Tungsten Electrode for Molten Salt Electrolysis for Rare Earth Metals Preparation, and Preparation Method Thereof

Abstract

Provided is a tungsten electrode for molten salt electrolysis for rare earth metals preparation, including an open tungsten shell and a copper alloy body; wherein the copper alloy body is arranged inside the open tungsten shell; a tungsten buffer layer is provided between a side wall of the copper alloy body and the open tungsten shell; and a bottom of the copper alloy body is in contact with an inner bottom of the open tungsten shell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tungsten electrode for molten salt electrolysis for rare earth metals preparation, comprising an open tungsten shell and a copper alloy body; wherein
 the copper alloy body is arranged inside the open tungsten shell;   a tungsten buffer layer is provided between a side wall of the copper alloy body and the open tungsten shell; and   a bottom of the copper alloy body is in contact with an inner bottom of the open tungsten shell.   
     
     
         2 . The tungsten electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the copper alloy body comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a copper-vanadium alloy body and a copper-niobium alloy body. 
     
     
         3 . The tungsten electrode according to  claim 2 , wherein
 an amount of vanadium in the copper-vanadium alloy body is 5% to 15% by mass; and   an amount of niobium in the copper-niobium alloy body is 3% to 20% by mass.   
     
     
         4 . The tungsten electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the open tungsten shell has an outer diameter of 65 mm to 120 mm and an inner diameter of 40 mm to 70 mm; and
 a bottom of the open tungsten shell has a thickness of 10 mm to 20 mm.   
     
     
         5 . The tungsten electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the copper alloy body has a diameter of 20 mm to 60 mm; and
 the tungsten buffer layer has a thickness of 3 mm to 8 mm.   
     
     
         6 . The tungsten electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the open tungsten shell has a density of not less than 18 g/cm 3 ; and
 the tungsten buffer layer has a density of 12 g/cm 3  to 14 g/cm 3 .   
     
     
         7 . A method for preparing the tungsten electrode for molten salt electrolysis for rare earth metals preparation according to  claim 1 , comprising the following steps:
 placing the copper alloy body inside the open tungsten shell;   adding a tungsten powder between the copper alloy body and the open tungsten shell to obtain a preform, and pressing the preform to obtain an electrode blank; wherein a central axis of the copper alloy body coincides with a central axis of the open tungsten shell; and   forging the electrode blank to obtain the tungsten electrode for molten salt electrolysis for rare earth metals preparation.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the pressing is conducted at a pressure of 50 MPa to 80 MPa for 2 h to 5 h. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the forging is conducted at a temperature of 1,000° C. to 1,500° C. 
     
     
         10 . The tungsten electrode according to  claim 4 , wherein the copper alloy body has a diameter of 20 mm to 60 mm; and
 the tungsten buffer layer has a thickness of 3 mm to 8 mm.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the copper alloy body comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a copper-vanadium alloy body and a copper-niobium alloy body. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein
 an amount of vanadium in the copper-vanadium alloy body is 5% to 15% by mass; and   an amount of niobium in the copper-niobium alloy body is 3% to 20% by mass.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the open tungsten shell has an outer diameter of 65 mm to 120 mm and an inner diameter of 40 mm to 70 mm; and
 a bottom of the open tungsten shell has a thickness of 10 mm to 20 mm.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the copper alloy body has a diameter of 20 mm to 60 mm; and
 the tungsten buffer layer has a thickness of 3 mm to 8 mm.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the open tungsten shell has a density of not less than 18 g/cm 3 ; and
 the tungsten buffer layer has a density of 12 g/cm 3  to 14 g/cm 3 .