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TiB2 Deposited on Graphite by Suspension Plasma Spray as Al Wettable Cathode

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Abstract

In developing wettable TiB2-based cathodes for Al production, the main problem encountered for decades is the difficulty to sinter or melt this refractory material. Here, suspension plasma spray (SPS) is used as this process makes it possible to use micrometric TiB2 particles to favor a high heat transfer per particle. In addition, an argon gas shield is used to protect the inflight TiB2 particles from oxidation with air during spraying. Our results confirm the efficiency of the argon shroud to limit TiB2 oxidation when compared with a TiB2 coating obtained without shroud. The SPS TiB2 coatings show a good adhesion to the graphite substrate. However, their high porosity indicates an insufficient TiB2 melting during the spraying, suggesting that the transit time spent by the TiB2 particles in the plasma is too short. The SPS TiB2 coatings present a good wettability for molten Al. However, Al infiltration through the porous coating results in the direct contact of molten Al with the graphite substrate, which may be detrimental for its mechanical integrity.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada through the Strategic program (STPGP/494283-2016), Prima Québec (grant R13-13-001), Metal7 and Kingston Process Metallurgy for supporting this work. The authors also thank R. Schulz from Hydro-Québec's research institute (IREQ) for the free use of their experimental set-up for the Al wetting measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1650 boulevard Lionel Boulet, Varennes, QC, J3X 1S2, Canada

    Étienne Yvenou, Daniel Guay & Lionel Roué

  2. Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W, Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8, Canada

    Alexandre Bily, Fadhel Ben Ettouil, Ali Dolatabadi & Christian Moreau

  3. Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc., 759 Progress Avenue, Kingston, ON, K7M 6N6, Canada

    Boyd Davis

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  1. Étienne Yvenou
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  2. Alexandre Bily
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  4. Ali Dolatabadi
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  5. Boyd Davis
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Correspondence to Christian Moreau or Lionel Roué.

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Yvenou, É., Bily, A., Ben Ettouil, F. et al. TiB2 Deposited on Graphite by Suspension Plasma Spray as Al Wettable Cathode. J Therm Spray Tech 30, 1535–1543 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11666-021-01222-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11666-021-01222-x

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