Aluminium Pechiney

Societe Des Electrodes Et Refractaires Savoie/sers

Gabriel Audras

Laurent Michard

The invention concerns a process and an apparatus for applying prestresses to carbonaceous cathodic blocks in the operation of sealing the cathodic bar in position with cast iron. The block (1) in the course of the sealing operation is lifted on two rollers (16A, 16B) in the vicinity of its ends (E) and stresses F1 and F3 are simultaneously applied respectively to the ends (10) of the lateral edges of the limb portions (3) of the block and to the central part (C) of the block. Such stresses must be applied during the sealing operation and maintained for 15 to 30 minutes after the end of the cast iron casting operation. That virtually totally suppresses the occurrence of cracks in the cathodic blocks.

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Lyons, France

Gabriel Audras