SOLID-ELECTROLYTE BASED GALVANIC CELL FOR MEASURING THE ANTIMONY CONCENTRATION IN MOLTEN ZINC

A concept for a sensor to monitor the antimony concentration in molten zinc has been tested. The sensor consists of a stabilized zirconia so lid electrolyte with a ZrSb2 auxiliary electrode to provide the sensit ivity to antimony. Electromotive force measurements of the antimony ac tivity in molten zinc using this cell are in agreement with values cal culated from measurements of the zinc activity in zinc-antimony alloys . However, the Lifetime of the sensor is limited due to reaction of th e ZrSb2 auxiliary electrode with the molten zinc to form zirconium-zin c intermetallic compounds.