Market outlook

While the United States titanium mar-ket has been growing at an annual rate of4% since 1972, the president of theInternational Titanium Association (ITA)predicted that he titanium world marketgrowth will experience a substantial 50%increase from 50,000 tons in the year2001 to 8,000 tons in 2010 (JOM, April2001). Annual production of the puremetal is currently 54,000 tonnes world-wide.

The increased demand for titaniummetal of 30,000 tonnes in 2010 translatesto no less than 60,000 tons of ilmeniteconcentrate to be supplied to the metalindustries.

Based on the statistics printed in theEncyclopedia of Chemical Processing &Design, Malaysia’s export of ilmenite ore

during the five-year period of 1990 to1994 amounted to more than 1.6 millionmetric tons with most of the concentratewent to the paint pigment industries.

Considering the strong and steadytitanium metal world marker growth inyears to come, and the fact that theincreased value of the titanium metalsponge is 4 to 50 times the value of themetal as FeTiO3 compound in the ilmenitemineral, the world’s demand for titaniummetal offers a lucrative opportunity forMalaysia to establish a titanium-basedindustry.

Production

From rutile and ilmenite

In the extractive metallurgy oftitanium, natural rutile (TiO2), syntheticrutile and high content titanium slag havebeen used as feed material to producetitanium metal.

However, since the availableresources of high-grade natural rutile arediminishing, a number of processes havebeen proposed for upgrading ilmenitewith a simple formula of TiFeO3 to a rutilesubstitute. Unfortunately conventionalmineral processing cannot modify thecomposition of the ilmenite mineral.

This composition can be modifiedonly by using chemical of thermalmethods. Carbochlorination appears tobe a potential approach for beneficiationof ilmenite concentrates and/or ores.

chlorinationProduction of commercial titanium

metal first involves the preparation oftitanium tetrachloride (TiCl4), anindispensable intermediate compoundobtained during the chlorination processfor titanium oxide pigment and it hasbeen used as a common base material toobtain titanium sponge in the establishedtitanium industries. Due to environmentalconcerns the chlorination process is thepreferred technology. In this process amixture of ilmenite ore concentrate andcoke is chlorinized with chlorine gas (Cl2)at about 9000C in a fluidized bed reactor.The carbochlorination stoichiometry ofilmenite at high temperature (8000C to10000C) may be represented by thefollowing equation:

TiFeO3 (s) + 3 Cl2 (g) + 3C (s) =

TiCl4 (g) + FeCl3 (g) + 3CO (g)

Since direct chlorination is notfeasible, the presence of carbon in thereaction makes the formation of thechloride thermodynamically favourable atall temperatures.

The principal product of the exother-mic reaction is raw titanium tetrachlo-ride, a light-yellow liquid boiling at 1360C.

Impurities that occur with titanium inthe ore (such as iron, magnesium,silicon vanadium and zirconium) are alsochlorinated and thus must be removed.

The critical purification steps to sepa-rate other metal chlorides that would con-taminate the virgin titanium involve selec-tive condensation and distillation. Eventhough carbochlorination has been appliedas an intermediate step in the industrialextraction of titanium since 1940, themechanism of the chemical reaction is stillnot known.

magnesium reduction

While titanium tetrachloride is pro-duced by chlorination of its oxide by chlo-rine in the presence of carbon (carbochlo-rination), titanium sponge is mostly pro-duced from its tetrachloride through mag-nesium reduction or fused salt electrolysisin the presence of alkali chlorides.

The purified liquid titanium tetrachlo-ride, in a separate process under an argonatmosphere to prevent contamination byoxygen or nitrogen, is then reduced witheither magnesium (Mg) or sodium (Na) at10000C. The products are magnesiumchloride (or sodium chloride) and puretitanium metal with a porous cellular formcalled sponge.

The sponge is cleaned from magne-sium chloride (MgCl2) and excessmagnesium either by vacuum distillationor by leaching with dilute hydrochloric acid(HCl).

The by-product magnesium chlorideor sodium chloride (NaCl) is electrolyzedand the resulting metal and chlorine arerecycled in the process. The recyclingprocess is a conventional productionmethod. While in still another process,the liquid titanium tetrachloride may beelectrolyzed to deposit electrolytic titani-um metal on the cathodes.

titanium intermetallic compounds

Titanium tetrachloride can beprocessed to produce not only metallictitanium but also titanium intermetalliccompounds. Particularly titanium carbide(TiC) and titanium nitride (TiNO) that areused in the manufacture of compositematerials. Titanium carbide may beobtained by the gaseous pyrolysis of TiCl4in a carbon-containing atmosphere (chem-ical vapour deposition)

complication

It is not possible to obtain titaniummetal by the usual method of reduction ofits oxides with carbon, due to the forma-tion of a very stable carbide. Further

complicating the problem is the highlyreactive nature of molten titanium metalstoward both oxygen and nitrogen and itspropensity for dissolving the mold materi-al into which it is cast.

Application

In spite of the useful properties oftitanium as pure metal, it is often alloyedfor improved strength, ductility, resistanceto corrosion and creep. Titanium and itsalloy whose light weight, high strengthparticularly at elevated temperatures(6000C), and corrosion resistance offermany diversified applications and thenumber of these applications tend toincrease steadily as greater productionand improved processes reduce costs.

