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EP0370006A1 - Procede de degazage de bains de fusion d'aluminium, et gaz utilise a cet effet - Google Patents

Procede de degazage de bains de fusion d'aluminium, et gaz utilise a cet effet

Info

Publication number
EP0370006A1
EP0370006A1 EP88901500A EP88901500A EP0370006A1 EP 0370006 A1 EP0370006 A1 EP 0370006A1 EP 88901500 A EP88901500 A EP 88901500A EP 88901500 A EP88901500 A EP 88901500A EP 0370006 A1 EP0370006 A1 EP 0370006A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
gas
aluminum
melt
nitrogen
sulfur
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP88901500A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
James R. Macneal
Timothy P. Rack
Ronald R. Corns
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Linde Sverige AB
Original Assignee
AGA AB
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AGA AB filed Critical AGA AB
Publication of EP0370006A1 publication Critical patent/EP0370006A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B21/00—Obtaining aluminium
    • C22B21/06—Obtaining aluminium refining
    • C22B21/064—Obtaining aluminium refining using inert or reactive gases
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
    • Y02P10/10—Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions
    • Y02P10/146—Perfluorocarbons [PFC]; Hydrofluorocarbons [HFC]; Sulfur hexafluoride [SF6]

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the refining of aluminum and, more specifically, to a system for degassing molten aluminum without significantly reducing magnesium levels, if present.
  • Molten aluminum typically is contaminated with hydro ⁇ gen and unwanted elements such as sodium, calcium, and lithium. If magnesium is present in the melt to an excess ⁇ ive extent, the excessive magnesium likewise can be re ⁇ lodged as a contaminant; however, in working with many aluminum melts, the level of magnesium that is present is not excessive, and it is desirable to effect removal of hydrogen and other unwanted elements without significantly altering the level of magnesium that is present in the melt.
  • a problem with prior processes for removing hydrogen and the other contaminants mentioned above is that the magnesium content of the melt often is altered undesirably as the processes are performed.
  • gases include inert gases, such as argon and nitrogen, reactive gases such as chlorine (from chlorine-containing salts, chlorine gas generating tablets, typically hexachloroethane, chlorine gas and halocarbon gases), and fluorine, as well as mix ⁇ tures of inert gases (nitrogen and argon) or mixtures of reactive gases (chlorine and fluorine) .
  • the patent literature contains proposals for removing specific contaminants.
  • Small quantities of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal impurities are removed from an alumi ⁇ num melt by introducing a source of sulfur, such as ele- mental sulfur, according to a process that is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,354,869.
  • An impurity-containing slag is formed and is removed from the melt.
  • Lithium is removed from molten aluminum alloys by introducing sulfur hexa ⁇ fluoride as a gas or with a carrier gas such as nitrogen or argon according to Austrian Patent No. 354,114.
  • the fluor ⁇ ine in the SF reacts with the lithium to form a LiF pre- 6 cipitate, while the sulfur reacts with the lithium to form Li ⁇ S.
  • the lithium content of the alloy is reduced to the parts per million level.
  • Gaseous and solid impurities such as occluded hydrogen and metal oxides are removed from molten aluminum using a fully fluorinated or chlorinated lower hydrocarbon mixed with a relatively inactive or inert gas, as is described in U.S. Patent No. 3,854,934.
  • a liqui ⁇ fied salt cover lower in density than the molten aluminum, floats on the metal surface to inhibit discharge of poten ⁇ tially harmful gases.
  • Hydrogen is removed from the melt by diffusion into the rising gas bubbles. This occurs as a result of the difference in partial pressure between the melt and the gas, the rate of diffusion* is determined by the partial pressure difference between the gas and the melt, as well as by the surface area of contact between the gas and the melt. The contact time between the gas and the melt is also an important consideration.
  • a gas which bubbles through a melt must have as low a hydrogen or moisture content as possible. If the partial pressure of the hydrogen in the gas is assumed to be about zero, the difference in hydrogen partial pressure will be substantial at the beginning of the flushing. The large difference in pressure forces hydrogen from the melt into the gas bubble. This means that hydrogen easily diffuses into the gas bubbles and that large quantities of hydrogen are removed.
