Thermal decomposition of PVB (polyvinyl butyral) binder in the MCFC (molten carbonate fuel cell)

The thermal decomposition of matrix-green sheet and electrolyte-green sheet in CO2, sintering effect of Ni-green sheet for the decomposition of matrix-green sheet, and binder burnout during MCFC unit cell operation were studied. Binders decomposed incompletely in CO2 and thermal decomposition of electrolyte-green sheet was affected more than that of matrix-green sheet by CO2. It was important to decompose the binder completely before it changed to nonoxidative condition. Binders were more effectively eliminated in the sintered Ni-matrix green sheet than Ni-matrix green sheet. The decomposition state of binder during unit cell operation was showed by analyzing the produced gases. Two characteristic peaks, butanal and butene were detected at all experimental condition and binder burnout state was checked by analyzing the change of two index peaks during decomposition process. Most of binders in the unit cell were decomposed sufficiently under slow heating rate and initial oxidative condition.