A STUDY ON QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF ETP COPPER ANODE BARS USED IN ALUMINIUM REDUCTION PROCESS TO IMPROVE THEIR LIFE CYCLE TIME

摘要

Hindalco consumes about 1600 MTPA of electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) grade copper (Cu+Ag 99.90% min.) for production of 350,000 MTPA of aluminium metal. To reduce the consumption patterns several possible control measures were studied. The present paper deals with the study on quality parameters. Copper bars, in the aluminium reduction process are continuously exposed to different physico-chemical environments like flue gases emanating from pots, load bearing, exposure to high temperature, hot and cold working. To meet the demanding requirement of the complex environment, a comprehensive testing of physical, chemical, mechanical and metallographic properties has been introduced and narrowed down the impurities to trace levels. These measures have resulted in improving the life cycle time of the copper bar to a significant extent. The results have established significant relationships between different physico-chemical and mechanical properties, the patterns of different impurities, especially oxygen and their role in controlling the life cycle time.