Performance of TiB 2 Wettable Cathode Coating.

A TiB₂ wettable cathode coating was deposited on a graphite carbon cathode material via atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). The microstructure and phase composition of the TiB₂ coating were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The wettability and corrosion resistance of the coating were studied in a molten-aluminum electrolytic system. The results showed that the surface of the TiB₂ coating prepared via plasma spraying was flat and that the main phase of the coating was TiB₂. The wettability between the TiB₂ coating and liquid aluminum was better than that between graphite cathode carbon block and liquid aluminum. The abilities of the TiB₂ coating and graphite cathode carbon block to resist sodium (Na) penetration and prevent molten salt corrosion were compared through a corrosion test. The TiB₂ coating was found to have better resistance to Na penetration and better refractory cryolite corrosion resistance than graphite cathode carbon block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]