Direct Production of Al-Mn Alloys During the Electrodeposition of Aluminum in a Laboratory Cell

This study reports the direct production of aluminum–manganese alloys during the electrodeposition of aluminum in cryolitic melts. For the purpose of measuring current efficiency, experiments were conducted in a laboratory cell. The temperature was changed between 960 and 980 °C at a cryolite ratio (CR) of 2.2 and a cathodic current density (CCD) of 0.9 A/cm². Up to 3.0 weight percent of manganese was present. Mn₂O₃ was used as a method of manganese addition. To track the dissolution of manganese during electrolysis, bath samples were routinely taken, and ICP-MS was examined. Al-Mn alloy electrodeposition current efficiency was estimated to be in the region of above 90%. Estimates of aluminum's current efficiency were made. The metal deposits’' hardened surfaces were essentially flat, but some were deformed.