Abstract
Industrial Pr-Nd oxide product has different physical properties, and shows different behaviors in the process of producing Pr-Nd metal by molten salt electrolytic. To meet the specific requirements of molten salt electrolysis for the physical properties of Pr-Nd oxide, different physical properties of raw materials such as particle size, specific surface area, morphology, bulk density and mobility were compared by chemical analogy experiment and actual production, the influence of physical properties of Pr-Nd oxide on its electrolysis process were studied, and the physical properties of the suitable electrolytic Pr-Nd oxide are quantified. The results show that particle size and morphology are the most important physical properties of Pr-Nd oxide in the electrolysis process. Pr-Nd oxide with good physical property requires the particle size is uniform and not too big or small. Additionally, the microstructure should not be over dispersed, but with agglomerate status, besides the micro surface should have porous structure to avoid melting phenomenon. The physical properties of raw materials produced by the method of oxalic acid precipitation are more stable than that by the ammonium bicarbonate precipitation method, and the good and stable physical properties are more suitable for molten salt electrolysis. So the oxalic acid precipitation method can be used as reference of the ammonium bicarbonate precipitation method.
Highlights
Praseodymium and neodymium (Pr-Nd) metal is an important raw material in the production of neodymium iron boron permanent magnetic material, which is mainly produced by Pr-Nd oxide molten salt electrolysis method in a fluoride system
Under the circumstances of International Journal of Materials Science and Applications 2018; 7(5): 186-191 unchanged electrolysis process, even the chemical composition of Pr-Nd oxide is qualified and conforms to the electrolytic standard, the electrolytic cell will still be effected by high viscosity of electrolyte, sticky bottom and serious bottom crust etc., whichthe leads to low efficiency of electrolysis and decreases the yield and quality of the metal
Based on previous practical electrolytic production, it was discovered that oxalic acid precipitation method has more advantages such as high electrolytic efficiency and low impurity compared with the ammonium bicarbonate precipitation method, which is a consensus in rare earth electrolytic industry
Summary
Praseodymium and neodymium (Pr-Nd) metal is an important raw material in the production of neodymium iron boron permanent magnetic material, which is mainly produced by Pr-Nd oxide molten salt electrolysis method in a fluoride system. Electrolysis process is a relative mature process, improvement of Pr-Nd oxide performance becomes a key factor in the green smelting and effective utilization of rare earth metals. Both chemical and physical properties of Pr-Nd oxide were studied. When the physical properties of particle size and fluidity of alumina changed, the situation of aluminum electrolytic cell will significantly change during the alternation of materials. While it takes some time for the technical conditions to be adjusted to adapt the new material. Under the circumstances of International Journal of Materials Science and Applications 2018; 7(5): 186-191 unchanged electrolysis process, even the chemical composition of Pr-Nd oxide is qualified and conforms to the electrolytic standard, the electrolytic cell will still be effected by high viscosity of electrolyte, sticky bottom and serious bottom crust etc., whichthe leads to low efficiency of electrolysis and decreases the yield and quality of the metal
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