New Technology for Copper Removal from Lead by …
731
Fig. 2 Al–Cu–Pb phase equilibrium diagram at 1020 and 1070 °C [2]
in the diagram (Fig. 2), it is possible to produce Al–Cu alloy containing 30 wt% Cu,
approx. 65 wt% Al and low Pb content approximately 5–7 wt%.
A Method of Lead Decoppering and Production of Metallic
Al–Cu Foam and Al–Cu Drosses
On the industrial scale, the procedure of lead decoppering with aluminum is based
on heating lead to 660 °C after the lead oxidation process. Next, aluminum is added
in the fragmented form on the lead surface with intensive mixing. After aluminum
is blended, lead is cooled to 450 °C. The produced metallic Al–Cu foam (Fig. 3a),
containing intermetallic Al–Cu phases, is collected from the lead surface or dried,
i.e. with the application of battery spacers, and the Al–Cu drosses are collected in
the powdery form (Fig. 3b).
The first lead decoppering method was implemented in the industrial conditions
with an excellent result. The technology was implemented by a company which is
the leading refined lead producer in Poland, within a project funded by the Ministry
of Science and Higher Education in 2011. At the end of 2015, patent PL 219840 B1
was granted for the developed lead decoppering technology with the application of
aluminum and Al–Zn alloys.
An example of the parameters of the decoppering with aluminum applied in the
industrial scale is presented in Table 1.
The chemical compositions of lead at different temperatures of lead decoppering
process with aluminum are presented in Table 2.
731
Fig. 2 Al–Cu–Pb phase equilibrium diagram at 1020 and 1070 °C [2]
in the diagram (Fig. 2), it is possible to produce Al–Cu alloy containing 30 wt% Cu,
approx. 65 wt% Al and low Pb content approximately 5–7 wt%.
A Method of Lead Decoppering and Production of Metallic
Al–Cu Foam and Al–Cu Drosses
On the industrial scale, the procedure of lead decoppering with aluminum is based
on heating lead to 660 °C after the lead oxidation process. Next, aluminum is added
in the fragmented form on the lead surface with intensive mixing. After aluminum
is blended, lead is cooled to 450 °C. The produced metallic Al–Cu foam (Fig. 3a),
containing intermetallic Al–Cu phases, is collected from the lead surface or dried,
i.e. with the application of battery spacers, and the Al–Cu drosses are collected in
the powdery form (Fig. 3b).
The first lead decoppering method was implemented in the industrial conditions
with an excellent result. The technology was implemented by a company which is
the leading refined lead producer in Poland, within a project funded by the Ministry
of Science and Higher Education in 2011. At the end of 2015, patent PL 219840 B1
was granted for the developed lead decoppering technology with the application of
aluminum and Al–Zn alloys.
An example of the parameters of the decoppering with aluminum applied in the
industrial scale is presented in Table 1.
The chemical compositions of lead at different temperatures of lead decoppering
process with aluminum are presented in Table 2.