Preparation of Al-Cu alloys by aluminothermic reduction of CuO using submerged powder injection assisted with mechanical agitation: thermodynamic approach and kinetic measurements

摘要

This work details the result of experiments conducted at the laboratory scale to prepare Al-Cu alloys using aluminothermic reduction of CuO by submerged powder injection assisted with mechanical agitation. The analysed variables were melt temperature, particle size and initial magnesium concentration in the molten alloy. In this study, the copper content was increased from 0 to about 5 wt-% after 180 min of treatment at constant temperature in some of the experiments performed. The values of the results obtained were fitted to the kinetic formulae to determine the values of the kinetic parameters of interest, including the activation energy and the rate constants. Moreover, the kinetics of the reaction was found to be governed by the diffusion of Al and Mg to the CuO boundary layer, where MgAl2O4 or Al2O3 were formed as the main reaction products. From a thermodynamic study on the system, the main reactions taking place are explained.