Abstract: A 100 mm diameter cup-shaped inert anode for aluminum electrolysis consisting of cermet 17Ni/83(10NiO-90NiFe₂O₄) was prepared and the operating performance was evaluated in a laboratory cell with the electrolyte CR2.3 and Al₂O₃ concentration 7.43% (mass fraction). The results indicate that no major operational difficulties are encountered during the testing which lasts for 101.5 h and the inert anode exhibits good general performances. The steady-state average concentration of impurity Ni in the bath is close to the solubility, however, the Fe concentration is lower than its solubility. The contents of the main contaminants for aluminum produced are Ni 0.128 8%, Fe 1.007 4%. The corrosion rate of inert anode under electrolysis conditions based on the content of impurity Ni in metal aluminum is approximately 8.51 mm/a.

Key words: aluminum electrolysis; inert anode; cermet; NiFe₂O₄