  • the partial pressure of hydrogen in the melt decreases with increased flushing time, and as the difference in partial pressure decreases, the removal of the hydrogen diminishes. This means the flow of the gas used for degas ⁇ sing should be increased at the end of the process to faci ⁇ litate the removal of the final amounts of hydrogen.
  • the hydrogen content in a melt containing a large amount of hydrogen can be quickly decreased, further reduc ⁇ tion of the hydrogen content will require a long flushing time and relatively large quantities of gas.
  • the surface area of the gas bubbles into which the hydrogen diffuses determines the area of contact surface between the melt and the inert gas; thus a larger contact surface area will have a positive influence on the removal of the hydrogen.
  • a larger contact surface area is obtained by increasing the amount of gas, or by decreasing the size of the bubbles.
  • the amount of gas supplied to the melt may be increased by utilizing a longer flushing time, or by utilizing a greater volume of gas per time unit.
  • a disad ⁇ vantage of utilizing an increased flow of gas is that the gas flow through the melt causes a temperature drop, and the temperature drop that results with an increased flow likely will be greater than desired. Further, the increased flow of gas likely will create such violent movement in the bath that particles from the surface of the bath may be pulled down into the melt.
  • the average contact time that bubbles spend moving through a melt is also dependent on the geometry of the furnace. With a given melt volume, increased bath depth will have a positive influence on the flushing effect since the gas bubbles will then be in contact with the melt for a longer period of time.
  • the direction in which bubbles are injected into a melt also will have a marginal effect on contact time. If gas is injected in a downward direction, the bubbles will be forced down into the melt before they begin to rise to the surface, whereby contact time will be increased.
  • the degassing agent used can cause a wetting effect on the bubble surface which will increase the ability of the gas to remove oxides and particles.
  • Bubble size and path are an expression of the likelihood that a particle will be encountered by a bubble; surface tension determines to what extent a particle will adhere to the bubble which it en ⁇ counters.
  • Argon and nitrogen work fairly well for degassing, but they can only remove up to a certain absolute level of remaining hydrogen.
  • a further problem with industrial grades of argon or nitrogen is that these gases can contain moisture and oxygen which can form hydrogen and aluminum oxides; an ultra high purity gas avoids this problem. Neither nitrogen or argon have much of an effect on oxides ⁇ or particles present in the melt.
  • Argon is an inert gas, i.e., it does not react with the melt, thus hydrogen is removed by diffusion into the argon bubbles. Particles are removed by the purging mechan ⁇ ism. Argon has no effect on the elements apart from a poss ⁇ ible mechanical agitation effect.
  • nitrogen acts in the same way as argon. It is, however, generally accepted that, under similar circumstances, the removal of hydrogen takes place somewhat quicker when using argon than nitrogen. Also, the absolute value of the hydrogen remaining in the melt will be slight ⁇ ly lower when using argon than when using nitrogen.
  • Chlorine added to the melt quickly reacts to A1C1_ which is gaseous at temperatures above about 190 C (374 F) , so that, in reality, the melt is flushed by upward rising AlCl- bubbles. Chlorine is extremely effective for removing hydrogen, which is removed by diffusion, because the hydro ⁇ gen partial pressure in A1C1_ is virtually zero. However, chlorine gas is used in a stoichiometric excess and exits the melt as pure chlorine which presents safety and en ⁇ vironmental concerns. In addition, chlorine reacts rather slowly with aluminum as compared with other metals.
  • Salt particles formed collect like slag on the surface of the melt, but some remain suspended in the melt. It has been shown that these particles can be the cause of the creation of agglomerates (an aluminum droplet encrusted with a salt film to which small particles of magnesium oxide and aluminum nitride are adhered) with diameters of about 20 to 200 micrometers.
  • Chlorine reacts with the elements sodium, calcium, magnesium, lithium, etc. , and with aluminum; but where mag ⁇ nesium removal is not desired, this presents a problem. Chlorine removes substantial quantities of magnesium and in consequence, the magnesium must often be replaced. Fluorine acts in a manner similar to chlorine.
