Abstract: The invention relates to catalytically active components for thermal ionization detectors for the detection of compounds containing halogen which have an improved structure as well as to a manufacturing method for an oxide ceramic sintering material for the components. It is the object of the invention to manufacture catalytically active components for thermal ionization detectors for gas chromatographic applications which are thermally, mechanically and chemically stable in the long term and which have increased sensitivity to the materials to be detected. In this respect, the sintering material should be adjustable in a controllable manner in the ideal parameter required for the detector. It is proposed in accordance with the invention to use an oxide ceramic sintering material for the components which comprises a crystalline phase and an amorphous glass phase, with it being essential to the invention that the amorphous glass phase is formed with 0.1 to 20% by weight of a cesium compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to stackable high-temperature fuel cells which are combined to form so-called fuel cell stacks and also can be connected to each other electrically conductively in series and/or in parallel. According to the set object, such high-temperature fuel cells are intended to form an electrically conductive connection between a cathode and an interconnector which, even at temperatures above 800° C. and also in the oxidising atmosphere prevailing during operation of fuel cells, have a sufficiently high electrical conductivity, a chemically and mechanically adequate strength or stability. The high-temperature fuel cells according to the invention are connected, on the anode-side, to a fuel supply and, on the cathode-side, to an oxidant supply. The cathode is connected electrically conductively by means of at least one resilient contact element to an interconnector.

Abstract: The invention relates to catalytically active components for thermal ionization detectors for the detection of compounds containing halogen which have an improved structure as well as to a manufacturing method for an oxide ceramic sintering material for the components. It is the object of the invention to manufacture catalytically active components for thermal ionization detectors for gas chromatographic applications which are thermally, mechanically and chemically stable in the long term and which have increased sensitivity to the materials to be detected. In this respect, the sintering material should be adjustable in a controllable manner in the ideal parameter required for the detector. It is proposed in accordance with the invention to use an oxide ceramic sintering material for the components which comprises a crystalline phase and an amorphous glass phase, with it being essential to the invention that the amorphous glass phase is formed with 0.1 to 20% by weight of a cesium compound.

Abstract: A planar fuel cell unit on which a cathode-electrolyte-anode unit (CEA unit), a gas distributor element, inner contacting elements, sealing elements, and an interconnector. The interconnector is formed by a CEA mounting element, a base plate, and a gas distributor element. The CEA mounting element and the base plate are embodied as sheet metal parts that form two shells of a housing and enclose the gas distributor element in a gas-tight manner. Webs that are made of an electrically conductive material are applied to/configured on an external surface of the base plate.

Abstract: A compound body comprises a steel base element on which is deposited a heater layer. The base element is made of a precipitation hardening steel. In the form of a manifold or material feed tube in a hot duct system, said base element comprises a round or convex surface receiving the heater layer. This heater layer is a compound layer having several strata and/or strata elements which are thick film pastes or sheets and in such form are consecutively deposited, dried and baked-on. The pre-compression generated in this process in the heater layer is increased in controlled manner by precipitation hardening the base element.

Abstract: The invention relates to stackable high-temperature fuel cells which are combined to form so-called fuel cell stacks and also can be connected to each other electrically conductively in series and/or in parallel. According to the set object, such high-temperature fuel cells are intended to form an electrically conductive connection between a cathode and an interconnector which, even at temperatures above 800° C. and also in the oxidising atmosphere prevailing during operation of fuel cells, have a sufficiently high electrical conductivity, a chemically and mechanically adequate strength or stability. The high-temperature fuel cells according to the invention are connected, on the anode-side, to a fuel supply and, on the cathode-side, to an oxidant supply. The cathode is connected electrically conductively by means of at least one resilient contact element to an interconnector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a planar fuel cell unit comprising a cathode-electrolyte-anode unit (KEA unit, 100), a gas distributor element (400), inner contacting elements, sealing elements (600, 700), and an interconnector. The interconnector is formed by a KEA fixing element (200), a base plate (300), and a gas distributor element (400). The KEA fixing element (200) and the base plate (300) are embodied as sheet metal parts that form two shells of a housing and enclose the gas distributor element (400) in a gas-tight manner. Webs (500) that are made of an electrically conductive material are applied to/configured on an external surface of the base plate.

