Reduction of Tantalum Pentoxide Using Graphite and Tin-Oxide-Based Anodes via the FFC-Cambridge Process

An investigation into the electrochemical reduction of tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅) to tantalum metal in molten calcium chloride was performed. The oxide was made the cathode, and either graphite or tin oxide rods were selected as the anodes. The experiments were terminated after 8 hours of potentiostatic electrolysis using a two-electrode setup, with the current and anodic potential recorded. The cathode products were analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and inert-gas fusion analysis. The key result is that tantalum can be produced using either anode, but the tin oxide anode leads to greater current efficiency and a cleaner melt with no significant differences in the product microstructure.