BS ISO 15379-1:2019

What is ISO 15379-1 - Cathode block materials about? 

ISO 15379-1 is the first part of the multi-series standard on carbonaceous materials for the production of aluminium. 

ISO 15379-1 specifies a method that covers the determination of linear expansion under external pressure due to sodium penetration in cathode-block materials used in the production of aluminium. 

The linear expansion of the blocks depends on the sampling direction due to anisotropy. 

Who is ISO 15379-1 - Cathode block materials for?  

ISO 15379-1 on the determination of the expansion due to sodium penetration with the application of pressure is useful for: 

• Manufacturers of cathode block materials 
• Aluminium production industries 
• Steel industries 

Why should you use ISO 15379-1 - Cathode block materials?  

Expansion due to sodium penetration is an important property of carbon cathode blocks. As soon as alumina electrolysis starts, sodium penetrates into the carbon cathode blocks causing swelling of these blocks. 

ISO 15379-1 suggests measuring electrical resistivity before and after the test. Due to thermal and sodium expansion when heating up the cathode blocks in the electrolysis cells to operational temperature, the block will be subject to pressure from the steel shell, therefore, in the present method, 5 MPa is chosen as a realistic maximum pressure. 

ISO 15379-1 provides you with the principles, apparatus, procedures and calculations for the expansion of cathode block materials. This will help you to prevent cracks while production of the material. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS ISO 15379-1:2019 supersedes BS ISO 15379‑1:2015, which is withdrawn. 

The main changes to the previous edition are as follows: 

• ASTM E 220 has been removed from Clause 2 and 5.3 
• Minor changes have been made in 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5 
• Clause 10 has been aligned with test reports in other ISO/TC 226 standards