The alloy containing 5% aluminiumand 2.5% tin, for example, is used in air-craft applications ranging from enginesand air framed to skin and fastenings. In

only a few aerospace applications titaniumhas been replaced outright by polymer-matrix composites.

By contrast, titanium has beenselected instead of composite materialsfor several applications where the primaryconsiderations have been titanium’s supe-rior stiffness and toughness as well as itsmultidirectional strength characteristics.

However greater use of titanium inaircraft has been limited because of itsrelatively high cost (as compared withaluminium, by a factor of 10-20 times).For the same reason titanium sheet willnot replace steel sheet for body plate inautomobiles with a cost differential of50-100 times.

But the superior characteristics oftitanium offer many potential applicationsin the automotive industry – both in thedrive train and in the chassis. Due toimproved power-train efficiency andvehicle weight reduction, the benefits oftitanium in cars would include fuel econo-my. Other automotive applications includeengine valves and retainers and a numberof potential components in solar-poweredelectric cars. Also, titanium springs areseeing increased use in racing cars.

Throughout the chemical industry,titanium is used extensively both in plantand in laboratory.

Increasingly titanium alloys are com-peting with nickel-base alloys on the basisof cost, strength and corrosion resistance.The alloy Ti-3Al-2.5V, for example is find-ing expanded used in the process indus-tries because of its resistance to mildly

reducing chloride environments. Titanium now ranks only behind

stainless steels and nickel-base alloys as acorrosion resistant metallic material ofconstruction for chemical processingequipment where the driving force inmaterial selection is a combination ofcorrosion resistance and elevatedtemperature.

In the food industry, the advantagesof titanium over stainless steels includecorrosion resistance, biocompatibility withfood, easy cleaning and disinfecting, lowmaintenance, and low life-cycle cost.

Other new applications for titaniuminclude sports/leisure, consumer products,construction and architecture. A break-through in the sports market helped thehopes of titanium becoming the structuralmetal for high value consumer product.

To this list, also include the new,highly efficient and longest lasting batteryin the market as the source of light(energy): the Energizer E2 “titanium” (inname), of course.

Another application of titanium asengineering material is titanium matrixcomposites. Particle-reinforced metals, inwhich hard particles of titanium carbide ortitanium nitride act to strengthern themetal matrix, provide very good specificstrength and stiffness, isotropic proper-ties, ease of manufacturing to near netshape, excellent thermal and electricalproperties, and affordability making dis-continuous metal matrix composites suit-able for wide range of applications.

Continuous fibre-reinforced titaniummatrix composites are of particular inter-est in the development of new generationhypersonic aircraft and advanced gas tur-bine engines, because of their highstrength-to weight and stiffness-to weightratios along the longitudinal direction ofthe fibre.

Titanium-matrix composites arepromising structural materials because oftheir high specific modulus and specificstrength in addition to their good stabilityat moderately high temperatures. Suchapplications often require resistance torepeated mechanical loading conditions.

Future challenges

On the road to becoming one of themajor structural metals, titanium had tomature from the exotic metal to one morewidely used. For this to happen, clearlycheap metal of high purity, free of defects,and plenty of alloy development workcombined with reliable process characteri-zation is needed.

Unfortunately the conventionalKroll/Hunter extraction processes are stillthe method of choice, and little haschanged in the mill product mix. Newproduction methods that will lower

Its resistance to corrosion offers manydiversified applications

processing cost, increase yield andimprove the quality can reduce the priceof titanium. Cost can also be reduced bydeveloping low grade titanium alloys withless restrictive chemistry requirementsand less controlled processing.

Its commercial extraction and pro-cessing follows a technically difficult andcost extensive path due to the nature ofits resources.

The cost may be reduced for titaniumby introducing new effective reductiontechnology. The Kroll process which isbased on metallothermic reaction is themost common method for the commercialproduction of titanium. It has producedmost of the world’s titanium over the past60 years.

In the Kroll process, titanium tetra-chloride is reacted with magnesium toproduce titanium in the form of sponge.The reduction reaction is exothermic andproduces enough heat to maintain a reac-tion temperature of 800 – 10000C.

A novel approach as an alternativeprocess is to use electrochemical deoxi-dation to produce titanium metal frommolten salt electrolyte. The feed materialof the electrodeoxidation process is oxiderather than titanium tetrachloride, it canalso be made via the sulfate route.

The overall process is very simple:feed the titanium oxide in the vicinity of astainless steel cathode in a bath of calci-um chloride and ionize the oxygen.Because of its attractive properties, calci-um chloride is the preferred electrolyte. Aprimary benefit of calcium chloride is cost:it is a waste product from the chemicalindustry and available very cheaply, con-taining very few impurities.

Preliminary estimates of the costshows that it should be significantlycheaper than the Kroll process. Hence,there is every expectation that theelectrodeoxidation process of extractingtitanium should reduce the cost of themetal presently produced by metallother-mic reduction.

