WETTABLE CATHODES: AN UPDATE

摘要

This overview covers the development of aluminiumwettablerncathodes for the primary aluminium industry inrnthe period 2000 to 2009. It continues a review of TiB2/Crncomposites, including their physical and mechanicalrnproperties. This overview also includes the development ofrnbinders, the manufacture of the composites, theirrnapplication on the cathode surface, and their resistance tornsodium penetration into the cathode lining. Mathematicalrnmodelling has been introduced for the drained slope, therncathode current distribution, the flow of anode gas bubbles,rnand the heat balance. Practical tests involved not onlyrnlaboratory and bench scales but also use in big electrolysisrncells operated at more than 160 kA. Although they canrnprolong cell life, the main advantage of aluminiumwettablerncathode coatings appears to be for future multicellrndesigns and for new electrolysis pot designs rather thanrnfor revamping existing Hall-Héroult aluminium electrolysisrncells.