US3785941A - Refractory for production of aluminum by electrolysis of aluminum chloride - Google Patents
Refractory for production of aluminum by electrolysis of aluminum chloride Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3785941A US3785941A US00178895A US3785941DA US3785941A US 3785941 A US3785941 A US 3785941A US 00178895 A US00178895 A US 00178895A US 3785941D A US3785941D A US 3785941DA US 3785941 A US3785941 A US 3785941A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- aluminum
- nitride
- refractory material
- silicon
- chloride
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25C7/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells
- C25C7/005—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells of cells for the electrolysis of melts
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
- B01D53/34—Chemical or biological purification of waste gases
- B01D53/46—Removing components of defined structure
- B01D53/68—Halogens or halogen compounds
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25C3/00—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
- C25C3/06—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of aluminium
- C25C3/08—Cell construction, e.g. bottoms, walls, cathodes
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25C3/00—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
- C25C3/06—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of aluminium
- C25C3/18—Electrolytes
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25C3/00—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
- C25C3/06—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of aluminium
- C25C3/22—Collecting emitted gases
Definitions
- This invention relates to the production of aluminum by electrolysis of aluminum chloride and, more particularly, to the avoidance of bath contamination by the selective interfacial bounding of molten metal chloride electrolyte by nitride-based refractory material in an electrolytic cell for production of aluminum from aluminum chloride.
- refractories conventionally employed in Hall-type reduction cells such as silica and silica-based refractories, alumina or alumina-based refractories and even nitride-bonded silicon carbide, as opposed to the nitride-based refractories employed according to the present invention, have proved to have only limited resistance to attack by the electrolyte.
- nitride-based refractory material I mean a refractory material having a nitride as its base, either alone, or associated with, for example, as a mixture or in compound or combined form, an oxide of silicon, boron or aluminum, and wherein the nitrogen concentration of the nitride is between about 25% and about 60% by weight of the nitride.
- Preferred base nitrides are those of silicon, boron and aluminum. However, other nitrides such as those of titanium, chromium, hafnium, gallium, zirconium and the like are also useful according to the invention.
- Presently preferred nitride-based materials usefully employable in accordance with the principles of this invention include silicon oxynitride, silicon nitridebonded fused silica, silicon nitride, aluminum nitride and boron nitride.
- Other materials which may be employed include, for example, nitride-based materials wherein the metal ion is aluminum, boron or silicon.
- Silicon oxynitride which is available commercially, for example, as Norton Silicon Oxynitride LON-4072, has the general formula Si2ON2 but is sometimes considered as a combination of silicon nitride and silica, specifically, Si3N4 and SiO2. Likewise silicon nitride-bonded fused silica is commercally available under the Carborundum trademark of Refrax- FS.
- refractory materials employable in the practice of this invention may be preformed by molding or the like or may be formed in place as a cell liner by slip casting, hot pressing or the like, or by positioning t0- gether in block form after being cut from larger blocks thereof.
- refractories When used as a cell liner, such refractories may be used as a continuous liner, as separate blocks adjacent one another, as separate blocks joined together by a suitable corrosion-resistant adhesive, or as layers of blocks.
- Such materials are also useful according to the invention for cell structures other than linings, such as for spacers which support the individual electrode elements in bipolar electrode assembly within a reduction cell, as well as for sarnpling tubes, or to line openings in the cell.
- such refractories are useful for most, if not all, of the non-conducting means that interfacially bound the electrolyte within the cell.
- Aluminum chloride is introduced through an opening 10, either continuously or at intervals, into a molten bath of metal halide 16 confined within an electrolytic cell 12, bounded by ⁇ a perimetric metal shell 1'4.
- the metal halide bath .16 desirably constitutes -molten alkali metal chlorides, as for example, a molten salt mixture of sodium chloride, lithium chloride and aluminum chloride, the sodium and lithium chloride forming most of the electrolyte.
- the interior of the cell is lined with refractory material 18 of the character specified above, and such refractory material is also used as one or more spacers or the like 20 separating one or more bipolar electrodes 22, for example, positioned intermediate an anode 24 and a cathode Z6, both of which may be of graphite, and for those other non-electrically conducting parts of the cell which are disposed in interfacial bounding contact with the electrolyte as defined hereinabove.
