Cathode for a hall-heroult type electrolytic cell for producing aluminum

This invention relates to electrolytic production of aluminum and more particularly, it relates to an improved cathode suited for use in an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum such as Hall-Heroult electrolytic cells. A method of producing aluminum from alumina in an electrolytic cell including using a cathode comprised of a base material having low electrical conductivity and wettable with molten aluminum to form a reaction layer having a high electrical conductivity on said base layer and a cathode bar extending from said reaction layer through said base material to conduct electrical current from said reaction layer.