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Aluminum 1

Aluminum
William B. Frank, Aluminum Company of America, Alcoa Center, Pa. 15069, United States (Chaps. 1 – 9)
Warren E. Haupin, Aluminum Company of America, Alcoa Center, Pa. 15069, United States (Chaps. 1 – 9)
Robert K. Dawless, Aluminum Company of America, Alcoa Center, Pa. 15069, United States (Chap. 5)
Douglas A. Granger, Aluminum Company of America, Alcoa Center, Pa. 15069, United States (Chap. 6)
Maurice W. Wei, Aluminum Company of America, Alcoa Center, Pa. 15069, United States (Chap. 7)
Kenneth J. Calhoun, Aluminum Company of America, Alcoa Center, Pa. 15069, United States (Chap. 8)
Thomas B. Bonney, Aluminum Company of America, Alcoa Center, Pa. 15069, United States (Chap. 9)

1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4.3.2. Electrode Reactions . . . . . . . . . . . 10


2. Properties of Pure Aluminum . . . . 2 4.3.3. Current Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.1. Mechanical Properties . . . . . . . . . 2 4.3.4. Cell Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.2. Physical Properties . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4.3.5. Heat Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3. Chemical Properties . . . . . . . . . . 4 4.3.6. Fluid Dynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.1. Oxidation of Aluminum . . . . . . . . 4 4.4. Thermodynamic Considerations . . 14
3.2. Reactions with Aqueous Solutions . 5 4.5. Alternate Processes . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.3. Reactions at High Temperatures . . 5 5. Producing High-Purity Aluminum . 15
3.4. Corrosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 6. Aluminum Casting: Remelt Ingot . 16
3.5. Gases and Aluminum . . . . . . . . . 5 7. Environmental Protection . . . . . . 17
4. Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7.1. Air Emission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.1. History of the Electrolytic Reduction 7.2. Wastewater Discharge . . . . . . . . . 18
of Alumina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7.3. Solid Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.2. Raw Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7.4. Regulatory Requirements . . . . . . 19
4.3. Hall–Héroult Cell for Aluminum 8. Economic Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 9. Toxicology and Occupational Health 20
4.3.1. Electrolyte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 10. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

1. Introduction been isolated and produced commercially only


in relatively recent times.
Aluminum [7429-90-5] is the most abundant In the late 18th and early 19th centuries
metallic element in the earth’s crust. It is nor- many famous scientists worked at isolat-
mally found combined with other elements, and ing aluminum, including Lavoisier, Dalton,
occurs rarely, if at all, in its pure state. However, Berzelius, Davy, and Oersted. In 1825 Hans
elemental aluminum particles have been discov- Christian Oersted discovered a method to
ered in lunar soil [13]. Aluminum appears in a prepare anhydrous aluminum chloride, a com-
wide variety of minerals combined with oxy- pound that was to play an important role in the
gen, silicon, the alkali and alkaline-earth met- production of the metal. Oersted is sometimes
als, and fluorine, and as hydroxides, sulfates, credited with the discovery of aluminum but
and phosphates. Aluminum has become the pre- more often that honor is accorded to Friedrich
dominant nonferrous metal in use, yet it is one Wöhler. His isolation of aluminum in 1827 was
of the newest of the common metals. Alumi- based on the reaction in a porcelain crucible of
nous minerals are quite stable; large amounts anhydrous aluminum chloride with potassium.
of energy and high temperatures are required to In 1854, H. Sainte-Claire Deville im-
reduce these compounds to metal. This is the proved the method of preparing aluminum by
reason often given to explain why the metal has substituting sodium for potassium as the reduc-
tant for aluminum chloride. He was the first to

c 2005 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim


10.1002/14356007.a01 459
2 Aluminum

record that fused cryolite serves as a solvent The aluminum produced by the Hall–Héroult
for aluminum oxide. Deville emerges as the process is of commercial purity. Iron and silicon
outstanding figure in aluminum technology in are the predominant impurities. Aluminum of
the period after its discovery and before com- super purity, produced by the three-layer elec-
mercialization of the Hall–Héroult process. His trolytic process, first became available in 1920
development of the chemical reduction process (see Chap. 5). The properties of this grade of
raised aluminum from a laboratory curiosity to metal have been studied extensively. Methods
a useful metal. for preparing aluminum of even higher purity
The chemical production process was fur- include zone refining, fractional crystallization,
ther refined throughout the second half of the and preparation from aluminum alkyls. Electri-
19th century and the aluminum industry grew cal resistivity at low temperatures is employed
significantly during this period. Chemical pro- as a measure of purity for high purity and super
duction of aluminum by reduction of cryolite purity aluminum. Newer methods for analysis of
or aluminum fluoride with sodium or potassium trace impurities, including activation analysis,
was also under development in the late 19th cen- have improved the sensitivity and scope of anal-
tury. The metal exhibited at the Paris Exposition yses for very pure materials. Aluminum purer
of 1889 was produced at Alliance Aluminium than 99.9999 % has been prepared and charac-
of London, probably by sodiothermic reduction terized [14].
of cryolite. Reduction methods were used into Many applications of aluminum and its alloys
the 1890s, when electrolyte production became are based upon its inherent properties of low den-
dominant. sity, high electrical and thermal conductivities,
In the late 19th century many unsuccessful high reflectivity, and great resistance to corro-
attempts were made to electrolyze aluminum sion. Pure aluminum is soft and lacks strength,
from aqueous solutions. Aluminum was first but it can be alloyed with many other elements to
prepared electrolytically by a method discovered increase strength and impart a number of useful
independently in 1854 by Deville in France properties. Alloys of aluminum are light, strong,
and Bunsen in Germany. A sodium chloride- and readily formable by many metal-working
aluminum chloride fusion was electrolyzed in a processes; they can be cast, joined, or machined
porcelain crucible using carbon electrodes. Pro- easily and accept a wide variety of finishes. The
duction based on this electrolysis of aluminum properties and processing of alloys are discussed
chloride was begun in 1975 but operation was under the keyword → Aluminum Alloys.
suspended in 1982. Development of the process
is continuing (see Section 4.5).
For a discussion of the Hall–Héroult elec- 2.1. Mechanical Properties
trolytic process, see Section 4.1.
The mechanical properties of aluminum and its
alloys are discussed under → Aluminum Al-
2. Properties of Pure Aluminum loys. Some mechanical properties of aluminum
of several purities are given in Table 1 [15].
Certain physical and chemical properties of alu-
Table 1. Mechanical properties of pure aluminum at room temper-
minum depend primarily on purity. There is no ature
generally accepted nomenclature for the degrees Purity Tensile strength Elongation in 50 mm
of purity of aluminum. The following classifica-
tion is suggested: % MPa ksi ∗ %

99.99 45 6.5 50
% Aluminum Designation 99.8 60 8.7 45
99.6 70 10.2 43
<99.5 alloy or scrap
99.5 – 99.9 commercial purity ∗ kips (1000 pounds) per square inch
99.9 – 99.99 high purity
>99.99 super purity The data are from different sources and caution
should be exercised in any direct comparison.
Difficulties occur because of problems in anal-
Aluminum 3

ysis, temper of the specimen, and test meth- unit cell. The edge length of the unit lattice
ods. However, even small amounts of impurities cube for pure aluminum is 4.049596×10−10 m
present in commercial aluminum raise the ten- at 298 K. Hence, the atomic diameter of alu-
sile strength and hardness over that of the purest minum is 2.86×10−10 m and its atomic volume
aluminum in the table. 9.999×10−6 m3 /mol. The lattice parameter is
affected only slightly by impurities.

2.2. Physical Properties Thermal Expansion. Values for the coeffi-


cient of thermal expansion are given in Table 3
The physical properties of pure aluminum are [15]. The coefficient of thermal expansion is
summarized in Table 2 [15]. probably isotropic, meaning it is the same in all
directions.
Table 2. Physical properties of pure aluminum
Table 3. Thermal expansion coefficient of pure aluminum
Property Value
Temperature, K α Temperature, K α
mp 933.5 K (×10−6 /K) (×10−6 /K)
bp 2767 K
Heat of fusion 397 J/g 25 0.5 400 24.9
Heat of vaporization 1.08×10−4 J/g 50 3.5 500 26.5
Heat capacity 0.90 J g−1 K−1 75 8.1 600 28.2
Density (solid) 100 12.0 700 30.4
theoretical density based 150 17.1 800 33.5
on lattice spacing 2699 kg/m3 200 20.2 900 37.3
polycrystalline material 2697 – 2699 kg/m3 293 23
Density (liquid) 2357 kg/m3 at 973 K
2304 kg/m3 at 1173 K
Thermal neutron cross (2.32±0.03)×10−25 cm2
section (0.232±0.003 barn) Thermal Conductivity. Above 100 K the
Lattice constant 4.0496×10−10 m at 298 K thermal conductivity of well-annealed 99.99 %
(length of unit cube)
Coefficient of expansion 23×10−6 /K at 293 K aluminum is relatively insensitive to the impu-
Thermal conductivity 2.37 W cm−1 K−1 at 298 K rity level. Below 100 K thermal conductivity be-
Volume resistivity 2.655×10−8 Ω m comes highly sensitive to the level of impurities.
Magnetic susceptibility 16×10−3 mm−3 mol−1
at 298 K Values for thermal conductivity are given in Ta-
Surface tension 8.68×10−3 N/cm at the mp ble 4 [15].
Viscosity 0.0012 Pa · s at the mp

