Suinco S.A.

• 1. Is it important to keep the interior form, of a spoon to anode casting?
• 2. What temperature should be copper for casting?
• 3. What is the appropriate density of release agent?
• 4. What is the best release agent?
• 5. How do you put in service a new mold?
• 6. What is the best mold temperature in service?
• 7. How to measure the speed of molding?
• 8. How to measure performance of mold?
• 9. How to level a mold casting wheel?
• 10. Why does stick a mold?
• 11. Why is it difficult to take off the ears?

1. Is it important to keep the interior form, of a spoon of anode casting?

The anode casting spoon has a defined architecture outside and inside, this architecture is interpreted by the computer program of discharges of copper, and weighing the anode. The interior of the casting ladle is lined with refractory. The ladle capacity is defined by the volume of copper, contained at rest. This copper content at rest should be 10% to 12% more than anode mould, it ensures accuracy of the control balance. The brick on the tip of discharge copper ladle, must keep the width of the interior, for no reason restrict this "Copper output", otherwise it increases the speed of copper output rate, and increases the kinetics of liquid in the mold. The height of the ladle regarding the mold, must be as accurate as possible, this greatly diminishes copper splashes out of the mold.
 This form design should be kept unchanged; otherwise anomalies happen in the anode molding as, burrs on the sides, ribs, deformed ears, and splash copper out of the mold, very difficult to control.
Sometimes making decisions to improve molding these anomalies may be wrong, since other factors may intervene and / or variables, such as molds, copper temperature, defenses install, apply release agent in greater numbers, and / or modify speed flow of the ladles. These corrections and changes may be masking the primary abnormality.
Standard ideal is to keep the interior shape of the spoon exactly as intended by the supplier
This is a complex job, and often taken as unimportant, deserves more attention. The best way is  to give the interior architecture with a formwork of wood or steel plate, that is mounted on the ladle structure, and then filled with refractory concrete, this method is the most accurate and safe.

Darío Wistuba M.
Anode production expert