Electrodeposition of aluminium-titanium alloys from molten fluoride-oxide electrolytes

Abstract

This study reports the direct production of an aluminium-titanium alloy during aluminium electrolysis in fluoride-based melts. Experiments were conducted in a laboratory cell dedicated to current efficiency measurements. The temperature was varied from 960 to 980 °C at a cathodic current density (CCD) of 0.9 A/cm2 and a cryolite ratio (CR) of 2.2. The titanium content was up to 1.0 wt%. Titanium was added in the form of a TiO2 precursor. Bath samples were collected regularly and analyzed with ICP-MS to observe the decay of titanium during electrolysis. The current efficiency for electrodeposition of Al–Ti alloys was estimated to be at least around 90%. The surface of the solidified metal deposits was mostly flat, but some deposits were partially deformed.