Abstract: A cement for cathode collector bar/carbon block joints of electrolytic reduction cells as used, for example, for the production of aluminum. The cement comprises an aggregate of anthracite, graphite or mixtures of the two, and a binder comprising a curable water-soluble liquid polymeric resin and water. The fluidity of the cement is high enough that a joint may be formed by pouring the cement into a slot in the carbon block and positioning a bar on the top of the cement. The weight of the bar forces the cement up around the sides of the bar. The fluidity of the cement is made high enough by the use of an aggregate of -200 Tyler mesh, a resin content of 34-37% by weight of the cement and an amount of water in the range of 7-13% by weight of the cement. While the cement fluidity is suitably high as indicated above, it has a linear shrinkage of 4-5% when subjected to high temperature.

Abstract: A cement for collector bar-carbon block joints of electrolytic cells, particularly for cells used for the production of aluminum. The cement comprises an aggregate of calcined anthracite or an anthracite/graphite mixture, a settable liquid polymeric binder and a curing agent for causing the binder to set. The cement is formulated so that it has a linear shrinkage of about 0.3 to 1.5% when exposed to the operating temperatures of the cell. The cement maintains a good electrical connection between the collector bar and carbon block without causing cracking of the block or of the cement.

Abstract: A cement for bonding carbon blocks, particularly the cathode blocks of electrolytic cells, e.g. Hall-Heroult cells used for the production of aluminum. The cement comprises a carbonaceous aggregate of particle size smaller than 48 Tyler mesh, a curable water-soluble liquid polymeric resin (preferably a phenol-formaldehyde resin), water and normally a curing agent for the resin. The water is used in such an amount that the proportion of the resin can be reduced without adversely affecting the viscosity of the cement at ambient temperature. The cement carbonizes when the carbon blocks are subjected to high temperatures and has a linear shrinkage of less than 5%, which reduces the tendency of the carbonized cement to crack.