Introducing ALTRON for use in Molten Zinc Processing

Latest tests confirm versatility of ALTRON^TM material with excellent

abrasion resistance and non-wetting capability. The results of this slag resistance test program for zinc-based melt materials indicate the Altron^TM material is non-wetting and chemically impervious, with no interaction or infiltration evident. Altron^TM displays excellent slag resistance to zinc.

The interaction of zinc with Altron^TM was evaluated using a cast zinc button sample as well as dross and skimmings from a zinc casting manufacturer. Altron^TM cup brick shapes were fabricated for this testing program.

The zinc melt materials were placed in cup bricks and then fired on a laboratory kiln. The kiln firing schedule was a ramp up of 100^oC/hour to 815^oC (1500^oF) followed by a 72 hour hold then cool down to room temperature at 100^oC/hour. The fired cup brick samples were sectioned using a diamond tipped blade. The resulting cross-sections are presented below.

Metal button sample, cross-section Zinc skimmings sample, cross-section

Zinc dross sample, cross-section

Visual inspection of these test articles reveal that no melt infiltration occurred with any of the three zinc melt samples. All three types of melt materials were easily removed from the cup brick surface, either by hand or during the sectioning process, as evidenced in the pictures below of the dross and metal button sections separated from the cup brick samples.

Zinc metal sample sections removed during sectioning

Zinc dross sample section removed by hand

The ease with which the metal alloy, dross, and skimming materials were removed indicates no chemical interaction or bonding with Altron^TM.