The unexpected loss of molten metal from its container is a hazard
that our plants mitigate on a daily basis. The containers can vary including
but not limited to the following: furnaces, troughing, casting tooling, drain
pans, etc. Here is an incident from a few months ago that we had yet to post. Sadly,
at any point in time we typically have 15-20 stories we have yet to post. We
wish that was not the case. Regardless, we will try to post all the stories
that we know. Here is a story emphasizing the hazard associated when molten
metal escapes.
On
Sunday evening, liquid aluminum flew into the fire at an European smelter in
October 2019, the product leaks to the company's cellar. The fire brigade of three
local fire departments are on site.
Because
the aluminum cannot be extinguished with water, it must cool down naturally.
No one
was injured in the incident, all employees are safely outside the factory.
There is also no danger to the environment, according to a spokesperson for the
fire department.
We are happy no one got injured in this incident. As we have posted before
unexpected molten metal releases can be a mess. Molten metal will flow to the
lowest point, in this case the basement of the factory. Not sure if the
basement is the area under furnace or if it was actually the basement under the
factory floor. Molten metal will flow into any crevice, opening, hole in the
floor. Production areas that have trenches recessed in the floor and covered up
with steel plates are not immune for damage. We have seen numerous incidents
where a gap in the steel plates allows for the molten metal to flow inside.
Whatever molten metal comes into contact will be burned especially electrical
wires.
Lastly, we do not recommend that you filling sand in any mechanical
trenches that are recessed in your floor. The theory is behind that practice is
that the sand will prevent the molten metal from coming in contact with
conduit, water lines, etc. But, many fail to acknowledge that these trenches
gather moisture. That moisture is retained in the sand and when contacted with molten
metal will expand (small to medium explosion). There have been numerous
incidents involving this practice.
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