Application of Granule Metallurgy Methods to the Production of Aluminum Briquettes for Use in Deoxidation

A new integrated technology has been proposed for obtaining aluminum briquettes to be used in deoxidation. The technology includes plasma atomization/dispersion of a specially prepared object – a continuous cylindrical briquette of aluminum chips – inside a vertical vacuum chamber. The use of granulated aluminum which is free of the dust-sized fraction not only makes the technology safer from fi re and explosion but also results in a 3–5% reduction in the amount of aluminum lost to oxidation and entrainment by gases. A method was also proposed for pressing aluminum granules and mixtures based on them in rotary presses. Use of this method makes it possible to automate all operations and significantly (from 20–40 to 400–800 briquettes/min) increase productivity compared to conventional automated presses.