Table 4. Thermal conductivity of aluminum

Atomic Structure, Nuclear Properties [15]. Temperature, Thermal Temperature, Thermal


conductivity, conductivity,
Aluminum has an atomic number of 13 and K W cm−1 K−1 K W cm−1 K−1
atomic mass of 26.98154 based on 12 C. The only
abundant isotope, 27 Al, is stable and consists of Solid

14 neutrons and 13 protons. Except for a sin- 0 0 300 2.37


gle isotope, 26 Al, which has a half-life of 106 1 41.1 400 2.40
2 81.8 500 2.36
years, all isotopes have half-lifes of less than 3 121 600 2.31
8 s and are of negligible abundance. The natu- 4 157 700 2.25
5 188 800 2.18
rally occurring isotope has a low cross section 9 239 900 2.10
for thermal neutrons of 2.3×10−25 cm2 , increas- 10 235 933.52 2.08
ing in an irregular manner to 6×10−25 cm2 at 20
30
117
49.5 Liquid
700 – 800 MeV. The nuclear magnetic moment
is 1.84×10−26 A · m2 . 40 24.0 933.52 0.907
50 13.5 1000 0.930
100 3.02 1100 0.964
Crystal Structure. Aluminum crystallizes 150 2.48 1200 0.994
200 2.37 1300 1.02
in a face-centered cubic lattice that is stable 250 2.35 1400 1.05
from 4 K to the melting point. The coordi- 273.2 2.36 1500 1.07
nation number is 12 with four atoms to the 298.2 2.37
4 Aluminum

Electrical Resistivity. The application of


aluminum as an electrical conductor depends
upon the low electrical resistivity of unalloyed
aluminum. The electrical conductivity of pure
aluminum at room temperature is 64.94 % of
that specified for copper in the International An-
nealed Copper Standard (IACS). At tempera-
tures below 50 K, the electrical resistivity of alu-
minum is less than that of copper and silver of
very high purity. Aluminum becomes supercon-
ducting below 1.2 K.
The resistivity of aluminum below 100 K is
highly sensitive to purity. The residual resistiv-
ity ratio (RRR), or the ratio of electrical resistiv-
ity at room temperature to that at 4.2 K (boiling
point of helium), is sometimes used as a measure
of purity. Resistivity ratios of more than 3×104
have been reported for 99.999 % aluminum.
Values for the electrical resistivity of alu-
minum are given in tabular form (Table 5) and
schematically (Fig. 1).
Table 5. Electrical resistivity of pure aluminum

Symbol Temperature, Resistivity, Sample


K µΩ · cm

 1.65 9.25×10−5 99.9998 % aluminum,


4.22 9.25×10−5 single crystal,
Figure 1. Electrical resistivity of aluminum [15]
14 2.61×10−4 large diameter
20.4 7.33×10−4 (≈10 mm)
58 8.70×10−2
63.5 0.117
77.4 0.210
90.31 0.351
3. Chemical Properties
111.6 0.614
The 13 electrons in the aluminum atom are dis-
• 273 2.50 99.9 % aluminum,
373 3.62 0.05 % silicon, tributed: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p1 . With few ex-
473 4.78 127-µm diameter ceptions the valence of aluminum in chemi-
573 6.00 wire
673 7.29
cal compounds is 3 +. At elevated temperatures
773 8.63 aluminum is monovalent in gaseous molecules,
873 10.10 such as AlCl, AlF, and Al2 O. Such species dis-
923 10.90
proportionate at lower temperatures into the nor-
◦ 933 10.95 (s) 99.99 % aluminum mal trivalent condensed compounds and ele-
933 24.2 (l)
1173 27.75
mental aluminum.
1273 29.2 For reactions of aluminum not covered in this
1473 32.15 chapter, see → Aluminum Compounds, Inor-
--- 4.2 5.7×10−3 99.999 % aluminum ganic and → Aluminum Compounds, Organic.
77 0.22 annealed at
4.2 2.3×10−3 150 ◦ C (300 ◦ F)
for 4 h
3.1. Oxidation of Aluminum
77 0.22 99.9999 % aluminum
annealed at 150 ◦ C
(300 ◦ F) for 4 h Although aluminum is one of the most reactive
of the common commercial metals, it is remark-
ably stable in many oxidizing environments. It
Aluminum 5

owes its stability to the continuous film of alu- 3.3. Reactions at High Temperatures
minum oxide that rapidly grows on a nascent
aluminum surface exposed to oxygen, water, or Molten aluminum reduces many compounds
other oxidants. The molecular volume of the containing oxygen (→ Aluminothermic Pro-
oxide is about 1.3 times greater than that of cesses). These reactions are used in the man-
the aluminum consumed in the oxidation reac- ufacture of certain metals and alloys by the
tion. The surface layer, therefore, is under com- thermite reaction, which is the reaction of a
pressive stress and rapidly heals when damaged. metal oxide with aluminum to produce alu-
In dry oxygen, the surface layer attains a lim- minum oxide (Al2 O3 ) and the free metal.
iting thickness that is a function of tempera- Aluminum reduces silicates, particularly
ture. At room temperature this thickness is about glasses. The reaction can start well below the
2.5 – 3.0 nm. melting point of aluminum.
Film thickness is also a function of the
amount of water vapor present. At room temper-
ature and 100 % relative humidity, about twice as 3.4. Corrosion
much oxide is formed as in dry oxygen. In both
cases, however, the same rate laws apply. Two Atmospheric corrosion is generally electro-
film layers generally form in wet environments; chemical in nature, depending on current flow
the continuous oxide layer closest to the metal between anodic and cathodic areas. Attack is of-
surface changes to a hydroxylated film at the ten nonuniform and limited to specific areas of
solid-gas interface. At higher temperatures and the surface. The corrosion resistance of some al-
on aluminum alloys, especially those contain- loy sheet can be improved by cladding the sheet
ing magnesium and copper, more complex film with a thin layer of unalloyed aluminum; how-
structures develop, and oxide growth no longer ever, the aluminum must be anodic to the base
can be described by simple time laws [16]. metal. Aluminum performs poorly in direct con-
tact with more noble metals in the presence of
an electrolyte; galvanic attack of aluminum may
3.2. Reactions with Aqueous Solutions take place near the contact area.

Large pieces of aluminum of purity greater than


99.95 % resist attack by most acids but dissolve 3.5. Gases and Aluminum
in aqua regia. Therefore, aluminum is used to
store nitric acid, concentrated sulfuric acid, or- Hydrogen [1333-74-0] is appreciably soluble in
ganic acids, and many other reagents. However, both solid and molten aluminum. Other gases
its oxide film dissolves in alkaline solutions; cor- reported to be present occur when nonmetallics
rosion is rapid, producing soluble alkali-metal in the metal react with the environment. Molten
aluminate and hydrogen: aluminum reacts readily with carbon monox-
ide [630-08-0] and carbon dioxide [124-38-9]; it
2 Al + 2 OH− + 6 H2 O → 2 [Al(OH)4 ]− + 3 H2 (g) also reacts with water vapor in the atmosphere,
adsorbed water, water present in hydrated oxide
Aluminum is amphoteric and can react with
films on scrap, and water adsorbed on or com-
mineral acids to form soluble salts and evolve
bined in refractories. Solid aluminum reacts with
hydrogen:
moisture in the atmosphere of a furnace to form
oxides and hydrogen. Hydrogen is considerably
2 Al + 6 H3 O+ + 6 H2 O → 2 [Al(H2 O)6 ]3+ + 3 H2 (g)
less soluble in solid than in molten aluminum.
Molten aluminum can react explosively with The gas diffuses out of the metal at a rate deter-
water [17], [18]. The mechanism of the reaction mined by the temperature. However, when the
is not well understood. Molten aluminum should reaction of aluminum with water vapor leads to
not be allowed in contact with moist tools or con- a high activity of hydrogen at the solid-gas inter-
tainers. face, the concentration gradient can be reversed.
As a result, the rate of outgassing is decreased
6 Aluminum

and a higher level of hydrogen is retained in the was first found. With the development of a pro-
metal. In solid aluminum, hydrogen in excess of cess to produce pure aluminum oxide from this
the solution limit can precipitate as H2 at grain abundant ore, the technology was then complete
boundaries, thus lowering the hydrogen ion con- to spur rapid growth of the aluminum industry in
centration and in turn further facilitating the dif- Europe and North America in the last decade of
fusion of hydrogen ions from the interface into the 19th century. The increase in the production
the metal. of primary aluminum during the past hundred
years is shown in Figure 2 [19].