- a cell for the production of aluminum by the electrolysis of aluminum chloride said cell having an electrolytic chamber for holding a bath of molten metal chloride-based electrolyte having dissolved therein aluminum chloride for electrolytic conversion to aluminum in said chamber, the sa-id chamber having a non-conducting interfacial bounding for said bath, for vapors or gases emanated from said bath, or both, formed of refractory material consisting essentially of a nitride, alone or associated with as a mixture or compound or in combined form an oxide of silicon, boron or aluminum.
- the refractory material consists essentially of a nitride of silicon, boron or aluminum or a nitride of silicon, boron or aluminum in association with an oxide of silicon, boron or aluminum.
- refractory material is selected from the group consisting of silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride-bonded fused silica, silicon nitride, aluminum nitride and boron nitride.
- non-conducing interfacial bounding comprises spacers between electrode elements.
- non-conducting interfacial bounding comprises an innermost cell liner and a portion in juxtaposition with at least one bipolar electrode positioned between an anode and a cathode in the cell.
- the refractory material consists essentially of a nitride of silicon, boron or aluminum or a nitride of silicon, boron or aluminum in association with an oxide of silicon, boron or aluminum.
- the refractory material consists essentially of a refractory material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride-bonded fused silica, silicon nitride, aluminum nitride and boron nitride.
- the refractory material consists essentially of silicon nitride bonded fused silica.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US17889571A | 1971-09-09 | 1971-09-09 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3785941A true US3785941A (en) | 1974-01-15 |
Family
ID=22654339
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00178895A Expired - Lifetime US3785941A (en) | 1971-09-09 | 1971-09-09 | Refractory for production of aluminum by electrolysis of aluminum chloride |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US3785941A (en) |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3930967A (en) * | 1973-08-13 | 1976-01-06 | Swiss Aluminium Ltd. | Process for the electrolysis of a molten charge using inconsumable bi-polar electrodes |
US4069058A (en) * | 1975-07-28 | 1978-01-17 | Norton Company | Porous silicon oxynitride refractory shapes |
DE2817684A1 (en) * | 1977-05-17 | 1978-11-30 | Aluminum Co Of America | METAL PRODUCTION BY ELECTROLYSIS |
US4151061A (en) * | 1977-11-15 | 1979-04-24 | Nippon Light Metal Company Limited | Aluminum electrolytic cell |
US4341611A (en) * | 1980-12-18 | 1982-07-27 | Reynolds Metals Company | Alumina reduction cell |
US4354918A (en) * | 1981-01-14 | 1982-10-19 | Martin Marietta Corporation | Anode stud coatings for electrolytic cells |
US4504366A (en) * | 1983-04-26 | 1985-03-12 | Aluminum Company Of America | Support member and electrolytic method |
US4517037A (en) * | 1981-11-02 | 1985-05-14 | Aluminum Company Of America | Refractory composition comprising nitride filler and colloidal sol binder |
US4596637A (en) * | 1983-04-26 | 1986-06-24 | Aluminum Company Of America | Apparatus and method for electrolysis and float |
US4622111A (en) * | 1983-04-26 | 1986-11-11 | Aluminum Company Of America | Apparatus and method for electrolysis and inclined electrodes |
US4664760A (en) * | 1983-04-26 | 1987-05-12 | Aluminum Company Of America | Electrolytic cell and method of electrolysis using supported electrodes |
US4678548A (en) * | 1986-07-21 | 1987-07-07 | Aluminum Company Of America | Corrosion-resistant support apparatus and method of use for inert electrodes |
US4685514A (en) * | 1985-12-23 | 1987-08-11 | Aluminum Company Of America | Planar heat exchange insert and method |
US4702312A (en) * | 1986-06-19 | 1987-10-27 | Aluminum Company Of America | Thin rod packing for heat exchangers |
