Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters) ›› 2010, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (2): 129-136.DOI: 10.11890/1006-7191-102-129

• Research paper • Previous Articles     Next Articles

New preparation of Mg-Li-Al alloys by electrolysis in molten salt

Wei HAN, Qiong CHEN, Ke YE, Yongde YAN, Milin ZHANG   

  1. Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Material Science and chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
  • Received:2009-09-15 Revised:2009-11-27 Online:2010-04-25 Published:2010-04-08
  • Contact: Milin ZHANG

Abstract:

This work presents a study on electrochemical formation of Mg-Li-Al alloys on an inert electrode (Mo electrode) in a molten KCl-LiCl-AlCl3-MgCl2-KF system. It aims at preparation Mg-Li-Al metal alloy directly under an optimal electrolytic parameters. Main factors which affect current efficiency are investigated. We have discussed the co-electrodeposition conditions and the effect of technical parameters on these experiments, and gained a good electrolytic process. The result of calculation shows that co-electrodeposition Mg, Li and Al occurs at the cathode current density higher than 9 A/cm2 and electrolytic voltage between 6 to 9 V. And at the optimal parameters, 12-13 A/cm2, 620-640 ℃, the highest current efficiency reaches as high as 86 %. Lithium combined with magnesium forms Li0.92Mg4.08 and Li3Mg7, and aluminum mainly exists in a form of Mg0.58Al0.42, distributing in the alpha phases and beta phases.

Key words: Mg-Li-Al, Molten salts, Co-electrodeposition, Electrolysis