Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Dissolution of Copper and Steel by Molten Aluminum

RedDwarf - 25-4-2020 at 05:49

Is anyone able to get access to this paper from the National Academy of Forensic Engineers?

Journal Article Title: Dissolution of Copper and Steel by Molten Aluminum
Article Author(s): FUCHS, RODNEY G., P.E.
Volume: 14
Volume #: 2
Month: December
Year: 1997

Download this paper

Abstract:

Fire investigators occasionally find metals such as steel and copper melted, pitted, and eaten away in a fire scene where temperatures have obviously not reached the melting point of these metals. Molten metal, such as aluminum, can actually dissolve steel and copper at temperatures below their normal melting points. This paper discusses the phenomenon along with the ramifications to the investigator of the origin and cause of a fire.

Thanks

vyper47 - 29-4-2020 at 08:42

Couldn't download the exact paper you requested, but found something related, that might come to help

https://sci-hub.tw/10.2320/matertrans1960.23.780

Irish9 - 8-5-2020 at 19:06

I don't have access to the papers but I have observed that personally. I make my own steel crucibles for casting a range of metals and was tinkering with greensand casting of Aluminium and had a crucible fail. It was eaten though at the base (hottest part with this furnace) from the inside out. Would have been a lot more interesting if it had not dropped two kg of Al alloy into the bottom of a newish furnace :(

j_sum1 - 8-5-2020 at 21:51

It is small, but that 5°C drop down to the eutectic at 98%Al is enough to do it.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Qingyou_Han/publication...

And it is amazing how often the minute details of phase diagrams is where all the critical action is.