US4705106A (en) * | 1986-06-27 | 1987-11-10 | Aluminum Company Of America | Wire brush heat exchange insert and method |
US6723221B2 (en) | 2000-07-19 | 2004-04-20 | Alcoa Inc. | Insulation assemblies for metal production cells |
US20070224109A1 (en) * | 2006-03-23 | 2007-09-27 | Keystone Metals Recovery Inc. | Metal chlorides and metals obtained from metal oxide containing materials |
US9896775B2 (en) | 2012-01-04 | 2018-02-20 | Keki Hormusji Gharda | Process for manufacturing aluminum from bauxite or its residue |
-
1971
- 1971-09-09 US US00178895A patent/US3785941A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3930967A (en) * | 1973-08-13 | 1976-01-06 | Swiss Aluminium Ltd. | Process for the electrolysis of a molten charge using inconsumable bi-polar electrodes |
US4069058A (en) * | 1975-07-28 | 1978-01-17 | Norton Company | Porous silicon oxynitride refractory shapes |
DE2817684A1 (en) * | 1977-05-17 | 1978-11-30 | Aluminum Co Of America | METAL PRODUCTION BY ELECTROLYSIS |
US4151061A (en) * | 1977-11-15 | 1979-04-24 | Nippon Light Metal Company Limited | Aluminum electrolytic cell |
US4341611A (en) * | 1980-12-18 | 1982-07-27 | Reynolds Metals Company | Alumina reduction cell |
US4354918A (en) * | 1981-01-14 | 1982-10-19 | Martin Marietta Corporation | Anode stud coatings for electrolytic cells |
US4517037A (en) * | 1981-11-02 | 1985-05-14 | Aluminum Company Of America | Refractory composition comprising nitride filler and colloidal sol binder |
US4664760A (en) * | 1983-04-26 | 1987-05-12 | Aluminum Company Of America | Electrolytic cell and method of electrolysis using supported electrodes |
US4596637A (en) * | 1983-04-26 | 1986-06-24 | Aluminum Company Of America | Apparatus and method for electrolysis and float |
US4622111A (en) * | 1983-04-26 | 1986-11-11 | Aluminum Company Of America | Apparatus and method for electrolysis and inclined electrodes |
US4504366A (en) * | 1983-04-26 | 1985-03-12 | Aluminum Company Of America | Support member and electrolytic method |
US4685514A (en) * | 1985-12-23 | 1987-08-11 | Aluminum Company Of America | Planar heat exchange insert and method |
US4702312A (en) * | 1986-06-19 | 1987-10-27 | Aluminum Company Of America | Thin rod packing for heat exchangers |
US4705106A (en) * | 1986-06-27 | 1987-11-10 | Aluminum Company Of America | Wire brush heat exchange insert and method |
US4678548A (en) * | 1986-07-21 | 1987-07-07 | Aluminum Company Of America | Corrosion-resistant support apparatus and method of use for inert electrodes |
US6723221B2 (en) | 2000-07-19 | 2004-04-20 | Alcoa Inc. | Insulation assemblies for metal production cells |
US20070224109A1 (en) * | 2006-03-23 | 2007-09-27 | Keystone Metals Recovery Inc. | Metal chlorides and metals obtained from metal oxide containing materials |
US9315382B2 (en) | 2006-03-23 | 2016-04-19 | Keystone Metals Recovery Inc. | Metal chlorides and metals obtained from metal oxide containing materials |
US11975982B2 (en) | 2006-03-23 | 2024-05-07 | Keystone Metals Recovery Inc. | Metal chlorides and metals obtained from metal oxide containing materials |
US9896775B2 (en) | 2012-01-04 | 2018-02-20 | Keki Hormusji Gharda | Process for manufacturing aluminum from bauxite or its residue |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CABOT BERYLCO INC.,, STATELESS Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:KAWECKI BERYLCO INDUSTRIES, INC.,;REEL/FRAME:003853/0445 Effective date: 19801015 Owner name: CABOT BERYLCO INC., Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:KAWECKI BERYLCO INDUSTRIES, INC.,;REEL/FRAME:003853/0445 Effective date: 19801015 |
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Owner name: CABOT CORPORATION A DE CORP Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:CABOT BERYLCO INC., A PA CORP;REEL/FRAME:004382/0598 Effective date: 19820908 |
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Owner name: FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON, THE, 100 FEDERAL ST Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KB ALLOYS, INC., A DE. CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004646/0901 Effective date: 19861215 |