Elimination of grainboundary phases in

SrO doped PSZ(Partially stabilized

Zirconia)Advanced ceramic for extremeenvironment usage - that canwithstand shock and chemical

reaction

Srimala, S., Ahmad Fauzi, M.N., Ahmad,Z.A. & Ramanan, V.

ABSTRACTCaO and combination (SrO+CaO) dopedzirconia ceramic were produced by mixedoxide method to study the effect of thesedopans on microstructure via TransmissionElectron Microscopy (TEM). Grain boundaryphases was not observed in material with SrOaddition. Evidence is presented whichindicates that the added SrO effectivelyneutralizes the accumulation of SiO2

containing grain boundary phases and thusminimizing the loss of CaO and enhancing thetetragonal phase stabilization

1. INTRODUCTIONPrior to 1975, pure zirconia has very

limited interest as a structural or engi-neering ceramic and its use was restrictedto refractory applications1.

This limit to application is due to thetetragonal (t) to monoclinic (m) phasetransformation, which occurs at 950oC oncooling in pure zirconia and isaccompanied by shear strainof 0.16 and volume expan-sion of 4%.

These changes canresults in catastrophicfracture and effect thestrength and toughness ofthe fabricated component.

However t m transfor-mation can be controlled byaddition of additives such ascalcia, magnesia, yttria orceria in zirconia system to stabilize thematerial in tetragonal phase2.

Less desirable changes in propertiesmay also occur as a result of contamina-tion, which originates from the startingpowders or fabrication process.

Removal of impurities from the start-ing powders can increase the cost of thefinal product.

The major contaminations present inzirconia are hafnia (HfO2) and silica(SiO2). In the powders used in this work

contain 0.11wt% SiO2. Although a number of workers has

proved that the presence of SiO2 resultedin improved densification of ceramicthrough liquid-phase sintering3, but theseimprovements were generally obtained atthe expense of mechanical properties.

This paper shows the effect of SrOand CaO on the microstructure and alsohow addition of SrO can nullify thedetrimental effects of SiO2 and improvethe properties of SrO-CaO-ZrO2 system.

2. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDUREMaterials used for preparing the sam-

ples were ZrO2 (83.91%), CaCO3

(99.28%) and SrCO3 (98.59%). The haf-nia content was 15.54% whilst silica was0.11% in ZrO2.

The powder was prepared by wet ballmilling in a plastic container for 8 hoursusing ZrO2 balls. These compositions wereuniaxially pressed at 100MPa to form acompact of 13mm diameter and 2 mmthick pellets.

These pellets were than fired at

2oC/min up to 700oC followed by 5oC/minup to sintering temperature (1450oC) andsoaked for 3 hours. Samples were cooledto room temperature at 10oC/min.

The microstructure observation isconducted using transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM). Quantitative measure-ment of phase based on X-Ray Diffraction(XRD).

3. RESULT AND DISSCUSIONPhases of the sintered sample are

shown in Table 1. No other phases wereobserved except of the monoclinic andtetragonal zirconia.

Generally the tetragonal phase washigh in SrO-CaO-ZrO2 system as com-pared to CaO-ZrO2 system. For example,sample 7CZ contain 31.53 % of t-ZrO2 butwith addition of SrO (sample 3S7CZ) con-tain 41.90% of t-ZrO2. More tetragonalphase was retained in the sample whichSrO had been added.

Microstructural features wereobserved using TEM in a region within thebulk sample to understand the increase intetragonal phase stabilization in SrO-CaO-ZrO2 system as compared to CaO-ZrO2system.

CaO-ZrO2

system

m %

t % SrO-CaO-ZrO2 system

m%

t %

3CZ 91.85 8.15 5S5CZ 70.57 29.43

7CZ 68.47 31.53 3S7CZ 58.10 41.90

10CZ 44.13 55.87 3S15CZ 100.0 0.00

Table 1: Percentage of phases for material withCaO and combine addition of SrO and CaO

Titanite (CaTiSiO5)

Triple point was clearly observed inCaO-ZrO2 sample (fig 1a) but there wasno triplet point in SrO-CaO-ZrO2 (fig 1b).There was no triple point in SrO-CaO-ZrO2because SrO reacts preferentially withSiO2 forming compound, which is ejectedfrom the bulk sample during the sintering4 but in CaO-ZrO2 system, the affinity ofSiO2 for CaO results in formation of grainboundary phases, which is indicated astriple point in the microstructure.

The preferential reaction of SiO2 withSrO as compared to CaO in SrO-CaO-ZrO2

system can be explained with simplethermodynamic calculations. The calculat-ed standard free energies of formation, at298K for various compounds in the SrO-SiO2 and CaO-SiO2 system, are shown intable 2. Clearly the stability of the SrO-SiO2 compound is much greater than thecorresponding CaO-SiO2 compound.

4. CONCLUSIONAddition of SrO in calcia stabilized

zirconia eliminates CaO-SiO2 grainboundary phases. Therefore the loss ofcalcia from the material to form grainboundary phases were minimized. As aresult, there are more calcia for tetragonalphase stabilization in sintered body.

