Corrosion of the Wet‐Seal Area in Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells: II . Experimental Results

Abstract

Experimental results for anode wet‐seal corrosion in molten carbonate fuel cells generally agree with postulated mechanisms that involve corrosion couples acting along or across the seal area. The corrosion rate of Type 316 stainless steel in the anode wet‐seal area under all test conditions is unacceptably high. Substitution of an aluminum containing alloy, such as Kanthai A‐1, reduces the anode wet‐seal corrosion by at least two orders of magnitude. The corrosion rate of Type 316 stainless steel in the cathode wet seal is about two orders of magnitude lower than in the anode wet seal.