Thermal decomposition of PVB (polyvinyl butyral) binder in the matrix and electrolyte of molten carbonate fuel cells

In order to determine the burnt-out condition of polyvinyl butyral as a binder in the fuel cell, thermal gravimetric analysis, gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry are used to analyse decomposed products during the thermal decomposition process in the matrix-green sheet and electrolyte-green sheet. Most of thermal degradation takes place under 400 °C, but degradation-resistant structures still remain up to 700 °C. Adding water vapour to the atmosphere gas could be one method to promote thermal degradation. Butyraldehyde and butene peaks among the released gases show characteristic decomposition behaviour. Thus, the butyraldehyde and butene peaks can be used as an index to check the extent of decomposition in the thermal decomposition process.