Aluminum reference electrode

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:866683

Sadoway, Donald R ^[1]

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1. Belmont, MA

A stable reference electrode for use in monitoring and controlling the process of electrolytic reduction of a metal. In the case of Hall cell reduction of aluminum, the reference electrode comprises a pool of molten aluminum and a solution of molten cryolite, Na.sub.3 AlF.sub.6, wherein the electrical connection to the molten aluminum does not contact the highly corrosive molten salt solution. This is accomplished by altering the density of either the aluminum (decreasing the density) or the electrolyte (increasing the density) so that the aluminum floats on top of the molten salt solution.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG07-83ID12380
• Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4764257
• OSTI ID: 866683
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

aluminum
reference
electrode
stable
monitoring
controlling
process
electrolytic
reduction
metal
cell
comprises
pool
molten
solution
cryolite
na
alf
electrical
connection
contact
highly
corrosive
salt
accomplished
altering
density
decreasing
electrolyte
increasing
floats
top
highly corrosive
salt solution
molten salt
reference electrode
electrolytic reduction
electrical connection
molten aluminum
electrode comprises
cell reduction
corrosive molten
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