CONTEXT

Glasses and vitreous ceramics are stiff materials widely used in the industry, in particular for sealing joints in diverse high temperature devices (500 to 900 °C). Among such devices, we can mention for example fuel cells (more particulary SOFC).

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

This is thus the aim of this invention to provide a composition of glass or vitreous ceramic showing  self healing property in a fast way in the temperatures range of  400 to 900 °C. This self healing composition consists in at least one vitrous matrix and eventuallyn, one or more oxide forming elements andone or more modifiying oxides. Furthermore this composition contains solid particles opf an healing component chosen among vanadium and ist alloys. Vanadium gives to the composition self healing properties for temeratures as low as 400 to 500 °C, that is a temperatue range much lower than that known from state of the art self healing  of non polymeric materials. The healing component is chosen with regard to the temperature of use of the system which includes the composition.

Healed glass fracture

BENEFITS

No need to heat the equipment above the softening temperature which may destroy the system including the composition.

Healing at low temperature ie temperature of use of the equipment which can be adapted by the use of « the right healing element ».

Healing quicker than for known materials like B4C.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

Sealing of high temperature components like Solide Oxide Ful Cells (SOFC) or water hydrolysis equipement for Hydrogen production

For further information, please contact us (Ref 02782-01)