Archive > Metal Asia > July 2011

Metal Asia July 2011 Issue

A Complete Metal Magazine

SPECIAL COVERAGE

Global aluminium and non-ferrous metals industry attains new height
The global aluminium market is showcasing a state of high. Among many countries in the offshore areas which possess this silvery metal, China stands on the peak position while producing the most of it.

COMMENT

Base Metals prices on rising spree: Copper and Nickel to rule the market
Indian base-metals companies have been riding high on the back of a rise in sales volume for the last few quarters on account of strong domestic demand from automobiles, construction and industrial sectors. The companies are getting advantages also as higher prices of base metals have pushed up product prices. Following the strong growth, base metal prices are expected to mount up in next year as well.

NATIONAL TRENDS

• Aluminium prices may recover soon

  NALCO, the second-biggest producer of aluminium in the country, said aluminium prices may recover soon from a low of $2,600 per tonne as the current declining trend in metal prices is not due to demand-supply mismatch.

• MEL merges with SAIL

  Maharashtra Elektrosmelt Limited (MEL), the 99.12% subsidiary of Maharatna Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has been merged with SAIL.

• HCL plans to raise ore ouput

  State-run Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) has decided to accelerate work on new mine development that aims to raise ore production by almost four times.

• NALCO reduces product prices by Rs. 5000 per tonne

  According to the latest report, National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), which is Asia’s largest integrated aluminium complex, has reduced basic price across all its product segments by Rs. 5000 per metric tonne.

• GMDC invites more companies for its alumina project

  State-run mining major Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (GMDC) is currently on a process of inviting financial offers from more companies for its proposed Rs. 14,000 crore alumina project in Kutch. GMDC had already shortlisted four companies in January this year and awaits a partner for the project.

• Vedanta invests Rs. 10,000 cr to complete Jharsuguda power projects

  Vedanta Aluminium Limited will invest about Rs. 10,000 crore to complete its ongoing aluminium smelter and independent power plants at Jharsuguda.

INTERNATIONAL TRENDS

• Aleris to establish new cold rolling mill

  Aleris International Inc., Beachwood, Ohio, is on a move to establish a new cold rolling mill in its Duffel, Belgium facility. The company will spend about 70 million dollars for the new mill.

• Outotec: Alumina calcination technology in Saudi Arabia

  Finnish mining and metal manufacturing equipment supplier Outotec has agreed with Ma’aden Bauxite Alumina Company, a joint venture between Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and Alcoa in Saudi Arabia, on the delivery of two calciners to the joint venture’s integrated aluminium complex at Ras Al Khair (formerly Ras Az Zawr), Saudi Arabia.

• Aleris signs five year pact with Airbus

  Aleris has signed a five-year agreement to provide aluminium plate and sheet in a range of alloys to Airbus for its global programs.

• Outotec inks contract with AMMC

  Outotec has inked a contract with OJSC Almalyk Mining & Metallurgical Company (AMMC) for the design and delivery of a gas cleaning and sulfuric acid plant to AMMC’s existing copper production facilities, located near Almalyk, Uzbekistan. The contract is valued at approximately EUR 30 million.

• Automatic Collar Forming Systems protect stubs in aluminium smelters

  High bath levels can result in ring erosion of anode stubs. The same effect also occurs when anode life is extended by lowering the rod further into the pot that would normally be the case.

IN FOCUS

• NALCO: emerging ahead as a leading player

  National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) was integrated in the year 1981 as a public sector enterprise of the Government of India. The company stands as Asia's largest integrated aluminium complex, encircling bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting and casting, power generation, rail and port operations.

COMPANY REPORT

ABB second-quarter net income rises 43% amid steady top line growth

ABB reported a 43-per cent increase in second-quarter net income to $893 million amid strong industrial growth, higher earnings in the Power Systems division and the contribution from recent acquisitions, especially Baldor Electric.

Alcoa’s Q2: Income from continuing operations jump 138 pct, Revenue up 27 pct

Alcoa announced that second quarter 2011 income from continuing operations jumped 138 per cent compared to a year ago on growing revenue, record quarterly alumina revenue and record mid- and down-stream performance.

