TiCN and metallic coatings for corrosion protection of separator plates in MCFCs

Stainless steel 304 substrates were coated with different materials in order to find a suitable coating material for corrosion protection of separator plates in molten-carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). Five titanium carbonitride coatings differing in composition and morphology and a titanium monoxide coating were deposited with chemical vapour deposition techniques. Also double-layer coatings of TiN/Au and TiN/Ni were prepared. The coatings were tested on their corrosion protection of separator plates in four different environments: under MCFC-cathode or anode gas, at load or at open circuit conditions. The corrosion behaviour was characterized using cyclic voltammetry. Corrosion rates were determined with electrochemical methods and cross-section analyses of corrosion layers. Titanium nitride coatings showed the best corrosion protection. The titanium carbide and titanium monoxide coating showed respectively less and no protection. The thin gold and Ni-coatings were unstable. Under cathode gas, the most important corrosion protection is given by keeping the cell at load, and then a titanium nitride coating might provide lifetime protection. Under anode gas, corrosion is most severe at load conditions. A titanium nitride coating also gives corrosion protection, but not enough for lifetime protection.