PREPARATION OF DUCTILE ZIRCONIUM BY FUSED SALT ELECTROLYSIS

Technical Report · Sat Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4260052

Ogarev, A N; Shentiakov, V V

The technology for the preparation of ductile zirconium metal by fused salt electrolysis is described. Special attention was paid to designing and testing enclosed electrolytic cells suitable for industrial use, as well as to the selection of an electrolyte, electrolysis schedule determination, and development of methods of recovering metal from a cathode deposit, etc. Some 50 compounds were selected and subjected to electrolysis to establish the hest suitable electrolyte composition. Several enclosed electrolytic cells providing for an inert atmosphere during the procedure were designed and tested. The effects of temperatures, the basic salt concentration in the electrolyte, current density, duration of cathode deposit growth, and the effects of other factors on the current efficiency and on the quality of the zirconium prepared were studied in detail. The optimum electrolysis schedule was established on the basis of the data obtained. A method of washing the metal with water to eliminate salts was studied. An apparatus specially designed for the purpose was used for washing the metal of the cathode deposit which considerably simplified this process and permitted the preparation of purer metal. Data on chemical, spectral, and sieve analyses of the end metal product and initial salt are given. They show that during the electrolysis zirconium is purified from a number of elements. (auth)

• Research Organization: U.S.S.R.
• NSA Number: NSA-13-006822
• OSTI ID: 4260052
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.15/P/2047
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CATHODES
CHEMICALS
CLEANING
CURRENTS
DUCTILITY
ELECTRODEPOSITION
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
FUSED SALTS
IMPURITIES
INERT GASES
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
METALLURGY AND CERAMICS
PLANNING
PREPARATION
RECOVERY
SPECTRA
TESTING
WATER
ZIRCONIUM