Preparation of yttrium-barium-copper trinary master alloys by electrolysis from molten fluoride-oxide

The electrochemical behaviour of Y3+ and Ba2+ on platinum and copper electrode in molten YF3(70 wt%)-NaF (20 wt%)-CaF2(10 wt%) has been studied by means of cyclic voltammetry, discharge curve and so on. The Y-Ba-Cu alloy is obtained by fused salt electrolysis with molten YF3-NaF-CaF2 as electrolyte and Y2O3 and BaO as raw materials. Graphite cell acted as an anode and copper rod as consumable cathode. The molten bath temperature was 1193 K. Cathode current density was 20 A/cm(2). The contents of yttrium, barium and copper in alloy were about 20 wt%, 9 wt% and 71 wt% respectively. Yttrium recovery efficiency was 90 wt%. The current efficiency was 70%similar to 80%.