Chapel process

Process for direct determination of hydrogen in aluminum melts. The partial hydrogen pressure in the melt is directly measured by means of a porous graphite punch that is connected to a pressure gauge via a gas-tight ceramic tube. The immerged and temporarily evacuated graphite punch acts like an artificial “bubble” in which the hydrogen of the melt is diffusing until the pressure in the probe and the partial hydrogen pressure in the melt are identical. If the balance is achieved, the hydrogen content of the melt - at constant temperature measurement and by applying Sievers' law for partial vapor pressure - can be determined according to Eq. 1:

Eq. 1:



CH     = Concentration of the hydrogen dissolved in the aluminum in ml/100 g
pH2     = Partial vapor pressure of the diffused hydrogen in mbar
T     = Temperature in K
A, B     = Sieverts’ constants depending on the alloy composition

As hydrogen is the only gas which dissolves in the aluminum melt on a large scale, the measured total pressure in the measuring probe corresponds to the partial hydrogen pressure. Diffusion of the hydrogen from the melt into the probe is very slow. By means of specific doping of the measuring probe with hydrogen, the setting times of the balance can be reduced to a few minutes.

As no sample needs to be taken in general if the hydrogen content in the melt is directly determined, this reliable process is perfectly suited for precise control of the hydrogen content of all melted aluminum alloys. The Chapel process is suited for individual measurements as well as for continuous long-term monitoring of the hydrogen content in the melt.

Thanks to its small dimensions and low weight, portable Chapel devices (Fig. 1, for technical data, refer to Table 1) are very handy, space-saving and perfectly portable. Handling is very simple at the press of a start button. No additional settings need to be carried out for alloy measurements. Thanks to its material, the long life probe features outstanding temperature shock resistance so that preheating the probe is not required (Fig. 2). Furthermore, the service life of the probe is extended to several months. The integrated printer records the measuring values either individually or continuously (one measuring value per second). The device can be operated via a menu: On the “Settings” screen, parameters can be defined and optimized or special alloy settings and printer functions can be selected. In the “Measuring” menu, operators can carry out individual measurements or display tendencies at the press of a button.

  • Fig. 1: CHAPEL® portable device to determine the hydrogen content, Photo: mk Industrievertretungen GmbH
  • Fig. 2: Chapel probe in operation, Photo: Aleris Recycling (German Works) Aluminum casting alloy brochure
  • Table 1: Technical data of the Chapel® portable test device, data provided by mk Industrievertretungen GmbH