Improvements in Obtaining Aluminium or its Alloys.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 5th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Obtaining Aluminium or its Alloys.
GODFREY BAMBERG 7 Holly Village Highgate, N. Gentleman do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Two pipes leading from two retorts containing respectively zinc & chloride of
aluminium (or double chloride of aluminium & sodium, or the materials to form them)
are conducted into a retort in such a manner that the ends of the pipes are nearly in
contact with, and inclined towards one another. All three retorts are maintained at a
temperature above full red heat. The vapours of the zinc & the chloride of aluminium
both enter the third retort, and on coming into contact with each other the chloride is
decomposed & the aluminium is reduced.
Math 1000
GODFREY BAMBERG.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Obtaining Aluminium or its Alloys.
I, GODFREY BAMBERG of 7 Holly Village, Highgate, Gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
My invention relates to the production of aluminium from its chloride or from the
double chloride of aluminium and sodium, by means of zinc. It has heretofore been
proposed to bring these bodies together in the solid or liquid form under heating
whereby zinc chloride is formed and aluminium is set free. Difficulties arise however
in this process which have prevented its practical adoption. According to my present
invention I avoid such difficulties by volatilising the zinc in the first instance and
then bringing the zine vapour together with the vapour of aluminium chloride or of
the double chloride of aluminium and sodium at the temperature of a white heat
under the exclusion of air, whereby the chemical affinity of the zinc for the chlorine
of the chlorides is increased and both the zinc and 'the chloride or chlorides are
brought into intimate contact in the finest possible state of subdivision, so that a most
effective reaction of the particles is established, resulting in the ready production of
chloride of zinc, and the setting free of the aluminium, which condenses to metallic
form.
I prefer in this process to employ an excess of zinc over and above that required
for effecting the said decomposition, so that the liberated aluminium in condensing
shall at once mix with the excess of zinc.
The proportions of the materials required for the above described reaction are,
theoretically, 195 parts by weight of zinc to 213 parts of chloride of aluminium, but
as above stated, I prefer to use an excess of zinc.
The proportion of zinc which combines mechanically with the aluminium is
afterwards separated therefrom by subjecting the alloy to a temperature above a clear
red heat, or about 1040° Cent., when the zinc will distil off, while the aluminium, not
being volatile at that temperature is left behind.
The zinc vapour given off can either be directly used again in the process, or it can
be condensed into the metallic form.
The zinc chloride can be converted into zinc oxide by the addition of caustic soda,
and the zinc oxide can be reduced to zinc by mixing it with fine carbon in any
suitable manner and raising it to white heat in the usual way of smelting zinc, and
this zinc can be used over again. It will probably be advantageous to use the same
D

page_text: zinc over again as it will contain less impurities than the original zinc, namely, iron,
arsenic, silicon, etc
In practically carrying out my said invention I proceed as follows-
A suitable retort is nearly filled with zinc previously melted and of as pure a
quality as practicable, and another retort is partially filled with the chloride of
aluminium or the double chloride, or materials such as would produce the vapours of
the chloride upon being raised above clear red heat (1040° C) These retorts are
connected with a third retort or suitable mixing chamber by pipes or channels
preferably covered with a suitable non-conducting material so that no subliniation of
the chloride or condensation of the zinc should take place in them. The mixing
chamber is maintained, under exclusion of air, as nearly as possible at a white heat
towards that part thereof where the pipes from the retorts enter, while the; further end
should be at a lower temperature so as to allow the particles of aluminium and zinc to
The zinc
run together therein in the form of a liquid to be drawn off to cool
chloride will escape at the furthest least heated end as a vapour, and it can then be
condensed to a liquid state by means of any of the usual cooling apparatus. The
mixed zinc and aluminium is distilled, the zinc going off as vapour which may be
injected directly into the above mixing chamber again, to economise fuel, or it can be
cooled down to solid form, the less volatile aluminium remaining behind in fluid
metallic form, is run off and solidified.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is .
The process for the production of aluminium or an alloy of aluminium and zinc
from aluminium chloride or double chloride, wherein metallic zinc and the chloride
of aluminium or double chloride of aluminium and sodium are respectively heated in
separate vessels or chambers to the point of volatilisation, the resulting vapours of
zinc and of aluminium chloride or double chloride being then brought together in a
third highly heated vessel under exclusion of air whereby zincic chloride and metallic
aluminium will be produced, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 5th day of March 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.