4. Production
The only method now used industrially to pro-
duce primary aluminum is the Hall–Héroult pro-
cess. Production of aluminum before its devel-
opment was discussed previously in this arti-
cle. Alternate means of producing aluminum are
treated in Section 4.5.

4.1. History of the Electrolytic


Reduction of Alumina
Figure 2. Annual world production of primary aluminum
1854 – 1982 [7]
The technological elements of the process –
electrolysis of fused salts to produce metals (in-
cluding aluminum), the use of cryolite as a flux
to dissolve alumina, and the use of carbon elec- 4.2. Raw Materials
trodes – had been exploited for some time prior Carbon. In the industrial electrowinning
to 1886. The workable electrolytic process was (separation by electrolysis) of aluminum, part
discovered independently, and almost simulta- of the energy for reducing alumina is supplied
neously, in early 1886 by Charles Martin as electricity and part comes from consump-
Hall in Oberlin, Ohio, and Paul L. T. Héroult tion of the carbon anode. Carbon is also used
in Gentilly, France. Both these young scientists as the cathode lining. Because 0.4 – 0.5 kg of
were familiar with the work of Sainte-Claire anode is consumed for each kilogram of alu-
Deville. minum produced, this represents the major car-
In less than three years, the invention had bon requirement. Because the ash from the car-
been implemented industrially in North Amer- bon will contaminate either the aluminum pro-
ica and in Europe. In November 1888 aluminum duced or the electrolyte, high-purity carbon is
was first produced commercially by the elec- desirable. Certain impurities, such as vanadium,
trolytic reduction of alumina by Hall and others are particularly harmful in that they catalyze air
in a company that later was to become the Alu- burning of the carbon. Other impurities, such as
minum Company of America. At about the same phosphorus, accumulate in the electrolyte and
time, Héroult was associated with a company undergo cyclic redox reactions (partial reduc-
(later to be known as Alusuisse) that operated tion followed by reoxidation), consuming elec-
aluminum electrowinning cells at Neuhausen, tric current without producing product. The coke
Switzerland. residue from petroleum refining is quite pure
Karl J. Bayer, an Austrian chemist, was is- and, therefore, has been the major source of car-
sued a patent, DE 43977, in July 1887 for an bon for anodes. The structure of petroleum coke
improved method of producing alumina from (→ Petroleum Coke) varies depending on the na-
bauxite. Bauxite [1318-16-7], discovered by ture of the petroleum feedstocks used at the re-
P. Berthier in 1821, is named for Les Baux, finery, the refinery flowstream, and the coking
the village in the south of France near which it conditions used. This coke produced at about
Aluminum 7

500 ◦ C requires calcining at about 1200 ◦ C to re- (0 – 5 %) and magnesium fluoride [7783-40-6]
move volatile constituents and increase its den- (0 – 5 %). These additives lower operating tem-
sity before it is blended into the anode mix. Af- perature and increase current efficiency.
ter calcination, the coke is ground and mixed The mineral cryolite is the double fluoride
with crushed spent anodes and sufficient coal- of sodium and aluminum and has a stoichiome-
tar pitch to allow molding into anode blocks try very near the formula Na3 AlF6 and a melting
by pressing or by vibrating. They are baked at point of about 1010 ◦ C. It has been found in sub-
1000 – 1200 ◦ C, causing the pitch to carbonize, stantial quantities only in Greenland, and was
forming strong carbon blocks. These blocks are mined extensively there in the early 20th century
made with one or more sockets into each of but now is essentially exhausted. Synthetic cry-
which is fastened a steel stub by pouring cast olite can be produced by reacting hydrofluoric
iron around it. These stubs both conduct electric acid with an alkaline sodium aluminate solution:
current into the anode and support the anodes in
the cell. The cost of prebaked carbon anodes in 6 HF + 2 NaOH + NaAlO2 → Na3 AlF6 + 4 H2 O
the United States was about $ 0.40/kg ($ 0.15/
pound) in 1983. Cryolite also can be recovered from used pot lin-
Anthracite has been the major constituent in ings. The lining is crushed and treated with dilute
the cell cathode blocks, although graphite and sodium hydroxide solution to dissolve fluorides.
metallurgical coke have been used to some ex- After being filtered, the solution is neutralized
tent. The anthracite is calcined at 1200 ◦ C or with carbon dioxide to precipitate the cryolite.
higher, crushed and sized, mixed with coal-tar Cryolite is produced directly in reduction
pitch, molded into blocks, and baked. These cells by reaction of the soda impurity in the
blocks, mortared together with a carbonaceous feed alumina with added aluminum fluoride
seam mix, form the pot lining, which is the con- (→ Fluorine Compounds, Inorganic):
tainer for both the aluminum and the electrolyte.
3 Na2 O + 4 AlF3 → 2 Na3 AlF6 + Al2 O3 (1)
High purity is not as important for the cathode
blocks because leaching of impurities is very Electrolyte generated by the above reaction
slow. Consumption of cathode carbon amounts must be tapped from the cells periodically. In
to 0.02 – 0.04 kg of carbon per kilogram of alu- modern smelters with dry scrubbing equipment
minum produced. The life of a pot (typically for fume treatment and cell lives greater than 3
2 – 6 years) generally is terminated by failure years, cryolite is a byproduct rather than a raw
of the carbon pot lining. material in producing aluminum.
Synthetic cryolite could be purchased in the
Aluminum Oxide. Depending on its purity United States for $ 500 – 600/t in 1983.
and losses in handling, 1.90 – 1.95 kg of alumina
are consumed in producing 1 kg of aluminum.
Aluminum Fluoride. Aluminum fluoride,
The cost of alumina at United States smelt-
AlF3 [7784-18-1], may comprise as much as
ing facilities was $ 0.20 – 0.26/kg ($ 0.09 – 0.12/
15 wt% of the electrolyte in excess of the amount
pound) in 1983. The preparation of metallurgi-
represented by the cryolite composition. Alu-
cal alumina and its required physical and chemi-
minum fluoride is consumed during normal
cal properties are discussed under → Aluminum
operation by three major mechanisms. First,
Oxide.
losses of aluminum fluoride by vaporization are
appreciable; the most volatile species present in
Electrolyte Materials. The electrolyte for
the electrolyte is sodium tetrafluoroaluminate
electrowinning aluminum is basically a solution
[13821-15-3], NaAlF4 , having a partial pres-
of aluminum oxide in cryolite [15096-52-3]. The
sure of 200 – 600 Pa over the operating melt,
presence of cryolite is essential for dissolution of
depending on composition and temperature
alumina. Cryolite usually comprises more than
(→ Fluorine Compounds, Inorganic). Second,
75 % of the electrolyte which typically also
aluminum fluoride is depleted by hydrolysis:
contains calcium fluoride (4 – 8 %), excess alu-
minum fluoride (5 – 15 %), alumina (1 – 6 %),
2 AlF3 + 3 H2 O → Al2 O3 + 6 HF
and sometimes lithium fluoride [7789-24-4]
8 Aluminum

And finally, aluminum fluoride is consumed by


reaction with the soda present in feed alumina
(Eq. 1).
Fume capture and scrubbing efficiencies have
improved aluminum smelters. Fluoride previ-
ously lost by vaporization of NaAlF4 and hydrol-
ysis of bath is now almost completely recycled to
the cells. Nevertheless, aluminum fluoride con-
sumption amounts to 0.02 – 0.04 kg AlF3 per
kilogram of aluminum product. In 1983 techni-
cal anhydrous aluminum fluoride could be pur-
chased in the United States for about $ 350/t.