  • Chlorine and fluorine are available in several forms, the most common of which are chlorine gas, salts, and halocarbons. Dry chlorine gas gives the same effects as described for chlorine. Hexachloroethane salt produces the same reaction as described for chlorine and/or fluorine, but the salt is very often hygroscopic. This means that salt can introduce moisture into the melt depending on how the salt has been stored, the relative humidity at the time of storage and/or use, and the type of salt.
  • halogen releasing salt on the hydrogen content of the melt depends upon the reactions which create gas.bubbles.
  • the creation of bubbles is uncontrolled after the addition of the salt - bubbling begins violently and then tapers off as the salt is consumed, which is inconsis ⁇ tent with the need for greater -quantities of gas at the end of the degassing process in order to remove the last ppm of hydrogen.
  • Halocarbons are normally introduced into the melt in the form of a gas which also have the same reactions as described above for chlorine and fluorine. In addition to the usual reactions as with chlorine and fluorine, reac ⁇ tions with the carbon component of the halocarbon gas also take place.
  • Sulfur hexafluoride can also be added as a gas to the melt. As with chlorine and fluorine, sulfur hexa ⁇ fluoride can successfully cope with diffusion and flushing; however, reaction is minimal. Sulfur hexafluoride uses the flushing action more efficiently to rival the quality ob ⁇ tained by the reaction of chlorine and fluorine.
  • Sulfur hexafluoride is similar to halocarbon 12 (di- fluorodichloromethane) in that it is a nontoxic, noncor ⁇ rosive gas.
  • the time threshold limit value-TWA (TWA” stands for "time weighted average") for sulfur hexafluoride is 1000 ppm.
  • TWA time weighted average
  • Sulfur hexafluoride does not decompose as does halocarbon 12; it is more stable at high temperatures and is often used to blanket high temperature operations. Any breakdown into sulfur and fluorine is immediately consumed by alumi ⁇ num and is flushed to the surface. Description of the Preferred Embodiment
  • an aluminum melt is contacted with an intimate mix ⁇ ture of an inert gas and helogenated sulfur compound in gaseous form, preferably by bubbling the gas mixture through the melt using a lance or other conventional inlet device. Solid particles of debris entrained in the melt are brought to the surface, hydrogen is removed, and the melt effectively degassed in this manner.
  • the preferred halogenated sulfur compound that is used is fluorinated, preferably sulfur hexafluoride (see The Merck Index, 10th edition, monograph 8853) .
  • the halogenated sulfur compound is present in the inert gas in an amount of from about 2% to about 20% of the gas mixture and prefer ⁇ ably is used in an amount of about 5% when mixed with ni ⁇ trogen.
  • Inert gases to be used include argon, helium and, preferably, nitrogen; mixtures of two * or more of-these inert gases may be used.
  • a previously prepared homogeneous mixture of the halogenated sulfur compound and inert gas, called a "premix" is preferred for reasons explained below. "premix"
  • aluminum melt is used to designate molten aluminum (i.e., a melt of relatively pure aluminum) or alloys of aluminum in their molten con ⁇ dition. Parts per million and percentages are expressed on a volume/volume basis unless indicated otherwise.
  • the aluminum-containing melt to be purified is custom ⁇ arily maintained at usual degassing temperatures of from about 650°C (1200 °F) to about 840°C (1550°F). Bubbling a gas through the melt inherently removes heat energy from the melt, thus a temperature decrease of up to 56 C (100°F), but preferably less than 28°C (50°F), is well tolerated under usual processing conditions.
  • Aluminum and aluminum alloyus are purified and unwanted impurities, particulates and metal oxides arc removed together with entrained hydrogen when the SF fi /inert gas mixture is sup ⁇ plied to the melt at an effective rate and for an appropri ⁇ ate time until the impurity level is reduced to a preselec ⁇ ted level.
  • the resultant dross which contains these im ⁇ purities on the surface of the aluminum is a dry, powdery material which enhances effective removal when skimmed from the surface, reducing dross impurities in the finished casting and minimizing waste of primary aluminum.
  • Exact operational parameters of the process will be quickly de ⁇ termined by empirical means by an experienced operator following the teachings presented herein. An important feature resides in the fact that the magnesium content of the melt is not substantially reduced by the process of this invention.
