Protective Coatings for SOFC Components
Ceramic coating technologies have been demonstrated to mitigate the performance reduction caused by degradation of chromium-containing ferritic stainless steel alloys. fuelcellmaterials has taken the lead in tailoring and demonstrating cost effective coating technologies, including manganese cobalt oxide (MCO) and aluminide protective coatings for the metallic interconnects and balance of plant parts for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).
Why You Need Protective Coatings for SOFC Components
Protective coatings are required to prevent failure of stainless steel SOFC components
Chromium Volatility
Substrate: cathode material in contact with Crofer 22APU
Condition: 100 h, humidified air 900 °C
Oxidation
Condition: 304 SS – 500 h, humidified air 900 °C
Coking/Carburization
Condition: 430 SS – 100 h, carbon rich atmosphere
fuelcellmaterials can assist through all phases of product launch.
Interconnect coating to your specifications
Prototype batches for process validation and stack tests
Parts are coated by our dedicated coating team
Contract coating batches for intermediate volumes
Early stage manufacturing to your specifications
Significant cost reductions for volume orders available
License product and transfer technology
Easily incorporate our technology into your manufacturing system
Materials supply agreements to ensure all your needs are met
ChromLokTM System
MCO Coating for Active Area of Interconnect Protection + Coatings for Seal Area Protection
The ChromLokTM process provides long term protection from chromium emission
fuelcellmaterials’ innovative ChromLokTM system provides metallic components used in solid-oxide fuel cell systems with the high-temperature protection they need. The ChromLokTM system includes a range of complementary oxide coatings that prevent the release of detrimental chromium species from stainless steels during high temperature operation. Coatings include a manganese cobaltite (MCO) coating, which combines excellent protection with low resistance, ideal for the cathode active-area where electrical conductivity is critical. Additional coatings include non-active, insulating coatings compatible with common seal materials and a Ni-based anode side coating.
To Learn More About How Our Coatings Can Impact Your Product, Contact Our Coatings Specialists
Sometimes it’s just easier to make a phone call. Feel free to call us at +1.614.635.2025 anytime, although we are only here from 9AM-6PM EST Monday – Friday, if that changes anything.
Excellent long term stability for over 50,000 hours demonstrated
Electrical ASR performance of MCO coated ferritic stainless steel
Substrate: AL 441-HP Temperature: 800 °C – 900 °C
Gas composition: humidified air (~ 3 % H2O) Current density: 0.5 A/cm2
MCO coating enables cathode active protection of metallic interconnects
ChromLokTM Microstructure
After Deposition
800 hrs 800 °C
> 7000 hrs 800 °C/900 °C
Top Down MCO Coating
Cross Section MCO Coating
Coating: MCO oxidized
Substrate: ferritic stainless steel Crofer 22APU
AlumiLokTM Coating
High Temperature Corrosion Protection for Balance of Plant Parts
AlumiLokTM coating is amenable to high temperature protection of BoP components
The AlumiLokTM coating process is a scalable, cost-effective approach to protect metal components from corrosion in high-temperature applications. Coated stainless steel components exhibit eight to ten times less oxidation, greatly exceeding the performance of other high temperature alloys. AlumiLokTM has been shown to work with a wide range of materials, including ferritic & austenitic stainless steels, Inconel, nickel alloys & copper alloys. AlumiLokTM replicates the traditional aluminization surface microstructure, proving just as effective as the expensive vapor phase aluminization process.
To Learn More About How Our Coatings Can Impact Your Product, Contact Our Coatings Specialists
Sometimes it’s just easier to make a phone call. Feel free to call us at +1.614.635.2025 anytime, we are only here from 9AM-6PM EST Monday – Friday, but you can leave a message and trust we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Coating reproduces the microstructure produced by conventional aluminization processes
AlumiLokTM Microstructure
Aluminide Coating (AlumiLokTM)
Vapor-Phase Aluminization (VPA)
Substrate: 316 stainless steel
Aluminide coating: standard processing
AlumiLokTM coating significantly improves oxidation behavior of stainless steels
AlumiLokTM Oxidation Behavior
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AlumiLokTM Coated |
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Uncoated |
Substrate: 316 stainless steel
Temperature: 900 °C
Gas composition: humidified air
Resistance to coking in high carbon gas streams
AlumiLokTM Coking Behavior
Uncoated
Coated
Substrate: 316 stainless steel
Exposure time: 100 hours
Temperature: 550 °C
Gas composition: 33 % H2, 30 % CO2, 24.7 % CO, and 12 % CH4
Pressure: 4 psi