High Purity Setters for Ceramic Firing Processes Including Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) A vast majority of ceramic processing involves firing of green ware in a high temperature kiln at various firing temperatures. The Kiln Furniture – also commonly referred to as Setters is an important and integral part of the equipment used in firing of the green ware. The Setters are expected to be robust for everyday handling and are desired to exhibit low camber even after multiple firings. As such, traditionally the Setters are made from the materials that have high mechanical strength and superior creep resistance at elevated temperatures. Unfortunately, most of the materials commonly used as Setters today have low porosity, high thermal mass and sometimes greater chemical affinity for the ware itself. This results in undesirable final product, not to mention increased energy costs and longer processing times. SinterLyte™ high purity and light-weight refractory setters provide the solution to this age-old problem. They are used to support the firing of ceramic components at temperatures reaching 1500 degrees Celsius. SinterLyte™ Light-weight Kiln Furniture is made from T-Cast® High Purity Alumina Fiber Board used as a substrate. Refractory Specialties, Inc. (RSI) has been manufacturing this board as a virtually Silica-Free Insulation for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for a number of years. The low density alumina fiber board is coated under the newly licensed advanced coating technology from ENrG, Inc. (Buffalo, NY). Under this arrangement, RSI's virtually silica-free ceramic Fiber board product combined with ENrG's advanced coating technology, bring to market durable structures at cost effective price points. The setters, offered in high purity Alumina or Zirconia coatings, are light weight and non-shedding. With low thermal mass, the setters can be used for multiple firings and quicker cycle runs. SinterLyte™ is currently available in sizes up to 355mm x 355mm (14" x 14") and as thin as 6.35mm (0.25"). To accommodate future scaling of your fuel cells, larger sizes and additional coatings will be offered in 2010. Acknowledgement
The joint development between RSI and ENrG is funded through Ohio Department of Development "Third Frontier Program", along with RSI and ENrG. The ODOD program supports technology research and advancements of commercially viable products, and it works to expand the availability of capital and assistance to support product innovation in established companies. Our partner, ENrG Inc. is a high technology firm that specializes in the design, development and manufacture of critical ceramic components (ceramic membrane and coating technologies) for clean energy systems such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and gas separation membranes. Other applications for the ceramic components include insulation packages for thermal management in energy systems, ceramic tapes, setters and liners and kiln furniture, cells, and oxygen transport membranes.
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