Effect of vibration on cathode polarization and current efficiency during refining of niobium in chloride-fluoride melt

Effect of vertical cathode vibration on its polarization and current efficiency during niobium refining in chloride-fluoride melts of electrolyte representing. NaCl, KCl, NbCl5 (or K2NbF7), NaF mixture is studied. It is shown that adhesiveness of precipitate with cathode surface and its particles between each other is better during vibration even at high current densities (up to 10 A/cm and higher). At low current densities current efficiency or a vibratino. cathode is lower at the expencese of rechargino.. With current density increase relative part of recharging reduces and current efficiency grows. Niobium precipitation on a vibrating cathode allows one to intensify greatly the process without noticeable decrease of current efficiency