Structure and Oxidation Behavior of the $LaCrO_3$-dispersed Cr alloys

$LaCrO_3$가 분산된 Cr 합금의 구조 및 산화거동

In order to reduce or avoid oxidation problem at operation the interconnects in SOFCs have so far mostly been made of ceramic material. It has high chemical stability both under cathode and anode condition, relatively thermal expansion coefficient that matchs that of electrolyte material YSZ. But this material shown rather weak in the low oxygen atmosphere and thermal shock, and it has lower mechanical strength than alloys. To avoid these problems one may consider to use metals or alloys as materials for interconnects. Metallic interconnects are advantageous because of their high thermal and electronic conductivities. But it has some problems, Those are high thermal expansion and oxidation at high temperature in air. To solve these problems in the interconnection material in this study, $LaCrO_3$-dispersed Cr alloys for metallic interconnector of SOFC have been investigated as a fuction of $LaCrO_3$ content in the range of 5 to 25 vol.%. The Cr alloy were prepared by mixing Cr and $LaCrO_3$ powders in high-energy ball mill for 48h and by sintering under Ar atmosphere with 5vol.% $H_2$ for 10h at $1500^{\circ}C$. The alloys had a relative density of 95% and above. The Cr alloys in composed of two kind of small $LaCrO_3$ and large Cr particles. As the $LaCrO_3$ content increased, the Cr particle size decreased but the $LaCrO_3$ particle size remained contant. Also the oxidation tests show that the $LaCrO_3$-dispersed Cr is very resistant to oxidation in air. These results means that $LaCrO_3$-dispersed Cr is a useful material for metallic interconnect of planar SOFC.