A Titanium Plating Lead Dioxide Anode as an Alternative to Traditional Lead Anodes for Electrodeposition

What Kind of Lead Anode is Good for Zinc Electrowinning?

In electrowinning applications, lead and its alloys have been the preferred anode material for a long time. The anode material used in the electrowinning process should meet three requirements: electrical conductivity, electrocatalysis, stability, and certain resistance. Good electrical conductivity is essential for energy efficiency. Good electrocatalytic properties are essential to improve product yield. Long-term stability is also an important property because electrode wear and corrosion may cause product contamination, increasing energy consumption and material and labor costs due to the need for periodical maintenance. Also, the anode should have fine, uniform grains with little or no segregation of alloying elements to the grain boundary.

Pure lead is a weak material and it tends to creep and warp during use. Therefore, the lead must be alloyed in order to improve its mechanical properties. Lead has a relatively low melting point, which facilitates its casting, and it is also a very ductile material and can be machined with ease. In zinc electrowinning plants, Titanium Plating Lead Dioxide Anode has been widely used as an insoluble anode material. Titanium Plating Lead Dioxide Anode in an acidic sulphate bath has the following favorable features, small amounts of lead decrease the oxygen overvoltage, and increase the corrosion resistance of material during electrolysis. A well established custom in most electrolytic zinc plants as the anode material. The resulting benefits are a longer anode life and a lower Pb content in the cathodic zinc.