Martin Marietta Corporation

Commonwealth Aluminum Corporation

Martin Marietta Aluminum Inc.

Larry G Boxall

Dennis C Nagle

Douglas W Townsend

William M Buchta

Arthur V Cooke

Russell N Bennett

Leontios Christodoulou

John M Brupbacher

Bernard W Gamson

John A Green

Stephen C Traugott

James M Patton

Michael J Hannan

William E Kokonaski

Alvin F Bopp

Display devices incorporating an improved working electrode are disclosed. The devices comprise a transparent outer layer, a first electrode having a reflective surface facing the transparent layer, an electrochromic material located between the reflective surface and the outer transparent layer, an electrolyte in contact with the electrochromic material and a second electrode located behind the first electrode. The first electrode is ion-permeable, allowing ions to pass through and contact the electrochromic material in order to alter the optical properties of the material. The electrochromic material is preferably a conductive polymer such, as polyaniline. The display devices are capable of changing reflectance and/or color by the application of an electric potential to the electrodes.

Electrode for display devices

Devices and methods are disclosed for contacting a hot reaction mass with water to initiate an explosive reaction. The reaction mass comprises a ceramic or intermetallic material that is produced by exothermically reacting a mixture of reactive elements. Suitable reaction masses include borides and/or carbides that are formed by reacting a mixture comprising B and/or C in combination with an element selected from Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W. Additional metals such as Al, Li, Mg, Zn, Cu, Be, Na, K, Ca, Rb, Y, U and Cs may also be present in the reactive mixture. In operation, the hot reaction mass is contacted with water to initiate an explosive water reaction and to produce large volumes of hydrogen containing gas.

Water reactive method with delayed explosion

Aluminum cells may be produced having cathode surfaces which are wetted by aluminum, said surfaces comprising Refractory Hard Materials in a non-graphitized carbon matrix. Such cells may utilize inclined or drained cathodes as well as non-consumable anodes.

Aluminum wettable cathode material for use in aluminum reduction cell

In an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum from alumina, having an anode-to-cathode gap of from 1 to 5 cm, the flow of electrolyte through the interelectrode gap is induced by positioning the cathode at an inclination of from about 2 to about 15 degrees from the horizontal, and operating at an anode current density of from about 0.5 to about 3.0 A/cm.sup.2. The cathode surface is a Refractory Hard Material which is wetted by aluminum.

Low energy aluminum reduction cell with induced bath flow

Aluminum cell having aluminum wettable cathode surface

This invention relates to an improved coating composition for application to aluminum cell cathodes, wherein said composition comprises a Refractory Hard Material, and a thermosetting resinous binder system. The resinous binder system is characterized by a char yield greater than 25 percent, while the coating composition exhibits expansion characteristics such as to adhere to a cathode block at temperatures up to and including those normally encountered in the operation of an aluminum cell. The ablation rate of the carbon system utilized is essentially equal to the combined wear and dissolution rate of the Refractory Hard Material in an aluminum cell environment.

Aluminum cell cathode coating composition

This invention relates to a method for the application of a coating composition containing Refractory Hard Material to a cathode substrate to prepare an aluminum wettable cathode surface. A mixture of Refractory Hard Material and carbon system is applied to a cathode substrate, cured and carbonized to a non-graphitized carbon matrix containing Refractory Hard Material, characterized by strong bonding of said matrix to said substrate and an ablation rate of said carbon matrix similar to the combined rate of wear and dissolution of the Refractory Hard Material.

Aluminum cell cathode coating method

The application of a Refractory Hard Material coating composition to selected areas of the surface of an aluminum cell cathode permits tailoring or control of ledge formation during cell operation. Cell voltage improvements are also noted, resulting in more efficient cell performance.

Control of ledge formation in aluminum cell operation

The invention relates to a method for protecting anode studs by coating the anode studs with an outermost surface layer of titanium diboride, zirconium diboride, titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, or mixtures thereof. The anode studs which are specifically to be protected in this instance are anode studs for electrolytic cells for the production of aluminum. The steel anode stud is conventionally subject to high corrosion rates due to the atmosphere in the aluminum furnace, and the industry has long sought means to protect this stud from corrosion without inhibiting electrical conductivity, while providing high temperature resistance to oxidation, and thermal shock resistance. It is also necessary that any coating applied to the steel anode stud be compatible with the carbon mass which is utilized as the anode per se. In accordance with the present invention, coatings of titanium diboride, zirconium diboride, titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, and mixtures thereof, have been found effective. It has also been found that the presence of up to ten percent by weight of molybdenum disilicide is advantageous, and that a subcoating of stainless steel reduces thermal stresses and improves bonding.

Anode stud coatings for electrolytic cells

An anode assembly for a fused bath cell. The steel stud has an intermediate coating between it and the carbon anode body of a corrosion resistant material of titanium diboride, zirconium diboride, titanium carbide or zirconium carbide. The coating may contain molybdenum disilicide.

Growing community of inventors

Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Larry G Boxall