Jan 17 2005
Allegheny Technologies Incorporated announced that ATI Allegheny Ludlum, an Allegheny Technologies company, has been awarded a subcontract from the University of Pittsburgh with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) to develop specialty metallic materials for use in fuel cells intended for the power generation industry.
The development contract is aimed at creating critical interconnect materials for solid oxide fuel cells. Interconnect materials provide an electrical current path as well as structure to the fuel cell. Successful materials must exhibit strength while being able to resist high heat in a variety of gaseous environments.
"Fuel cell interconnect materials represent one of two material challenges to making solid oxide fuel cells a reality for the power generation market," said Wayne Surdoval, DoE's Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) Coordinator. "The combined technical capabilities of Allegheny Ludlum and the University of Pittsburgh offer a high level of science with real-world practical production competence. We are pleased to have them engaged in this effort."
The SECA initiative within the DoE is driving the rapid development and commercialization of solid oxide fuel cell technology in the mass market for stationary distributed power generation. SECA industry partners include: General Electric, Delphi, Fuel Cell Energy, Siemens Westinghouse Power Systems, Cummins (SOFCo), and Accumentrics.
http://www.alleghenytechnologies.com/