Influence of vibration on the polarization of the cathode and current efficiency in the refining of niobium in chloride-fluoride melts

The authors present the results of a study of the influence of vertical vibration of the cathode on its polarization and the current efficiency in the case of the refining of niobium in chloride-fluoride melts. The measurement of the polarization was carried out in a three-electrode cell by recording polarization curves. The current efficiency of niobium when its content in the electrolyte is 3.5 wt.% is shown. A pulse galvanostat was used for polarization. The dependence of the polarization of the cathode on the vibration frequency and on the vibration amplitude is shown. The results of the experiments carried out to study the deposition of niobium on a vibrating cathode showed that the reduction of the diffusional hindrances and the lowering of the true current density on a growing dendritic deposit make it possible to significantly intensify the process without noticeably lowering the current efficiency