EVOLUTION OF THE THERMO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF RAMMING PASTE FROM AMBIENT TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE IN A HALL-HEROULT CELL

摘要

The ramming paste behavior is a key parameter in the cell performance used for the aluminum electrolysis. This anthracite and coal tar pitch mixture bakes during the cell start-up and chemical transformations in the ramming paste are observed. The mechanical properties of the paste are related to these transformations and change with time and temperature during the cell start-up. This paper presents the methodology used to determine the evolution of the mechanical properties of ramming paste, using experimental conditions representative of a cell startup. Experimental results for temperatures from ambient to 960°C are presented and the effects of the test conditions are discussed.