Cathode ramming paste

What is ramming paste?

Ramming paste is a granular material that is used to ensure a good seal within the cathodes of the electrolytic cells used for reduction of aluminium oxide to metallic aluminium using the Hall–Héroult process.
Ramming paste must be packed tightly, both around the peripheral seam of the cathode part of the pot and in the small joints between the cathode blocks themselves, and this is achieved with the aid of rolling or vibration equipment.

If this process is not carried out correctly, or if an inferior product is used, then shrinkage of the paste can result during baking, leading to leakage of molten aluminium and electrolyte. This can damage the cathode, and can cause disruption to cell operation or even premature pot failure.
However, such problems can be avoided by using a high-quality product, and by paying close attention to the packing process. If this is done, the paste should expand slightly when baked, providing a good seal for the entire lifetime of the electrolytic cell (typically 5–7 years).

High-quality ramming paste from Elkem

Since the 1980s, Elkem has been supplying high-quality ramming paste and technical expertise to the aluminium smelting industry. Today, we offer two products within our ELSEAL® ramming paste portfolio:

Free-flowing

The amount of binder used in our ELSEAL® product is carefully optimized so that the product is dry enough to be free-flowing and therefore easy to handle. At the same time, we ensure that the formulation sinters effectively during the baking process, and therefore forms a long-lasting seal.

Low-emission, low-odor

Conventional ramming paste is formulated using coal-tar pitch as the binder. Although this form is highly effective, during handling and baking it releases harmful emissions, including small quantities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This requires the use of respiratory equipment by workers, as well as other environmental controls.
ELSEAL® G ramming paste overcomes this problem by using a water-borne mixture of organic compounds as the binder. This eliminates emissions of PAHs completely, and avoids any odor problems, making installation safer and more environmentally friendly. Type G paste has equivalent performance to our conventional Type TE product, and since its release in 2014 has had this performance proven in over 15,000 aluminium reduction cells.

Consistent quality

Our ELSEAL® ramming paste is produced to high specifications at our plants in Norway, Brazil and China. This ensures consistent product quality, for optimum performance every time.

Thermal conductivity options

Both types of ELSEAL® paste are available in two grades, providing a thermal conductivity of 7 W/(m·K) or 12 W/(m·K) after baking. We can provide advice on which is best suited to your electrolysis process.

At Elkem, our offering to the aluminium smelting industry goes far beyond just supplying high-quality products to our customers – for more than 30 years, we’ve also been there to ensure that installation of the product proceeds seamlessly.

So if you buy ELSEAL® ramming paste from us, you’ll also benefit from:

• Installation guidance and auditing
• Problem-solving and technical advice
• Advice on temperature measurements during cell heat-up
• Collaboration on development work
• Regular on-site technical visits.

Sustainability at Elkem

To learn more about our sustainability initiatives, check our webpage.

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