Non-consumable anode and lining for aluminum electrolytic reduction cell
AssigneesElectrochemical Technology Corp., Brooks Rand Inc
InventorsTheodore R. Beck, Richard J. Brooks
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Abstract
An oxidation resistant, non-consumable anode, for use in the electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminum, has a composition comprising copper, nickel and iron. The anode is part of an electrolytic reduction cell comprising a vessel having an interior lined with metal which has the same composition as the anode. The electrolyte is preferably composed of a eutectic of AlF.sub.3 and either (a) NaF or (b) primarily NaF with some of the NaF replaced by an equivalent molar amount of KF or KF and LiF.
Claims31
An oxidation-resistant, non-consumable anode for use in an electrolytic reduction cell for aluminum, said anode having a composition throughout the anode consisting essentially of, in wt.%, about:
- ______________________________________ copper 25-70 nickel 15-60 iron 1-30. ______________________________________
In a cell for the electrolytic reduction of alumina wherein said cell comprises a vessel having an external shell and a refractory layer inside said shell, the improvement comprising:
- an interior metal lining for said vessel;
- said metal lining having a composition consisting essentially of, in wt.%, about:
- ______________________________________ copper 25-70 nickel 15-60 iron 1-30 ______________________________________
In combination, a cell and an electrolyte for the electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminum, said cell comprising:
- a vessel having a bottom and walls extending upwardly from said bottom;
- a plurality of non-consumable anodes vertically disposed within said vessel;
- and a plurality of dimensionally stable cathodes vertically disposed within said vessel in close, alternating, spaced relation with said vertically disposed cathodes;
- said vessel comprising an external shell and an interior metal lining;
- each of said anodes having a composition throughout consisting essentially of, in wt.%, about:
- ______________________________________ copper 25-70 nickel 15-60 iron 1-30 ______________________________________
- said electrolyte being contained within said vessel, said electrolyte consisting essentially of 42-26 mol% AlF.sub.3 and 54-58 mol% of either (a) NaF or (b) NaF with some of the NaF replaced by an equivalent molar amount of KF or KF and LiF.
A non-consumable, metallic electrode which is relatively resistant to air oxidation, said electrode comprising:
- a relatively imporous surface;
- a density of at least about 95% of the theoretical density of the metallic composition of said electrode;
- a composition throughout said electrode consisting essentially of:
- ______________________________________ copper about 70 wt. % max. nickel greater than about 30 wt. % iron essentially the balance. ______________________________________
In combination, a cell and an electrolyte for the electrolyte reduction of alumina to aluminum, said cell comprising:
- a vessel having a bottom and walls extending upwardly from said bottom;
- and a plurality of non-consumable anodes vertically disposed within said vessel;
- each of said anodes having a composition throughout consisting essentially of, in wt.%, about:
- ______________________________________ copper 25-70 nickel 15-60 iron 1-30 ______________________________________
- said electrolyte being contained within said vessel, said electrolyte consisting essentially of 42-46 mol% AlF.sub.3 and 54-58 mol% of either (a) NaF or (b) NaF with some of the NaF replaced by an equivalent molar amount of KF or KF and LiF.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.