Nonferrous Metal Developments on the Pacific Slope

Abstract

THE closing of the Longview, Wash., works of the Reynolds Metals Co. on June 7, 1947, reduced the number of operating aluminum reduction plants in the western states to three: Aluminum Co. of America at Vancouver, Wash.; Permanente Metals Corp. at Spokane, Wash. (Mead), and Reynolds Metals Co. at Troutdale, Ore. Cessation of operations at Longview also brought a temporary halt in the production of aluminum on the Pacific Coast from the Soderberg-type reduction cell. All three of the currently operating plants use the Hall-Heroult cell developed by the Aluminum Co. of America. The chief difference between these two reduction cells is in the type of electrode used and the manner in which this electrode is introduced into the cell. The Hall-Heroult cell utilizes six or more preformed electrodes which are suspended in the cell by means of copper bars. The Soderberg cell features only one electrode, cylindrical in form, which originates as ...