abstract
In order to appraise a two-stage compaction procedure using pore-forming additives for the fabrication of asymmetric mixed-conducting membranes where the porous and dense layers are made of the same composition, the oxygen permeability of a series of (SrFeO3-delta)(0.7)(SrAl2O4)(0.3) composite samples with varying architecture was studied at 1073-1223 K. The preparation route for the crack-free supported membranes included pressing of the starch-containing and pure dual-phase composite powders, sintering at 1623 K, and subsequent surface modification of the dense layers having the thickness of 0.12-0.15 mm. Analysis of the oxygen permeation fluxes show a significant limiting effect of oxygen diffusion through the support, where the porosity and average pore size are 20% and 2-4 mu m, respectively. The overall level of oxygen transport, higher than that in the symmetric surface-activated membranes, was only achieved at 1173-1223 K for the porous layer thickness of 0.4 mm. Slow microstructural degradation due to the support sintering, evidenced by dilatometry, leads to a moderate decrease in the oxygen fluxes with time. At 1973 K, the corresponding changes were approximately 16% during 220 It. The results suggest that increased total porosity, preferential pore orientation perpendicular to the dense layer and incorporation of nano-sized catalyst particles into the pores are needed to increase the performance of asymmetric ferrite-based membranes. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
keywords
CERAMIC MEMBRANES; THERMOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES; PERMEABILITY; SUPPORT; PEROVSKITES; METHANE; LAYERS
subject category
Engineering; Polymer Science
authors
Kovalevsky, A; Kharton, VV; Snijkers, FMM; Cooymans, JFC; Luyten, JJ; Marques, FMB
our authors
Andrei Kavaleuski
Principal Researcher
Fernando Manuel Bico Marques
Full professor