Figure 3. Hall–Héroult cell with prebaked anodes


4.3. Hall–Héroult Cell for Aluminum a) Carbon anode; b) Electrolyte; c) Insulation; d) Carbon lin-
ing; e) Current collector bar; f) Thermal insulation; g) Steel
Production shell; h) Carbon block; i) Ledge; j) Crust; k) Alumina cover;
l) Removable covers; m) Anode rods; n) Fume collection;
All commercial production of aluminum today is o) Air cylinder; p) Feeder; q) Current supply; r) Crust
done in Hall–Héroult cells. Employing prebaked breaker
carbon anodes or self-baking Söderberg anodes. The Söderberg anode (Fig. 4) uses a pre-
The Hall–Héroult cell with prebaked anodes is mixed “paste” of petroleum coke and coal-tar
shown in Figure 3. Essentially pure alumina is pitch. This mixture is added at the top of a rect-
fed into the previously discussed cryolite base angular steel casing that is typically 6 – 8 m long,
electrolyte. Electric current deposits aluminum 2 m wide, and 1 m high. Heat from the elec-
into a pool of molten aluminum held under the trolyte and heat from the electric current passing
electrolyte in the carbon lined cavity of the cell. through the anode bakes the carbonaceous mix
Oxygen from the alumina deposits electrolyti- as it progresses through the casing.
cally onto the carbon anode dipping into the elec-
trolyte and reacts with (burns) the anode. Cells
typically range from 9 to 12 m long, 3 to 4 m
wide, and 1 to 1.2 m high. Thermal insulation
surrounds the carbon lining of the cell to con-
trol heat losses. Although carbon is the material
known to withstand best the combined corro-
sive action of molten fluorides and molten alu-
minum, even carbon would have a very limited
life in contact with the electrolyte at the sides
of the cell were it not protected by a layer of
frozen electrolyte. The thermal insulation is ad-
justed carefully to maintain a protective coating
on the walls but not on the bottom, which must
remain substantially bare for electrical contact.
Steel collector bars in the carbon cathode con-
duct electric current from the cell. These bars are Figure 4. Aluminum electrolyzing cell with Söderberg an-
inserted into holes that have been sized carefully ode
a) Manifold gas; b) Steel shell; c) Current collector bars;
so that thermal expansion forms a tight elec- d) Frozen ledge; e) Molten electrolyte; f) Coke and tar paste;
trical contact, or cemented in place with a car- g) Current supplying pins
bonaceous cement containing metal particles, or
bonded in place with cast iron. The baked portion extends past the casing and
The electrical resistivity of prebaked anodes into the molten electrolyte. Baked mix replaces
ranges from 0.005 to 0.006 Ω cm. Current den- anode being consumed at the bottom surface.
sity at the anode face is 0.6 – 1.3 A/cm2 . Electric current enters the anode through either
Aluminum 9

vertical or sloping steel spikes. These spikes


are pulled and reset to a higher level as they
approach the lower surface. Söderberg anodes
have an electrical resistivity about 30 % higher
than that of prebaked anodes. Because of the re-
sulting lower power efficiency and the greater
difficulty in collecting and disposing of baking
fumes, Söderberg anodes are being replaced by
prebaked anodes, even though the former save
the capital, labor, and energy required to manu-
facture the latter.

4.3.1. Electrolyte

Pure cryolite melts at about 1010 ◦ C. Alumina


and other additives lower the melting point, al- Figure 6. The Na3 AlF6 –Al2 O3 –CaF2 system [21]
lowing operation at 940 – 980 ◦ C. The cryolite-
aluminum fluoride-alumina system (Fig. 5) [20]
has binary eutectic points at 961 ◦ C and 694 ◦ C
and a ternary one at 684 ◦ C. Calcium fluoride
and lithium fluoride further reduce the liquidus
temperature (Figs. 6 [21] and 7 [22]). Calcium
fluoride is seldom added intentionally. Because
of a small amount of calcium oxide impurity in
the alumina, it attains a steady-state concentra-
tion of 3 – 8 % in the melt. At this level calcium
is codeposited into the aluminum and emitted
in the off-gas at a rate equal to its introduction.
Magnesium fluoride accumulates to 0.1 – 0.3 %,
in the electrolyte by the same mechanism as cal-
cium fluoride. Some operators add up to 5 %
MgF2 because it expels carbon dust from the
electrolyte by decreasing the electrolyte’s abil-
ity to wet carbon.
Figure 7. The Na3 AlF6 –Li3 AlF6 –Al2 O3 system [22]

tally, it lowers alumina solubility and electri-


cal conductivity and increases density, viscosity,
and surface tension of the electrolyte. Lithium
fluoride, in addition to lowering the melting
point, decreases the vapor pressure, density, re-
duced species solubility, and viscosity; it also
increases electrical conductivity. The only nega-
tive effect appears to be lowered alumina solubil-
ity. Its high cost, however, requires that its bene-
Figure 5. The Na3 AlF6 –AlF3 –Al2 O3 system [20] fits be weighed against the price. Aluminum fluo-
Calcium fluoride, in addition to lowering the ride decreases solubility of reduced species and
liquidus temperature, decreases the vapor pres- lowers surface tension, viscosity, and density.
sure and solubility of reduced species in the elec- It has the undesirable effects of decreasing alu-
trolyte for better current efficiency. Detrimen- mina solubility and electrical conductivity and
increasing vapor pressure. Aluminum fluoride
10 Aluminum

acts as a Lewis acid with sodium fluoride acting of compositions and temperatures used indus-
as a Lewis base. Neutrality has been defined ar- trially. Bowman [25], using cyclic voltamme-
bitrarily as a molar ratio of sodium fluoride to try, stationary electrode polarography, differen-
aluminum fluoride of 3 : 1. Control of electrolyte tial pulse polarography, and chronopotentiome-
acidity or the NaF : AlF3 molar ratio, referred try, found evidence only for a reversible three-
to as the cryolite ratio (Rc ), is of importance electron transfer process. There was no evidence
to cell operation. Lithium fluoride is a slightly for a chemical reaction, either preceding or fol-
weaker Lewis base than sodium fluoride. Mag- lowing the electron-transfer process. This ruled
nesium fluoride and calcium fluoride are weak out discharge of sodium at low activity followed
Lewis acids. by a chemical reaction to form aluminum, and
also eliminated dissociation of the [AlF6 ]3− or
Ionic Structure of the Melt. There is gen- [AlF4 ]− to form Al3+ and F− ions in the dou-
eral agreement that molten cryolite is completely ble layer preceding charge transfer. Rolin, et al.
ionized to sodium ions and hexafluoroaluminate [26] believed this latter process does take place.
ions: If so, dissociation must be too rapid to be de-
tected by Bowman’s techniques.
Na3 AlF6 → 3 Na+ + [AlF6 ]3− The cathode overvoltage can be represented
by [27]:
Also it is well established that the hexafluoroa-
luminate ion dissociates further: ηcc = [RT (1.375 − 0.125Rc ) / (1.5F )] ln (i/0.257)
(2)
where R is the gas constant, T is the temper-
[AlF6 ]3− → [AlF4 ]− + 2 F− ature (K), Rc is the mole ratio NaF : AlF3 , F
At Rc = 3, [AlF6 ]3− is about 30 % dissociated is the Faraday constant, and i is the electrode’s
[23]. Raman spectroscopy has showed that the current density (in A/cm2 ). Although this re-
dissociation increases with decreasing cryolite lationship mathematically looks like activation
ratio to complete dissociation at Rc = 1 [24]. overvoltage, actually the cathode overvoltage is
The nature of the species formed when alu- caused by an increase in the NaF : AlF3 ra-
mina is added is not so well established. Com- tio at the aluminum surface [28]. Sodium ions
bination of the results of cryoscopic measure- carry the current while complex aluminum an-
ments, Raman spectrographic data, and equilib- ions discharge. This requires a diffusional flux
rium studies and vapor pressure measurements of [AlF6 ]3− and [AlF4 ]− ions to the cathode in-
(reviewed in [23]) leads to the conclusion that terface with a similar diffusional flux of Na+
[Al2 O2 F4 ]2− and [Al2 OF6 ]2− are the two ma- and F− ions away from the interface. Using
jor oxygen-containing ions in the melt. Possible Fick’s first law, the resulting concentration gra-
reactions for their formation are: dients were calculated and good agreement was
found between the measured overvoltages and
2 Al2 O3 + 2 [AlF6 ]3− → 3 [Al2 O2 F4 ]2−
the electromotive forces between the two alu-
minum half-cells, one containing electrolyte of
the bulk composition and the other, electrolyte
Al2 O3 + 4 [AlF6 ]3− → 3 [Al2 OF6 ]2− + 6 F−
corresponding to the calculated interfacial com-
position.

Anode Reactions. The primary anode reac-


4.3.2. Electrode Reactions tion can be written:
C + 2 O2− → CO2 + 4 e−
Cathode Reaction. Even though Na+ is the
principal current carrier, it does not discharge at However, O2− ion is not present in the bulk
the cathode. The reversible electromotive force electrolyte; instead, oxygen is present as struc-
for the formation of liquid aluminum is about turally large complexes, i.e., [Al2 OF6 ]2− and
0.24 V lower than that for the formation of [Al2 O2 F4 ]2− . Thermodynamically, oxygen de-
sodium gas at 101.3 kPa (1 atm) for the range positing onto carbon at 950 – 1000 ◦ C should
equilibrate to about 99 % CO and 1 % CO2 .
Aluminum 11