REFERENCES1 R. Stevens, Zirconia and ZirconiaCeramics, 2nd Edn, Mg Elektron Ltd., UK,pp. 17-26 (1986).2 R.C. Garvie, R.H. Hannink & R.T.Pascoe, “Ceramic Steel?” Nature, 258, pp.703-704 (1975).3 D. Von Mallinkrodt, P. Reynen & C.Zografon, “The Efect of Impurities onSintering and Stabilization of ZrO2 (CaO),”Interceram, 2, pp. 126-129 (1983).4 J. Drennan, & R. H. J. Hannink, Effectof SrO Additions on the Grain-BoundryMicrostructure and Mechanical Propertiesof Magnesia-Partially-Stabilized Zirconia, J.Am. Ceram. Soc., 69, pp. 541-46 (1986) .

Penghasilan bahanberliang daripada

kaca seramik berasaskan sistem

Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2

Kaca seramik berliang untukkegunaan penapis mikro

Mohd Nazri I., Intan Saifulbahriah M., ZainalArifin A. dan Radzali Othman

e-mail : nazriselama@yahoo.com

ABSTRAK

Sistem Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 (Litium aluminosi-

likat) dikaji untuk menghasilkan kaca seramikberliang. Komposisinya terdiri daripada Li2O(30.5% berat), Al2O3 (5.0%), SiO2 (64.5%)dan TiO2 (3.5%). Campuran oksida ini dile-

burkan pada suhu 1250oC selama 2 jam dalamkrusibel platinum yang kemudian disejukkanke suhu bilik untuk menghasilkan kaca.

Rawatan haba berperingkat (530oC, 2 jam dan600oC, 5 jam) dijalankan untuk menum-buhkan fasa-fasa spedumen, litium metasilikatdan litium disilikat. Kehadiran fasa-fasa inidikesan boleh dilarutkan dalam asid atau alka-li kuat. Kajian dijalankan menggunakan pelba-gai kepekatan asid hidroklorik HCl dan tem-poh rendaman terhadap pembentukan liangakibat daripada pelarutan fasa-fasa tersebut.SEM digunakan untuk memerhatikan kesankedua-dua parameter yang digunakan.Keputusannya menunjukkan bahawa kelian-gan pada saiz kurang daripada 1mm hingga 5mm boleh dihasilkan. Keadaan ini berlakupada kepekatan 1.5M dan 2.0M asidhidroklorik selama satu minggu. Analisis jugamenunjukkan peningkatan tempoh kurasandan kepekatan asid boleh menghasilkan julatkeluasan keliangan yang lebih besar

ABSTRACT

A study of Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 (Lithium alumi-nosilicate) system was carried out with the

sole purpose of obtaining a porous glassceramic. This composition is selected fromLi2O (30.5wt%), Al2O3 (5.0wt%), SiO2(64.5wt%) and TiO2 (3.5wt%). All of thesechemical grades were melted together inplatinum crucible at temperature 1250 oC for2 hours. A truly homogeneous glass wasobtained after cooling from the melting pointto room temperature. The glass was then heat-treated in two stages (530oC, 2 hours and600oC, 5 hours) in order to get the phasefields of spodumen, lithium metasilicate andlithium disilicate. These phases have beenreported in the literature as being easilyleached out particularly with strong acid andalkali. A study had been done in usinghydrochloric acid with different concentrationand etching period. SEM analysis indicatedthat porosity below than 1 mm until 5 mm canbe obtained from this system. This occured byetching for one week with 1.5M and 2.0M ofhydrochloric acid. The analysis also showedthat the increase in etching period and acidconcentration will produce a higher range ofporosity.

PENGENALAN

Kaca seramik merupakan suatubahan kejuruteraan yang berpotensi ting-gi sebagai bahan berliang.

Kaca seramik boleh dihasilkan melaluipeleburan kaca dan seterusnya menerusitindakan perawatan haba (peringkatpenukleusan dan pertumbuhan hablurpada suhu tertentu)1,3.

Pemilihan ke atas kaca seramik Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 telah dibuat berdasarkanbeberapa keadaan sifat-sifat fizikal,mekanikal dan elektriknya yang baik4,5 , disamping takad leburnya yang rendah iaitu1250oC dan keupayaannya menghasilkanfasa metasilikat yang boleh dikuras keluardengan mudah pada persekitaran asidatau alkali tertentu2.

Keadaan tumbesaran hablur ini jugaboleh dikawal dengan mudah melaluiproses olahan haba yang dikenakan.Sehubungan itu kajian ini bertujuanmenghasilkan keadaan keliangan yangpaling optimum pada kaca seramik untukkegunaan tertentu dalam bahan keju-ruteraan seperti membran dan penapisdalam industri kimia, perawatan air atauaplikasi persekitaran dengan penumpuanterhadap penggunaan agen pengurasanyang berlainan kepekatan dan tempohrendaman yang dikenakan.