  • composition adapted for purifying aluminum and alloys of aluminum consisting essentially of an intimate mixture of up to 10% gaseous sulfur hexafluoride balance substantially an inert or non- reactive gas or gases * selected from nitrogen, argon, helium or mixtures thereof.
  • Sulfur hexafluoride does not represent any known en ⁇ vironmental problem and is not corrosive.
  • a mixture of 3-10% of sulfur hexafluoride in nitrogen or argon may be packaged in a standard industrial steel cylinder.
  • An advan ⁇ tage of sulfur hexafluoride over the halocarbons, notably R-12, is that a 5% SF-/nitrogen mixture contains nearly twice as much gas as a 5% R-12/nitrogen mixture. This vol ⁇ ume difference increases to four times at a 10% concentra ⁇ tion.
  • Oxide removal using an SF g /nitrogen mixture is almost totally mechanical since these mixtures have a high moist ⁇ ening effect on the surface providing better adhesion of oxides and particles. This combined with the smaller bub ⁇ bles which expose more gas to the melt, allows SF fi to be an excellent medium for removing particles and oxides.
  • Sulfur hexafluoride is generally non-reactive with contaminating elements in the melt; these are removed by the flushing action of the gas as it bubbles upwardly through the melt. This can be a benefit if the removal of elements such as magnesium and sodium is undesirable.
  • Refining using only inert gas is simple in practice.
  • the gas is taken from cylinder bundles or from a tank where it is stored in a liquid state, and is vaporized before it enters the pipe supply system.
  • the inert gas passes through a pressure regulator and a dosing unit.
  • the gas is introduced into the melt through porous plugs, lances, or by rotating equipment or similar devices, depen ⁇ ding on the choice of equipment.
  • the amount of gas is about
  • Pure inert gases such as nitrogen and argon are only able to achieve a certain absolute level of hydrogen gas removal. To go lower than this predetermined value, another gas must be mixed with nitrogen or argon. Also, pure inert gases do not perform well in removing particles, oxides, and elements, thus it is necessary to mix the inert gas with a reactive gas. When mixing inert gas with SF fi , it is important that the gases are properly mixed; if SF_ enters the melt in the form of unmixed, concentrated volumes of the reactive gases or plugs, it will result in very poor utilization of the gas and increased operating expense.
  • Premixed cylinders filled with the appropriate SF g inert gas mixture are well suited to the process and are con ⁇ venient to use.
  • Commercially available in-situ gas blenders can also be utilized when bulk quantities of gases are required due to large quantities of aluminum or aluminum alloys to be purified.
  • Premixed cylinders can be prepared at a central supply point using sophisticated equipment to assure that the gas mixing process has been carried out in a manner that provides an intimate mixture of proper per ⁇ centages of constituents.
  • the preferred method of introducing SF fi / to a melt is similar to that of a pure gas.
  • a gas supply cylinder is connected to a regulator and the gas flows through a tube into a lance of graphite, graphite coated or enamel coated steel into the aluminum melt.
  • a second 600 pound 355 alloy was melted and degassed using the same described procedure described in the com ⁇ parative Example, except that the 20% chlorine/nitrogen gas was replaced with 5% sulfur hexafluoride in nitrogen sup ⁇ plied in a premixed cylinder.
  • the data obtained are summar ⁇ ized in the following:
  • Specific gravity increased as an' indirect measure of dissolved gas level.
  • the initial specific grav ⁇ ity was 2.46 for both furnaces.
  • a specific gravity of 2.65 was desired. This level was obtained under the above men ⁇ tioned conditions in 10 minutes with the 5% sulfur hexa ⁇ fluoride in nitrogen mixture and in 15 minutes for the ultra high purity nitrogen. Degassing continued for the full 20 minutes in each crucible to monitor any possible changes in alloy composition. A sample was taken from each furnace at time zero and after 20 minutes of bubbling. These were analyzed with a Jarrel Ash Spectrograph. Results are as follows:
  • a 600 pound gas fired furnace was used containing aluminum alloy 535.
  • the mixture of 5% sulfur hexafluoride in nitrogen was bubbled through a 6.4 mm (1/4") I.D. gra ⁇ phite lance at 20 scfh for 20 minutes to obtain the desired level of hydrogen entrainment.
  • the desired level of hydro ⁇ gen was measured at a specific gravity of 2.60.
  • a sample ' was taken at time zero and later after 20 minutes of bub ⁇ bling to monitor the change in composition of the alloy. Of particular concern were the magnesium concentrations which were successfully maintained within acceptable limits. Results are as follows:

