Studies on the corrosion and the behavior of inert anodes in aluminum electrolysis

The corrosion rates of inert anodes based on tin oxide and nickel ferrite cermet materials were studied as a function of some operating parameters. To reach a better understanding of the corrosion mechanism, the behavior of the anodes was observed under some specific conditions, such as in pure cryolite, at high current densities, at different potentials, and at varying cathode surface areas. It was confirmed that low alumina concentrations led to catastrophic corrosion of the anodes and that high current densities and high as well as low NaF/AlF3 molar ratios were also detrimental. The corrosion rate of tin oxide based anodes showed a minimum (so-called ''normal corrosion'') at anodic potentials of 2.2 to 2.4 V with respect to aluminum. The normal corrosion is due to chemical dissolution of the anode material and reduction of the corrosion products into the cathode metal. The corrosion rate increased with increasing cathode surface area. At potentials higher than similar to 2.5 V, the anodes showed catastrophic corrosion. Catastrophic corrosion can be ascribed to decomposition of the anode material by depletion of alumina at the anode surface provoked by low bulk concentration of alumina and/or high current density.