Surface treated electrically conductive metal element and method of forming same
AssigneeCeramic Fuel Cells Limited
InventorXiao Guang Zheng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrically conductive metal element comprises an electrically conductive metal substrate having a layer of Ni—Sn alloy overlying an electrically conductive surface of the substrate and at least one layer of Ag or of Ag containing Sn overlying the Ni—Sn alloy layer. The Ni—Sn alloy(s) has a Sn-content not greater than for Ni3Sn2 for high temperature uses. In a convenient method of forming the element the Sn is applied to one or more layers of Ni in a Ag+Sn mixture and diffused into the Ni layer(s) to form the Ni—Sn alloy layer and at least one layer of Ag or of Ag containing Sn. The element may have a surface layer of SnO2 which can be formed by oxidising residual Sn which migrates to the outer surface of the at least one layer of Ag containing Sn.
Claims36
An electrically conductive metal element comprising an electrically conductive metal substrate having a layer of Ni—Sn alloy overlying an electrically conductive surface of the substrate and at least one layer of Ag or of Ag containing Sn overlying the Ni—Sn alloy layer.
A method of improving the electrical conductivity of an electrically conductive metal substrate which forms a less electrically conductive surface oxide layer in oxidising conditions, the method comprising forming a layer of Ni—Sn alloy on at least a portion of a surface of the substrate which does not have said surface oxide layer, and forming at least one layer of Ag or of Ag containing Sn on at least a portion of the Ni—Sn alloy layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.