In situ degradation of YSZ and YSZ + Al2O3 electrolytes of sensors used in glass melting furnaces

Abstract

This work reports on the degradation of pure YSZ and YSZ +10 wt% alumina composite electrolytes by exposure to the atmosphere of a heat recovery chamber of an industrial glass furnace, at a temperature around 1300 °C. Microstructural observations and impedance spectroscopy measurements were used to evaluate the corrosion effects. YSZ samples directly placed in the sidewalls and intimately exposed to the dusts and volatiles in the atmosphere show strong corrosion effects after short periods. These samples present large amounts of a glassy phase in the intergranular region, containing the same elements as the common batch with inclusion of volatile species from the fuel. At the same time, the average composition of YSZ grains remains almost unchanged. Effects on the electrical properties are obviously stronger in the intergranular response, as confirmed by changes in the typical relaxation frequency. The protection of samples and/or their careful placement in the furnace strongly inhibit the corrosion process. The effectiveness of alumina addition to the YSZ electrolyte in increasing its corrosion resistance was only tested in protected samples, where the corrosion is less severe. For this reason, the expected benefits of this incorporation were found almost irrelevant.