Electric melting of glass: Influence of cathodic currents on the formation of protective layers on molybdenum electrodes

Abstract

The influence of cathodic currents on the corrosion of molybdenum electrodes during electrical melting of glass was studied with the aid of laboratory experiments. It is shown that cathodic currents lead to the formation of molybdenum silicide layers on the electrode. Best results were obtained using a DC current density of 3.75 mA/cm² at a heating current density of 1 A/cm². Higher DC current densities resulted in molybdenum silicide layers, which dissolve in the melt as silicide particles. Simultaneous to the molybdenum silicide layers, at the counter electrodes MoO₂ layers are formed, which also dissolve as particles in the melt.