The Impact of Sintering Conditions on the Inner Microstructure of Composites: LSM:YSZ Electrode Case Study

Abstract

The sintering of composite materials can pose a significant challenge if the composite constituents display substantially different melting points and if an intricate inner microstructure is required to be formed by the process. One of such materials represents a LSM:YSZ composite, utilized as an oxygen electrode in the solid oxide cells, where a compromise between particle interconnection and mass transport is essential. Thus, a well-understood development of microstructure during the sintering process is crucial to address these contradictory requirements. LSM:YSZ samples in a form of self-supporting bars and thin layers deposited onto YSZ support were investigated to demonstrate the impact of sintering temperature and the mixture composition on the resulting inner microstructure. Results obtained by means of SEM analysis allow to understand the connection between properties of powder materials precursors and the microstructure of densified bodies with respect to the sintering parameters.