Copper-coated titanium diboride articles
AssigneeAlcoa USA Corp.
InventorsXinghua Liu, Benjamin D. Mosser
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Abstract
New copper-coated titanium diboride electrodes are disclosed. The copper-coated titanium diboride electrodes may be used in an aluminum electrolysis cell. In one embodiment, a method includes installing the copper-coated titanium diboride electrode in the aluminum electrolysis cell and operating the aluminum electrolysis cell. During start-up, the aluminum electrolysis cell may be preheated and a bath may be formed from a molten electrolyte. Alumina (Al2O3) may in the added to the bath and reduced to aluminum metal. At least some of the copper film of the copper-coated titanium diboride electrode may be replaced by an aluminum film, thereby forming an aluminum-wetted titanium diboride electrode.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- (a) making a titanium diboride electrode;
- (i) wherein the making comprises sintering of a titanium diboride powder at a temperature of from 1400° C. to 2100° C.;
- (ii) wherein the titanium diboride electrode comprises a density of from 80 to 99% of theoretical and an apparent porosity of from 0.01 to 20%;
- and
- (b) forming a copper-based film on the titanium diboride electrode, thereby forming a copper-coated titanium diboride electrode;
- (i) wherein the forming comprises at least one of electroless deposition and electroplating of copper onto at least a portion of a surface of the titanium diboride electrode;
- and
- (ii) wherein the copper-based film predominately comprises copper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.