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Electrolytic properties and element migration in Ni–TiB2/Al2O3 composite cathode

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Abstract

With alumina sol as binder and Ni metal as sintering aids, the Ni–TiB2/Al2O3 composite cathode material for aluminum electrolysis was prepared by cold-pressed sintering. The mechanical properties of the composite cathode material were measured. Its electrolytic properties were identified by a 20-A electrolysis test. Cathode samples before and after electrolysis test were measured by energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The migration behavior of various elements in the electrolysis process was studied by phase analysis. The result shows that Ni metal can effectively fill the gap between the aggregate during the sintering process, which can improve the sintering density of the composite cathode material significantly. The voltage of the 20-A electrolysis test is stable. The impurity of aluminum liquid is 0.42%. The aluminum liquid can wet the cathode surface effectively, and the Ni–TiB2/Al2O3 composite is an ideal wettable cathode material. In the process of electrolysis, the alkali elements in the electrolyte penetrate the electrode, where K goes deeper than Na. Al generated on the cathode surface will also penetrate the cathode through the gap of the composite material, while Ni in the electrode will spread into the aluminum liquid layer.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Major Science and Technology Projects of Henan Province (No. 131100210700), the Major Science and Technology Programs of CHALCO (No. ZB2013CBBCe1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rare Metals and Metallurgy Materials Research Institute, General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, China

    Yu-Dong Liang & Li-Jun Wang

  2. Zhengzhou Nonferrous Metals Research Institute Co., Ltd, Chalco, Zhengzhou, 450041, China

    Yu-Dong Liang, Deng-Peng Chai, Sheng-Zhong Bao, Ting-Ting Niu, Jun-Wei Wang & Ying Liu

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  1. Yu-Dong Liang
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  2. Li-Jun Wang
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Correspondence to Li-Jun Wang.

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Liang, YD., Wang, LJ., Chai, DP. et al. Electrolytic properties and element migration in Ni–TiB2/Al2O3 composite cathode. Rare Met. 40, 57–64 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-020-01377-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-020-01377-6

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