Abstract: A mix suitable for room temperature application which, on baking, forms a liquid-tight, electrically conductive seam between adjacent carbon blocks in an electrolytic cell for producing aluminum. The seam mix comprises carbon aggregate calcined to contain less than about 1.5% volatile matter, coal tar pitch or petroleum pitch binder, and an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent. A preferred composition of the seam mix has been found to exhibit less than two percent shrinkage upon heating to 950.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of forming the chloride of a metal-oxygen-containing substance, including the steps of coating particles of such substance with green carbon, i.e. carbon which contains substances more volatile than carbon, heating the coated particles to drive off the volatile matter and produce openings such as pores and fissures, and then reacting the particles from the step of heating with a source of chlorine.

Abstract: A mix suitable for use as seam mix in an electrolytic cell for producing aluminum, of the type which has conventionally consisted essentially of carbon aggregate and binder and which has been heated for the purpose of obtaining sufficient workability to enable a tamping operation to product liquid-tight and electrically conductive seams, wherein the improvement includes the presence of a solvent having a boiling point of from 150.degree. to 350.degree. C. and consisting essentially of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbons having only saturated side chains, the solvent being present in an amount sufficient to render the mix capable of being tamped without the application of heat.

Abstract: A method for producing aluminum chloride comprises contacting Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 with a reducing agent and chlorine in a bath of molten metal halides to form aluminum chloride and recovering the aluminum chloride by vaporization.

Abstract: A mix suitable for use as seam mix in an electrolytic cell for producing aluminum, of the type which has conventionally consisted essentially of carbon aggregate and binder and which has been heated for the purpose of obtaining sufficient workability to enable a tamping operation to produce liquid-tight and electrically conductive seams, wherein the improvement includes the presence of a solvent having a boiling point of from 150.degree. to 350.degree. C and consisting essentially of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbons having only saturated side chains, the solvent being present in an amount sufficient to render the mix capable of being tamped without the application of heat.