BAHAN DAN KAEDAH

Kaca seramik yang dihasilkan adalahmelalui penyediaan 30.5% Li2O, 5.0%Al2O3, 64.5% SiO2 dan 3.5% TiO2 dalam(peratusan berat)6. Li2O disediakan dari-

Figure 1: TEM micrograph of calcia-stabilized zirconiz (a) without SrO (b)with SrO

Table 2: Free energy formation forvarious compounds

Compounds ∆G (kJ/mol)

SrSiO3 -130.3

Sr2SiO4 -208.4

CaO.SiO2 -38.37

2CaO.SiO2 -67.94

(a)

(b)

pada Li2CO3. Campuran ini diaduksempurna dan seterusnya dima-sukkan ke dalam krusibel plat-inum untuk peleburan. Suhu pele-buran yang dikenakan adalah

1250oC selama 2 jam dengankadar kenaikan 10oC/min.

Ujian analisis pembezaanterma (DTA) telah dijalankan ter-hadap hasilan kaca ini bagimenentukan suhu peralihankaca7. Selanjutnya olahan haba

pada suhu 530oC selama 2 jamdilakukan (peringkat penukleu-san, 50oC di atas suhu Tg).

Seterusnya kenaikan suhu telahdikenakan pada 600oC selama 5jam (peringkat pertumbuhanhablur). Kadar kenaikan suhuadalah 3oC/min dan kadar penu-

runan 5oC/min. Hasilan kaca seramik ini telah

dipotong menggunakan pemo-tong intan pada ketebalan 1 mm.Sebahagiannya dilakukan ujianXRD bagi penentuan kehadiranfasa.

Untuk setiap kepingan kacaseramik ini telah dilakukan ujianpengurasan dengan asidhidroklorik dalam dua keadaanparameter yang berlainan.

Parameter pertama adalahmenggunakan asid hidroklorikpada kepekatan 1.5M bagi tem-poh rendaman 2 hari, 7 hari dan14 hari. Parameter kedua adalahpada tempoh rendaman 7 haridalam kepekatan asid hidroklorik2.0M, 2.5M dan 3.0M.

Keseluruhan peringkat hasi-lan ujian ini dikenalpasti keadaankeliangannya melalui analisisSEM.

KEPUTUSAN

Keputusan yang diperolehimelalui analisis pembelauansinar-X menunjukkan peringkatawal kaca yang dihasilkanselepas peleburan adalah bersi-fat amorfous dan selepas kenaanolahan haba suatu fasa litiummetasilikat, Li2SiO3 dan fasaLi2Al2Si3O10 telah terbentuk(Rajah 1).

Keadaan ini adalah sepertiyang telah dijangkakan berlakubagi setiap pembentukan kacaseramik Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 padakomposisi berkenaan. Keadaanolahan haba yang telah dilakukan adalahberdasarkan keputusan yang diperolehidaripada analisis DTA dengan keadaan

suhu Tg berlaku pada 480oC.

Analisis SEM menunjukkan peringkatawal olahan haba (tahap penukleusan)

pada suhu 530oC selama 2 jam

(50oC di atas suhu Tg) jelasmemberikan suatu pemben-tukan permukaan yang tidaklicin pada sampel kaca berke-naan.

Seterusnya peringkatkedua olahan haba (tahappertumbuhan hablur) 600oCselama 5 jam menunjukkanfasa-fasa ini hadir secara sekatapada permukaan kacaberkenaan. Hasil pengurasanterhadap bahan kaca seramikini menggunakan dua keadaanparameter yang berlainanjelas menunjukkan keadaankeliangan yang minimum telahdiperolehi pada kepekatan 1.5MHCl pada tempoh rendaman 7hari.

Julat keliangan yang telahdiperolehi adalah kurang dari-pada 1 mm(rajah 2). Keadaanrendaman dengan kepekatan2.0M HCl selama 7 hari turutmemberikan keadaan keliangansekitar 5 mm pada sampel kacaseramik berkenaan (Rajah 3).

Sehubungan dengan itupengawalan kepekatan bolehmemberikan julat yang baikbagi penghasilan sesuatukeliangan pada bahan kacaseramik litium aluminosilikat ini.

Keputusan SEM jugamenunjukkan tempoh pen-gurasan yang lebih lama akanmenyebabkan fasa-fasa metasi-likat terhakis pada kadar yanglebih tinggi dan keliangan yangdiperolehi adalah lebih besar.

Peningkatan dalam peng-gunaan kepekatan agen pen-gurasan turut menghasilkankeadaan keliangan yang lebihbesar. Ini dapat diperhatikanpada penggunaan agen pen-gurasan 2.0M, 2.5M dan 3.0Masid hidroklorik8.

Bagaimanapun pen-gawalan yang terperinci padakeadaan penggunaan agenpenukleusan, pertumbuhanhablur semasa olahan haba,penggunaan kepekatan agenpengurasan tertentu dan tem-poh rendaman boleh mem-berikan tahap keliangan yangterbaik bagi tujuan penghasilanbahan kejuruteraan.

KESIMPULAN

Hasil penyelidikan ini telah berjayamenghasilkan keadaan berliang pada kacaseramik dengan saiz liangnya kurang dari-

Rajah 1: graf menunjukkan kehadiran fasa-fasa Li2SiO3

dan Li2Al2Si3O10 pada kaca seramik setelah dirawat haba

sehingga 600oC selama 5 jam.