However, based on either net carbon consump- C∗O− (surf) → C∗O (surf) + e−
tion or the volume of gas produced, the pri-
mary anode product is essentially all CO2 . The The activated complex converts very slowly to
high anodic overvoltage implies that reaction ki- CO (g) through an adsorbed (ads) intermediate:
netics cause this surprising displacement from
thermodynamic equilibrium. Rotating disk [29] C∗O(surf) → CO (ads) slow
and impedance [30] measurements indicate that
there is a small diffusional overvoltage, probably CO(ads) → CO (g) slow
caused by reaction within the pores of the elec- Carbon burning in pure oxygen at 940 – 970 ◦ C
trode. Using the general treatment for hetero- has a combustion rate equivalent to between 0.1
geneous reaction control [31], overvoltage data and 0.2 mA/cm2 . One would expect this reaction
can be expressed by the relationship: to proceed at a similarly slow rate. As available
  surface sites become covered with C∗O, oxygen
ηSA = (vRT /pnF ) ln i/i0 (3)
is deposed at higher energy (overvoltage) onto a
where v is the number of executions of rate- carbon site already bonded to oxygen, producing
controlling steps to produce one overall step, p unstable [C∗O2 ]− , which breaks carbon to car-
is the reaction order, n is the number of electrons bon bonds almost immediately as it is formed:
transferred in one overall step, and i0 is the reac-
tion limiting current density. The reaction order, C∗O (surf) + O2− → [C∗O2 ]− (surf) + e−
p = 0.57, was found from measurements of over-
voltage versus current density [32]. In industrial [C∗O2 ]− (surf) → CO2 (ads) + e−
practice, the reaction order ranges from 0.4 to
0.6, varying with carbon reactivity and porosity. CO2 (ads) → CO2 (g)
The reaction-limiting current density, i0 , goes The adsorbed CO2 quickly desorbs as CO2 (g).
from 0.0039 to 0.0085 A/cm2 as alumina con- This mechanism explains both the high anodic
centration varies from 2 to 8 wt %. The reaction overvoltage and the primary production of CO2
order also has been determined [32] from the instead of the thermodynamically favored CO.
rate of change of the limiting current with re- When there is insufficient alumina in the
active species concentration and a similar value electrolyte, the cell experiences a phenomenon
obtained: called anode effect. Bubbles grow larger and
dlni0 larger on the anode until the electrolyte no longer
p= = 0.56 (4) wets the anode. With a constant potential the
dlncAl2 O3
current falls to a low value; but with the con-
Measurements [33] of the ordinary combustion stant current source used industrially, the cell
of graphite have shown that when oxygen reacts potential rises to  30 V. Current then penetrates
both in pores and on the surface, a chemical reac- the gas film by a multitude of small electric
tion of approximately half-order results. Linear arcs or sparks. The gas produced at the anode
sweep voltammograms showed voltage peaks changes from CO2 to CO, with significant quan-
with increasing current density corresponding tities (3 – 25 %) of CF4 and minor amounts of
to discharge of CO2 , COF2 , and CF4 [34]. C2 F6 generated. Fluorocarbon compounds most
The following anode reaction mechanism is likely deposit on the surface of the anode and
consistent with these observations. Oxyfluoride trigger the anode effect. As alumina is depleted,
ions dissociate within the double layer to oxygen anode overvoltage increases. At about 1.2 V an-
ions: ode overpotential, sufficient thermodynamic ac-
tivity of fluorine is produced to cause fluorine
[Al2 O2 F4 ]2− → O2− + Al2 OF4
to bond to the carbon. Even though these low-
Al2 OF4 + [Al2 OF6 ]2−  [Al2 O2 F4 ]2− + 2 AlF3
surface-energy carbon-fluorine compounds de-
compose on the surface to CF4 and C2 F6 at cell
Oxygen ions discharge upon the carbon surface temperature, their rate of formation can exceed
(surf) forming an activated complex, CO: the rate of thermal decomposition, producing
C (surf) + O2− → C∗O− (surf) + e− high coverage. Once the cell is on anode effect,
12 Aluminum

restoring the alumina concentration is not suf- diffusion of dissolved metal through the bound-
ficient to return it to normal operation. The gas ary layer at the metal-electrolyte interface. How-
film must be broken by splashing aluminum, by ever, ref. [35] indicates mixed control with diffu-
interrupting the current momentarily, or by low- sion at both the aluminum-electrolyte interface
ering the anodes to expose new areas not con- and the bubble-electrolyte interface being im-
taminated with fluorine. portant.
There are several mechanisms accounting for
additional minor losses in current efficiency.
4.3.3. Current Efficiency New cell linings absorb sodium, with Equa-
tion (4) maintaining an equilibrium activity of
According to Faraday’s law, 1 kA h of elec- sodium. Fortunately, the lining saturates early
tric current should produce 0.3356 kg of alu- in the cell’s life but until this occurs, current
minum, but only 85 – 95 % of this amount is ob- efficiency is low. When a metal dissolves in a
tained. The principal loss mechanism is recom- molten salt it usually imparts electronic conduc-
bination of anodic and cathodic products. Re- tivity to the melt, thereby lowering current ef-
duced species go into solution in the electrolyte ficiency. Some investigators have found a small
at the aluminum-electrolyte interface (Fig. 8). electronic conductance for cryolite-base melts
Disagreement exists over whether the dissolved but others have not. Such elements as phospho-
species is metallic sodium, monovalent alu- rus and vanadium, which can be reduced par-
minum, subvalent sodium, colloidal aluminum, tially at the cathode and then reoxidized at the
or a combination of these species. Equation (4) anode, lower efficiency.
produces a thermodynamic activity of sodium
in the melt, whereas Equation (5) produces an
activity of aluminum monofluoride. 4.3.4. Cell Voltage

Al(l) + 3 NaF(soln)  3 Na(soln) + AlF3 (soln) (4) The voltage of a Hall–Héroult cell is made up of
a number of components:
2 Al(l) + AlF3 (soln)  3 AlF(soln) (5) Ecell = E 0 + ηCA + ηCC + ηSA + ηSC
−I (RA + RB + RC + RX )
where E 0 is the thermodynamic equilibrium
voltage described under Thermodynamic Con-
siderations (Section 4.4); η CA is the concentra-
tion overpotential at the anode; η SA is the surface
overpotential at the anode described by Equa-
tion (3); ηCC is the concentration overpotential
at the cathode described by Equation (2); η SC
is the surface overpotential at the cathode, gen-
erally negligible; I is the total cell current; RA
is the electrical resistance of the anodes or an-
ode; RB is the effective resistance of the bath,
allowing for fanning out of current as it flows
from anode to cathode and the increased bath re-
sistivity caused by gas bubbles (for details, see
Figure 8. Current efficiency loss by metal reoxidation
[27]); RC is the cathode resistance; and RX is
Metal going into solution must first diffuse the resistance external to the cell but included in
through the metal-electrolyte boundary layer calculating power consumption. The anode con-
(Fig. 8). The metal is then transported by con- centration overpotential can be calculated by:
vection to the vicinity of the anode. Here it reacts
ηCA = (RT /2F ) ln [ic / (ic −i)] (5)
with carbon dioxide. Chemical reactions appear
to be fast compared to mass transport. The rate- The quantity ic is the concentration-limited
controlling step was previously assumed to be current density and it varies between 1.0±
Aluminum 13

0.5 A/cm2 at 1 wt % Al2 O3 and 15 A/cm2 at


8 wt % Al2 O3 . The specific power consumption
in kilowatt-hours per kilogram of aluminum can
be calculated:

kW h/kg = 298.06 E cell / % CE

where % CE is the percentage current efficiency


or Faraday efficiency and E cell is the cell voltage.

4.3.5. Heat Balance

Heat balance considerations are important in de-


signing and operating a cell at the optimum tem-
perature. Calculation is complicated by simulta-
neous heat flow and heat generation in conduc-
tors that carry electric current into and out of the
cell. More than 50 % of the heat loss may occur
through the anodes and top crust. The sidewalls Figure 10. Cell lining isotherms [38]
must be protected from erosion by a ledge of Dashed line: measured profile
frozen electrolyte maintained by extracting the
exact amount of heat required for the desired
ledge thickness. These calculations have been 4.3.6. Fluid Dynamics
described [36], [37]. The complex geometry and
the interaction between heat flow and electrical The large electric currents used in modern cells
flow generally require a computer using either a generate relatively strong magnetic fields within
finite element or finite difference technique for the cell. These magnetic fields interact with elec-
heat balances. Figure 9 [38] shows a typical heat tric currents and exert Lorentz forces, produc-
loss distribution for a center-fed cell and Fig- ing movement of liquid conductors. Three types
ure 10 [38], the typical temperature distribution. of magnetic disturbances have been observed: a
vertical or static displacement of the metal pad,
a circulating flow within the metal pad with ve-
locities as high as 20 cm/s, and finally a wave
motion in the metal pad. The last is probably the
most harmful because waves may lead to elec-
trical short circuiting. Calculation of the mag-
netic fields and electric current flow patterns is
complicated. Computer programs have been de-
signed to make these calculations and describe
the fluid-dynamic consequences. These calcula-
tions have been refined to the point where cells
of over 2.5×105 A have been designed and op-
erated with high efficiency. Natural convection
caused by temperature gradients or composi-
tion differences in the electrolyte are insignif-
icant compared with the movement induced by
Figure 9. Cell heat loss distribution [38] magnetic forces and gas bubbles. Gas bubbles
produce significant stirring in the electrolyte
and are the dominant force in bath movement,
whereas electromagnetic forces predominate in
metal pad movement.
14 Aluminum

