Simplified and cost-effective sintering processes for creep resistant Ni-10wt.%Cr MCFC anodes

Abstract

Two sintering processes were designed for Ni-10wt.%Cr anodes. One included a full oxidation and reduction, referred to as FR hereafter, and the other included a reduction only, referred to as R hereafter. The processes were designed to replace the existing partial oxidation and reduction process, referred to as PR hereafter, which is known to be rather complicated and expensive. The morphologies and creep behaviors of the anodes were also investigated. The anode sintered through a FR process, with an oxidation time of 0.5 hr, showed almost as fine oxide dispersion and high creep resistance as that sintered through a PR process. The creep strain was 3.1% (porosity 60%) after a 100 hr creep test, with no micropores observed in the anode. Conversely, the anode sintered through an R process showed a morphology of coarse oxide dispersion with large Cr2O3 particles. Accordingly, the creep resistance of the anode was not as high as that of the anode sintered through the PR or FR processes.