Effect of baking processes on properties of TiB₂/C composite cathode material

Abstract

Pitch and TiB₂/C green composite cathode material were respectively analyzed with simultaneous DSC-TGA, and effects of three baking processes of TiB₂/C composite cathode material, i.e. K25, K5 and M5, on properties of TiB₂/C composite cathode material were investigated. The results show that thermogravimetric behavior of pitch and TiB₂/C green composite cathode is similar, and appears the largest mass loss rate in the temperature range from 200 to 600°C. The bulk density variation of sample K5 before and after baking is the largest (11.9%), that of sample K25 is the second, and that of sample M5 is the smallest (6.7%). The crushing strength of sample M5 is the biggest (51.2 MPa), that of sample K25 is the next, and that of sample K5 is the smallest (32.8 MPa). But, the orders of the electrical resistivity and electrolysis expansion of samples are just opposite with the order of crushing strength. The heating rate has a great impact on the microstructure of sample. The faster the heating rate is, the bigger the pore size and porosity of sample are. Compared with the heating rate between 200 and 600° of samples K25 and K5, that of sample M5 is slower and suitable for baking process of TiB₂/C composite cathode material.

Keywords

aluminum electrolysis / TiB₂/C composite cathode material / baking process

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