REFRACTORY

Influence of graphite and copper in mechanical properties of aluminium silicon alloy

The present work deals with the mechanical behaviour of the Al-Si-Cu/graphite composite at different strain rates. Stir casting technique was used to fabricate the Al-Si alloy and composite. In order to improve the wettability of graphite with the alloy, graphite particulates were ball milled with copper and preheated to 400°C. The uniaxial tensile tests were conducted at various strain rates in the range of 10-4s-1 to 10-2s-1. The ultimate tensile strength of the composite was higher than that of the alloy for all strain rates. The hardness of the composite was also better than that of alloy. The elongation of the alloy was more than that of composite for all strain rates. The uniform distribution of graphite and silicon particles were observed from the microstructure. The fracture mode of alloy and composite were analyzed.

Influence of Nano TiO2 addition on the properties of direct bonded Mag – Chrome Bricks

Direct bonded Magnesia chrome bricks find its application in ferrous and non-ferrous industries due to superior thermo-mechanical properties and resistance to both acidic and basic slag. Thermo-mechanical properties influence the actual performance of the brick in a furnace or reactor to a great extent. Normally, to infuse direct bonding, it requires firing temperature in excess of 1700°C in a controlled atmosphere. In the present work, magnesia chrome bricks with and without nano titania addition has been studied with respect to physical and thermo-mechanical properties. . The effect of nano titania addition on thermo-mechanical properties is evaluated and compared. Finally, the thermo-mechanical properties have been correlated with microstructure and pore size.

Refractories industry in Indiapresent scenario, issues and way forward

The Indian refractory industry has witnessed sustained growth in the past few years buoyed by the growth in the iron & steel, cement and non-ferrous industries. Refractories play an extremely important role in the development of the core sector, a fact which mostly remains unnoticed. Although, turnover-wise it is miniscule compared to the GDP of the country, it is critical to the production process and as well as quality. The industry, which is now at the advanced stage of growth has the capability to address the increased challenges posed by the user industries like stringent operating parameters, demand for clean steel etc.

ALUMINIUM INDUSTRY

Principles of filtration in the aluminium industry

Contribution of aluminium in the infrastructural development in any country is undoubtedly phenomenal and all efforts are worth which makes its production more eco-friendly yet cost effective.

AUTOMATION

Mold Monitoring System MMS plus

The need to detect and prevent breakouts early is as old as the continuous casting technology itself. For this purpose, temperature measurement by means of thermocouples on the copper plates of the mold has proven to be the most reliable procedure. In this case, not only the actual temperature sensor is decisive for a successful temperature measurement but a proper assembly of the sensor with regard to the rough operating conditions during continuous casting also plays an important role. Therefore, SMS Siemag has developed thermocouples which provide a safe contact with the copper plate and allow the mechanical equipment to be easily replaced.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

4th generation of COROMAX® pulse generators for ESP’s

The tendency in air pollution regulations is a decrease of the accepted levels for fine particles. For e.g. the EU has imposed lower limit on ambient concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). It is well known that pulse energization is the most effective means in charging and filtering fine particulate when using ESP’s.

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS

Technology upgradation in carbon plant of NALCO smelter

In electrolysis process, carbon anode quality significantly affects cell performance, current efficiency, metal purity and more importantly overall cost of aluminium with associated risk of higher GHG emissions. With fundamental changes in global smelting technology, more and more aluminium smelters are increasingly operating with higher cell amperage to minimize the impact of energy input cost. To suit the operational needs of technology up-gradation in electrolytic process, demands for increasing the quality and physical characteristics of the carbon anodes are extremely essential to sustain the reduction process. The growing demand of smelters migrating to higher kilo amperage has led sweeping changes in carbon manufacturing technology and processes to manufacture quality anodes while maintaining the bottom lines. The article attempts to walk through the odyssey of technological approaches carried out at Nalco smelter over a span of more than two decades.

POST METEC REVIEW

ISR Infomedia participates at METEC 2011

The quartet of international technology trade fair GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST concluded this year with much glamour and fanfare.