Reactive metal brazing of ceria to an ODS steel in the fabrication of a novel oxide fuel cell

The development of an all ceria based solid oxide fuel cell offers potential advantages such as lower operating temperatures and fabrication costs associated with the use of metallic interconnects. This study looks at reactive metal brazing as a possible route for joining ceria to an oxide dispersion strengthened ferritic superalloy. The results show that this joining process can be used to bond high density ceria to the steel interconnect. However, careful control of the bonding temperature and time is necessary to prevent excessive growth of reaction layers at the ceramic/metal bond interface, which beyond a critical thickness have a detrimental effect on the mechanical integrity of the joint. (author)