Why Aluminum Pellets?
More Surface Area for Faster Dissolution
Aluminum product form can have a significant effect on dissolution performance. Compared with conventional aluminum bars and ingots, pellets expose more aluminum surface area to the surrounding process, allowing more material to react at one time.
For applications where aluminum dissolution affects batch time, this increased surface area can provide faster reaction rates, shorter processing cycles, and increased throughput.
University-Tested Performance
C-KOE Metals commissioned researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington to evaluate the dissolution of aluminum pellets in hydrochloric acid during the production of aluminum chlorohydrate.
The study evaluated 3/8-inch and 1/4-inch aluminum pellets through laboratory and 3-gallon reactor testing. The physical trials included comparisons with approximately 5 lb aluminum bars, while mathematical modeling was used to evaluate performance in larger reactors using 50 lb bars as the conventional reference.
Under the conditions evaluated, pellet-based reactions achieved 2.0 to 5.7 times the productivity of the conventional aluminum bar and ingot processes evaluated. The research also confirmed that smaller pellets generally reacted faster because their greater surface area exposed more aluminum to the reaction.
For manufacturers where process speed, consistency, and productivity are important, aluminum pellets provide an efficient alternative to larger aluminum product forms.
footnote: The study evaluated aluminum dissolution in hydrochloric acid during aluminum chlorohydrate production. Actual results vary based on the application, equipment, reactor design, temperature, and operating conditions.
Surface Area Comparison
| Product Form | Approximate Surface Area per 50lb. |
|---|---|
| 50 lb. Aluminum Ingot | 750 sq. in. |
| 5 lb. Notched Bar | 1,150 sq. in. |
| 3/8″ Aluminum Pellets | 13,250 sq. in. |
| 1/4″ Aluminum Pellets | 15,050 sq. in. |
Process Benefits
Compared to traditional aluminum ingots, aluminum pellets can provide several advantages depending on the application:
- Greater exposed surface area
- Faster dissolution potential
- Reduced batch processing time
- Increased production throughput
- Multiple pellet sizes for different process requirements
Could Aluminum Pellets Improve Your Process?
Contact C-KOE to discuss your application and determine whether aluminum pellets are the right product form for your process.
