| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2024 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Aluminum Reduction Technology
|
| Presentation Title |
Study of the Degradation of Ordinary Refractory Bricks in an Aluminium Reduction Cell |
| Author(s) |
Mohamed Hassen Ben Salem, Gervais Soucy, Daniel Marceau, Antoine Godefroy, Sébastien Charest |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Mohamed Hassen Ben Salem |
| Abstract Scope |
On the lining of the aluminum reduction cells, layers of refractories are used to ensure proper thermal equilibrium as well as the protection of the insulating bricks underneath from high temperatures and chemical attacks. These materials, which largely affect the cell's life, are subject to corrosion by the electrolyte bath. In this paper, the breakdowns and/or the degradation of the ordinary refractory bricks (ORB) located on the sidewalls and below the cathode blocks are investigate during industrial autopsies performed after cell failure or scheduled shutdowns. Subsequent chemical characterization on the ORB was carried out using SEM-EDX, X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray powder diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The XRD results indicate that nepheline, cryolite, and silicon are present in both sidewall and bottom ORBs with higher presence of sodium fluoride phase in bottom ORBs. Comprehensive literature review is also conducted based on the degradation of ORB and compared to the results obtained during industrial autopsies. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Light Metals |
| Keywords |
Aluminum, Characterization, Electrometallurgy |