PNNL

Abstract

High operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells require that sealant must function at high temperature between 600o and 900oC and in the oxidizing and reducing environments of fuel and air. In this paper, experiment tests were implemented to investigate the effect of aging time and self-healing behavior of the glass ceramic sealant used in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) on its mechanical properties. With longer heat treatment or aging time during operation, further crystallization may reduce the residual glass content while boosting the ceramic crystalline content. Meanwhile, the micro-damage was induced by the cooling down process from the operating temperature to the room temperature, which can potentially degrade the mechanical properties of the glass/ceramic sealant. During the reheat of the SOFC to the operating temperature, the glass/ceramic sealant exhibits the possible self-healing characterization, which can restore the mechanical performance of the glass/ceramic sealant.