Processing of Cerium Tungsten Electrodes
Cerium tungsten electrodes can be processed by the method of powder metallurgy.
The cerium tungsten electrodes processing is similar to yttrium tungsten electrodes. First of all, mix cerium nitrate aqueous solution with tungsten oxide to make tungsten cerium coated powder. Then reduce it to tungsten cerium powder. Finally, press and sinter powder into electrodes.
Cerium tungsten electrodes are first used to replace thoriated tungsten electrodes in 1950s. The processing method is developed from adding cerium oxide into tungsten powder in 1956. In 1965, method of permeating is introduced that is to put unsintered tungsten rod into rare earth metallic salt to reach the goal of mixing. Later on, in 1967, the method of sinter tungsten cerium powder into electrodes was invented, and become the most popular processing method of cerium tungsten electrodes.