Investigating the effects of charge components on metallic chromium production via the aluminothermic route with no external energy

Abstract

The possibility of producing metallic chromium Si-om Cr2O3 via rite aluminothermic route, with no external energy supply, was the subject of th is laboratory-scale research. The experimental study focused on investigating the individual effects and quantitative optimization of the charge contents, i.e., the additions of CrO3, A I powder and CaO (or BaO). The highest chromium recovery of 98% was attained with rile additions of 12% CrO3 and 1.2 times the stoichiometrically required amount of Al powder. nle optimum CaO addition giving the highest chromium recovery was found when the CaO/Al weight ratio in the charge was equal to 0.3. When BaO was used, however, 95% CI extraction efficiency was obtained at a BnO/Al weight ratio of 0.15.