WO2009131580A1 - Fuel cell component and methods of manufacture - Google Patents

Fuel cell component and methods of manufacture Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009131580A1
WO2009131580A1 PCT/US2008/061357 US2008061357W WO2009131580A1 WO 2009131580 A1 WO2009131580 A1 WO 2009131580A1 US 2008061357 W US2008061357 W US 2008061357W WO 2009131580 A1 WO2009131580 A1 WO 2009131580A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
plate
fuel cell
cell component
matrix
electrically conductive
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2008/061357
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Glenn Michael Allen
Gennady Resnick
Original Assignee
Utc Power Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Utc Power Corporation filed Critical Utc Power Corporation
Priority to PCT/US2008/061357 priority Critical patent/WO2009131580A1/en
Publication of WO2009131580A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009131580A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0223—Composites
    • H01M8/0228—Composites in the form of layered or coated products
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0213—Gas-impermeable carbon-containing materials
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0221—Organic resins; Organic polymers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0223—Composites
    • H01M8/0226—Composites in the form of mixtures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/023—Porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0234—Carbonaceous material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/023—Porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0239—Organic resins; Organic polymers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/023—Porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0241—Composites
    • H01M8/0243—Composites in the form of mixtures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/023—Porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0241—Composites
    • H01M8/0245—Composites in the form of layered or coated products
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M2008/1095—Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Definitions

  • Many fuel cell arrangements include water transport plates for controlling water, air and fuel flow within a fuel cell assembly in a known manner.
  • water transport plates have included porous, hydrophilic flow fields that include flow channels for directing fluid in a desired manner.
  • Many such flow fields comprise graphite, a resin and a wetability component.
  • the resin-based graphite composite is useful for forming the water transport plates.
  • An exemplary fuel cell component comprises an electrically conductive composite plate having a first portion including a first concentration of a matrix-forming material and a second portion along at least some of an exterior surface of the plate that includes a second, lower concentration of the matrix-forming material.
  • An exemplary method of making a fuel cell component includes forming an electrically conductive plate including a first concentration of a matrix- forming material. A second, lower concentration of the matrix-forming material is established along at least a portion of an exterior surface of the plate.
  • Figure 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of a fuel cell assembly.
  • Figure 2 schematically illustrates selected features of an example fuel cell component.
  • Figure 3 schematically illustrates an example method of making a fuel cell component.
  • Figure 4 schematically illustrates another method of making a fuel cell component.
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows selected portions of a fuel cell.
  • a cell assembly 20 includes a plurality of layers that are shown progressively cut away to expose at least some of the layers for discussion purposes.
  • the first layer 22 in this example is an anode bipolar plate also known as an anode water transport plate, or anode separator plate.
  • a cathode bipolar plate 24 is also known as a cathode water transport plate, or cathode separator plate.
  • An anode gas diffusion layer 26 is on one side of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) 28 and a cathode gas diffusion layer 30 is on an opposite side of the MEA 28.
  • the MEA 28 comprises a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between anode and cathode catalysts in many examples.
  • the example cell assembly 20 works in a known manner and when combined with a plurality of cell assemblies into a cell stack assembly, provides a desired amount of electrical energy.
  • the cathode water transport plate 24 comprises an electrically conductive composite material that includes a matrix- forming material.
  • the conductive portion of the composite comprises a carbonaceous material.
  • One example includes graphite.
  • Another portion of the composite comprises a matrix-forming material.
  • Resin is one example.
  • a resin starter, which is pyrolized to carbon, is another example.
  • Other plastics that are useful as matrix-forming materials are included in some examples.
  • the cathode plate 24 is used as one example fuel cell component.
  • the anode water transport plate 22 has a similar structure in one example.
  • the illustrated example includes a first portion 40 and a second portion 42.
  • the first portion 40 comprises the majority of the body of the plate 24 in this example.
  • the second portion 42 extends along at least a portion of at least one exterior surface of the plate 24. In one example, the second portion 42 is on the side of the plate 24 that includes channels for reactant flow within the fuel cell.
