Huayou Cobalt
Huayou Cobalt
Stainless Steel Permanent Cathode Plates for Huayou Cobalt Copper Electrowinning Project
Client: Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd.
Industry: Non-Ferrous Metallurgy – Copper Electrowinning / Electro-Refining
Location: Indonesia (Supporting HPAL & Associated Metal Recovery Circuit)
Solution: 5,000 Sets of 316L Stainless Steel Permanent Cathode Plates
Application: Copper Deposit Electrowinning Cells | Automated Stripping-Compatible Cathode Assemblies
Challenge: Modernizing Tankhouse Reliability in a High-Throughput Copper Circuit
As part of its integrated nickel–cobalt–copper value chain, Huayou Cobalt required a robust cathode solution for its copper electrowinning (EW) / deposition circuit, where dissolved copper is recovered from leach liquors alongside nickel–cobalt HPAL operations.
The project engineering team identified several critical requirements that traditional starter-sheet methods could not meet:
- Need for continuous, automated operation:Manual starter-sheet production is labor-intensive, slow, and introduces quality variability.
- Dimensional stability under load:Cathode plates must remain perfectly flat after repeated heating/cooling and copper-stripping cycles to avoid short circuits and edge growth.
- High corrosion resistance in acidic sulfate electrolyte:Prolonged exposure to H₂SO₄-based, chloride-containing solutions demands superior pitting resistance.
- Fast tankhouse ramp-up:A large-volume supply (5,000+ plates) with consistent quality was needed to meet an aggressive commissioning schedule.
The chosen solution had to be a permanent cathode system—durable, strippable, and compatible with automated stripping machines.
Solution: 316L Stainless Steel Permanent Cathode Plates by BaoJi Special Steel Titanium Industry Co.,Ltd.
BaoJi Special Steel Titanium Industry Co.,Ltd. was selected to manufacture and supply 5,000 permanent stainless steel cathode plates (Type 316L) engineered for modern copper tankhouse operations.
Product specifications & features:
- Blade Material:Cold-rolled 316L stainless steel sheet, Mo-alloyed for enhanced resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in acidic, chloride-bearing electrolytes. Surface roughness controlled (Ra ≤ 0.8 μm) to ensure uniform copper deposition and easy automatic stripping.
- Conductive Hanger Bar:Heavy-duty stainless steel beam with copper insert or copper-clad section (as specified) to minimize voltage drop and ensure homogeneous current distribution across the plate.
- Edge Strips / Seals:Acid-resistant PP/PVC edge strips to prevent premature edge growth and protect weld zones.
- Dimensional Accuracy:Strict flatness tolerance and verticality control to eliminate inter-plate shorting in closely spaced EW cells.
- Quality Assurance:100% visual and dimensional inspection, weld integrity check, and surface finish verification prior to shipment.
All plates were packed and containerized according to overseas project logistics requirements, arriving on-site ready for immediate installation.
Results: Reliable Performance in Full-Scale Production
Since commissioning, the stainless steel permanent cathode system has delivered measurable benefits to Huayou's copper recovery circuit:
- Smooth compatibility with auto-stripping lines:Flat, low-roughness surfaces enable clean copper sheet release without plate damage—key to unmanned stripping operations.
- No plate-related downtime:No reports of warping, cracking, or excessive corrosion after extended service cycles, supporting uninterrupted tankhouse operation.
- Consistent cathode copper quality:Uniform current distribution yields high-purity deposited copper meeting LME Grade A standards.
- Lower operating cost vs. starter sheets:Elimination of starter-sheet fabrication reduces labor, consumables, and energy consumption per ton of copper produced.
Huayou's project team recognized the on-time delivery, dimensional consistency, and field performance of the cathode plates as key contributors to a successful tankhouse startup.
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