Optimization of non-aqueous nickel slips for manufacture of MCFC electrodes by tape casting method

Tape casting is a powerful method for the manufacture of carbonyl nickel green tape, which is sintered at a given condition and then used as the electrode for molten carbonate fuel cells. In this work, the rheological behaviors of non-aqueous carbonyl nickel slips for tape casting was investigated considering different solvent and binder systems, by controlling the total binder and plasticizer content and the binder to plasticizer ratio. Glycerol trioleate was used as the dispersant and its content in the slip was also optimized. The characteristics of the green tapes obtained in different conditions were studied in terms of densities, tensile strength and microstructure, and related with the rheological properties of the slips.