Rajah 2: keadaan keliangan pada kurasan 1.5MHCl selama 7 hari (5500x)

Rajah 3: keadaan keliangan pada kurasan 2.0MHCl selama 7 hari.(900x)

pada 1 mm hingga 5 mm. Saiz ini berjaya dihasilkan apabila

fasa-fasa yang muncul telah dilarutkelu-arkan menggunakan asid hidroklorik padakepekatan 1.5M dan 2.0M selama satuminggu.

Bagaimanapun keadaan kelianganpada parameter yang lebih besar bagisesuatu tujuan pembinaan bahan keju-ruteraaan boleh dihasilkan melalui pen-gawalan yang baik terhadap penggunaankepekatan agen pengurasan yang lebihtinggi dan tempoh rendaman yang lebihlama.

RUJUKAN1. M. H. Lewis, Glasses and glass-ceramics,Chapman and Hall, 19892. G.H. Beall and R.C. Doman, Glass-ceramic,Academic press, Inc, 19873. H. Rawson, Properties and application ofglass, glass science and technology 3, Elsevier,19804. P.W. Millan, Glass ceramics, Academic press,Inc, 19645. Z. Strnad, Glass-ceramic materials, glassscience and technology, Elsevier, Amsterdam.1986.6. E. M.Levin, C. R. Robbin and H. F. McMurdie,Phase diagrams for ceramist. The AmericanCeramic Soc. Columbus Ohio. 19697. M. Intan Saifulbahriah. Kaca seramik litiumaluminosilikat berliang-kajian terhadap tempohkurasan. projek tahun akhir USM. 19958. I. Mohd Nazri. Kaca seramik litium alumi -nosilikat berliang-kajian kepekatan agen pen-gurasan. projek tahun akhir USM. 1998

Electronic detonator

A new initiation system for efficient blasting

Mior Termizi M.Y.

Recent advances in electronic deto-nator technology resulted in systems thatare now ready for widespread use by themining and quarrying industry (Figure 1).The main features that are unique to elec-tronic detonators are:

a) firing time accuracy to within one tenthof one millisecond of the desired timeb) a full range of delay timing (1 to 4000ms in one ms intervals)

Basic characteristicsElectronic systems vary considerably

in the type and style of wire and connec-tors. it is very important to know andunderstand the proper use of these prod-ucts.

Each system will have specificinstructions for proper hook-up. Some

may require a precise order of tie-in toensure proper sequencing, whereasothers will simply rely only on the opera-tor’s attention to blast design for properprogramming or tie-in.

One system under development uti-lizes shock tube technology for initiationand a factory programmed timing elementfor its delay. Hook-up would be done the

same as any conventional shock tubeproduct.

One characteristic that all electronic

detonators share is their utilization ofsome type of an Integrated Circuitry (IC)or Application Specific Integrated Circuit(ASIC) as part of the timing and program-ming design.

Another important characteristic isthat they all have one or more capacitorsto act as an energy storage device to runthe circuits. Some detonator designshave multiple IC’s as well as capacitorsbuilt into the electronic package. Anothercharacteristic that all electronic detona-tors share relates to the bridge element origniter.

Conventional pyrotechnics design usea bridge or igniter to start the pyrotechnicdelay element burning whereas electronicdetonator bridges are started by the delayelement or electronic timer itself. What isimportant about this characteristic is thatwith electronic detonators, the igniter as

The accuracy of delay timing will result inmaximum fragmentation,control ore dilution and limitvibration levels

Figure 1: The electronic detonators made the blasting operation in big mines orquarries much easier to handle.

Figure 2: Fundamental construction differences in the pyrotecnics delay detonators andthe electronic delay detonators.

well as the electronic delay package mustbe capable of surviving the shot; while inconventional detonator designs, only thepyrotechnic delay is exposed to thedynamic pressure and shock effects pro-duced by a blast.

This accuracy and flexibility allowsthe blast designer to develop timingconfigurations that are not possible withconventional pyrotechnics delay units. Asa result, the blasts can be designed tomaximize fragmentation, control ore dilu-tion and limit vibration levels.

Performance study

A study was made by BarrickGoldstrike Mines Inc in March 2001 (RoyMcKinstry et el, 2002) with the aim ofquantifying the benefits of the use of elec-tronic detonators to the dowstream exca-vation, crushing and ore processing oper-ations.

Ninety percent of the blast fragmen-tation produced by the use of electronicdetonators was less than 4 inches (areduction of 44% over a similar blast withpyrotechnics detonators). The improvedfragmentation has increased the perform-ance of the excavators by 11%. Anincrease in productivity of 6.5% isrequired to offset the additional costsassociated with the use of electronic det-onators.

For this study the electronic detona-tors are programmed according to therequired delay timing. The wide range oftiming delay make it more flexible and therequired blast design is easily accom-plished.

So at Goldstrike the delay timing isprogrammed as such in appropriatesequence that make it possible to reduceore dilution. This improves the overallrecovery.

New Safety Challenges

It is important to emphasize thatthese new technologies will bring in newchallenges. One such challenge is thenew safety requirement. The users mustfully understand the individual design dif-ferences, capabilities and complexities ofthe system in order to avoid mishap. Inuneducated or untrained hands, theseproducts may only provide a higher levelof frustration.

