A METHOD FOR CHROMIUM UPGRADING OF FERRITIC STEEL INTERCONNECTS FOR SOLID OXIDE CELL STACK APPLICATIONS

Abstract

In a method for chromium upgrading of interconnects made of ferritic steel to be used in solid oxide cell stacks, comprising the steps of shaping the interconnect, depositing a coating comprising Cr on at least one surface of the shaped interconnect and performing one or more thermal treatments at a temperature below 1000° C., the resulting Cr concentration near the surface of the interconnect is higher than the Cr concentration in the ferritic steel before shaping. Specifically, the average Cr concentration of the shaped interconnect is increased to 26 wt % Cr or higher.

Claims

1. A method for chromium upgrading of interconnects made of ferritic steel to be used in solid oxide cell stacks, comprising the steps of shaping the interconnect, depositing a coating comprising Cr on at least one surface of the shaped interconnect, performing one or more thermal treatments at a temperature below 1000° C., whereby the resulting Cr concentration near the surface of the interconnect is higher than the Cr concentration in the ferritic steel before shaping.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the average Cr concentration of the shaped interconnect is increased to 26 wt % Cr or higher.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the ferritic steel is a group 1 ferritic steel, group 2 ferritic steel, group 3 ferritic steel, group 4 ferritic steel or one of the following steels: Crofer22APU, Crofer22H, ZMG G10.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the ferritic steel is a group 2 ferritic steel.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the deposition step can be characterized as hard chromium plating.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the thickness of the deposited coating is at least 1 micron and less than 1 millimeter.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the deposition step is a chromizing process.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the shaping of the interconnect is carried out by forming.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the forming is carried out by stamping, pressing, forging, rolling, coining, embossing, extrusion, roll-forming, hydroforming or deep-drawing.

10. Method according to claim 8, wherein the pressing power used for forming of the interconnect is less than 500 bar.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein the shaping of the interconnect is carried out by machining.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the machining is carried out by drilling, milling, photochemical etching, electrochemical etching, dry etching, or laser cutting.

13. Method according to claim 1, wherein the coefficient of thermal expansion of the interconnect after chromium upgrading is higher than 12 ppm/K, but lower than 13 ppm/K.

14. An interconnect of ferritic steel to be used in solid oxide cell stacks wherein the interconnects are prepared by a process according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

[0061] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the method according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the deposition step can be characterized as hard chromium plating.

[0062] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the method according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the deposition step can be characterized as a chromizing process.

[0063] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the Fe and Cr content near the surface of a Crofer 22 APU plate after chromium upgrading.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] FIG. 1 illustrates one possible embodiment of the invention. Ferritic stainless steel (101) is first shaped (process A) into a shaped SOC interconnect (104). Thereafter, a coating comprising Cr (105) is deposited by hard chromium plating (process B) on at least one surface of the shaped interconnect (104), whereby a coated SOC interconnect (106) is obtained. Then, one or more thermal treatments (process C) are performed at temperatures below 1000° C., whereby a chromium-upgraded SOC interconnect (102) is obtained. The resulting Cr concentration near the surface of the chromium-upgraded interconnect (102) is higher than the Cr concentration in the ferritic steel before shaping (101).

[0065] FIG. 2 illustrates one possible embodiment of the invention. Ferritic stainless steel (101) is first shaped (process A) into a shaped SOC interconnect (104). Thereafter, a coating comprising Cr (107) is deposited by a chromizing process (process D) on at least one surface of the shaped interconnect (104), whereby a coated SOC interconnect (108) is obtained. Then, one or more thermal treatments (process E) are performed at temperatures below 1000° C., whereby a chromium-upgraded SOC interconnect (103) is obtained. The resulting Cr concentration near the surface of the chromium-upgraded interconnect (103) is higher than the Cr concentration in the ferritic steel before shaping (101).

[0066] FIG. 3 shows the Fe and Cr content near the surface of a Crofer 22 APU sheet after chromium upgrading. The elemental composition was determined by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) point analysis, performed at various depths, i.e. distance from the surface of the sheet (denoted as “X” in FIG. 3), of a cross-section of Crofer 22 APU sheet after chromium upgrading. The Cr and Fe content in the steel is expressed in units of wt % (denoted as “%” in FIG. 3). The original Crofer 22 APU sheet had a thickness of 300 microns and a chromium content of 22 wt %. Based on the EDX data, after chromium upgrading by chromizing process (process D) and a heat-treatment (process E), the chromium concentration near the surface of the chromium-upgraded metal sheet was higher than the Cr concentration in the ferritic steel before shaping (101). More specifically, the Cr content in the steel is 26 wt % up to a depth of approximately 25 microns from the surface of the sheet.