EFFECTS OF HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES ON CATHODE AND ANODErnINTERFACES IN HALL-HEROULT ELECTROLYTIC CELLS

摘要

This paper deals with the physical modifications occurring at highrntemperatures and pressures at the interfaces found in the anodernand cathode of a Hall-Heroult electrolytic cell. The anode and therncathode are fabricated from carbon blocks, with steel bars insertedrnand sealed with cast iron. Consequently, two different types ofrninterface are found in the anode and the cathode assembly: castironrnwith steel and cast-iron with carbon. For the investigationrnpresented here, an experimental setup was built to heat and loadrnanode and cathode samples. Specific attention was put on thernsample preparation, to reproduce real cathode/anode sealingrnconditions. During the heating and the loading of the samples,rnfluctuations of electrical and thermal contact resistances werernobserved and related to physical transformation at the interfaces.rnThese transformations could potentially explain the nonhomogeneitiesrnof voltage and current distribution occurring in arnHall-Heroult electrolytic cell.