  • the first portion 40 includes a first concentration of the matrix-forming material (e.g., resin) at 44. Resin will be used as an example matrix-forming material for purposes of discussion.
  • the second portion 42 includes a second, lower concentration of the resin as schematically shown at 46. A reduced amount of resin in the second portion 42 provides a lower electrical resistance along the surface that includes the second portion 42. In some examples, the reduced concentration of resin in the second portion 42 also increases the hydrophilicity of the surface of the plate along the portion 42.
  • FIG. 3 schematically illustrates one example method of establishing the second, lower concentration of the resin 46 along at least the second portion 42 on at least one exterior surface of a fuel cell component such as the water transport plate 24.
  • an ablation device such as grit blasting machinery 50, treats an exterior surface of the plate 24 with a blasting media 52.
  • Grit blasting the surface of the plate 24 establishes a reduced concentration of resin along the exterior surface and establishes the second portion 42.
  • the blasting media effectively removes the resin- rich skin effect along the exterior surface of the plate 24.
  • One example includes using an electrically conductive media as the grit blasting media 52.
  • One example includes using a carbonaceous material, such as graphite, as the grit blasting media.
  • the graphite or other electrically conductive grit blasting media is at least partially embedded into the surface of the plate 24 in some examples. Embedding an electrically conductive material into the surface increases the electrical conductivity along that portion of the surface.
  • One example includes using spheroidal graphite as the blasting media. Spheroidal graphite provides an increased electrical conductivity (i.e., decreased electrical resistance) along the grit blasted surface.
  • spheroidal graphite has a low contact angle along a substantial portion of each spheroidal graphite particle. Accordingly, embedding spheroidal graphite particles in the grit blasted surface of the plate 24 increases the amount of low contact angle graphite along the surface to render the surface more hydrophilic.
  • the electrical conductivity, the hydrophilicity or both of at least one surface of a fuel cell component such as a water transport plate can be selectively increased.
  • a fuel cell component such as a water transport plate
  • FIG 4 schematically illustrates another method of making a fuel cell component such as the example water transport plate 24.
  • a molding machine 60 includes mold halves 62 and 64.
  • a layer of material 66 is applied to at least a portion of one surface of the mold half 64 in this example.
  • the material 66 is different than the resin-rich graphite composite used for forming the example plate 24 in at least one aspect.
  • the material 66 is left on a corresponding portion of an exterior surface of the fuel cell component that is formed within the molding device 60.
  • Placing a thin layer of a material having selected electrical conductivity, hydrophilic characteristics, or both, on a portion of a mold as schematically shown in Figure 4 allows for coating at least a portion of one side of a fuel cell component to establish a reduced concentration of resin along that surface (e.g., establish the second portion 42) compared to other portions of the component body formed of a resin-rich graphite component.
  • One example includes using a graphite powder as the material 66.
  • the graphite powder in one example does not have any resin within it.
  • Another example includes a reduced amount of resin in the graphite powder used as the material 66.
  • the material 66 in one example is applied to the surface of the mold using a dusting technique.
  • the material 66 has a hydrophilic characteristic, that not only increases the electrical conductivity along the corresponding surface of the resulting fuel cell component but also increases the hydrophilicity along that surface.
  • One example includes using at least some spheroidal graphite particles within a graphite powder applied to a mold surface as part of the process of forming a fuel cell component within a mold.
  • a fuel cell component such as a water transport plate having a reduced resin concentration along at least a portion of at least one exterior surface allows for controlling or selecting an electrical resistance, a hydrophilicity or both of a fuel cell component.
  • the economies and predictabilities associated with using known resin- rich graphite composites for forming the fuel cell component are maintained without the drawbacks associated with the skin effect mentioned above.

Abstract

A fuel cell component includes an electrically conductive composite plate having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a first concentration of a matrix-forming material. The second portion is along at least some of an exterior surface of the plate and includes a second, lower concentration of the matrix-forming material.

