Since their introduction, titanium electrodes have rapidly gained widespread application in numerous electrolysis industries due to their superior performance. Compared to traditional electrodes (such as graphite and lead anodes), titanium electrodes (usually referring to titanium-coated electrodes) offer the following significant advantages:
1. High Dimensional Stability: The anode dimensions remain virtually unchanged during electrolysis, and the inter-electrode spacing is stable, ensuring that electrolysis is performed under constant cell voltage conditions.
2. Low Operating Voltage and Significant Energy Savings: They effectively reduce energy consumption, typically reducing DC power consumption by 10%-20%.
3. Long Service Life: They exhibit excellent corrosion resistance. For example, in the diaphragm chlor-alkali industry, their service life can reach over six years, far exceeding that of graphite anodes (approximately eight months).
4. No Dissolution Contamination: They overcome the dissolution issues associated with graphite and lead anodes, preventing contamination of the electrolyte and cathode products, significantly improving the purity of the metal products.
5. High Current Density Compatibility: They are particularly suitable for efficient electrolysis under high operating current density conditions.
6. Improved Product Quality (Alkali Industry): When used in chlor-alkali production, the resulting product (such as caustic soda) has a high concentration and high-purity chlorine (CO₂-free), while also saving energy.
7. Strong Corrosion Resistance: Able to operate stably in a variety of highly corrosive and demanding electrolytic media.
8. Avoid Short-Circuit Risk: This eliminates the problem of lead anode deformation leading to short circuits, helping to improve current efficiency.
9. Lightweight: Significantly reduces operator workload.
10. Supports High-Temperature and High-Current-Density Operation: Enables stable operation of the electrolytic cell at high temperatures and high current densities.
11. Low Overpotential and Easy Bubble Removal: The low overpotential and easy bubble removal properties of the electrode surface are key factors in reducing the cell voltage of metal anode electrolytic cells.
Application Areas:
Titanium electrodes are primarily used in the electrochemical and electrometallurgical industries, with a wide range of applications, including but not limited to:
Chemical Industry: Chlor-alkali industry, aluminate production, and organic electrosynthesis.
Energy and Environmental Protection: Water electrolysis for hydrogen/oxygen production, wastewater treatment, electrodialysis for seawater/brackish water desalination, industrial and domestic water treatment and disinfection, and food utensil cleaning and disinfection.
Surface Treatment: Steel plate electroplating processes such as galvanizing, chromium plating, and ruthenium plating.
Other Applications: Battery production, cathodic protection (e.g., sacrificial anodes), and titanium-based metal oxide coating preparation.
Summary: Titanium electrodes, with their combined advantages of high stability, long life, high efficiency, low energy consumption, zero pollution, and excellent corrosion resistance, have become an indispensable key material in the modern electrolysis industry, driving technological advancement and green development in related industries.
