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Theory of Production of Non-Ferrous Metals

Type of study Doctoral
Language of instruction English
Code 632-0907/02
Abbreviation TVNK
Course title Theory of Production of Non-Ferrous Metals
Credits 10
Coordinating department Department of Materials and Technologies for Vehicles
Course coordinator doc. Ing. Kateřina Skotnicová, Ph.D.

Subject syllabus

Pyro-metallurgy: Phase equilibria in Me-O and Me-S systems. Thermodynamic and kinetic description of pyro-metallurgical processes for production of non-ferrous metals, Ellingham\'s and Kellog\'s diagrams. Processes of calcination, roasting; thermodynamics and kinetics of roasting processes. Melting processes. Processes of distillation and sublimation and their application at production of non-ferrous metals. Basic principles of plasma metallurgy processes, types of reactors, efficiency of processes. Pyro-metallurgical refining procedures, oxidation refining, sulphidisation, chloration, liquation, formation if inter-metallic compounds, carbonylic process, iodine process, vacuum refining, zonal processes and processes of directional crystallisation.

Hydro-metallurgy: Hydro-metallurgy of non-ferrous metals, overview of metals obtained by hydro-metallurgical methods. Equilibria in aqueous solutions. Thermodynamic investigation of heterogeneous systems in aqueous environments, calculations and construction of E-Ph diagrams. Equilibria in Cu-S-H2O, Fe-S-H2O, Cu-Fe-S-H2O, Zn-H2O, Cu-H2O, Ni-H2O, Au-CN-H2O, Al-H2O and U-H2O systems. Kinetics of heterogeneous reactions of leaching processes, influence of variables (temperature, surface of inter-phase interface, flow, etc.) on dissolution kinetics. Physical-chemical fundamentals of processes of cyanide leaching. Electro-chemical substance of dissolution of noble metals, hydrolysis of cyanide solutions. Separation, cleaning and enrichment of spent liquors, processes of ion exchange, adsorption on activated carbon, extraction processes. Obtaining of metals from solutions, thermodynamic aspects of chemical deposition, cementation processes, reduction by hydrogen, liquid extraction, ion exchange, precipitation of poorly soluble compounds, crystallisation form aqueous solutions. Obtaining of metals from aqueous solutions by electrolysis.

Electro-metallurgy Electrolytic processes, Nernst\'s equation and standard electrode potentials, anodic and cathodic polarisation curves for the system metallic ion / metal, overvoltage of hydrogen on electrodes, Tafel\'s equation. Electrolytic metal depositing, refining and precipitating electrolysis, metals obtained by electrolysis form aqueous solutions. Processes of electrolysis of salt melts. Efficiency of processes of electrolytic depositing of metals from salt melts, their advantages and drawbacks.

Pyro-metallurgical procedures for processing of copper ores, basic processes, hydro-metallurgical production methods. Methods of copper refining, basic admixtures and their influence on the properties of copper. Properties and applications of copper, overview of the basic copper alloys, composition, structure, properties.

Production of crude lead, basic procedures and fundamental reactions. Refining of crude lead, basic admixtures, properties and applications of lead, overview of basic alloys, composition, structure, properties. Overview of technologies for production of zinc. Properties and use of zinc, overview of basic alloys, influence of composition on the structure and properties.

Overview of technologies for production of nickel, nickel refining. Properties and use of nickel and its alloys, division of nickel alloys. Production of noble metals Au, Ag and elements of Pt group. Characteristics of noble metals, division of basic types of noble metals and are of their use.

Production of aluminium, raw materials and characterisation of basic processing methods. Electrolysis of Al2O3 and electrolytic refining of aluminium. Properties and uses of aluminium and its alloys, division of alloys. Production of magnesium, properties and use of magnesium and its alloys, division of alloys, structure and properties.

Production of tungsten, fundamental reactions, production of chemical compounds and their conversion to metallic tungsten, uses of tungsten. Production of molybdenum, fundamental reactions, reduction of oxides, processing and use of Mo. Production of titanium, fundamental reactions in pyro-metallurgy and hydro-metallurgy of titanium. Properties and use of titanium, effect of additives, titanium alloys.

Production of zirconium and hafnium, fundamental reactions. Properties and use of zirconium and hafnium, zirconium alloys. Rare-earth metals, principles, methods of their production. Properties and applications of rare earth metals.

Radioactive metals, division. Production of uranium, hydro-metallurgical and pyro-metallurgical reactions. Properties and use of uranium, uranium alloys and compounds used in nuclear engineering, production and properties of thorium.

Literature

VIGNES, Alain. Extractive metallurgy. London: ISTE, c2011. ISBN 978-1-84821-160-5 .
MICHNA, Š. et al. Aluminium Materials and Technologies from A to Z. Prešov: Adin, 2007. ISBN 978-80-89244-18-8.
SKOTNICOVÁ, K., M. LOSERTOVÁ a M. KURSA. Theory of production of non-ferrous metals and alloys. Ostrava: VŠB-TU Ostrava, 2015.

Advised literature

ABEL, L.A., ed. ASM handbook: Nonferrous alloys and special-purpose materials. Volume 2, Properties and selection: Materials Park: ASM International, 1990. ISBN 0-87170-378-5.
DAVIS, J.R. ed. Metals handbook. Desk ed. Materials Park: ASM International, 1998. ISBN 0-87170-654-7.