Processes in refractory materials of the cathode assembly of electrolysis cells for aluminum production

One of the main causes of the failure of electrolysis cells is the destruction of barrier (refractory) materials. This work is aimed at the establishment of the main regularities of the interaction between fluorides and various barrier materials. A thermodynamic analysis of the processes running in refractory materials of the cathode assembly of electrolysis cells, as well as the results of an X-ray phase analysis of the fragments of the refractory materials, allowed one to reveal the major mechanism of their destruction, which consists of the occurrence of gas-phase reactions. On the basis thereof, recommendations were developed aimed at increasing the lifetime of the barrier materials of electrolysis cells for aluminum production.