Description

FUEL CELL COMPONENT AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE
BACKGROUND
[0001] Many fuel cell arrangements include water transport plates for controlling water, air and fuel flow within a fuel cell assembly in a known manner. Traditionally, water transport plates have included porous, hydrophilic flow fields that include flow channels for directing fluid in a desired manner. Many such flow fields comprise graphite, a resin and a wetability component. The resin-based graphite composite is useful for forming the water transport plates.
[0002] One challenge associated with known arrangements is that a so-called skin effect renders the exterior surface of the plates less electrically conductive than is desirable. The resin-rich material on the exterior surface of the plate tends to increase the electrical resistance of the plate. Keeping electrical resistances low on the water transport plates is useful for increasing fuel cell efficiency. Therefore, it is desirable to avoid or eliminate such a skin effect.
[0003] Another challenge associated with traditional arrangements is that the resin-rich exterior surface on the water transport plate tends to be more hydrophobic than hydrophilic. This is because the resin-rich surface has a high contact angle, which is not desirable where a hydrophilic surface (i.e., one having a low contact angle) is required. Resin-rich surfaces on water transport plates can impede water transport and reduce wicking characteristics of the plates.
SUMMARY
[0004] An exemplary fuel cell component comprises an electrically conductive composite plate having a first portion including a first concentration of a matrix-forming material and a second portion along at least some of an exterior surface of the plate that includes a second, lower concentration of the matrix-forming material.
[0005] An exemplary method of making a fuel cell component includes forming an electrically conductive plate including a first concentration of a matrix- forming material. A second, lower concentration of the matrix-forming material is established along at least a portion of an exterior surface of the plate. [0006] The various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Figure 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of a fuel cell assembly.
[0008] Figure 2 schematically illustrates selected features of an example fuel cell component.
[0009] Figure 3 schematically illustrates an example method of making a fuel cell component.
[00010] Figure 4 schematically illustrates another method of making a fuel cell component.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00011] Figure 1 schematically shows selected portions of a fuel cell. A cell assembly 20 includes a plurality of layers that are shown progressively cut away to expose at least some of the layers for discussion purposes. The first layer 22 in this example is an anode bipolar plate also known as an anode water transport plate, or anode separator plate. A cathode bipolar plate 24 is also known as a cathode water transport plate, or cathode separator plate. An anode gas diffusion layer 26 is on one side of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) 28 and a cathode gas diffusion layer 30 is on an opposite side of the MEA 28. The MEA 28 comprises a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between anode and cathode catalysts in many examples. The example cell assembly 20 works in a known manner and when combined with a plurality of cell assemblies into a cell stack assembly, provides a desired amount of electrical energy.
[oooi2] In an example as shown in Figure 2, the cathode water transport plate 24 comprises an electrically conductive composite material that includes a matrix- forming material. In one example, the conductive portion of the composite comprises a carbonaceous material. One example includes graphite. Another portion of the composite comprises a matrix-forming material. Resin is one example. A resin starter, which is pyrolized to carbon, is another example. Other plastics that are useful as matrix-forming materials are included in some examples. The cathode plate 24 is used as one example fuel cell component. The anode water transport plate 22 has a similar structure in one example.
[oooi3] The illustrated example includes a first portion 40 and a second portion 42. The first portion 40 comprises the majority of the body of the plate 24 in this example. The second portion 42 extends along at least a portion of at least one exterior surface of the plate 24. In one example, the second portion 42 is on the side of the plate 24 that includes channels for reactant flow within the fuel cell.
