Product safety
Rio Tinto Aluminium is serious about safety, both in terms of employees' everyday work activities and the products we make and sell. The safety information published here is intended to improve awareness of possible hazards that may be encountered when handling products.
Aluminium in its molten state is a dangerous substance. It needs to be heated to more than 480 degrees centigrade to melt, but depending on its alloy, it can be solid at up to 660 degrees centigrade, with no outward appearance of its heat. In its molten state, aluminium is extremely volatile when mixed with water, and will explode violently when even small droplets are entrapped. For this reason, it is vital that correct preheating procedures are followed when adding solid metal to a melt. Tools used for handling molten metal must also be clean and dry.
The attached Material Safety Data Sheets address related safety issues. If you are in any doubt as to safe methods of handling bauxite, alumina oxide or molten aluminium, please contact your Rio Tinto Aluminium representative for further information.
Bauxite Material Safety Data Sheet (PDF: 20.2KB)
Alumina Material Safety Data Sheet (PDF: 20.2 KB)
