elkem carbon has recently launched a new product, elseal® g which will greatly reduce workers’ exposure to carcinogenic compounds during the industrial production of aluminum and make aluminum production greener and safer.
the aluminum production temperature is 950℃. to prevent liquid metal and corrosive electrolyte from damaging the cathode lining, we need to use cathode stamp pastes to seal the gaps around cathodic carbon blocks during the production process. traditional cathode stamp pastes all contain coal tar adhesive and coal tar is classified as a hazardous substance for it contains the carcinogenic pah compound. such hazardous substances used during the aluminum production might hurt the physical health of workers, and will cause air pollution and make waste treatment more difficult.
elkem carbon’s new product elseal® g may be used as a substitute for cathode stamp pastes containing coal tar. it contains no hazardous substances such as pah and won’t expose workers to potential hazardous chemicals during the operation, so the whole production process will be greener, healthier and safer. what’s more important, elseal® g is as technologically sound as, if not better than, existing products and more suitable for storage. thus it’s very attractive for aluminum producers technologically and economically.
according to elkem carbon marketing and sales director stian madshus, so far all the customer feedback on the performance of elseal® g is positive and it has become a benchmark product for some customers. hydro, a norway-based aluminum producer, is among one of them and it's one of the first to use elseal® g in electrolysis bath relining in its smelters.