Electrochemical Addition of Alkali Elements to Molten Metals from Salt Mixtures

摘要

Alkali metals are very useful additions to molten metals. In some cases, the alkali metal combines with unwanted elements to form solid precipitates which can be removed. Alternatively, the alkali element is added to either improve the properties by alloying or by changing the structure of a precipitate. Alkali metals are generally very expensive, highly reactive and when held at elevated temperatures give off polluting vapours. Instead of adding the alkali metals directly, methods of adding the metals via the electrolysis of carbonate melts are investigated.