Material for structural components of an electrowinning cell for production of metal

Abstract

A material suitable for use for structural components in a cell for the electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminium metal defined either by: the formula (A′ 1−u A″ u ) x (B′ 1−v B″ v ) y (C′ 1−w C″ w ) z O 4 , in which A′ and A″ are divalent elements from the group Co, Ni, or Zn, B′ and B″ are trivalent elements from the group Al, Cr, Mn, or Fe, and C′ and C″ are the tetravalent elements Ti or Sn. O is the element oxygen. 0≦u<1, 0≦v<1, 0≦w<1 1≦x≦2, 0≦y≦2 and 0≦z≦1, x+y+z=3 and 2x+3y+4z=8,  or the formula A′ 1−s A″ s TiO 3 , in which A′ and A″ are divalent elements from the group Co, Ni, or Zn. O is the element oxygen. 0≦s<1  or the formula A′ 1−t A″ t O, in which A′ and A″ are divalent elements from the group Co, Ni, or Zn. O is the element oxygen. 0≦t<1.

1 - 4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . An electrolysis cell for electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminum, which comprises structural components comprising a material which is thermodynamically stable and essentially electrically non-conductive and further insoluble in a cryolite based melt with high alumina activities, the material being expressed by the general formula:  
       A x B y C z O 4 ,  
     where 
 A is a cationic element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Zn and Co,  
 B is a cationic element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cr, Al and Mn,  
 C is a cationic element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ti and Sn,  
 O is the element oxygen,  
   0<x≦1,  0<y≦2,  0≦z≦1, and  
 the material contains at least two cations, one thereof being Al.  
 
   
   
       6 . The electrolysis cell in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the cationic element A is divalent Ni or Zn, the cationic element B is Al, x=1, y=2 and z=0.  
   
   
       7 . The electrolysis cell in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the cationic element A is Ni, the cationic element B is Cr and the cationic element C is Al where x is 1.  
   
   
       8 . The electrolysis cell in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the cationic element A is Ni, the cationic element B is Fe and the cationic element C is Al where x is 1.