Corrosion behavior of Cu-Ni-Ag-Al alloy anodes in aluminium electrolysis

The behavior of Cu-Ni-Ag-Al alloy used as anode for aluminum electrolysis was directly visualized in a two-compartment see-through cell during electrolysis, and its performances were tested at 850 degreesC in acidic electrolyte molten salts consisting of 39.3% NaF-43. 7%AlF3-8%NaCl-5%CaF2-4%Al2O3 for 40 h in a laboratory cell. The results show that nascent oxygen oxidizes the anodic surface to form oxide film at the beginning of electrolysis. X-ray diffraction analysis of alloy surface show that the oxide film on the anodic surface consists of CuO, NiO, Al2O3, CuAl2O4 and NiAl2O4. However, SEM image shows the oxide film is porous, loose and easy to fall into electrolyte and to contaminate aluminum. The corrosion mechanism of metal anodes was analyzed.