Production of carbon anodes by high-temperature mould pressing
(School of Materials and Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China)
Abstract: Laboratory-scale carbon anodes were produced by a new method of high temperature mould pressing, and their physico-chemical properties were studied. The influence of mould pressing conditions and coal pitch addition on the bulk density, crushing strength, and oxidation resistance was analyzed. The microstructure of carbon anodes was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the mechanism of producing carbon anodes by high-temperature mould pressing was analyzed. The results show that when the anodes are produced by high-temperature mould pressing, coal pitch can expand into the coke particles and fill the pores inside the particles, which is beneficial for improving the quality of prebaked anodes. The bulk density of carbon anodes is 1.64-1.66 g/cm3, which is 0.08-0.12 g/cm3 higher than that of industrial anodes, and the oxidation resistance of carbon anodes is also significantly improved.
Key words: carbon anodes; high temperature mould pressing; aluminum electrolysis; high bulk density