Joining of ion transport membranes using a novel transient liquid phase process

FUEL 173

Darryl P Butt, DarrylButt@boisestate.edu and Patrick G Callahan, patcallahan@mail.boisestate.edu. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725-2075
Often ion transport membranes need to be joined in some way in order to be useful. Many joining technologies lead to a joint with dissimilar and inferior properties to the membranes themselves. A novel method of joining ion transport membranes using a transient liquid phase has been developed. It has been used to join LaxCa1-xFeO3, a membrane used in Syngas production, to itself. The process leaves behind effectively no interfacial phase and results in a joint that is hermetic to helium. The process uses inexpensive mixed metal oxides and is uncomplicated. There are a number of systems where the process can be applied and results have demonstrated that it can also be used to join dissimilar materials.