Thermo-Mechanical Characterisation of Graphitic and Graphitized Carbon Cathode Materials Used inrnAluminium Electrolysis Cells

摘要

In the conventional Hall-Héroult electrolysis process, both therncarbon anode and cathode operate at up to 980℃ and under a veryrncorrosive environment. Since the lifetime expectancy is anrnimportant economic point to take into consideration it isrnimperative that all process related phenomena present in the cellsrnbe well understood, e.g. the thermo-mechanical behaviour ofrncarbon cathode materials used into the cell linings. To do so, anrnexperimental program based on uniaxial compressive tests, for arntemperature range from 25℃ to 1000℃, has been conducted onrngraphitic and graphitized cathodes. The Young’s modulus,rncompressive strength and damaging coefficients at variousrntemperatures are examples of measured properties. The propertiesrnof both cathode block types were compared and analysed. Thernevolution in temperature is found different according to thernmaterial, and further investigation together with tests on a newrnhigh temperature apparatus are required to confirm thernexperimental results and explain the behaviour.