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Wettable Cathodes: An Update

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Essential Readings in Light Metals

Abstract

This overview covers the development of aluminium-wettable cathodes for the primary aluminium industry in the period 2000 to 2009. It continues a review of TiB2/C composites, including their physical and mechanical properties. This overview also includes the development of binders, the manufacture of the composites, their application on the cathode surface, and their resistance to sodium penetration into the cathode lining. Mathematical modelling has been introduced for the drained slope, the cathode current distribution, the flow of anode gas bubbles, and the heat balance. Practical tests involved not only laboratory and bench scales but also use in big electrolysis cells operated at more than 160 kA. Although they can prolong cell life, the main advantage of aluminium-wettable cathode coatings appears to be for future multi-cell designs and for new electrolysis pot designs rather than for revamping existing Hall-Héroult aluminium electrolysis cells.

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  1. TS + C, Avenue du Rothorn 14, CH - 3960, Sierre, Switzerland

    Rudolf P. Pawlek

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  1. Pacific Aluminium, Pacific Technology Centre, Singapore

    Alan Tomsett (Technical Director) (Technical Director)

  2. TMS Light Metals Electrode Technology for Aluminum Production Symposium, USA

    John Johnson (Chair and Co-Chair) (Chair and Co-Chair)

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Pawlek, R.P. (2016). Wettable Cathodes: An Update. In: Tomsett, A., Johnson, J. (eds) Essential Readings in Light Metals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48200-2_157

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