Pre- heat Treatment and Oxidation Behavior of Electroplating Cobalt Coating on 430 Steel in 800°C with Thermal Cycling as Interconnects in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

There are many new researches and development efforts to improve the performance of SOFCs that work in an intermediate temperature. One of the key components in these cells are interconnects, therefore, amelioration of oxidation resistance and electrical conductivity of theme can help to further this goal. This research evaluates the performance of a ferritic stainless steel (AISI 430- a candidate SOFC interconnect material) with and without a Co coating (via electroplating technique) with a pre-heat treatment, during short periodic oxidation exposures up to 800°C in laboratory air. A pre-heat treatment exposure of Co coated samples to a 800°C vacuumed atmosphere (prior to oxidation exposures) led to the formation of a new complex of Co- based spinel oxide coating, which limits oxidation rates, and provides substantially better adhesiveness (Class of 5A) in comparison to coated specimens without pre-heat treatment. In the present study, the development of an effective electroplating Co coating with vacuumed pre-heat treatment, as a coating for interconnects, has been taken into consideration. The difference that can be made in trend of efficiency in using SOFC, is the main reason for this study

Keywords:

Interconnects , Solid Oxide Fuel Cell , Cobalt Coating , Pre-heat Treatment , Electroplating