PrF3-NdF3-DyF3-LiF electrolyte system for preparation of Pr-Nd-Dy alloy by electrolysis

The application of Pr-Nd-Dy alloy in the field of high-performance Nd-Fe-B permanent magnet materials has great potential. The composition of the PrF₃-NdF₃-DyF₃-LiF (PND-LiF) electrolyte system used in the production of Pr-Nd-Dy alloys, the distribution of F, Li, RE and other elements in the electrolyte and their occurrence state were studied in this paper. The effect of temperature and lithium fluoride addition on electrolyte conductivity was revealed using the continuous conductivity cell constant (CVCC) method. The thermal analysis method was used to study the influence of lithium fluoride addition on the electrolyte's liquidus temperature and the optimal process conditions for the production of Pr-Nd-Dy alloy were determined. The results show that the overall distribution of praseodymium neodymium fluoride and lithium fluoride is uniform in the electrolyte and dysprosium fluoride is distributed between praseodymium-neodymium fluoride and lithium fluoride. Praseodymium-neodymium oxide is embedded in praseodymium neodymium fluoride in spotty pattern. The electrolyte's conductivity is increased as the temperature and lithium fluoride addition are going up, while the liquidus temperature is going down with increasing lithium fluoride addition. The best electrolysis process conditions for the PND-LiF system to produce praseodymium neodymium dysprosium alloy are as follows: temperature 1050 °C and 15.56 wt% PrF₃-62.22 wt% NdF₃-11.11 wt% DyF₃-11.11 wt% LiF.