Determination of Optimum Production Conditions of Casting Slurry in the Manufacture of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Electrodes with the Tape Casting Technique

Abstract

In this study, Ni anode and LiAlO2 electrolyte green sheets were manufactured for MCFC system. Experimental scale production of green sheets was carried out by using tape casting technique. The method of casting slurry, which is the first stage of preparation, has a direct impact on the final product. Therefore, cast slurries with different ratios of a solvent, a binder, a dispersant, plasticizer loading to the organic compounds were prepared to produce green sheets with the technique of tape casting in order to investigate the viscosity, shear stress, thixotropy and flow characteristics. After sheets were dried, physical properties (mechanical tests) were determined. Mixing method (balling mill and mechanical stirrer) and mixing duration of slurry, mixing weight ratio of binder, solvent, plasticizer, dispersant, Li/K carbonate, Ni, and LiAlO2 powder in the slurry was examined.