Effect of additives to aluminum chloride electrolytic bath for production of aluminum powders at low temperature

Inflences of such additives as Sr, Ca and Ba up to 0.1 % to the AlCl3-NaCl-KCl electrolytic bath operating at 280°C and at 0.5 A/cm2 on the particle size distribution, alumina contents and recovery efficiency of aluminum powders were studied. Shape of electrodeposited aluminum is modified by the additives. A low alumina content and coarsened size distribution of the deposite are attained by a single addition of optimum quantity of Ca 0.005 wt% and Ba 0.02 wt% and remarkably by that of Sr 0.02 wt%. Cu, Pb, Fe, Mn and Si are not so effective as Sr, Ca and Ba.