STUDY ON PREPARATION OF Al-Li-Gd ALLOYS BY ELECTROCHEMICAL CODEPOSITION FROM CHLORIDE MELTS

The electrochemical co-reduction process of Gd(III) and Al(III) and the preparation of Al-Li-Gd alloys were studied in LiCl-KCl-AlCl3-GdCl3 molten salt at 773 K by cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry and chronopotentiometry. XRD, SEM-EDS were employed to characterize Al-Li-Gd alloys. The results suggested that the underpotential deposition (UPD) of Gd(III) on pre-deposited Al forms two Al-Gd intermetallic compounds. When current densities was higher than -279.5 mA/cm(2), the co-reduction of Al, Li and Gd occurred. Different phases Al-Gd alloys can be obtained by adjusting the concentration of AlCl3. XRD indicated that the Al-Li-Gd alloys contain Al2Gd and Al2Gd3 phases. The analysis of SEM and EDS demonstrated that the element Gd distributes unevenly while Al is relatively uniform distribution.