So it is important that the blastersadhere strictly to the recommendationmade by the manufacturer and alwaysrefer to the new set of “ALWAYS” and“NEVERS” as recommended by theInstitute of Makers of Explosives.

References:1. Mc Kinstry, R., Floyd, J., and Bartley, D.(2002). Electronic Detonator Performanceevaluation. Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc. The

journal of Explosives Engineering, May/June2002. Ohio: International Society ofExplosives Engineers.2. Watson, J. (2002). Electronic Blast Initiation- A Practical Users Guide. The journal ofExplosives Engineering, May/June 2002. Ohio:International Society of Explosives Engineers.

SENARAI PEROLEHAN

PENYELIDIKAN DIPPKBSM

A. Itensification of Research onPriority Areas (IRPA) - PrioritisedAreas

i. Biomaterials for medical applica-tions: Development of bone graft substi-tutes based on calcium phosphatebioceramics

Disertai oleh MINT, UKM, UIAM,SIRIM, UKM, USM (Kejuruteraan) & USM(Pergigian).

Jumlah Projek RM 11,911,128 (Jun2002 hingga Mei 2005) - Dr. Idris Besar(Ketua Program).

Tajuk Projek USM (Kejuruteraan) -“Development of dense hydroxyapatite”(RM 1,525,000) - Profesor Dr. RadzaliOthman (Ketua Projek), Prof. Madya Dr.Zainal Arifin Ahmad, Prof. Madya Dr.Ahmad Fauzi, Prof. Madya Dr. Luay, Dr.Shamsul Bahrin, En. Ahmad Badri.

ii. Production of COFIT basedwoven thermoplastic composite -Dr. Azhar Abu Bakar (RM406,960)

iii. Rice husk ash (RHA) based ther-moplastic elastomer (TPE) composites.Prof. Madya Hanafi Ismail dan Prof.Madya M. Nasir (RM117,000; Jan 01 - Dis02)

B. Geran Jangka Pendek

i. Development and performance ofceramic-metal bonding to improve struc-tural materials - Prof. Madya Dr. ZainalArifin Ahmad (Ketua), Dr. Shamsul Bahrin,Prof. Madya Dr. Luay, En. Mohd Nazri danEn. Ahmad Badri. (RM13,271; 1.11.01 -30.10.02)

ii. Menghasilkan formulasi porselingigi tempatan - Prof. Madya Dr. ZainalArifin Ahmad (Ketua), Prof. Madya Dr.Ahmad Fauzi, Dr. Shamsul Bahrin, En.Mohd Nazri dan En. Ahmad Badri.(RM19,075; 1.2.02 - 31.1.03)

iii. Porous, light weight aluminiumfor noise pollution reduction - - Prof.Madya Dr. Ahamd Fauzi Mod Noor(Ketua), Prof. Madya Dr. Zainal ArifinAhmad, Dr. Shamsul Bahrin, Dr. Azizan.(RM19,830; 1.9.01 - 31.8.02)

iv. Synthesis and properties ofhard and wear resistance materials forindustrial application - Dr. Shamsul BahrinJamaludin (Ketua), Prof. Madya Dr. ZainalArifin Ahmad , Prof. Madya Dr. Luay, En.Mohd Nazri dan En. Ahmad Badri.(RM15,336; 1.11.01 - 31.10.02).

v. Production of precipitate calciumcarbonate (PCC) from various limestonedeposits and industrial waste - Dr. KamarShah Ariffin (Ketua), Prof. Kamarudin,Prof. Madya Dr. Zainal Arifin Ahmad, Dr.Norlia, Prof Subhash Bhatia. (RM19,060;15.3.02 - 14.3.03)

vi. Penghasilan agregat ringan dariSisa Buangan Industri.

vii. Synthesis of Zeolite byhydrothermal treatment of PFA wastes -Dr Norlia Baharun (ketua), Prof. Madya DrAzizan Aziz dan Dr Kamar Shah Arifin.(RM 16,818; 1.3.02 - 28.2.03)

viii. Application of Neural Networksin a grinding circuit - Prof. Madya Dr.Khairun Azizi Mohd Azizli (ketua) dan DrNorlia Baharun. (RM14,360; 1.11.01 -31.10.02).

ix. Silica fine particles as a feed-stock for various advanced material appli-cation - Prof. Madya Dr. Khairun AziziMohd Azizli (RM15,796; 1.6.02 - 31.5.03)

x. Optimisation, modelling and simula-tion of vertical roller mill in cement raw mixgrinding circuit - En. SamayamutthirianPalaniandy (ketua), Prof. Madya Dr. KhairunAzizi Mohd Azizli (RM15,996; 1.6.02 - 31.5.03)

xi. Advanced manufactured sandfor high strength concrete - Prof. MadyaDr Khairun Azizi Mohd Azizli (ketua), En.Samayamutthirian Palaniandy (RM17,696;1.6.02 - 31.5.03)

xii. Design fabrication and analysisof copper matrix composite for spot weld-ing application - Prof Madya Dr Luay BakirHusain.

xiii. Carbochlorination reduction ofilmenite (FeTiO3) - Prof. Madya Dr RizalAstarawinata, Prof. Madya Azizan Aziz danProf. Kamarudin Hussin.

xiv. New technology to recycle rub-ber wastes. Prof. Madya Hanafi Ismail(RM13,000; Nov. 2001 - Nov. 2002)

xv. Prof. Madya Dr. Baharin Azahari(ketua), Dr. Azhar Abu Bakar, Che MohdRuzaidi Ghazali (RM18,442; 15.4.02 -14.4.03).