4.4. Thermodynamic Considerations E 0sat,1233 is the standard electrode potential, in


volts, at 960 ◦ C for the reaction with all reactants
The thermochemistry of constituents of the elec- and products at unit activity. Substituting the ap-
trolyte and of the electrolyte-aluminum system propriate values into Equation (7) and solving
is treated in [23]. Thermodynamic data used in for the cell potential:
the following section are from the JANAF (Joint
0
Army-Navy-Air Force) Thermochemical Tables Esat, 1233 = −1.192V
[39] and the 1978 supplement to the tables [40].
For pure α-alumina, reduction to aluminum The above decomposition potential applies to
can be represented: electrolyte saturated with alumina at 950 ◦ C.
The decomposition potential from melts with
1/2 α-Al2 O3 (s) → Al(l) + 3/4 O2 (g) alumina activity less than unity can be calcu-
lated [27] from the equation:
At 960 ◦ C (1233 K), ∆G 01233 = + 642.12 kJ and
E 0 = −Esat
0
+ (RT /6F ) lnaAl2 O3
∆H 01233 = + 845.62 kJ.
The activity of alumina in cryolite-base melts
In the industrial production of aluminum, a por-
can be approximated [27] from the equation:
tion of the energy is supplied by the combustion
of carbon anodes to carbon dioxide. The overall  2.77
aAl2 O3 = cAl2 O3 /c∗Al2 O3
cell reaction can be represented:
where cAl2 O3 is the concentration of alumina
1/2 α-Al2 O3 (s) + 3/4 C(s) → Al(l) + 3/4 CO2 (g) (6)
in the electrolyte, in wt %, and c∗Al2 O3 is the
saturation concentration of alumina, in wt %.
At 960 ◦ C, ∆H 01233 = + 549.3 kJ.

Additional energy is required to heat alumina


and carbon from room temperature to operating 4.5. Alternate Processes
temperature. The alumina fed to the cell usually
is not pure α-alumina. For γ-alumina, the overall Although the Hall–Héroult process has gained
process can be represented: industrial dominance, it has several inherent dis-
advantages. The most serious are the large cap-
1/2 γ-Al2 O3 (s, 298) + 3/4 C(s, 298) → ital investment required and the high consump-
Al(l, 1233) + 3/4 CO2 (g, 1233) tion of costly electrical power. There are also
the costs of the Bayer alumina refining plant
The enthalpy requirement for transformation and of the carbon anode plant. Many of the
of the reactants at 25 ◦ C (298 K) to products at aluminum-producing countries must import alu-
960 ◦ C (1233 K) is: mina or bauxite. The supply of petroleum coke
is limited. These deficiencies have spurred re-
∆H r(35) = ∆H 0r1233 + 1/2 (H 01233 − H 0298 ) γ-Al2 O3 +
search to find alternate processes.
3/4 (H 01233 − H 0298 ) C(s) = 606.4 kJ The earliest commercial process for produc-
This value corresponds to a theoretical energy ing aluminum was sodiothermic reduction of
requirement of 6.25 kW h per kilogram of alu- aluminum halides. Reduction of aluminum chlo-
minum produced. ride by manganese has been investigated [41].
The reversible cell potential (decomposition However, neither can compete with the Hall–
voltage) for Reaction (6) can be calculated from Héroult process. Many attempts have been made
the relation: at direct carbothermic reduction of alumina but-
these have resulted in very low yields, owing to
∆G01233 = −nF E 0sat, 1233 (7) the formation of solid aluminum carbide, alu-
minum suboxide vapor, and aluminum vapor
where ∆G 01233 is the Gibbs free energy change that reacts with carbon monoxide as the temper-
for Equation (6), 3.450×105 J; n is the number ature drops on the way from the furnace. Yields
of electrons per unit cell reaction, i.e., 3; F is as high as 67 % can be obtained by staging
the Faraday constant, 96.487 kJ V−1 mol−1 ; and the reactions to produce aluminum carbide at
Aluminum 15

1930 – 2030 ◦ C, which then reacts with alumina produce an aluminum-silicon alloy was found
to produce aluminum and carbon monoxide at to be infeasible because of severe bridging and
2030 – 2130 ◦ C [42]. interruption of the burden movement caused by
Better yields result from adding to the furnace total reflux of Al, Al2 O, and SiO vapors [44],
a metal (or a metal oxide that is subsequently re- [45]. Addition of iron improved operation but
duced to a metal), such as iron, silicon, or copper, required an improved technique for extracting
to alloy with the aluminum and lower its vapor the aluminum from the dilute aluminum alloy.
pressure. Of course it is then necessary to extract An alloy having higher aluminum content could
the aluminum from the alloy. In principle this be obtained if a significant portion of the process
can be accomplished by electrolytic refining, by energy was supplied by electrical power [46].
fractional crystallization, or by monohalide dis- Japanese researchers are continuing to explore
tillation. In the latter process the aluminum ex- the aluminum blast furnace concept aiming for a
traction takes place at 1000 – 1400 ◦ C: low-silicon, high-iron alloy [47]. This improves
the blast furnace efficiency but complicates ex-
AlCl3 + 2 Al(alloy) → 3 AlCl(g) traction of aluminum from the alloy. They pro-
The AlCl gas is transported to a cooler zone, pose to overcome this difficulty by extracting the
600 – 800 ◦ C, where pure aluminum is formed: aluminum with lead [48].
In 1976 Alcoa described a smelting pro-
3 AlCl(g) → 2 Al(pure) + AlCl3 cess wherein aluminum chloride, dissolved in
a molten sodium chloride-lithium chloride elec-
These combined processes to date have proved trolyte, was electrolyzed in a bipolar electrode
noncompetitive. Selective solution of aluminum cell to produce aluminum and chlorine. The
from the alloy by using a volatile metal, such as chlorine was recycled to a fluid-bed chemi-
mercury, lead, bismuth, cadmium, magnesium, cal reactor, where it reacted with alumina, py-
or zinc, has been investigated. Following extrac- rolytically coated with carbon from fuel oil,
tion, the volatile metal is distilled, leaving pure to produce aluminum chloride, carbon dioxide,
aluminum. If FeAl3 , TiAl3 , or Al4 C3 is formed, and carbon monoxide. This reaction was highly
neither electrolysis nor volatile metal extraction exothermic. The aluminum chloride was desub-
will remove the aluminum from the compound. limed to separate it from the gas and recycled
The aluminum vapor pressure can be low- to the cell to produce more aluminum and chlo-
ered also by alloying the aluminum with alu- rine. This process required 30 % less electrical
minum carbide. Over 40 wt % aluminum carbide power than their best Hall–Héroult cells. Be-
is soluble in aluminum at 2200 ◦ C [43]. This ob- cause the entire process is a closed system, it
servation led to a process in which an alloy of is also environmentally more attractive than the
aluminum and aluminum carbide was produced Hall–Héroult process. Problems with the chem-
at 2400 ◦ C. When this alloy was tapped from ical plant and low demand for aluminum caused
the furnace and allowed to cool slowly, the alu- the pilot plant to be shut down temporarily in
minum carbide crystallized into an open lattice, 1982. Research on the plant was continuing in
the interstices of which were filled with pure 1984.
aluminum. Pure aluminum was then removed
either by leaching with molten chloride fluxes
or by vacuum distillation. The aluminum car- 5. Producing High-Purity Aluminum
bide residue was recycled to the arc furnace. Al-
ternately, the aluminum carbide could be dis- The Hall–Héroult process has produced alu-
tilled destructively above 2200 ◦ C to produce minum with a purity as great as 99.95 %. Other
aluminum and a residue of pure graphite. techniques, such as electrolytic refining or frac-
In a joint project with the U.S. Department tional crystallization, are required to produce
of Energy concluded in 1983, Alcoa investi- purer metal. Alcoa developed a three-layer elec-
gated producing aluminum-silicon alloy car- trolytic aluminum-refining cell in the 1920s.
bothermally in a blast furnace. The required high Copper was added to the bottom layer of im-
temperature was obtained by using a pure oxy- pure aluminum to increase its density above that
gen blast. Using a low-pressure blast furnace to
16 Aluminum

