Abstract
Spinels have recently been proposed as ledge free sidewall material for aluminium smelter, mainly due to its low solubility in cryolite. A ledge-free sidewall will have a direct contact with electrolyte and therefore its wetting properties become important as it determine the penetration of the electrolyte into the sidewall which in turn may affect its corrosion level. In the present study, the wetting properties of cryolite based melts on various spinels substrates have been studied by sessile drop approach. The apparent contact angle of the melts on NiFe2O4 and MgAl2O4 substrates under argon atmosphere at 1030 °C was measured. It was found that spinels were wetted by the melts with apparent contact angles ranging from 9° to 19°. It was also observed that the capillary effect play a significant role in the infiltration of the melts into the substrates. The average infiltration rate was found to be 8.5 mm3/s.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
M. Sorlie and H.A. Oye, (1989) “Evaluation of Cathode Material Properties Relevant to The Life of Hall-Heroult Cells”, Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, (19) (1989) 580–58.
G. Brooks et al., “Challenges in Light Metals Production”, Mineral Processing & Extractive Metallurgy: Transactions of the Institution of Mining & Metallurgy, Section C, (116) (2007) 25–33.
K. Grjotheim and B.J. Welch, Aluminium Smelter Technology, 2nd ed., (Düsseldorf: Aluminium-Verlag, 1988), 146–152, 181–190.
D.D. Juric, et al., “Ledge Free Aluminium Smelting Cell”, US Patent, (1997), No. 5667664.
W.T. Choate and J.A.S. Green, “U.S. Energy Requirements for Aluminum Production: Historical Perspective, Theoretical Limits and New Opportunities”, prepared under Contract to BCS, Incorporated, Columbia, MD., U.S. Dept. Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington, D.C., 2003.
H. Kvande, and W. Haupin, Inert anodes for Al smelters: Energy Balances and Environmental Impact. JOM, 53 (5) (2001), 29–33.
R. Mukhlis, M.A. Rhamdhani, and G. Brooks, “Sidewall Materials for Hall-Heroult Process”, Light Metals 2010, ed. J.A. Johnson, (Warrendale, PA:TMS, 2010), 883–888.
B.J. Welch and A.E. May, “Materials Problem in Hall-Heroult Cells”, 8th Int. Leichmetalltag., Leoben-Vienna, (1987), 120–125.
R.P. Pawlek, “Methods to Test Refractories Against Bath Attack in Aluminum Electrolysis Pots”, Aluminium, 70 (1994), 555–559.
I. Galasiu, R. Galasiu & J. Thonstad, (2007), Inert Anodes for Alurninium Electrolysis, (Düsseldorf: Aluminium-Verlag, 2007).
X.Y. Yan, M.I. Pownceby, and G. Brooks, “Corrosion Behavior of Nickel Ferrite-Based Ceramics for Aluminum Electrolysis Cells, Light Metals 2007, ed. M. Sorlie, (Warrendale, PA:TMS, 2007) 909–913.
X.Y. Yan, R.Z. Mukhlis, M.A. Rhamdhani and G.A. Brooks, (2011), “Aluminate Spinels as Sidewall Lining for Aluminium Smelters”, Light Metals 2011, ed. S.J. Lindsay, (Warrendale, PA: TMS, 2011), 1085–1090.
R.Z. Mukhlis et al., “Fabrication of Spinel Composites for Sidewall of Al Smelter Application”, Proceedings of European Metallurgical Conference –Volume 3, (Dusseldorf: GDMB, 2011) 865–880.
S.A. Nightingale, R.J. Longbottom, and B.J. Monaghan, “Corrosion of Nickel Ferrite Refractory by Na3AlF6-AlF3-CaF2-Al2O3 Bath. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, (33) (13–14) (2013), 2761–2765.
D. Harris and G. Oprea, “Cryolite Penetration Studies on Barrier Refractories for Aluminium Electrolytic Cells”, Light Metals 2000, ed. R. D. Peterson, (Warrendale, PA:TMS, 2000), 419–427.
K. Matiasovsky, M. Paucirova, and M. Malinovsky, Chemicke Zvesti, (17) (1963) 181
E.A. Zhemchuzhina, Dissertation, Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, Moscow, 1962
J.B. Metson et al., “The Anode Effect Revisited”, Light Metals 2002, ed. W. Schneider, (Warrendale, PA:TMS, 2002), 239–244.
P. Meunier et al., “Effect of Dopants on Wetting Properties and Electrochemical Behaviour of Graphite Anodes in Molten Al2O3 – Cryolite Melts”, Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, (39) (6) (2009), 837–847.
Z.X. Qui, Q.B. Wei, and K.T. You, “Studies on Wettability of Carbon Electrodes in Aluminium Electrolysis”, Aluminium, (59) (1983) 670–673.
P. Fellner and Z. Lubyova, “Equilibrium Between Aluminium and The Cryolite Melt Containing Lithium Fluoride”, Chemical Papers (40) (2) (1986) 145–151.
Z.Y. Deng, et al., “Effect of Agglomeration on Mechanical Properties of Porous Zirconia Fabricated by Partial Sintering”, Journal of American Ceramic Society (85) (2002), 1961–1965.
A.F. Stalder, T. Melchior, M. Müller, D. Sage, T. Blu, M. Unser, “Low-Bond Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis for Surface Tension and Contact Angle Measurements of Sessile Drops,” Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, (364) (1–3) (2010), 72–81.
R. Fernandez and T. Ostvold, “Surface tension and density of molten fluorides and fluoride mixtures containing cryolite”, Acta Chemica Scandinavica, (43) (1989), 151–159.
J. Bico, C. Tordeux, and D. Quere, Rough Wetting, Europhysic Letters, (55) (2) (2001), 214–220.
K. Grundke et al., “Wetting measurements on smooth, rough and porous solid surface”, Progress in Colloid and Polymer Science, (101) (1996), 56–68.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Mukhlis, R.Z., Rhamdhani, M.A., Brooks, G., McGregor, K. (2014). Wetting Characteristics of Cryolite-Based Melts on Spinels Substrate. In: Grandfield, J. (eds) Light Metals 2014. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48144-9_103
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48144-9_103
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-48590-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-48144-9
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)