Journal article
Leveling and thixotropic characteristics of concentrated zirconia inks for screen-printing
Ceramic processing, Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark1
Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark2
Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark3
Microstructures and Interfaces, Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark4
Electroceramics, Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark5
Screen-printing is a cost-effective method for the mass manufacture of zirconia-based solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and oxygen separation membranes. The present work outlines an investigation into the leveling, thixotropic, and screen-printing characteristics of concentrated zirconia inks by a variety of rheological and imaging methods.
A combination of viscosity, shear rate jump experiments, creep and recovery analysis, and yield stress measurements were used to assess ink thixotropy. Oscillatory rheometry and scanning electron microscopy/optical microscopy revealed a consistent effect of ethyl cellulose (binder) content upon the thixotropic and leveling characteristics of zirconia inks.
While the yield stress (τ 0), extent of recovery R(%), and rate of recovery (K) increase with increasing binder content, so did the surface roughness and thickness of the screen-printed films. Increasing the binder content not only increases the network strength of the thick films but also leads to increased leveling time.
As a result, rheological modifiers are proposed to be necessary to improve the leveling characteristics of zirconia inks without losing the green strength of the thick films
Language: | English |
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Publisher: | Springer-Verlag |
Year: | 2009 |
Pages: | 121-133 |
ISSN: | 14351528 and 00354511 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1007/s00397-008-0301-4 |
ORCIDs: | Kaiser, Andreas |