The interesting materials you see on I-94

[dionysus1999]

I was driving home several days ago. I saw this semi with a trailer with a large metal cylinder. My first thought was, oh no, someone's got their own nuclear reactor!

As I passed it, I noted it was clearly labeled "Molten Aluminum". Why would you want to transport a molten metal on a highway? I know some dangerous chemicals are routinely transported over our roads, but can you imagine a liquid metal spill?

Comments

[visranti.livejournal.com]

I doubt it'd be much worse than say, a highly corrosive acid spill.

My favourite thing to see on I94 was a car, backing up about a hundred feet on the highway, to get on the exit ramp that I can only presume they missed.

[dionysus1999.livejournal.com]

I see this often enough for it to be unremarkable, even if its incredibly stupid. I've had to swerve to avoid people backing up entrance ramps to the highway as well.

I sometimes wonder if some sort of intelligence test shouldn't be required for a license, though I suspect some of those morons probably didn't have 1) car insurance 2) valid driver's license anyway.

[visranti.livejournal.com]

If you were wondering about what they required to issue a license, I took my Ontario beginners license to the Illinois DMV which, to the DMV's credit, looks an awful lot like a regular license, wrote a written test, and was given a full license that day.

I've never taken a driving test in either country and I cannot drive.

[aackthpt.livejournal.com]

A quick Google search turns up a trucking company specialising in transporting molten aluminium as well as something stating that such transport is common (and discussing doing the same with magnesium). But I wish it were so easy to find out *why* one would do so. My feeling is that it is more efficient overall for the place that processes it (in a molten state obviously) to take it to casters or other places that need it molten than to cool it (and make it into bars or whatever) and reheat it. I'm probably not entirely correct, but if I recall correctly it takes an unusually large amount of energy to melt aluminium due to its high melting point even though it has relatively low heat capacity. It's probably made more difficult also by its high heat conductivity.

why?

[cuddlegoddess.livejournal.com]

This is only a guess, as I know you to be pretty thorough in your searches.

I am guessing that the place that requires the molten aluminum does not require it often enough to put out the finances to have their own facilities for putting it in that state. It may also have to do with time involved, downed equipment, short runs, etc. Whatever the reason I am sure cost rates high in the reasoning...though legalities and location may also be factors.

I will (at a later date) satisfy my curiousity about how they keep it molten while in transport.

Just my guesses. Just thought I "should" mention I am also a toolmaker for those who don't already know. I am NOT a die maker though and they would be even more likely to know the answers to something like this. CG

[aackthpt.livejournal.com]

http://danalog.livejournal.com/171899.html has an interesting discussion of the effects of such a spill. Doesn't sound like much fun to me... unless you consider all the general downtime created and the fun to be had at the nearest pub.

[dionysus1999.livejournal.com]

Fascinating, thanks for the link.