of the fused salt electrolyte. The electrolyte con-


tained 25 – 30 % sodium fluoride, 30 – 38 % alu-
minum fluoride, and 30 – 38 % barium fluoride
to increase the electrolyte’s density so that pure
aluminum would float to the top. Electric cur-
rent entered the anode alloy through carbon or
graphite blocks at the bottom of the cell and
left through graphite electrodes dipping into the
high-purity aluminum on top. Aluminum was
transported preferentially. Metals more difficult Figure 11. Longitudinal and cross sections of 15000-
to oxidize than aluminum remained in the anode ampere aluminum refining cell
a) Anode (carbon blocks); b) Cathode (graphite electrodes);
or alloy layer, and metals more difficult to reduce c) Refined aluminum; d) Electrolyte; e) Alloy serving as an-
than aluminum remained in the electrolyte. A ode; f) Segregation sump; g) Magnesia brick; h) Refractory
ledge of frozen electrolyte on the carbon side- brick; i) Iron shell
walls prevented electrical short circuiting be- from molten aluminum by reacting them with
tween the floating pure aluminum layer and the boron to form borides, which are precipitated
carbon wall. The cell operated at 950 – 1000 ◦ C and settled before the metal is transferred to a
and produced 99.98 % pure metal. second furnace. Here the surface of molten alu-
In 1932 the Pechiney Company in France op- minum is cooled with forced air, causing metal
erated a cell using a fluoride-chloride electrolyte to crystallize. When the furnace is nearly filled
and nonconducting magnesia brick sidewalls. with crystals, the remaining impure aluminum is
The electrolyte consisted of 17 % sodium fluo- drained. Then the crystals are remelted to yield
ride, 23 % aluminum fluoride, and 60 % barium very pure metal. Aluminum of purity higher than
chloride. The cell operated at 750 ◦ C and pro- 99.995 % has been produced from 99.9 % pure
duced 99.995 % pure aluminum. An all-fluoride smelting-grade aluminum by this process.
electrolyte (18 % sodium fluoride, 48 % alu-
minum fluoride, 16 % calcium fluoride, 18 %
barium fluoride) also can be used in magnesia-
lined cells. Modern electrolytic refining cells 6. Aluminum Casting: Remelt Ingot
(Fig. 11) add a segregation sump [49]. The sump,
normally operated at least 30 ◦ C cooler than the Metal tapped from the Hall–Héroult cell may
aluminum alloy anode, serves as a charging port be treated in one of several ways. First, it may
for aluminum and permits impurity removal. As be transported in the molten state to a holding
impurities concentrate in the bottom layer, satu- furnace, where, along with solid scrap, it is al-
ration is reached and crystals form in the cooler loyed, fluxed, filtered, and cast into a form suit-
sump area, where they can be removed. This pro- able for fabrication by rolling, forging, etc., or
cedure greatly extends the operating life of the for remelting by a foundry. It may be transported
cell. further (over distances up to 200 km) on trucks,
Fractional crystallization also is used com- equipped with well-insulated containers to pre-
mercially to refine aluminum. As aluminum vent freezing, to a foundry where it is alloyed
freezes most impurities preferentially concen- and used to make shaped castings. Both these
trate in either the liquid or the solid. A molten methods of utilizing the molten metal are fa-
zone is moved along an aluminum bar in zone vored because energy required for remelting is
refining. Impurities that lower the melting point conserved.
of aluminum concentrate at one end of the bar, Alternatively, where ingot casting facilities or
whereas impurities that raise the melting point foundries are not nearby, metal is cast using cast
concentrate at the other end. After several passes iron molds into “primary” ingots for remelting.
the ends are removed, leaving a middle portion Generally, these unalloyed remelt ingots come
of high-purity aluminum. as stackable 22-, 340-, or 680-kg ingots. Cast-
Super-purity aluminum is produced by an- ing machines, such as the one illustrated in Fig-
other fractional crystallization process [50]. In ure 12, are often fully automated, with produc-
the first step, peritectic elements are removed tion rates of up to 20000 kg/h. An important con-
Aluminum 17

sideration is metal transfer from the ladle to the


mold, which must be as quiescent as possible in
order to minimize oxide contamination. Unal-
loyed ingot is sold in various purity grades, such
as P 0506 or P 1520, depending on the maximum
Si and Fe levels; e.g., P 0506 is aluminum with
0.05 % Si and 0.06 % Fe maximum.

Figure 13. Different types of aluminum castings


Continuously cast “T” section bar (left); Open-mold
foundry ingot (right)

7. Environmental Protection
In the primary production of aluminum there are
three principal areas of environmental concern:
air emissions, wastewater discharges, and solid
waste. In the early years of the aluminum in-
dustry, most of the effort was directed toward
controlling fluoride emission from the cells. The
technology for fluoride control is now well es-
tablished throughout the industry. Other signifi-
Figure 12. Casting machine for the production of open- cant air emission sources exist in the anode pro-
mold remelt ingot (courtesy Gautschi Electrofours SA) duction process.
Wastewater effluent usually is not a major
The larger sizes of unalloyed remelt ingot problem, except in those plants where wet pro-
may be cast on semicontinuous DC (direct cesses are still used to scrub the air emissions
chill) casting equipment (→ Aluminum Alloys, from the cells and anode baking furnaces.
Chap. 3.2.) with a “T” cross section for ease of Cathode linings in aluminum cells are re-
handling and stacking. This ingot usually is cut moved when lining failure occurs and large
into lengths weighing approximately 340 kg. amounts of this material, called spent pot lin-
Primary metal producers also make remelt in- ing, must be discarded. Historically, spent pot
got, which is prealloyed for the foundry indus- lining has been stockpiled or used as landfill.
try. This is known as foundry ingot and generally However, the aluminum industry still needs to
is alloyed so that its composition lies within the find disposal methods that also can provide for
limits of the alloy desired in the final shaped cast- the recovery of raw materials.
ing ( → Aluminum Alloys). Foundry ingot may
be cast into open molds or continuously cast, cut
to length, and stacked (Fig. 13). The most com- 7.1. Air Emission
mon masses for this ingot, which is remelted
in furnaces smaller than those used by wrought Cell Room Emission. Atmospheric emis-
alloy producers, are approximately 14 kg and sions produced by an aluminum cell consist of
22 kg. The general practice, where applicable, is particulate and gaseous fluoride (predominately
to premodify and grain refine this foundry ingot. HF), alumina, carbon dust, sulfur dioxide, car-
Also the molten metal is filtered and fluxed in a bon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. Typical
manner similar to that employed for wrought al- values for total fluorides generated by the cell
loy ingot in order to insure optimum metal qual- related to aluminum production range from 20
ity for the foundry user. to 30 kg/t. Approximately the same amounts of
alumina and carbon dusts also are produced.
Sulfur dioxide varies according to the sulfur
18 Aluminum

content of the coke used to prepare the anodes, Control Systems for Anode Baking Fur-
whereas carbon monoxide emissions generally naces. The control systems for the baking fur-
are less than 30×10−6 parts by volume. nace emissionsare similar to those described for
the cell, with both wet and dry systems being
Control of Cell Emissions. To control cell utilized. Fluidized alumina beds and alumina in-
emissions, each cell is equipped with a closely jection systems are used to control gaseous fluo-
fitted hood to collect the evolved gases, which rides and hydrocarbons from most new furnaces.
are then ducted to pollution-control equipment. A major difference, however, is the need to cool
After air dilution the cell gas temperature ranges the baking furnace gas in order to condense the
from 85 to 125 ◦ C, depending on the ambi- hydrocarbons so that they can be extracted by
ent temperature. Both wet and dry systems are the dusts on the bag filter.
employed to treat cell gas. Some of the older
smelters use a combination of electrostatic pre-
cipitators for solids removal following by spray 7.2. Wastewater Discharge
towers for removing hydrogen fluoride gas and
some sulfur dioxide. Wet precipitators also are Fume Collection Systems. Wastewater
quite effective for collecting both gaseous and generation has been reduced drastically with
particulate fluorides; some sulfur dioxide also the development of dry systems for controlling
may be collected by wet precipitators. emissions. Some older facilities still rely on wet
Because of inherent disadvantages in wet sys- collection devices, which result in a wastewater
tems, not the least of which is potential water stream contaminated with acid, fluoride, and
pollution, new smelters employ dry scrubbers organic material. Conventional treatment in-
for controlling cell emission. A dry scrubber volves addition of lime and prolonged retention
uses either a fluidized bed or direct injection of times (12 h to several days) for neutralization
metal-grade alumina into the gas stream to re- and removal of the calcium fluoride precipi-
move the hydrogen fluoride gas by sorption. The tate and a significant portion of the dissolved
larger the specific surface area of the alumina, organic compounds, e.g., benz[a]anthracene,
the greater is its sorptive capacity for hydrogen benzofluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene,
fluoride. and phenanthrene. At least 98 % of these can
The alumina usually is recovered from the gas be removed by biologic treatment in a facul-
stream by a fabric filter, which also removes the tative lagoon that employs aerobic as well as
other entrained particulate species. Dry scrub- anaerobic bacteria. Partial decomposition of the
ber efficiencies are generally greater than 98 % organic material occurs in the anaerobic bottom
for both the gaseous fluoride and the particulate layer, whereas the aerobic bacteria present in the
matter. Dry scrubbers are considered to be state upper levels complete the degradation process.
of the art control technology. The aluminum flu- Other organic removal mechanisms in the fac-
oride that is recycled to the cells represents a ultative lagoon include skimming, adsorption,
significant material recovery value. and sedimentation.
Sodium hydroxide and alum are used in place
Emissions from Anode Preparation. In of lime for fluoride removal at some plants. This
the production of anodes, coke dust and pitch treatment creates a fluoride sludge that, after dry-
fumes are generated at the mixers and at the an- ing, can be used as a cryolite replacement in the
ode forming equipment. These emissions must aluminum cell.
be exhausted from the work area for worker
protection. Pot Wash Water. After failure of a cathode
Pitch fumes, coke dusts, and fluorides are lining, most of the metal and bath are tapped
the chief pollutants in the waste gases from from the cell and materials remaining within the
the anode baking furnaces. In most countries, shell are removed. This “pot digging” operation
limits are established for aluminum fluorides can be done either “wet” or “dry”. In “wet dig-
(0.05 kg per ton of aluminum) and particulate ging,” water is applied to the pot to shock ther-
(dust) emissions, or opacity limits are set in lieu mally and to fracture the bath, metal, and lining
of particulate limitations. material that remain in the pot.
Aluminum 19

