Powder coatings for solid oxide fuel cell interconnects

在其他燃料电池技术中，固体氧化物燃料电池(SOFC)在燃料灵活性、低排放和与其他涡轮机的结合能力方面非常有前途。作为互连的关键部件之一，研究人员尝试了许多方法来降低互连的成本，增强互连的兼容性。斯塔克波尔国际公司开发了一种新的批量生产富铬金属互连的粉末冶金(粉末金属，PM)工艺。 SOFC制造商需要开发一种工业规模的制造方法，用于将扩散阻挡涂层应用于PM互连。涂层必须抑制铬的向外扩散，并在SOFC工作温度下提供高导电性。 目前采用空气等离子喷涂(APS)方法制备扩散阻挡层，但传递效率低，设备投资相对较高。因此，迫切需要开发一种经济、高效、质量稳定、环境友好的方法在互连基板上涂覆扩散阻挡涂层。 在西安大略大学，朱景旭(Jesse)教授的粉末技术和流态化课题组专门从事细颗粒流态化和粉末涂料的研究和工业放大。凭借在粉末处理方面的丰富经验，研究人员正致力于寻找一种将粉末涂料直接用于基材的新方法。 斯塔克波尔国际公司拥有从多个角度支持该项目的协作能力，如果该项目成功，它将显著增加SI MississAuga粉末冶金部门的制成品价值，并将增加高素质人员和支持制造业员工的就业机会。西安大略大学将能够拓宽微粉技术的应用领域，并为真正的工业用途做出贡献。

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) is very promising amongst other fuel cells technologies in terms of fuel flexibility, low emission and the ability to combine with other turbines. As one of the key components, researchers tried many ways to reduce the cost and enhance the compatibility of interconnects. A novel volume manufacture of chromium-rich metallic interconnects by powder metallurgy (powdered-metal, PM) processing has been successfully developed by Stackpole International. There is a need by SOFC builder to develop an industrial scale manufacturing method for the application of diffusion barrier coatings to the PM interconnects. The coatings must inhibit outward diffusion of chromium and provide high electrical conductivity at the SOFC operating temperature. Currently air-plasma spray (APS) methods are used to apply diffusion barrier coatings, but with low transfer efficiency and relatively high equipment investment. So there is a great need to develop an economical, high efficiency, quality consistent and environment-friendly way of applying the diffusion barrier coatings onto the interconnect substrate. At the University of Western Ontario, the powder technology and fluidization research group of Prof. Jingxu (Jesse) Zhu specializes in research and industrial scale-up of fine particle fluidization and powder coatings. With rich experiences in powder handling, the researchers are aiming at finding a novel way of using powder coatings directly onto the substrates. Stackpole International have the collaborative abilities to support the project from several perspectives, and if the project becomes successful, it will provide significant increase in value of manufactured product at SI Mississauga Powder Metallurgy Division and will increase employment opportunities for highly qualified personnel and supporting manufacturing employees. And the University of Western Ontario will be able to broaden the application area of fine powder technology and make contributions to real industrial uses.