[oooi4] As schematically shown in Figure 2, the first portion 40 includes a first concentration of the matrix-forming material (e.g., resin) at 44. Resin will be used as an example matrix-forming material for purposes of discussion. The second portion 42 includes a second, lower concentration of the resin as schematically shown at 46. A reduced amount of resin in the second portion 42 provides a lower electrical resistance along the surface that includes the second portion 42. In some examples, the reduced concentration of resin in the second portion 42 also increases the hydrophilicity of the surface of the plate along the portion 42. Including the second portion 42 along at least a portion of at least one exterior surface of the example plate 24 reduces or eliminates the so-called skin effect that would otherwise be present because of the resin-rich graphite composite material used for forming the plate 24. [oooi5] Figure 3 schematically illustrates one example method of establishing the second, lower concentration of the resin 46 along at least the second portion 42 on at least one exterior surface of a fuel cell component such as the water transport plate 24. In this example, an ablation device, such as grit blasting machinery 50, treats an exterior surface of the plate 24 with a blasting media 52. Grit blasting the surface of the plate 24 establishes a reduced concentration of resin along the exterior surface and establishes the second portion 42. The blasting media effectively removes the resin- rich skin effect along the exterior surface of the plate 24.
[00016] One example includes using an electrically conductive media as the grit blasting media 52. One example includes using a carbonaceous material, such as graphite, as the grit blasting media. The graphite or other electrically conductive grit blasting media is at least partially embedded into the surface of the plate 24 in some examples. Embedding an electrically conductive material into the surface increases the electrical conductivity along that portion of the surface. [00017] One example includes using spheroidal graphite as the blasting media. Spheroidal graphite provides an increased electrical conductivity (i.e., decreased electrical resistance) along the grit blasted surface. Another feature of spheroidal graphite is that it has a low contact angle along a substantial portion of each spheroidal graphite particle. Accordingly, embedding spheroidal graphite particles in the grit blasted surface of the plate 24 increases the amount of low contact angle graphite along the surface to render the surface more hydrophilic.
[00018] By appropriately selecting the grit blasting media, the electrical conductivity, the hydrophilicity or both of at least one surface of a fuel cell component such as a water transport plate can be selectively increased. Given this description, those skilled in the art will be able to select appropriate grit blasting media to achieve results desired for their particular situation.
[oooi9] Figure 4 schematically illustrates another method of making a fuel cell component such as the example water transport plate 24. A molding machine 60 includes mold halves 62 and 64. A layer of material 66 is applied to at least a portion of one surface of the mold half 64 in this example. The material 66 is different than the resin-rich graphite composite used for forming the example plate 24 in at least one aspect. As a result of the molding process, the material 66 is left on a corresponding portion of an exterior surface of the fuel cell component that is formed within the molding device 60. Placing a thin layer of a material having selected electrical conductivity, hydrophilic characteristics, or both, on a portion of a mold as schematically shown in Figure 4 allows for coating at least a portion of one side of a fuel cell component to establish a reduced concentration of resin along that surface (e.g., establish the second portion 42) compared to other portions of the component body formed of a resin-rich graphite component.
[00020] One example includes using a graphite powder as the material 66. The graphite powder in one example does not have any resin within it. Another example includes a reduced amount of resin in the graphite powder used as the material 66. The material 66 in one example is applied to the surface of the mold using a dusting technique.
[00021] When the material 66 has a hydrophilic characteristic, that not only increases the electrical conductivity along the corresponding surface of the resulting fuel cell component but also increases the hydrophilicity along that surface. One example includes using at least some spheroidal graphite particles within a graphite powder applied to a mold surface as part of the process of forming a fuel cell component within a mold.
[00022] A fuel cell component such as a water transport plate having a reduced resin concentration along at least a portion of at least one exterior surface allows for controlling or selecting an electrical resistance, a hydrophilicity or both of a fuel cell component. The economies and predictabilities associated with using known resin- rich graphite composites for forming the fuel cell component are maintained without the drawbacks associated with the skin effect mentioned above.
[00023] The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWe claim:
1. A fuel cell component, comprising: an electrically-conductive composite plate having a first portion including a first concentration of a matrix-forming material and a second portion along at least some of an exterior surface of the plate including a second, lower concentration of the matrix-forming material.
2. The fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive composite comprises a carbonaceous material.
3. The fuel cell component of claim 2, wherein the electrically conductive composite comprises graphite.
4. The fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the matrix-forming material comprises a resin.
5. The fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the matrix-forming material comprises a resin starter.
6. The fuel cell component of claim 1, comprising a selected concentration of an electrically conductive material at least partially embedded into the plate along the surface.
