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AN INVESTIGATION OF COMPLEX IONS IN FUSED SALT MEDIA. Final Report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4055894

The methods of potentiometry and polarography have been applied to study the behavior of the group IVB transition metals titanium, zirconium, and hafnium in the LiCl-KCl eutectic melt. This behavior was found to depend strongly on the purity of the melt. Some observations of the effect of impurities in the melt were observed. Solubilities of the metals and their oxides was also investigated. Solutions of Ti(II) in the temperature range 450 deg C to 550 deg C were prepared by the anodic dissolution of Ti metal. A procedure for the coulometric titration of Ti(II) was developed which produced solutions of Ti(III). Standard potentials were obtained for the related electrode systems and polarograms of the solutions were recorded. Anodic dissolution of Zr metal yielded Zr(IV) at 450 deg C and primarily Zr(II) at 550 deg C. Zr(III) was not observed. Standard potentials were obtained for the stable electrode systems and the polarographic behavior of Zr(IV) and Zr(II) in the melt was investigated. Anodic dissolution of Hf metal in the temperature range 450 deg C to 550 deg C produced solutions of Hf(IV). Polarograms of these solutions were recorded and the standard potentials of the Hf(IV)--Hf(O) electrode system were obtained. The potentiometric and polarographic behavior of these systems along with thermodynamic calculations established the positions of the electrode systems in an electromotive force series, was valuable in studying the course of chemical reactions and electrode processes in the melt, and produced information involving complex formation and interactions between the various species in the melt. (auth)

Research Organization:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, N.Y.
NSA Number:
NSA-18-017778
OSTI ID:
4055894
Report Number(s):
NYO-10707
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English