Development of a 10,000-Ampere Cell for Electrorefining Titanium
- Bureau of Mines, Boulder City, NV (United States). Boulder City Metallurgy Research Lab.
The Federal Bureau of Mines developed a 10,000-ampere cell to determine the economic feasibility of producing high-purity electrolytic titanium from mill scrap or offgrade sponge. Operating variables were investigated, material handling procedures were established, and the cost of electrorefining titanium was determined. The prototype cell produced premium-grade metal (<100 Brinell hardness number (B.h.n.)) from very impure Kroll sponge at a processing cost of less than $0.60 per pounds Refined metal was deposited at the cathode in the form of coarse (85 percent plus 34-mesh), hexagonal crystals of a titanium when the cell was operated at 850° C. A cathode current density of 1,000 amperes per square foot and a molten sodium chloride electrolyte containing approximately 5 percent by weight of soluble titanium were used. In continuous operation, at the optimum number of ampere-hours, (40,000), the current efficiency averaged slightly less than 60 percent. It was possible to supply large enough amounts of electric current for electrolysis to maintain the temperature of the bath, thus reducing overall power consumption to less than 5 kilowatt-hours per pound of metal refined. Labor was the highest cost per unit. It appeared to be largely dependent upon the number of ampere-hours used to refine each deposit. Dragout (salt contained in the deposit) was influenced by temperature, electrolyte composition, and current density. The best deposits contained approximately 20 percent (by weight) salt. The throwing power of the electrolyte proved to be excellent. Mechanical operation of the cell was satisfactory at all times.
- Research Organization:
- Bureau of Mines, Boulder City, NV (United States). Boulder City Metallurgy Research Lab.; Bureau of Mines, Washington, DC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of the Interior
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-022388
- OSTI ID:
- 4046543
- Report Number(s):
- BM-RI--5805
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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