Abstract:
A silicon nitride body is sintered in a silicon nitride crucible at a temperature ranging from about 1700 DEG C to 2100 DEG C. Sintering is carried out in the presence of nitrogen gas having sufficiently high pressure to prevent decomposition of the silicon nitride. The sintered body exhibits as-fired surface strength greater than 75 % of its bulk, machined-surface strength.
Abstract:
A fuel cell stack is based on solid electrolytes, such as the oxygen-ion conducting solid oxide fuel cells and the proton conducting ceramic or polymer membrane fuel cells. The fuel cell has a radial, coflow planar stack with an integral, internal manifold and tubular porous elements for controlling the rate and uniformity of the radial fuel and oxidant fluid flows. Such construction minimizes the extent of sealing that may be required and provides for easy manifolding of stack arrays. In addition, the fuel cell construction has the potential for high mass and volume specific power densities and low fabrication costs.
Abstract:
A lanthanum chromite ceramic powder consisting essentially of 1 mol of LaCr1-xMxO3, where M is a divalent metal selected from the group of zinc, copper and mixtures thereof and x ranges from about 0.02 to 0.2, y mols of B2O3, where y ranges from 0.0005 to 0.04, and z mols of La2O3, where the ratio z/y ranges from 1 to 3, the powder is sintered to high density by firing a compact thereof at a temperature of about 1400 °C in air or other atmosphere, and is particularly suited for use as interconnect material for solid oxide fuel cells.
Abstract:
A monolithic silicon nitride based ceramic is densified and heat treated in the presence of a sintering aid at a temperature of at least about 1850°C for a time period of at least 30 minutes. The ceramic has R-curve behavior and a Chevron Notch fracture toughness greater then 9 MPa.m0.5.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a crystalline compound having an empirical formula LaCrxA1-xO4.yH2O where A is a metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Sr, Ca and Ba, x ranges from 0.99 to about 0.7 and y ranges from 0 to 0.15. The process comprises adding a solution of the appropriate metal salts to a solution of ammonium hydroxide thereby precipitating a hydroxide gel intermediate, which is dried and calcined in air to yield the resultant crystalline compound which has a huttonite structure. Additionally, this invention relates to a process for the preparation of a ceramic powder having the empirical formula LaCrxA1-xO3, where A is a metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Sr, Ca and Ba, and x ranges from 0.99 to about 0.7. Finally, a ceramic composition having the empirical formula LaCrxA1-xO4.yH2O having a huttonite structure is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A radial planar fuel cell stack comprises an internal manifold having a first interior cavity and a second interior cavity. A plurality of single cells having an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte layer therebetween are disposed about the manifold. A manifold bracket operatively fixes the manifold to at least one of the single cells. The manifold bracket describes a channel in communication with at least one of the first and second interior cavities. A porous element is disposed in the channel and ensures uniform distribution of gases over 360°.
Abstract:
A silicon nitride sintered body has a composition consisting essentially of 80 to 93 % by weight β silicon nitride, 7 to 20 % by weight grain boundary phases consisting essentially of (i) at least two rare earth elements, wherein yttrium is considered a rare earth, and strontium which, calculated as SrO, is 0.5 to 5 % by weight, and (ii) at least two of Si, N, O and C; and (c) silicon carbide particulate present in the amount of about 5 to 35 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of components (a) and (b), said SiC being substantially homogeneously dispersed within said sintered body. Such a ceramic has high strength and long term durability, and is especially suited for industrial applications such as components for gas turbine and automotive engines.
Abstract:
Corps fritté de nitrure de silicium possédant une composition constituée essentiellement par 85 à 94 % en poids de nitrure de beta silicium, par 6 à 15 % en poids de phase limite de grains, essentiellement constituée par: (i) au moins deux éléments de terres rares, dans lesquels l'yttrium est considéré comme terres rares, et, éventuellement, du strontium qui, calculé en tant que SrO, représente 0-2 % en poids du corps total, et (ii) au moins des éléments Si, N, O et C, ainsi qu'un additif constitué essentiellement par un composé métal-carbone présent en une quantité d'environ 0,2 à 3,5 % en volume. L'additif est dispersé de façon sensiblement homogène à l'intérieur du corps fritté. Le corps fritté possède une densité d'au moins 95 % théoriquement et la céramique possède une dureté et une résistance élevées et s'adresse particulièrement à des applications industrielles, telles que des éléments de turbine à gaz et des moteurs automobiles. Le corps fritté possède une microstructure dans laquelle: (i) les grains de nitrure de silicium beta sont aciculaires et possèdent une largeur de grains moyenne située dans une plage de 0,5 à 1,5 mum, (ii) au moins 25 % des grains possèdent une largeur supérieure à 0,7 mum, et au moins 10 % des grains possède une largeur supérieure à 1 mum, et (iii) pas plus de 5 % des grains possèdent une largeur supérieure à 3,5 mum, ainsi qu'un rapport d'allongement supérieur à 5, dans la mesure où le rapport d'allongement moyen est d'au moins 1,8.
Abstract:
Une poudre de chromite de lanthane réactive au frittage est préparée à partir du précurseur de chromite de lanthane LaCr1-xMxO3 (Adsorbat). La poudre est cristalline, est représentée par la formule LaCr1-xMxO3, où M représente le magnésium et le calcium et x va d'environ 0,03 à 0,3, et s'agglomère par frittage jusqu'à des densités plus élevées qu'environ 95% de la densité théorique à une température aussi basse que 1.600 °C dans des atmosphères inertes ou réductrices. L'agglomération par frittage jusqu'à une densité si élevée à des températures avoisinant 1.600 °C rend cette poudre particulièrement adaptée à l'utilisation comme matériau intercalaire pour des piles à combustible à oxyde solide.
Abstract:
A sinter-reactive lanthanum chromite powder is prepared from the lanthanum chromite precursor LaCr1-xMxO3 (Adsorbate). The powder is crystalline, has the formula LaCr1-xMxO3, where M is selected from the group consisting of zinc, copper and mixtures thereof and x ranges from about 0.02 to 0.2, and sinters to densities higher than about 95 % of theoretical density at a temperature as low as 1400 °C in oxidizing atmospheres. Sintering to such high density at temperatures in the vicinity of 1400 °C makes the powder particularly suited for use as interconnect material for solid oxide fuel cells.