Electrolytic and Electroless Fabrication of Al-Sc Alloys in KF-Naf-AlF3 Electrolytes

The Al-Sc alloys were obtained in the KF-NaF-AlF₃ electrolyte containing Sc₂O₃  and  Al₂O₃  at 800 ^oC by chemical and electrochemical techniques. Electrolysis was performed in a 20 A lab-scale cell with graphite anode and aluminum cathode. An impact of the cathode current density (0-1 A∙cm^-2), the Sc₂O₃ content (1, 2, 4, and 8 wt%) in the KF-NaF-AlF₃ electrolyte, the rate of the molten aluminum agitation (0, 100 rotates/min), and the synthesis duration (30-210 min) on the Sc content in the Al-Sc alloy was studied. The Al-Sc alloys with the Sc content of 0.30-1.80 wt%, depending on the synthesis conditions, and with the uniform Sc distribution throughout the aluminum matrix were produced. The peculiarities of the electrolytic and electroless fabrication of the Al-Sc alloys in the KF-NaF-AlF₃-Al₂O₃-Sc₂O₃ electrolytes at 800 ^oC in comparison with the processes occurred in the NaF-AlF₃-Al₂O₃-Sc₂O₃ melts at 980 ^oC are discussed.