Hardness factor

Figure 5.12 Comparison between calculated and experimentally observed intracrystalline disorder in (Mg,Ni)2Si04 mixture at various T, and P = bar. Theoretical distribution trends calculated with two values of hardness factor (p = 0.20 and 0.21). From Ottonello et al. (1989). Reprinted with permission of The Mineralogical Society of America.

Figure 5.12 shows how and ions are distributed between Ml and M2 sites in the (Mg, Ni)2Si04 mixture at various T (P = I bar). Experimentally observed distributions are compared with the results of static interionic potential calculations carried out at two different values of the hardness factor p (cf. section 1.11.2). 

The second important factor, called the hardness factor for simplicity, includes contributions from Ba, F, hardness. Mg, TDS, Sr, and sulfate. This factor characterizes the upper aquifer waters. One may rationalize the distinction between upper and lower aquifers by hypothesizing a natural "softening" in the lower aquifer where ion-exchange of calcium, magnesium and sulfate occurred with sodium and fluoride. It is Interesting to note that fluoride occurs in both factors and it alone provides a good aquifer identifier. 

For the hardness factor in the other methods discussed, we can take b l, b 2, P b 2 or other proportional quantities. Bierbaum s method, used chiefly in the United States, may serve as an example. The load on the trihedral pyramid is constant and equal to 29.4 mN. The scratch direction is with the edge to the front . The Bierbaum hardness number is given by the formula... 

Concerns about an industrial use of microprocess technology are still existing [62]. Process chemists need to be familiarized with the new tool. Often it seems that these soft factors are even more relevant than the hard factors. Nonetheless, the performance of microprocess technology must show up a clear driver in the interplay of operating and capital costs of existing equipments and respective costs on the microflow processing side. 

However, there is an even better reason to single out 5 as a hardness factor. In classical thermodynamics there is a standard equation ... 

While talc is a relatively common mineral, deposits of high purity are rare. Commercial deposits are found in western USA, Finland, China, India and Western Europe. Talc is the softest mineral, exhibiting a hardness factor of 1 on the Moh s scale, and delivers a smooth tactile characteristic to the final sheet when used at the appropriate level. However, in China and India, local mining methods may lead to a high content of abrasive contaminants which may negatively impact wire life on a paper machine. 

Usually the performance of a company is assessed by financial criteria. This may seem perfectly appropriate because the survival of a company depends on adequate profits. All other objectives (e.g., the quality of products and services) are pursu not for their own sake but rather in support of financial long-term success. Within the last decade, however, researchers and practitioners have come to the conclusion that because financial criteria relate to the past, they reflect only part of a comptmy s performance. The future performance and growth of a company depend equally on soft factors that are difficult to quantify, such as the quality of leadership or the qualification of the employees. The idea of integrating soft and hard factors is realized in the beilanced scorecard concept (Kaplan tmd Norton 1996), which is gaining increasing acceptance worldwide. 

As for the influence of the hardness factor, it is evident that beginning at about 300 HVIO cracking susceptibility is present in steels containing more than 1% chromium. The effect of the Cr content is quite dear. In the hydrolysis of the corrosion products it influences the pH level at the anodic areas. Therefore, as the Cr content increases in the steel, cracking susceptibility will also increase at comparable hardness levels, or hardness will shift to lower values with increasing Cr content. 

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