7. The fuel cell component of claim 6, wherein the electrically-conductive material is carbonaceous.
8. The fuel cell component of claim 6, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises graphite.
9. The fuel cell component of claim 8, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises spheroidal graphite.
10. The fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the plate comprises at least one of a water transport plate or a porous bi-polar plate.
11. A method of making a fuel cell component, comprising: forming a plate comprising an electrically conductive composite material including a first concentration of a matrix-forming material; and establishing a second, lower concentration of the matrix-forming material along at least some of an exterior surface on the plate.
12. The method of claim 11, comprising removing at least some of the matrix-forming material along the exterior surface.
13. The method of claim 12, comprising grit blasting the surface.
14. The method of claim 13, comprising grit blasting the surface with an electrically conductive material.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive material is carbonaceous.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises graphite.
17. The method of claim 14, comprising embedding at least some of the electrically conductive material into the plate.
18. The method of claim 11 , comprising increasing an electrical conductivity of the portion of the exterior surface.
19. The method of claim 11, comprising increasing a hydrophilicity of the exterior surface.
20. The method of claim 19, comprising embedding spheroidal graphite particles into the plate such that the particles are at least partially exposed on the exterior surface.
21. The method of claim 11, comprising coating a side of the plate with a layer of material comprising at least one of (i) the second, lower concentration of the matrix-forming material, or (ii) no matrix-forming material.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the layer of material comprises graphite.
23. The method of claim 11, comprising applying a layer of material to at least one surface of a mold corresponding to the plate exterior surface, the layer of material comprising at least one of (i) the second, lower concentration of the matrix-forming, or
(ii) no matrix forming material; and forming the plate in the mold.
24. The method of claim 23, comprising coating at least a selected portion of the at least one surface of the mold with the layer of material.
25. The method of claim 24, comprising dusting the selected portion of the at least one surface of the mold with the layer of material.
PCT/US2008/061357 2008-04-24 2008-04-24 Fuel cell component and methods of manufacture WO2009131580A1 (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020034672A1 (en) * 1998-06-05 2002-03-21 Kazuo Saito Fuel cell separator
EP1223630A2 (en) * 2001-01-10 2002-07-17 Sgl Carbon Ag Bipolar plates for fuel cell stacks
WO2003049212A2 (en) * 2001-12-03 2003-06-12 Mosaic Energy, L.L.C. Cold-pressing method for bipolar plate manufacturing
EP1542300A2 (en) * 2003-12-12 2005-06-15 Nisshinbo Industries, Inc. Fuel cell separator
WO2005117165A1 (en) * 2004-05-29 2005-12-08 Polymer Technologies Inc. Separator plate for fuel cell and production system for products for use in fuel cells
US20060040164A1 (en) * 2004-08-19 2006-02-23 Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. Surface modifications of fuel cell elements for improved water management
US20070087120A1 (en) * 2005-10-18 2007-04-19 Connors Donald F Jr Fluid diffusion layers

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020034672A1 (en) * 1998-06-05 2002-03-21 Kazuo Saito Fuel cell separator
EP1223630A2 (en) * 2001-01-10 2002-07-17 Sgl Carbon Ag Bipolar plates for fuel cell stacks
WO2003049212A2 (en) * 2001-12-03 2003-06-12 Mosaic Energy, L.L.C. Cold-pressing method for bipolar plate manufacturing
EP1542300A2 (en) * 2003-12-12 2005-06-15 Nisshinbo Industries, Inc. Fuel cell separator
WO2005117165A1 (en) * 2004-05-29 2005-12-08 Polymer Technologies Inc. Separator plate for fuel cell and production system for products for use in fuel cells
US20060040164A1 (en) * 2004-08-19 2006-02-23 Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. Surface modifications of fuel cell elements for improved water management
US20070087120A1 (en) * 2005-10-18 2007-04-19 Connors Donald F Jr Fluid diffusion layers

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