Show A New Aluminum Process It is stated in a foreign exchan ge that anew a-new aluminum process known as the Maussier process is being introduced in France It comprises three stages desill l fication reduction and liquation The do It silification is effected by fluorine or fluoride fluo-ride of calcium at a high temperature in presence of carbon Lime or the carbonates carbon-ates of potassium or sodium may be added to facilitate the desilification The re auction is obtained by means of iron and manganese raised to incandescence in the presence of carbon The liquation or separation sep-aration of the aluminum from the iron and manganese is effected by dropping the molten mass into carbon ingot molds The information thus given is not very explicit but if true it indicates some important improvements im-provements in the metallurgy of aluminum It has hitherto been understood that the raw material from which aluminum is made especially by electrical processes should be iree from both iron or silicon for if these are present the reduction of iron and silicon sili-con takes place at the same time as the re duction of aluminum alloying the latter metal with the two former objectionable elements It has also been understood that if iron and silicon were alloyed with aluminum they could not be separated from It According to the description of the Maussier process it would appear that a simple means of desilification is had in the use of fluorine lime soda and potassium in presence of carbon at high temperatures By this means it is possible that a pure aluminous oxide may bo obtained for the I subsequent process but it does not appear why it should be necessary in the reduction process to introduce iron and manganese which require a third process for taking them out again The direct re I duction or electrolysis the oxide by electricity elec-tricity would seem to be a better method |