Powder coatings for solid oxide fuel cell interconnects

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联合收割机结合的能力方面是其他燃料电池技术中非常有前途的。互连线作为其中的关键部件之一，研究人员尝试了多种方法来降低成本，增强兼容性。斯塔克波尔国际公司成功地开发了一种新的通过粉末冶金（粉末金属，PM）工艺批量制造富铬金属互连线的方法。 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互连件。涂层必须抑制铬的向外扩散，并在SOFC工作温度下提供高电导率。 目前采用空气等离子喷涂（APS）方法制备扩散阻挡涂层，但喷涂效率低，设备投资相对较高。因此，迫切需要开发一种经济、高效、质量稳定且环境友好的方法来将扩散阻挡涂层涂覆到互连基板上。 在西安大略大学，Jingxu（Jesse）Zhu教授的粉末技术和流化研究小组专门从事细颗粒流化和粉末涂料的研究和工业放大。凭借丰富的粉末处理经验，研究人员的目标是找到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具有从多个角度支持该项目的协作能力，如果该项目成功，将为SI密西索加粉末冶金部门的制成品价值带来显着增加，并将增加高素质人员的就业机会和支持制造员工。而西安大略大学将能够拓宽细粉技术的应用领域，为真实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.