A method is described for making aluminum reduction cell components, e.g.
cathodes having stabilized surfaces, which comprises mixing together a
carbonaceous material, TiB.sub.2 and up to 25% by weight of a finely
divided additive consisting of a combination of two intimately mixed
compounds and forming the mixture into a cell component, wherein at least
a first of the two compounds has a higher melting temperature than the
baking temperature. When the cell component is contacted with molten
aluminum, the aluminum reacts with the additive to form a dense phase at
the surface of the cell component, having low solubility in aluminum.