Electrical conductivity of inhomogeneous Cu₂O- ₁₀CuAIO₂-xCu cermets

Cu₂O-10CuAIO₂-xCu cermets, as candidate inert anode materials for AI production, were prepared via hot-pressing (HP) technology, and their electrical conductivity was studied. The results show that the Cu ₂O-₁₀CuAlO₂-xCu cermet materials can act as an electrical conductor when the Cu content is higher than 15 wt%. The electrical conductivity of the cermet material depends on the content, the particle size of the metal phase, and also on the porosity of the cermet material. The electrical conductivity increases with the decrease of particle size of the metal phase and the porosity. The particle size of the metal phase decreases with the increase of HP pressure, while it increases with increase of the HP temperature. The mathematic relationship connecting electrical conductivity and the influence factors was found.