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
  • Gas Separation By Absorption (AREA)
  • Compounds Of Alkaline-Earth Elements, Aluminum Or Rare-Earth Metals (AREA)

Abstract

Des bains de fusion d'aluminium et d'alliages d'aluminium sont purifiés par élimination des impuretés gazeuses entraînées et des impuretés particulaires solides, principalement des oxydes d'aluminium, par barbotage d'un mélange intime non corrosif d'hexafluorure de soufre dans un gaz inerte. Les teneurs en magnésium éventuellement présent ne sont pas réduites de manière significative. Le procédé est fiable et le mélange gazeux ne présente pas de danger pour les opérations et les procédés de purification d'aluminium.
EP88901500A 1987-06-29 1987-12-21 Procede de degazage de bains de fusion d'aluminium, et gaz utilise a cet effet Withdrawn EP0370006A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6794987A 1987-06-29 1987-06-29
US67949 1987-06-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0370006A1 true EP0370006A1 (fr) 1990-05-30

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ID=22079490

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88901500A Withdrawn EP0370006A1 (fr) 1987-06-29 1987-12-21 Procede de degazage de bains de fusion d'aluminium, et gaz utilise a cet effet

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0370006A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS6447822A (fr)
BR (1) BR8707987A (fr)
ES (1) ES2006987A6 (fr)
FI (1) FI896320A0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1989000208A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6126945A (en) * 1989-10-03 2000-10-03 Pharmacia Ab Tumor killing effects of enterotoxins, superantigens, and related compounds
JP5839915B2 (ja) * 2011-09-22 2016-01-06 三菱重工業株式会社 六フッ化硫黄分解処理装置及び方法
CN117452866B (zh) * 2023-12-22 2024-03-22 中信戴卡股份有限公司 一种铝合金精炼动态智能控制方法

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3854934A (en) * 1973-06-18 1974-12-17 Alusuisse Purification of molten aluminum and alloys
NL7612653A (nl) * 1976-11-15 1978-05-17 Delfzijl Aluminium Werkwijze voor het verlagen van het na-gehalte in een aluminium-magnesium legering.
AT354114B (de) * 1978-04-04 1979-12-27 Ver Giessereiforschung Verfahren zum reinigen von aluminium-und aluminiumlegierungsschmelzen von kleinen mengen lithium
AT367458B (de) * 1980-05-27 1982-07-12 Ver Giessereiforschung Verfahren zur entfernung kleiner mengen von alkali- oder erdalkalimetallen aus aluminiumoderaluminiumlegierungsschmelzen
GB8428251D0 (en) * 1984-11-08 1984-12-19 Alcan Int Ltd Treating aluminium

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8900208A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1989000208A1 (fr) 1989-01-12
ES2006987A6 (es) 1989-05-16
BR8707987A (pt) 1990-03-20
FI896320A0 (fi) 1989-12-28
JPS6447822A (en) 1989-02-22

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