Thermal stability of nanostructured iron–chromium alloys for interconnect application of solid oxide fuel cells

AbstractThe thermal expansion mismatch between a metallic substrate and its external oxide scale generates a strain on cooling that is the primary cause of spallation of protective oxide scales. This study investigates the thermal stability, by means of thermal expansion and oxidation behaviour, of the nanostructured FeCr alloy prepared by different consolidation techniques by means of the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method and to compare with conventional sintering technique by means of hot pressing (HP). This has potential application as interconnect in solid oxide fuel cell. Commercially available ferritic steel is chosen as a comparison of another high Cr ferritic model alloy. The beneficial effect of the reactive element by means of lanthanum onto the alloy surface that is introduced using ion implantation is also explored. The specific aspects studied were the effects of nanocrystalline structure, influenced by sintering method and surface treatment through La ion implantation of chromia forming al...