LAUSR

The development of low-temperature aluminum electrolysis makes it possible to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The KF-NaF-AlF3-based electrolyte is a promising low-temperature electrolyte for aluminum reduction. The liquidus temperatures of KF-NaF-AlF3 electrolytes with a total cryolite ratio (CRt) fixed at 1.3–2.0, and with different concentrations of NaF (with a step change of 5 mol.%), were investigated by the cooling curve method. The results showed that the liquidus temperature of KF-NaF-AlF3 mixtures increases with the increase of the CRt, which has a bigger influence on the liquidus temperature than the traditional NaF-AlF3 electrolyte currently used in aluminum smelters. When the content of NaF is 10–20 mol.%, the curves of the liquidus temperature vs. NaF content reach a peak. When the NaF content ranges from 30 to 40 mol.%, the liquidus temperature is relatively low (695–900°C). The precipitated order of the compounds in molten KF-NaF-AlF3 electrolytes with a CRt of 1.3 is as follows: K2NaAlF6 (or K3AlF6) → Na3Al5F14 → K2NaAl3F12 → KAlF4.