Quantification of correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties of Ni–BaZr_xCe_0.8−xY_0.1Yb_0.1O_3-δ (x = 0.1, 0.5) cermet anodes by image analysis

In this study, the effect of sintering temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ni–BaZr_xCe_0.8−xY_0.1Yb_0.1O_3-δ (Ni–BZCYYb); x = 0.1 and 0.5, cermet anodes for protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) were investigated. A 2-dimensional (2D) stereological method which involves viable image processing was used to quantify the effect of sintering temperature on the volume fraction and interconnectivity of pores and solid phases between 1300 and 1450 °C. 3-point bending test indicates that bending strength (σ) for Ni–BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.1Yb_0.1O_3-δ (Ni–BZCYYb17) are higher than those for Ni–BaZr_0.5Ce_0.3Y_0.1Yb_0.1O_3-δ (Ni–BZCYYb53) specimens, and the specimens sintered at 1400 °C have highest value of bending strength. To complement the results obtained from the bending strength and image processing, the Weibull modulus (m) values of the Ni–BZCYYb cermets were calculated.