The best approach to handling pot wash water utilizing these valuable components. Potential
is to minimize the amount of wastewater gener- applications for spent pot lining include recov-
ated through good management practices during ery and reuse of the fluoride and carbon con-
the soaking operation. Excess water is collected stituents, use as a flux material in the steel in-
in a sump and used as makeup to the next pot dustry, use as a supplemental fuel by cement
brought in for relining. Under no circumstances manufacturers, and use as fuel in fluidized-bed
is this water discharged to a receiving stream boilers.
because it may contain cyanide (10 – 200 mg/L
total CN− ) and fluoride (100 – 600 mg/L).
7.4. Regulatory Requirements
Plant Runoff. Although aluminum smelting
is a dry process, some water is required for ser- Regulatory limits throughout the world have
vices, such as boiler makeup, various equip- been summarized in an International Primary
ment cooling needs, and area wash water. A Aluminium Institute publication [51]. In the
major source of wastewater at a smelting plant United States new carbon bake furnace emis-
is stormwater runoff. Although intermittent, the sions are limited to 20 % opacity and the total
contaminant loading is significant if efforts are fluoride as a function of aluminum produced is
not made to keep courtyards relatively free of set at 0.05 kg/t. New potroom emissions are lim-
dust and to protect spent pot linings from the ited to 10 % opacity and 0.95 kg/t total fluoride.
elements. To minimize the environmental im- The effluent limitation guidelines are presently
pact of storm water and the other miscella- being revised with emphasis on control of toxic
neous flows, many primary aluminum plants pollutants.
direct their storm sewers through an equaliza-
tion/holding basin before discharge. This basin
is designed to remove suspended solids and 8. Economic Aspects
floating matter (oil and grease) and also to equal-
ize the fluoride concentration. The geographic distribution of primary alu-
minum production has undergone important
changes in the past decade or so. Table 6 shows
7.3. Solid Waste production figures in 1972 and 1982 for several
major countries and the shares of the Western
The material removed from the pot after liner World they represent.
failure is referred to as spent pot lining and rep-
resents the largest volume of solid waste asso- Table 6. Primary aluminum production for selected countries and
share of Western World total (×103 t/a)
ciated with the smelting process. Over 3×105 t
of spent pot linings were estimated to have been 1972 1982

generated in 1983 by the worldwide aluminum Prod. % Prod. %


industry.
United States 3740 41 3270 31
The Environmental Protection Agency in the Canada 920 10 1070 10
United States initially classified spent pot lining Japan 1009 11 350 3
as a hazardous waste because of its cyanide con- Norway 558 6 640 6
West Germany 444 5 710 7
tent. Pot lining subsequently was removed from France 394 4 380 4
the hazardous waste list pending further studies. Western World 9206 100 10500 100
Present disposal/management practices in-
clude “temporary” storage in curbed, roofed, The decline in production in the United States
protected areas to minimize leachate generation, and Japan is significant. The change that is tak-
and burial in landfills lined with impervious ma- ing place is largely a result of the rapid rise in en-
terials to prevent contamination of the surround- ergy costs that began with the oil crises of 1973
ing environment. These procedures are costly and 1979 – 1980. The cost of power has become
because of the large volumes involved. Because the critical element in the economic viability of
of the carbon and fluoride content of the solid primary aluminum facilities. Table 7 shows the
waste, research is directed toward recovering or estimated percentage of total costs for major cost
20 Aluminum

components in the production of aluminum for with the smelting facility. This helped promote
pre- and post-oil embargo periods. the trading of aluminum on the London Metal
Exchange, and on the aluminum contract on the
Table 7. Cost breakdown for primary aluminum production for an
average smelter in the Western World (%) New York Commodities Exchange.
The creation of a terminal market has accel-
Pre-1973 Post-1980
erated the development of unalloyed aluminum
Alumina 35 30 as a commodity product, with the price volatility
Power 15 30
Labor 20 15
that commodity status entails.
Miscellaneous 30 25

Total 100 100


9. Toxicology and Occupational
Prior to the first oil embargo in 1973, the
Health
range of variable costs to produce aluminum was The bulk of the epidemiological literature con-
narrow among all smelters. Since then, the range firms that, in humans, aluminum and its com-
of costs has remained small except for power. pounds exhibit a very low order of toxicity [52–
The cost of oil- and gas-based electricity esca- 55]. Whether taken into the body by ingestion
lated to the extent that some smelters were pay- or inhalation, very little aluminum finds its way
ing 20 times the rate per kilowatt hour of the into body tissues. The aluminum content of the
lowest cost smelters. This is the reason that the adult human body is 50 – 150 mg [56], [57]. Be-
Japanese industry has reduced its primary ca- cause of its ubiquitous nature, aluminum also is
pacity from its peak of 1.6×106 t/a to a 1983 found in many foods that make up our normal
level of 0.7×106 t/a. Some United States capac- diets. The amount ingested ranges from as little
ity, particularly natural-gas powered smelters in as 1 to >100 mg/d [58]. The use of aluminum
the southwest, has been permanently closed, and cooking utensils and food packaging does not
further shutdowns are likely. contribute significantly to the amount that is in-
Largely because of escalating power costs, gested normally [59], [60]. Regardless of the
geographic dispersion of primary capacity is oc route of intake, most of the aluminum is elimi-
curring in the Western World. From the end of nated through the gastrointestinal tract.
1972 to the end of 1982, capacity more than dou- For many years aluminum, in the form of
bled in Africa, more than quadrupled in Latin Al(OH)3 , was used widely at high dosages as
America, and decreased by 40 % in East Asia. an antacid, with no apparent ill effects. Although
Regional capacities, from data supplied by the aluminum is known to have neurotoxic proper-
International Primary Aluminium Institute for ties [61–64], it does not exhibit these proper-
1972 and estimated for 1982, are given in Ta- ties in normal human beings because it is elimi-
ble 8. nated readily from the body. On the other hand,
Table 8. Year-end primary aluminum production capacity for those who have impaired renal function, it
(×103 t/a) can be neurotoxic. There are strong implica-
1972 1982 tions that aluminum is a major factor in dialy-
sis encephalopathy, an ultimately fatal condition
Africa 254 615
North America 5430 6135 that sometimes occurs in those with renal fail-
Latin America 228 1065 ure who undergo dialysis. The major symptoms
Eastern Asia 1323 790 are speech difficulties, dementia, and seizures.
Southern Asia 354 843
Western Europe 3056 4200 Traces of aluminum in the water used for the
Oceania 345 700 preparation of dialysis fluid can accumulate in
Total 10990 14348 the patient because the impaired kidneys are un-
able to eliminate it.
Much of the new capacity built in the past Those with renal failure, whose aluminum
decade is nonintegrated; that is, the facility is serum levels are elevated as a result of dialy-
not tied directly to bauxite or alumina produc- sis or the oral administration of aluminum com-
tion and no fabricating operations are associated pounds, are also at special risk of developing
osteomalacia, a softening of the bone that re-
Aluminum 21

sults in pain and an increased incidence of bone Subsequent investigation demonstrated the pres-
fractures. ence of silica in these fumes [78]. Silica gener-
Although aluminum has been implicated as ally is accepted today as the principal cause.
being associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a The American Conference of Governmental
condition of premature senility [65], [66], the Industrial Hygienists continues to recommend
evidence to date suggests that it is not causal. a 10 mg/m3 TLV for aluminum metal and alu-
Aluminum’s role, if it plays a part at all, appears mina dust, the same as for nuisance or biolog-
to be secondary to some unknown primary agent ically inert materials [79]. They also have es-
[67], [68]. tablished a lower limit applicable to aluminum
With a few exceptions, most of the litera- pyro powders and aluminum welding fumes,
ture dealing with inhalation exposures of hu- 5 mg/m3 . This concentration is consistent with
mans and experimental animals to aluminum limits for nuisance materials with particle sizes
and its compounds shows these materials to be in the respirable range. Health regulatory agen-
relatively innocuous. However, there are reports cies in Australia, the Federal Republic of Ger-
contending that aluminum and aluminum oxide many, the Netherlands, Sweden, and many other
dusts are fibrogenic. A critical examination of countries consider aluminum oxide dusts to be
the original references reveals that the evidence nuisance particulates [80]. No MAK values have
for this contention is inconsistent and mitigated been set.
by compounding variables.
Cases of pulmonary fibrosis attributed to alu-
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aluminum production. All published literature,
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24 Aluminum

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