MANUFACTURE OF ALUMINUM OR ALUMINUM ALLOY BY REFINING

PURPOSE:To lower advantageously the temp. of a reducing environment when alumina is refined by a blast furnace method, by diluting generated CO with H2 or an inert gas to accelerate reduction. CONSTITUTION:Al2O3 or natural and/or artificial minerals contg. Al2O3 are used as a starting material, and the starting material and a solid carbon-base reducing agent are heated to 1,400-2,000 deg.C in a furnace. CO generated by the reduction of the starting material is diluted with H2 or an inert gas to reduce the partial pressure of CO in the furnace. The temp. at which the reduction of Al2O3 with C begins can be lowered under the reduced partial pressure of CO, so Al or an Al alloy such as Al-Fe or Al-Si can be obtd. by advantageous reduction at a relatively low temp.