Thirteenth Element!!!

by **mmani** Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:44 am

Would
you like to see how aluminum is made? Are you interested in observing the
process of turning clay into metal with the help of electricity? Then welcome
to the RUSAL factory.

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Three
factories of RUSAL are located in Sayanogorsk while the largest factory in the
world engaged in aluminum production is situated in Krasnogorsk.

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This
is the aluminum factory of Sayanogorsk. Aluminum is the third most abundant
element (after oxygen and silicon), and the most abundant metal, in the Earth’s
crust. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. There is a lot of
aluminum in nature but the one we deal with is obtained industrially and is not
met in nuggets as gold.

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Alum
is produced at the electrolysis center using baths with baked anodes. The
anodes are placed into a bath with electrolysis, covered with clay and are then
turned into metal.

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This
is a baked anode. The modern technology helps to get rid of harmful substances
at the stage of production.

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Lines
of electrolysis cells are stretching beyond the horizon. These new workshops
were built in 2004-2006 and united in a separate factory later on. The
production process is almost totally automatized.

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With
the help of the construction on the crane aluminum is taken out of electrolysis
baths and poured into buckets that will be carried to the foundry. 2 tones of
clay, 0,5 tones of carbon for the anode and 15000 kW an hour are needed to
obtain one ton of alum.

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Then
a bucket with aluminum is put on a truck and taken to the foundry. A necessary
alloy is made of regular aluminum in a special furnace.

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Pure
aluminum is poured into a furnace.

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Metal
is pouring into small ingots.

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Aluminum
is a beautiful metal.

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There
were times when alum was considered more expensive than precious metals. In
1855 when the metal was first introduced to the public, it was called ‘silver
made of clay’. Napoleon III, Emperor of France, is reputed to have given a
banquet where the most honored guests were given aluminum utensils, while
others used regular golden dishes.

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Metal
is poured into vertical cans.

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Here
long cylinders are cut in parts.

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Russia
became the first country in the world engaged in alum industrial production.
Initial kilograms of Soviet aluminum was obtained with the help of electrolytic
tanks.

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After
the fall of the USSR the aluminum industry saw tough times being influenced by
Trans World Group that deprived factories of funds necessary for production
development and local criminals who hoped to get fast profit. In 1994 first
steps were made directed at acquisition of independence. In 2007 United company
Russian Aluminum was created. It has become the largest manufacturer of
aluminum and clay in the world.

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