About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
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Advances in Ceramic Materials and Processing
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| Presentation Title |
Development of advanced ceramic materials for the protection of Thermocouples in cryolitic aluminum electrolysis baths |
| Author(s) |
Salma Yadane, François Allard, Daniela Bellon Monsalve |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Salma Yadane |
| Abstract Scope |
In the Hall–Héroult aluminum production process, thermocouples used to monitor bath temperature face rapid degradation due to harsh thermal and chemical conditions in the cryolitic environment (~960 °C), leading to frequent replacements, measurement instability, and increased operational costs. While ceramic materials have been studied for anode applications, their potential as protective coatings for thermocouples remains unexplored. This project, in collaboration with Rio Tinto, focuses on the preliminary evaluation of advanced ceramic materials for thermocouple protection, specifically the effect of ZrO₂ addition into NiFe₂O₄ and NiFe₂O₄–NiO systems to enhance chemical stability and microstructural integrity under fluorinated molten salts. The materials are synthesized via a solid-state route and characterized for microstructure, thermal behavior, and resistance to cryolite-induced degradation. By correlating material properties with degradation mechanisms, we seek to provide robust and durable solutions for industrial challenges in high-temperature electrochemical environments, ultimately improving measurement reliability and reducing maintenance costs in aluminum smelting.
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| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Ceramics, Characterization, High-Temperature Materials |