Research progress in TiB2 wettable cathode for aluminum reduction

Titanium diboride wettable cathodes are regarded as ideal for aluminum reduction because of their excellent wettability with molten aluminum. The TB, inert wettable cathode materials for almninum reduction may be divided into three groups: pure TiB2 ceramic cathode, TB, composite cathode, and TB 2 coating. This paper briefly describes international research progress on TiB2 inert wettable cathodes as well as problems,faced, and concentrates on the activities of Central South University, Changsha, China, in researching the ambient-temperature solidified TiB2 cathode coating. At the same time, the results of the coating applied in many aluminum smelters in China are presented, and the pattern of cathode surface of 160 kA cells coated with the ambient-temperature-solidified TiB2 cathode coating after one year operation is discussed in comparison with the normal cells.