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The production of high-purity aluminum in Japan

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Abstract

The two most widely industrialized techniques for aluminum refining are the three-layer electrolytic refining process and the segregation process. The three-layer process uses molten salt electrolysis to produce aluminum of greater than 99.99% purity. The segregation process produces aluminum of 99.98–99.99% purity. Although aluminum refined by the segregation process has a somewhat lower purity than that produced by the other methods, the segregation process has become increasing common since it consumes less energy. Ultrahigh-purity aluminum (99.9999%), which has uranium and thorium impurities reduced to less than 1 ppb, can also be produced.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tsukuba Research Laboratory at Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., New Zealand

    Mitsuhiro Kondo M.E. (research associate)

  2. Ehime Research Laboratory at Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., New Zealand

    Hideo Maeda B.E. (research associate)

  3. Ehime Works, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., New Zealand

    Mikio Mizuguchi M.E. (deputy manager)

Authors
  1. Mitsuhiro Kondo M.E.
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  2. Hideo Maeda B.E.
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  3. Mikio Mizuguchi M.E.
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Kondo, M., Maeda, H. & Mizuguchi, M. The production of high-purity aluminum in Japan. JOM 42, 36–37 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03220434

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03220434

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