Ruthenium-Iridium coated titanium anode
Ruthenium-Iridium Coated Titanium Anode: The Gold Standard DSA for Chlor-Alkali & High-Performance Electrolysis
Key Points at a Glance
- Ruthenium-Iridium coated titanium anode (Ru-Ir MMO / DSA) is recognized worldwide as the most durable and efficient chlorine-evolution anode, with service life exceeding 8–12 years at 4,000–8,000 A/m² in harsh chloride environments.
- Offers ultra-low chlorine overpotential (<40 mV at 4 kA/m²), high current efficiency (>96%), and extremely low coating wear rate (<0.5 mg/A·year).
- Fully recyclable titanium substrate allows multiple recoating cycles (4–6 times), dramatically reducing long-term cost.
- Proven in over 50,000 chlor-alkali cells globally and rapidly becoming the anode of choice for seawater electrolysis, sodium hypochlorite generators, and advanced oxidation processes.
- Ti Time Company, with 15+ years of specialized MMO coating expertise in China’s Titanium Valley, delivers fully customized Ru-Ir titanium anodes with ISO 9001, SGS, and third-party lifetime certification.
Top 5 FAQs About Ruthenium-Iridium Coated Titanium Anode
- What makes Ru-Ir coated titanium anode superior to traditional graphite or platinum anodes? Compared to graphite (lifespan <2 years, high voltage), pure platinum (extremely expensive), or ordinary MMO, Ru-Ir coating exhibits the optimal balance of catalytic activity for Cl₂ evolution and oxygen suppression, achieving chlorine overpotential as low as 30–40 mV and oxygen evolution overpotential >1.3 V, ensuring >96% current efficiency and 8–12 year lifespan.
- How long can a Ruthenium-Iridium titanium anode actually last in chlor-alkali service? In standard membrane chlor-alkali conditions (31–33% NaOH, 20–22% NaCl, 85–90°C, 3–6 kA/m²), Ti Time’s latest-generation nano Ru-Ir coating delivers >10 years of continuous operation with coating loss <0.4 mg/A·year — verified by more than 10 large-scale plants in China and Southeast Asia.
- Can Ru-Ir titanium anodes be used in seawater or high-salinity electrolysis? Absolutely. Their high oxygen overpotential and exceptional resistance to hypochlorite/hypochlorous acid make them the first choice for ship ballast water treatment, offshore platform ICCP systems, and coastal sodium hypochlorite generators (0.8–1.0% NaClO, 5–20 g/L available chlorine).
- Is recoating/rebuilding of the titanium substrate possible and cost-effective? Yes — after the coating is exhausted, the titanium substrate remains intact. Ti Time offers professional stripping + recoating service at 35–45% of new anode cost, allowing the same base metal to be reused 4–6 times (total life >40 years).
- What customization options does Ti Time provide for Ru-Ir coated titanium anodes? We offer mesh, plate, tube, rod, and complex 3D assemblies; coating formulations optimized for chlor-alkali, hypochlorite, seawater, or perchlorate processes; current densities from 500 A/m² (water treatment) to 12,000 A/m² (copper foil); and full turnkey solutions including frame design and cell retrofitting.
Ruthenium-Iridium Coated Titanium Anode: The Ultimate DSA Solution for Chlorine Evolution & Beyond
— In-Depth Guide from Ti Time Company, China’s Leading MMO Expert
For more than half a century, the chlor-alkali industry has sought the perfect chlorine-evolution anode. Since the introduction of Dimensionally Stable Anodes (DSA®) in the late 1960s, Ruthenium-Iridium coated titanium anodes (Ru-Ir MMO) have become the undisputed global standard, powering over 95% of modern membrane chlor-alkali plants and rapidly dominating seawater electrolysis and electrochemical water treatment markets.
Why Ruthenium-Iridium Coating Reigns Supreme
The magic lies in the synergistic RuO₂-IrO₂ solid solution formed at the nanoscale. Ruthenium oxide provides outstanding electrocatalytic activity for chlorine evolution (Cl₂), while iridium oxide dramatically raises the oxygen evolution potential and reinforces coating stability. The typical molar ratio of Ru:I r = 70:30 to 50:50 delivers:
- Chlorine overpotential < 40 mV at 4 kA/m²
- Oxygen evolution potential > 1.35 V (vs. SCE) in brine
- Coating wear rate as low as 0.2–0.5 mg/A·year
- Service life 8–12 years at 4–8 kA/m², far exceeding Ru-Sn, Ru-Ti-Sn, or Pt-Ir systems in most chloride environments
Ti Time’s latest 5th-generation nano-crystalline Ru-Ir coating (patented multi-layer thermal decomposition process) pushes wear rates below 0.3 mg/A·year while maintaining slot voltages ≤ 3.05 V in modern membrane cells — proven in 100+ large-scale installations.
Core Technical Advantages
| Performance Parameter | Ti Time Ru-Ir MMO Anode | Industry Average Ru-Ir | Graphite Anode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Life (4 kA/m², membrane cell) | 10–12 years | 7–9 years | 1–2 years |
| Chlorine Overpotential (4 kA/m²) | 30–40 mV | 50–80 mV | >300 mV |
| Current Efficiency | 96.5–98% | 94–96% | 88–92% |
| Coating Consumption Rate | ≤ 0.3 mg/A·year | 0.6–1.2 mg/A·year | N/A |
| Recoating Cost (vs. new) | 35–45% | 50–60% | Not possible |
Proven Applications Worldwide
- Membrane & Diaphragm Chlor-Alkali – Over 50,000 m² supplied to Asahi Kasei, INEOS, and Chinese giants
- Seawater Electrolysis & Ballast Water Treatment – IMO & USCG certified systems on 200+ vessels
- On-Site Sodium Hypochlorite Generators – 50–20,000 g/h Cl₂ capacity, 10+ year anode life
- Electrolytic Copper Foil Production – Ultra-high current density (8–12 kA/m²) custom anodes
- Advanced Oxidation & Electro-Fenton – High oxygen overpotential versions for wastewater
- Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) – Tubular & mesh anodes for offshore platforms and pipelines
Ti Time Company – Your Trusted Ruthenium-Iridium Anode Partner
Headquartered in Baoji “Titanium Valley”, Ti Time Company has specialized in MMO coatings since 2008. We operate two ISO 9001-certified coating lines with annual capacity >150,000 m² and maintain the industry’s most advanced accelerated life testing laboratory (following ASTM B-765 & NACE standards).
Every Ru-Ir titanium anode we deliver includes:
- Full material certificates & third-party coating analysis (SEM/EDS/XRD)
- Accelerated life test report (>100,000 h equivalent)
- 8–12 year performance warranty (conditions apply)
- Free recoating & substrate buy-back program
From single prototype meshes to multi-million-dollar chlor-alkali retrofits, our engineers provide complete design-to-commissioning support.
Ready to Upgrade Your Electrolysis Performance?
Contact Ti Time today for a free anode evaluation and customized quotation. Whether you need standard mesh for hypochlorite generators or high-density plates for the latest zero-gap membrane cells, we deliver the world’s most reliable Ruthenium-Iridium coated titanium anodes.
Contact: info@titimecn.com
Website: www.titime.com
