Abstract:10Cu/(10NiO-NiFe₂O₄) cermets doped with Yb₂O₃ were prepared by conventional powder metallurgy technique. The effects of Yb₂O₃ content and sintering temperature on the relative density, phase composition, microstructure of the sintered cermets and the corrosion resistance to Na₃AlF₆-Al₂O₃ melts were investigated by sintered density test, XRD analysis and SEM. YbFeO₃ phase, which distributes in the ceramics grain boundary as particles or film, is produced by the reaction between Yb₂O₃ and ceramics. The addition of Yb₂O₃ accelerates the sintering process of ceramics matrix, eliminates pores in the boundary and results in coarsened crystalline grain. The relative density of the cermets with about 1% (mass fraction) Yb₂O₃ sintered at 1 275 ℃ increases to above 95%. Addition of about 1.0% Yb₂O₃ can inhibit obviously the corrosion of NiFe₂O₄ grain boundary and Cu phase in Na₃AlF₆-Al₂O₃ melts.

Key words: 10Cu/10NiO-NiFe₂O₄ cermets; Yb₂O₃ addition; sintering densification; microstructure; corrosion resistance; aluminum electrolysis