Chemical interaction study between lanthanum based different alkaline earth glass sealants with Crofer 22 APU for solid oxide fuel cell applications

In the present work, the adhesion and chemical compatibility of two glass compositions have been tested with interconnect Crofer22APU as a function of different heating durations for solid oxide fuel cell applications. The main function of glass seal is to separate air and fuel at working temperature of fuel cell i.e. 800-1000 degrees C. The glasses were prepared by substitution of alkaline earth glass modifiers in lanthanum based borosilicate glass composition SiO2-B2O3-AO-La2O3 (A = Mg, Ca). Furthermore Crofer22APU/glass-ceramics were joined to make diffusion couples which were heat-treated at 850 C for different time durations of 5, 100 and 750 h. These diffusion couples were morphologically characterized after heat-treatment at 850 degrees C. XRD indicated surface crystallization of various crystalline phases formed in the glass/Crofer 22 APU diffusion couple. The overall analysis of resulting microstructure by SEM/EPMA revealed improvement in adhesion with increase in time duration of heat-treatment. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.