Electrolytic Production of Rare Earth Alloys

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目的目标是高效生产用于金属氢化物电池电极的稀土(混合金属)合金。对稀土氧化物的电解还原进行了研究。将在第一阶段和第二阶段研究混合金属中各种稀土组分的沉积特性(电位、金属再溶解、淤泥形成)。这些信息将用于设计、建造和运行生产混合金属的中试单元，该单元具有高进料利用率、高电流效率、高产品质量，并能够通过调整进料性质来调整产品组成。有了经济上有吸引力的稀土合金生产工艺，预计将导致稀土合金的国内生产。这是可取的，因为它们在先进材料中的广泛应用正在被预测。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project targets the efficient production of rare earth (misch metal) alloys for use in metal hydride battery electrodes. The electrolytic reduction of rare earth oxides will be studied. Deposition characteristics (potential, metal redissolution, sludge formation) of various rare earth components of misch metal will be investigated in Phase I, other aspects in Phase II. The information will be used to design, construct and operate a pilot cell for the production of misch metal with high feed utilization, high current efficiency, high product quality, and the ability to tailor product composition by adjusting feed properties. Availability of an economically attractive process to produce rare earth alloys is expected to lead to their domestic manufacture. This is desirable because their broad use in advanced materials is being projected.