Abstract: A method for producing a solid electrolyte layer, of a fully stabilized zirconium oxide layer on a substrate includes adding a sintering additive to a ZrO2-starting material, a liquid phase is formed during a sintering process and liquid phase sintering is possible at a reduced temperature in comparison with the required sintering temperature without the sintering additive. The reduced sintering temperature substantially prevents the formation of a foreign phase layer between the substrate and the gas-tight layer applied thereon, being of fully stabilized ZrO2. The method is particularly suitable for producing a solid electrolyte layer on a cathode of a high temperature fuel cell and in a sensor.

Abstract: A compound body comprises a steel base element on which is deposited a heater layer. The base element is made of a precipitation hardening steel. In the form of a manifold or material feed tube in a hot duct system, said base element comprises a round or convex surface receiving the heater layer. This heater layer is a compound layer having several strata and/or strata elements which are thick film pastes or sheets and in such form are consecutively deposited, dried and baked-on. The pre-compression generated in this process in the heater layer is increased in controlled manner by precipitation hardening the base element.

Abstract: An electric surface heating element is installed by direct application to the periphery of a cylindrical material pipe (13) of a hot runner nozzle (12). Said surface heating element consists of a ceramic dielectric layer (20) which is directly applied to the metal pipe (13) or to the wall (16) thereof, at least one layer (22) consisting of heating conductor strips (23) and an electrically insulating ceramic covering layer (24) which is applied on top of the latter. Film, or thick-coat screen printing technology are suitable as coating processes. However, thick-coat technology using round printing is preferably used for the layer construction as a whole. Alternatively, the ceramic dielectric layer (20) can be fixed to the periphery of the hot runner pipe (13) in the form of a prefabricated green film and subsequently baked.

Abstract: A screen-printing paste as a starting material for fabricating a gas diffusion electrode through screen-printing includes at least one polymer, at least one metallic catalyst, and a high-boiling solvent. The polymer is a binder including poly(butyl acrylate)-polymethacrylate copolymer, a poly(vinyl alcohol), and a poly(ethylene oxide). The polymer can be two polymers, a first being used for hydrophobicization and present in an amount of between 0 to 10% by weight based on a content of the metallic-catalyst, and a second being a binder. A screen-printing method of fabricating the electrode for a fuel cell includes forming a screen-printing layer having a thickness between 3 and 40 &mgr;m by applying the screen-printing paste to a base. The solvent and the polymer serve as a screen-printing medium. The screen-printing layer is baked to allow only residues of the solvent and the polymer to remain, which do not interfere with using the electrode in a fuel cell.

Abstract: A method for producing a solid electrolyte layer, of a fully stabilized zirconium oxide layer on a substrate includes adding a sintering additive to a ZrO2-starting material, a liquid phase is formed during a sintering process and liquid phase sintering is possible at a reduced temperature in comparison with the required sintering temperature without the sintering additive. The reduced sintering temperature substantially prevents the formation of a foreign phase layer between the substrate and the gas-tight layer applied thereon, being of fully stabilized ZrO2. The method is particularly suitable for producing a solid electrolyte layer on a cathode of a high temperature fuel cell and in a sensor.

Abstract: A screen-printing paste as a starting material for fabricating a gas diffusion electrode through screen-printing includes at least one polymer, at least one metallic catalyst, and a high-boiling solvent. The polymer is a binder including poly(butyl acrylate)-polymethacrylate copolymer, a poly(vinyl alcohol), and a poly(ethylene oxide). The polymer can be two polymers, a first being used for hydrophobicization and present in an amount of between 0 to 10% by weight based on a content of the metallic-catalyst, and a second being a binder. A screen-printing method of fabricating the electrode for a fuel cell includes forming a screen-printing layer having a thickness between 3 and 40 &mgr;m by applying the screen-printing paste to a base. The solvent and the polymer serve as a screen-printing medium. The screen-printing layer is baked to allow only residues of the solvent and the polymer to remain, which do not interfere with using the electrode in a fuel cell.