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The Preparation And Application of Aluminum Carbide Powder

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Aluminum carbide is an inorganic compound with the molecular formula Al4C3. Aluminum carbide is a yellow or greenish gray crystal block or powder, which is hygroscopic. Aluminum carbide powder is decomposed at high temperature and dissolved into methane and aluminum hydroxide in cold water.

The Preparation of Aluminum Carbide

Aluminum carbide is obtained by heating alumina and coke in an electric furnace. Aluminum carbide Al4C3 is prepared by direct combination of two elements at high temperature.
First prepare a mixture of 1 part heavy smoke black and 6 parts heavy aluminum powder, moisten the mixture with pine essential oil, put a tight layer in a clay crucible, and spread a layer of carbon powder on it. The crucible should be covered with a lid, and all the gaps should be smeared with refractory soil mixed with asbestos fibers. Then, after placing the crucible with the mixture in an oven for pre-drying, the mixture is fired at a temperature not lower than 1200degC for 30 minutes, higher temperature can make the reaction proceed better.

After cooling, the product is treated with dilute hydrochloric acid (or alkaline solution) under cooling to remove excess aluminum. The aluminum carbide obtained as a fine crystalline powder is washed with water to remove aluminum chloride, then the water is quickly washed away with alcohol, and the product is placed in a drying box at a temperature of 80-90degC for drying. The product contains a large amount of aluminum nitride.

Pure aluminum carbide is colorless, but the products made by the above method often have different colors due to impurities in the raw materials.

When the calculated amount of the mixture of aluminum and soot is calcined in hydrogen, a pure product without aluminum nitride can be obtained. This calcination should be carried out at a temperature of 1800 to 1900degC for 2 to 3 hours. The resultant product is ground and calcined again at the above-mentioned temperature.

The Application of Aluminum Carbide

Aluminum carbide is used in metallurgy, catalyst and methane production. In addition, typical applications of aluminum carbide include:
1. The finely dispersed aluminum carbide particles in the aluminum matrix reduce the tendency of the material to creep, especially when combined with silicon carbide particles.

2. Aluminum-aluminum carbide composite materials can be made by mechanical alloying, grinding aluminum powder and graphite particles together.

3. Aluminum carbide can be used as an abrasive in high-speed cutting tools. Its hardness is almost the same as that of topaz.

4. Aluminum carbide is also used in fireworks, for example, to achieve the effect of fireflies.

Tech Co., Ltd () is a professional aluminum carbide powder with over 12 years experience in chemical products research and development. If you are looking for high quality aluminum carbide powder, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry.