Abstract
TiB2/C cathode composites with various contents of TiB2 were prepared and their characterizations were observed and compared. The expansion of samples due to sodium and bath penetration was tested with a modified laboratory Rapoport apparatus and the appearances of the cut sections of specimens after electrolysis were studied. The results show that the mass of TiB2/C cathode composites with mass fraction of TiB2 less than 70% appreciably increases, but that of the composites with mass fraction of TiB2 more than 70% decreases slightly after being baked. The resistance to sodium and bath penetration of TiB2/C cathode composites increases with the increase of TiB2 content, especially in the composites with high TiB2 content. TiB2/C cathode composites have high resistance to the penetration of sodium and bath as well as good wettability by molten aluminum, and keep integrality and have little change of appearance after electrolysis, which indicates that TiB2/C cathode composites can be used as inert wettable cathode for aluminum electrolysis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Welch B J, Future materials requirements for the highenergy-intensity production of aluminum [J]. JOM, 2001, 53(2): 13–18.
Billehaug K, Oye H A. Inert cathodes for aluminium electrolysis in Hall-Heroult cells(1)[J]. Aluminium, 1980, 56(10): 642–648.
Billehaug K, Oye H A. Inert cathodes for aluminium electrolysis in Hall-Heroult cells(II)[J]. Aluminium, 1980, 56(10): 713–718.
McMinn C J. A review of RHM cathode development [A]. Light Metals 1992[C]. Warrendale: TMS, 1992, 419–425.
Dionne M, Lesperance G, Mirtchi A, Wetting of TiB2-carbon material composite [A]. Light Metals 1999[C]. Warrendale: TMS, 1999, 389–394.
Pawlek R P. Aluminium wettable cathodes: an update [A]. Light Metals 2000 [C]. Warrendale: TMS, 2000. 449–454.
Brown C W. Wettability of TiB2-based cathodes in low-temperature slurry-electrolyte reduction cells[J]. JOM, 1998, 50(2): 38–40.
Sekhar J A, de Nora V, Liu J, et al. TiB2/colloidal alumina carbon cathode coating in Hall-Heroult and drained cells[A]. Light Metals 1998[C]. Warrendale: TMS, 1998. 605–615.
Tabereaux A, Brown J, Eldridge I, et al. The operational performance of 70 kA prebake cells retrofitted with TiB2-G cathode elements[A]. Light Metals 1998 [C]. Warrendale: TMS, 1998. 257–264.
XUE Ji-lai, Oye H A. Sodium and bath penetration into TiB2-carbon cathodes during laboratory aluminium electrolysis[A]. Light Metals 1992[C]. Warrendale: TMS, 1992. 773–778.
XUE Ji-lai, Oye H A. Investigating carbon/TiB2 materials for aluminum reduction cathodes [J]. JOM, 1992, 44 (11): 28–34.
FENG Nai-xiang. Pentration of cryolite metal and sodium into cathode carbon blocks during electrolysis [J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica, 1999, 35 (6): 611–617. (in Chinese)
Sorlie M, Oye H A. Laboratory testing of carbon cathode materials at operational temperatures [A]. Light Metals 1989 [C]. Warrendale: TMS, 1988. 625–631.
LIAO Xian-an, Oye H A. Increased sodium expansion in cryolite-based alumina slurries [A]. Light Metals 1998 [C]. Warrendale: TMS, 1998. 659–666.
Brilloit P, lassius L P, Oye H A. Melt penetration and chemical reaction in carbon cathodes during aluminium electrolysis: I. laboratory experiment [A]. Light Metals 1993 [C]. Warrendale: TMS, 1993. 321–330.
Sorlie M, Oye H A. Cathode in Aluminium Electrolysis(2nd ed) [M]. Dusseldorf: Aluminium-Verlag, 1994.
Sekhar J A, Bello V, de Nora V, et al. Cathodic coating for improved cell performance [A]. Light Metals 1995 [C]. Warrendale: TMS, 1995. 507–513.
LIAO Xian-an, LIU Yie-xiang, MAO Zheng-ping. Development and application of TiB2-C composite coated cathodes[J]. Material Review, 1995, 9 (2): 17–19. (in Chinese)
XUE Ji-lai, Oye H A. Wetting of graphite and carbon/TiB2 composites by liquid aluminium[A]. Light Metals 1993 [C]. Warrendale: TMS, 1993. 631–637.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation item: Project (G1999064903) supported by the National Key Fundamental Research and Development Program of China
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, J., Fang, J., Li, Qy. et al. Effect of TiB2 content on resistance to sodium penetration of TiB2/C cathode composites for aluminium electrolysis. J Cent. South Univ. Technol. 11, 400–404 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-004-0083-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-004-0083-5