Electrolysis expansion performance of semigraphitic cathode in [K3AlF6/Na3AlF6]-AlF3-Al2O3 bath system

The electrolysis expansion of semigraphitic cathode in [K₃AlF₆/Na₃AlF₆]-AlF₃-Al₂O₃ bath system was tested by self-made modified Rapoport apparatus. A mathematical model was introduced to discuss the effects of α _CR (cryolite ratio) and β _KR (elpasolite content divided by the total amount of elpasolite and sodium cryolite) on performance of cathode electrolysis expansion. The results show that K and Na (potassium and sodium) penetrate into the cathode together and have an obvious influence on the performance of cathode electrolysis expansion. The electrolysis expansion and K/Na penetration rate increase with the increase of α _CR. When α _CR=1.9 and β _KR=0.5, the electrolysis expansion is the highest, which is 3.95%; and when α _CR=1.4 and β _KR=0.1, the electrolysis expansion is the lowest, which is 1.28%. But the effect of β _KR is correlative with α _CR. When α _CR=1.6 and 1.9, with the increase of β _KR, the electrolysis expansion and K/Na penetration rate increase. However, when α _CR=1.4, the electrolysis expansion and K/Na penetration rate firstly increase and then decrease with the increase of β _KR. Foundation item: Project (2005CB623703) supported by the Major State Basic Research and Development Program of China; Project (2008AA030502) supported by the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China