Alumina and zirconia as inhibitors of crystallization during sintering of borosilicate glasses

Abstract

The glass composition (in mol%) 16 Na2O ∙ 24 B2O3 ∙ 60 SiO2 has suitable viscosity and dilatometric properties to be used as sealing material for the gas manifolds of molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC). Nevertheless, quartz crystallization takes place during sintering of the borosilicate glass powder at temperatures between 600 and 700 °C. The quartz crystallization leads to the formation of pores and a variation in the thermal expansion coefficient; both giving rise to defects and tensions in the seal. In this work, the possibility of inhibition of quartz crystallization by substituting AI2O3 or ZrO2 for 2 or 5 mol% of SiO2 is described. The thermal properties and the viscosity-temperature curve of the new compositions, especially those containing alumina do not differ much from the original glass.