Abstract: The method includes the following step of forming at least one material input zone on the surface of an electrolyte, disposing a working tool in the input zone to push the material into the melt of the electrolyte, imparting mechanical oscillations and translatory motions to the working tool in the direction towards the electrolyte and back therefrom with the length of said motions being within the range of values from about 10.0 to about 120.0 sec. The method further includes transporting material into the input zone and forming some layer in the material input zone, and after accumulation of a sufficient amount of the material, the latter enters into contact with the working tool. The aforesaid steps increase the capacity of the material input zone and reduce power expenditures on the input of material into the electrolyte.

Abstract: In an electrolysis cell wherein powdered material are added to a bath of molten electrolyte, the anode is provided with a duct through which the powdered material may be fed to the electrolyte. Simultaneously, a gas which is preferably inert, is also fed together with the powdered material through the duct, and both are injected beneath the surface of the electrolyte.

Abstract: A cell for the electrowinning of aluminium by the electrolysis of alumina dissolved in a molten fluoride-based electrolyte comprises a cathode composed of a carbon body having an aluminium resistant aluminium-wettable surface layer containing particulate titanium or other refractory hard metal boride and a bonding material providing a porous layer which contains cathodic molten aluminium. Molten cathodic aluminium external to the aluminium-resistant and aluminium-wettable surface contains refractory hard metal and boron in a total concentration sufficient or just below that sufficient to inhibit dissolution into the molten aluminium of the refractory hard metal boride. Alumina is fed to the cell whereby the required amount of titanium in the aluminium results from the alumina feed while, when boron is not present in a sufficient amount, boron is added to bring the total titanium and boron content to or just below the equilibrium solubility product.