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Secat, Inc. Launches Major Flux Mix Project
07/01/2005
Secat, Inc., has joined with a number of industrial partners to launch a project to increase
the recovery of Aluminum during secondary re-melting by understanding the role of flux and to optimize
the operational parameters and "make up" of flux.
With the production of primary Aluminum gradually decreasing over the past several years and no major
facility being set up in the US over the past 30 years, it is clear that the secondary aluminum production
use in the US is expected to increase. This should create a large volume demand for flux in the US,
resulting in a lot of attention being paid to flux cost and optimization of potential mixes.
Flux is used in secondary Aluminum production for three major reasons:
To cover the molten metal and protect it against oxidation
To dissolve dirt and unwanted material from the charge
To separate Aluminum oxides, dirt, dross from the molten metal
The major consumers of flux in the US in aluminum melting are the reverberatory
and rotary furnace operations, with additions being as much as 30% of charge depending
on material being charged into the furnace - building scrap, transportation scrap,
recycled cans and dross.
Based on the studies carried out over the past years,
it is clear that the fluxes in use today are a mix of salts consisting of fluorides and chlorides
of Potassium, Calcium, and Sodium. This combination permits the separation of the oxides from
the metal and allows it to float to the surface from where it can be skimmed off.
This one-year project will be managed by Secat with a Steering Committee with representatives
from each participating company. The industrial partners are supporting the project
with both cash and in-kind support.
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