When most people think about metals, they take them at face value. As a result, they just see the hard substance in front of them. However, what they don’t see is all the different ways to produce the resources. Some of them are very interesting. What we want to do here specifically is look at electrowinning and how it works. Then, if you need titanium Grade 7 round bar and plate/sheet or other materials, we can supply them.
What is it?
The majority of people won’t have ever heard the term electrowinning before. The process is also known as electroextraction, which makes it a little easier to understand.
What happens here is you can refine and purify metals from their ores by placing them in a solution. You then have an anode and a cathode made of different materials. When you run an electric current through the solution, electrons reduce the metal ions. They will be drawn to the cathode, deposited as pure metal in a form that is ready for smelting and the next stage of use.
The electrowinning process has a lot of impressive uses. It is particularly good for refining highly pure gold, silver, and copper from their oxides. Producers can also find rare elements on the anode, including selenium.
Anodes and cathodes
The process is reliant on the quality of these two components. As a result, producers need to choose the right materials. They also need to look at the shape. Titanium Grade 7 round bar and plate/sheet can be a useful starting point. It can allow the creation of first rate parts.
Titanium is particularly useful for anodes. Here, the important thing is that the anode is inert so there won’t be a chemical reaction. They also need to be durable and corrosion resistant to deal with the operating conditions. Titanium ticks all of these boxes. It has a bonus of having great conductivity too, so it can make the electrolysis more efficient.
Typically the anodes will be titanium plates. They often have a coating to further improve performance and longevity. This can be an oxide or iridium. However, some producers choose a titanium mesh with a coating of iridium and tantalum. The combination of the two elements can extend the service life massively.
The cathodes play a very important role here because they collect the pure metal. To maximise the deposition rate, they need a good surface area. Some producers choose flat plate. They can be great in terms of the size and the fact they are recoverable and reusable. However, some producers opt for reticulated cathodes. They are 3D shapes like cylinders. Their surface area can be greater, but there is a drawback because they aren’t reusable.
Do you need titanium Grade 7 round bar and plate/sheet?
At Brindley Metals we know that titanium is the best material for a massive array of different products. Its properties are wonderful, whether you choose a pure grade or an alloy with extra characteristics. That is why it has so many general and specialist applications, from industries like metallurgy to aerospace.
If you need titanium Grade 7 round bar and plate/sheet in particular, we can supply it for you. There are lots of options here for sizing. We can help you choose the right dimensions for your needs. In addition, we can look at additional processing if you need to arrange things like cutting.
So, contact us today to order high quality metals. You can even speak to us if you need advice about what to choose for different uses.