734
A. Cybulski
Fig. 4 Incandescent Al–Cu drosses in the refining kettle
the metallic Al–Cu foam—usually battery spacers or sawdust, which are pyrolyzed
at higher temperatures. The solid product of pyrolysis—char—easily ignites and
incandescents.
Al–Cu drosses from the refining kettle, before ignition and after burnout, were
subjected to the microscopic and chemical analysis and the elemental distribution
was determined. The microstructure of Al–Cu drosses before and after burnout is
presented in Fig. 5.
Comparison of the samples before and after burnout of Al–Cu drosses:
The chemical analysis shows that after the burnout process the amounts of oxygen
and aluminum are higher, and carbon and lead are lower. Based on the elemental
distribution map, in the sample after burnout, Cu, Ni, and Sn are more scattered. This
sample also contains clusters (order of magnitude of the diameter 1 µm) of those
elements, wherein it can be observed that in many cases, copper is accompanied
by nickel. In the burnt out sample, aluminum and oxygen are present in the same
regions, which indicates aluminum oxidation.
Fig. 5 Al–Cu dross microstructure, a before ignition, and b after burnout. Secondary electron
images (SEI), 1000× magnification
A. Cybulski
Fig. 4 Incandescent Al–Cu drosses in the refining kettle
the metallic Al–Cu foam—usually battery spacers or sawdust, which are pyrolyzed
at higher temperatures. The solid product of pyrolysis—char—easily ignites and
incandescents.
Al–Cu drosses from the refining kettle, before ignition and after burnout, were
subjected to the microscopic and chemical analysis and the elemental distribution
was determined. The microstructure of Al–Cu drosses before and after burnout is
presented in Fig. 5.
Comparison of the samples before and after burnout of Al–Cu drosses:
The chemical analysis shows that after the burnout process the amounts of oxygen
and aluminum are higher, and carbon and lead are lower. Based on the elemental
distribution map, in the sample after burnout, Cu, Ni, and Sn are more scattered. This
sample also contains clusters (order of magnitude of the diameter 1 µm) of those
elements, wherein it can be observed that in many cases, copper is accompanied
by nickel. In the burnt out sample, aluminum and oxygen are present in the same
regions, which indicates aluminum oxidation.
Fig. 5 Al–Cu dross microstructure, a before ignition, and b after burnout. Secondary electron
images (SEI), 1000× magnification