Abstract: A spacer member in a furnace including an aluminum tube containing a ceramic material. The ceramic material provides high compressive strength and the composite product resists high temperature creep.

Abstract: A spacer member for supporting a metallic alloy product during heat treatment comprising a ceramic core and a tubular housing is disclosed. The tubular housing, which encloses the ceramic core, comprises a bore, a wall portion, and two end portions. In order to resist deformation during usage, the tubular housing is made from high temperature steel, a high temperature steel alloy, or cold rolled steel. The wall portion has at least two substantially flat surfaces having corner edges that have a radius of at least ? inch and ends that are tapered at least ¼ inch. In addition, the flat surfaces also have a coating that reduces the sticking of a metallic alloy product. The end portions each have at least one aperture to allow the inside to adjust itself to ambient atmospheric pressure. A method of making a spacer member is also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid material (12′) circumscribing an anode system (10) in an electrolysis apparatus is made from a mixture of cryolite and/or alumina (Al2O3), where the solid material (12′) contacts and surrounds the anodes (14, 14′).

Abstract: A solid material (12′) circumscribing an anode system (10) in an electrolysis apparatus is made from a mixture of cryolite and/or alumina (Al2O3), where the solid material (12′) contacts and surrounds the anodes (14, 14′).

Abstract: A method of measuring the concentration of a molten bath component comprises the steps of placing a test sample in contact with the molten bath sample, measuring a change in temperature of that sample due to dissolution of the test sample, and determining the concentration of the component in that molten bath based on the change in sample temperature. The test sample can comprise alumina, and the molten bath can comprise a cryolite bath. The test sample can be placed in a probe chamber, which is then immersed in the molten bath, opened to permit the sample of the molten bath to enter the probe chamber, and closed prior to the step of measuring a change in temperature of the sample of the molten bath. An apparatus for measuring the concentration of the component in a molten bath is also disclosed.

Abstract: An anode system (10) in contact with a molten salt bath (34) in an electrolysis apparatus, contains a 50% to 95% dense refractory support (12) which comprises refractory material and from 2 wt %. to 20 wt. % of metal fibers (40), where the metal fibers are from 1 cm to 4 cm long.

Abstract: A spacer member in a furnace including an aluminum tube containing a ceramic material. The ceramic material provides high compressive strength and the composite product resists high temperature creep.

Abstract: A spacer member in a furnace including an aluminum tube containing a ceramic material. The ceramic material provides high compressive strength and the composite product resists high temperature creep.

Abstract: A cermet anode of an electrolytic cell is protected from thermal shock during cell start-up by coating an outer surface portion of the anode with a coating composition comprising carbon or aluminum or a mixture thereof. A particularly preferred coating composition includes an aluminum underlayer adjacent the outer surface portion of the anode, and a carbon overlayer overlying the underlayer. A support structure assembly supporting the cermet anode includes a high alumina ceramic material. In a preferred embodiment, the high alumina ceramic material is protected from thermal shock and corrosion by the coating composition of the invention.

Abstract: A cermet anode of an electrolytic cell is protected from thermal shock during cell start-up by coating an outer surface portion of the anode with a coating composition comprising carbon or aluminum or a mixture thereof. A particularly preferred coating composition includes an aluminum underlayer adjacent the outer surface portion of the anode, and a carbon overlayer overlying the underlayer. A support structure assembly supporting the cermet anode includes a high alumina ceramic material. In a preferred embodiment, the high alumina ceramic material is protected from thermal shock and corrosion by the coating composition of the invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for timely and accurate measurement of material parameters are disclosed. A test sensor measures the temperature of a sample of material as it is heated up and/or cooled down. A reference sensor is used to obtain differential temperature measurements as the temperature of the test sample is varied. A differential temperature trace is generated and analyzed in order to determine various characteristics of the material being tested. In one embodiment, the sodium fluoride to aluminum fluoride ratio (NaF:AlF3) and alumina concentration in a Hall bath aluminum smelting operation are determined in order to efficiently control smelting of aluminum metal. In this embodiment, bath temperature and liquidus temperature may be measured and compared in order to determine the amount of superheat of the bath and to prevent the operation of smelters at higher temperatures than necessary.

Abstract: The present invention is a wax-based material for use in the lost wax process where the wax must be capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 350.degree. F., the wax-based material including: (a) a high temperature brittle wax; (b) about 5-30 wt % organic plasticizer including polyfunctional amines and alcohol amines and (c) about 5-10 wt % paraffin wax.