Molten salt electrolysis of rare earth metals from chloride melts with emphasis on neodymium.

摘要

The rare earth metals cerium, lanthanum and neodymium were electrolyzed from molten chloride melts into metal pools containing the rare earth metal in alloy with zinc. Cell temperature, potential and current were monitored and controlled by an Apple IIe microcomputer. Test temperatures were varied from 750 to 900;Neodymium trichloride was found to be reduced either directly to metal or only to the dichloride depending on current density. Reduction only to the dichloride is vapored at lower current densities (0.2 A/cm;Decomposition potentials of neodymium chloride at high current density and of lanthanum and cerium chlorides at any current density, accurately reflect the free energies of formation of the respective trichlorides at the temperatures studied.