Dissolution of liquid metal anodes during low-frequency current interruptions

The perturbation of interfaces between liquid metals and an electrolyte which are polarized by current in a stationary mode, with a cathodic current interrupted with low frequency is useful in the case of high-temperature systems. Lanthanum-aluminum and zinc-indium anodes dissolving at 690 to 700/OMICRON/C were selected as subjects for experimentation in this paper. Anodic current yields as functions of the dissolution rate in the galvanostatic and intermittent-current mode. The complex character of transient dissolution of liquid anodic alloys is shown to probably be due to the combined influence of two hydrodynamic modes at the liquid electrode/electrolyte boundary. The effect found can be of value in the electrolysis of light and heavy nonferrous metals and also of refractory and rate metals which are obtained with the aid of low-melting liquid substrates