| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2020 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Process Metallurgy and Electrochemistry of Molten Salts, Liquid Metal Batteries, and Extra-terrestrial Materials Processing: An EPD Symposium in Honor of Don Sadoway
|
| Presentation Title |
History of Inventions and Innovations for Aluminum Production |
| Author(s) |
Michel R. Reverdy, Vinko Potocnik |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Michel R. Reverdy |
| Abstract Scope |
Industrial production of aluminum started in 1856 with the chemical method developed by Sainte-Claire Deville which produced 200 tonnes of aluminum until 1890. In 1886 Charles Hall and Paul Héroult invented the electrolytic reduction of alumina with carbon which quickly became the only method used to produce aluminum until today. Even though the Hall-Héroult process remained the same, the production technology changed tremendously since the beginning, to reduce specific energy consumption, increase productivity and improve environment. In this paper, the most notable inventions and innovations for improvement of the Hall-Héroult process in the last 100 years will be described as well as efforts to break away from this process, which all have been unsuccessful. These include direct reduction of alumina with carbon and the aluminum chloride process. Within the electrolysis process, until now unsuccessful research to use non-consumable anodes and wettable cathodes for large-scale production will also be described. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Supplemental Proceedings volume |