Porous Ni-YSZ planar anodes by powder extrusion moulding employing PMMA as pore former

Abstract

Porous Ni-YSZ planar supports to be used as anodes in solid oxide fuel cells were obtained by powder extrusion moulding. The addition of poly-methyl methacrylate beads as pore-former provided an improved gas flow through the anode. Feedstocks were prepared employing a multicomponent binder based on polypropylene, paraffin wax and stearic acid in a volume ratio 42/42/16. The effect of particle size was also studied using two kinds of NiO. Poly-methyl methacrylate substituted the powder loading in a 5 vol.-% to increase the porosity. The thickness of green anodes was close to 1 mm, and subsequently removal of the binder was performed by a combined cycle: solvent and thermal debinding. After sintering and reduction stages, nickel presence was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The porosity reached employing fine NiO was similar than employing coarse one (16%), however the mechanical strength of this anode was higher (∼140 MPa) and more suitable for the application.

Keywords:

• Powder extrusion moulding
• Porous anodes
• Solid oxide fuel cells

Acknowledgement

Moreover, authors would like to thank Lucite International Speciality Polymers & Resins Ltd for supplying PMMA.

ORCiD

M. E. Sotomayor http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3470-5407

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad [MAT2013-46452-C4-3-R] and CAM [MATERYENER P2013/MIT-2753].