Direct Preparation of Aluminum-Vanadium Intermediate Alloy Through Electrolysis in Na₃AlF₆-K₃AlF₆-AlF₃-NaVO₃ Molten Salts

Abstract

The preparation of aluminum-vanadium (Al-V) intermediate alloys through the electrolysis of NaVO₃ in the Na₃AlF₆-K₃AlF₆-AlF₃ molten salt system using liquid aluminum as cathode is a novel process. In the present study, the forms of the Al-V intermetallic compounds and the contents of vanadium in the intermediate alloys were investigated at different current densities. The results showed that the cathode product contained aluminum matrix and Al₁₀V at a current density of 0.6 A/cm². As the current density increased to 0.7 A/cm², the Al₃V phase started to form while the vanadium content was still very low in the cathode product. At 0.8 A/cm², the vanadium content in the cathode alloy product reached 7.83 wt.% with a current efficiency of 34.54%. However, no significant change in the vanadium content was noticed at current densities of 0.9 and 1.0 A/cm².