US3409465A - Process for improving the wettability of solid metallic surfaces by molten alkali metals - Google Patents

Process for improving the wettability of solid metallic surfaces by molten alkali metals Download PDF

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Publication number
US3409465A
US3409465A US269125A US26912563A US3409465A US 3409465 A US3409465 A US 3409465A US 269125 A US269125 A US 269125A US 26912563 A US26912563 A US 26912563A US 3409465 A US3409465 A US 3409465A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
metal
sodium
molten
molten alkali
cadmium
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US269125A
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English (en)
Inventor
Ziegler Karl
Dislich Helmut
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ZIEGLER AG
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ZIEGLER AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ZIEGLER AG filed Critical ZIEGLER AG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3409465A publication Critical patent/US3409465A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C7/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C3/00—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
    • C25C3/02—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of alkali or alkaline earth metals
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C7/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells
    • C25C7/02—Electrodes; Connections thereof
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C7/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells
    • C25C7/02—Electrodes; Connections thereof
    • C25C7/025—Electrodes; Connections thereof used in cells for the electrolysis of melts

Definitions

  • the process is also'useful forthe recovery of a highly pure sodium which, for example, is recently used as heat transfer medium for nuclear reactors.
  • the invention relates to a development which provides the possibility to overcome the difliculties described above and by means of which it is generally possible to make metal surfaces readily and reliably wettable by molten alkali metals.
  • the invention is particularly suitable for the preparation of sodium-coated electrodes which operate reliably from the beginning of the electrolysis.
  • cathodes used for the deposition of molten sodium from the above-mentioned electrolytes can be treated such that they operate completely satisfactorily and free from troubles.
  • a copper coating prior to cadmium-plating.
  • the coating metals cadmium or gold remain by no means attached to the cathode during the electrolysis. They are rather dissolved very rapidly in the first portions of sodium deposited electrolytically. The metal surface beneath the cadmium plating will remain completely wettable even after the plating has been dissolved and the cathodes will perform fully satisfactorily as long as the coating of the metal surface with the alkali metal film will not be interrupted and the electrolytic cell dismantled, e.g. for repair work. After an interruption cathodes of this kind must again be provided with the cadmium or gold plating. The coating metal migrates out of the cells very rapidly.
  • the cell will furnish a sodium which is completely free from cadmium or gold.
  • the content of said metals is not high even during the first hours of operation because very thin coatings are absolutely suificient to bring about the effect of the invention, coatings of 1 to 5 microns thickness being fully adequate.
  • thicker platings are not detrimental but unnecessary.
  • the platings are easily applied in a manner known per se, e.g. by electrolytic deposition.
  • the object of the invention i.e. reliable wettability of the electrode throughout the performance of the electrolysis and avoidance of troubles in the electrolysis by irregular flow of the liquid metal on the electrode and especially irregular deposition of metal at the electrode or outflow of the deposited metal in'an undesirable direction, is further developed in accordance with'the invention, additionally tothe embodiment described above, by another fundamental idea.
  • This further development which is independently inventive besides the embodiment described above resides in the teaching to enlarge the inner surface area of the electrode material.
  • the particularly efficient cathode of the invention consists of a plate provided with many holes and coated with cadmium or gold, if desired after copper plating, said coating being preferably applied to both sides.
  • Such a cathode even when involved in the electrolysis on one side only, becomes completely covered by molten sodium which, by adhesion and enlargement of the area of contact between the base metal and sodium, is fixed very well to the plate. Adhesion to the base metal will still be improved by arranging a second identical or unperforated plate at a distance of a few'millimeters from the first plate and parallel with respect to the latter so that the intermediate space may also become filled with sodium.
  • a net e.g. a glass cloth
  • the electrodes of the invention have been developed primarily as cathodes, they may also be used as anodes (for raw sodium to be refined) if care is taken by constant supply of liquid sodium constantly filled.
  • Process according metal is sodium.
  • saidalkali wherein said metallic. surface inert to molten alkali is copper, iron, steel, alu-

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
US269125A 1962-03-30 1963-03-29 Process for improving the wettability of solid metallic surfaces by molten alkali metals Expired - Lifetime US3409465A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEZ9335A DE1168651B (de) 1962-03-30 1962-03-30 Verfahren zur besseren Benetzung der Elektroden, insbesondere der bei der Herstellung von Natrium durch Elektrolyse von organischen Komplexverbindungen verwendeten Kathoden und Ausbildung dieser Elektroden

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3409465A true US3409465A (en) 1968-11-05

Family

ID=7620862

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US269125A Expired - Lifetime US3409465A (en) 1962-03-30 1963-03-29 Process for improving the wettability of solid metallic surfaces by molten alkali metals

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3409465A (en(2012))
BE (1) BE630049A (en(2012))
CH (1) CH459584A (en(2012))
DE (1) DE1168651B (en(2012))
GB (1) GB1042733A (en(2012))

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3657003A (en) * 1970-02-02 1972-04-18 Western Electric Co Method of rendering a non-wettable surface wettable

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1518570A1 (de) * 1965-07-09 1969-10-09 Basf Ag Verfahren zur elektrochemischen Hydrodimerisierung von Acrylnitril

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US961549A (en) * 1909-01-26 1910-06-14 Hooker Electro Chemical Company Cathode.
US1709523A (en) * 1927-11-29 1929-04-16 Grasselli Chemical Co Anode
US2097508A (en) * 1934-04-07 1937-11-02 Du Pont Anode
US3002914A (en) * 1956-05-23 1961-10-03 Solvay Preparation of electrodes for electrolysis of aqueous solutions by the mercury process
US3129163A (en) * 1960-12-23 1964-04-14 Union Carbide Corp Anode for electrolytic cell

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE962939C (de) * 1953-05-16 1957-05-02 Demag Elektrometallurgie Gmbh Loesliche Metallanode mit mindestens einer unloeslichen Komponente

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US961549A (en) * 1909-01-26 1910-06-14 Hooker Electro Chemical Company Cathode.
US1709523A (en) * 1927-11-29 1929-04-16 Grasselli Chemical Co Anode
US2097508A (en) * 1934-04-07 1937-11-02 Du Pont Anode
US3002914A (en) * 1956-05-23 1961-10-03 Solvay Preparation of electrodes for electrolysis of aqueous solutions by the mercury process
US3129163A (en) * 1960-12-23 1964-04-14 Union Carbide Corp Anode for electrolytic cell

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3657003A (en) * 1970-02-02 1972-04-18 Western Electric Co Method of rendering a non-wettable surface wettable

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH459584A (de) 1968-07-15
GB1042733A (en) 1966-09-14
DE1168651B (de) 1964-04-23
BE630049A (en(2012))

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