C. Geran Luari. Intel - Enhancement of the

integrity and functional efficiency of theunderfill between silicon die and sub-strate. Dr. Azhar Abu Bakar (ketua), ProfMadya Dr. Umaru Semo Ishiaku dan Dr.Kamar (Teknologi Industri).(RM58,200; Sept. 2001 - Ogos 2002)(RM21,000; Sept. 2002 - Ogos 2003)

bersambung ke ms 16

BRONZE AT I-TEX 2002

31 March- Two lecturers from PPKBSMhad won bronze medals at the I-TEX 2002that was held at Mid Valley ExhibitionCentre, Kuala Lumpur from 29 - 31 March2002.

One of the exhibits is by Assoc. Prof.Dr Luay Bakir Hussain and his inventionentitltles “Catalyst Filter against motorbikecombustion pollution.”

Another exhibit is by Assoc. Prof. DrHanafi Ismail that entitles “De Cross PRO -A Mechano-Chemical Ingredient forRecycling rubber Waste.”

PINGAT PERAK DIGENEVA

9 Mei - Prof. Madya Dr Hanafi Ismailtelah memenangi pingat perak semasaPameran Antarabangsa untuk Rekacipta,Teknik dan Barangan baru (30thInternational Exhibition of Inventions,New Techniques and Products) yangberlangsung di Geneva dari 1 - 5 Mei lalu.

Dr Hanafi telah memenangi anugerahini melalui penyelidikannya mengenaiPOFA - a new and novel multifunctionalrubber additive based on palm oil fatty

PINGAT PERAK DI PITTSBURG

30 Mei - Prof. Madya Dr. BaharinAzahari telah menghasilkan satu produkyang diperbuat daripada sisa getah asliyang boleh menyerap minyak. Produk iniboleh digunakan untuk menangani pence-maran akibat daripada tumpahan minyak.

Ciptaan Dr. Baharin telah memenangipingat perak semasa di pameran “18thINPEX Invention & New Product Exposition2002, Pittsburg, USA.”

Ciptaan beliau dikenalisebagai KLEENOL dan dibuatdalam dua bentuk, iaituKLEENOL untuk kegunaan amdan KLEENOL plus. KLEENOLkegunaan am untuk member-sihkan tumpahan minyak didaratan sementara KLEENOLplus untuk menyerap tumpahanminyak di dalam air.

Produk yang dihasilkan olehDr Baharin ini telah juga meme-nangi pingat emas semasapameran di Geneva pada tahun2001.

The exhaust pipe of a two stroke motorcycle that is fitted with DrLuay’s catalyst filter. The filter is in the section of the exhaust pipethat Dr Luay holds with his left hand. He won Bronze at I-Tex 2000for this research.

Prof. Madya Dr Hanafi Ismail (dua dari kanan)bersama pensyarah-pensyarah USM lain yangmemenangi anugerah semasa pameran di Geneva

KITA TETAP KAWAN

Sahabat,Merenung arus

Bagaikan melepasiApa yang digenggam

Apa yang dimilikiDemi sebuah kepastian

Apalah yang adaPada mimpi kita

Sekadar senyumanMelegari

Mata dan hati

Sampai bilakahDapat kita tentang

Tiap arah yang bersimpangKerna di tengahPerjalanan itulah

Terpaksa kita lepaskanGenggaman erat setia

SahabatSekali-sekala

Renunglah jejak-jejak semalamYang meninggalkan kita

Atau kita tinggalkanKerna malam ini….

Pasti ada rinduYang membelenggu

Ada resah…Saat mengingatimu

Tiada madah-madah indahYang ada serpih kenangan

Tak perlu disalah takdirKerna dengan ia, kita mengenali!

SahabatCukup disisip di sanubari

Atau dibawa ke alam mimpiBahawa antara kita

Ada erti yang sukar dimengertiNamun siapalah yang mendambakan

kehilanganYang tak mungkin

Terganti……..

YusliaBukan Kerna Nama

Quotable quote:

It’s better to be prepared for anopportunity and not have one than tohave opportunity and not be prepared- Whitney Young

SENARAI PEROLEHAN

PENYELIDIKAN DI PPKBSM(sambungan dari ms 15)

ii. MTDC (Malaysian Technology DevelopmentCorporation Sdn Bhd); Tabung Pengkomersilan R&D MTDC.Ceramic Water Filter. Professor Dr. Radzali Othman(RM1,435,300).

iii. FELDA - Development of a new thermoplasticelastomer (material) based on epoxidised natural rubber formanufacturing automotive components. Prof. Madya Dr.Hanafi Ismail dan Prof. Dr. B.T. Poh (RM200,000;Jul 2001 - Jul 2003)