The Production of Pure Metals Free from Carbon by the Aluminothermic Method

Abstract

In the issue of November, 1903, of Electrochemical Industry, a complete review of the manifold industrial applications of aluminothermics was given by the author. The following notes are intended to give some supplementary information on the production of pure metals by the aluminothermic method, and on the uses of such metals in metallurgy. As noticed in our former article, it was for the purpose of preparing pure refractory metals, free from carbon, that the aluminothermic reaction was first made use of. While at first sight it might appear that no special extended practical development was required for a reaction of such apparent simplicity as the reduction of metallic oxides by aluminium, yet it is a fact that in the case of every metal much experimental work had to be done in order to obtain pure metals of uniform quality and with a high efficiency, so as to satisfy commercial requirements.