Reduction of aluminum oxide in a nonequilibrium hydrogen plasma

A new method is proposed and experimental investigations are carried out aimed at reducing aluminum oxide in a nonequilibrium hydrogen plasma of a combined glow discharge (CGD) at a pressure of 1315.8–13,158 Pa, a discharge current of 5·10⁻²–3 A, and a hydrogen flow rate of 10⁻⁶–10⁻⁴ nm³/sec. A high degree of conversion of the aluminum oxide (60%) with an energy consumption of 20 kW·h/kg of Al₂O₃ is attained. Reduction of metals from oxides and other compounds in a CGD nonequilibrium hydrogen plasma can be used for producing rare-earth and high-purity metals. Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizcheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 73, No. 3, pp. 580–584, May–June, 2000.