Electrode substrate for fuel cell and process for producing the same
US4851304A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 1988 |
| Grant date | Jul 25, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 8, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A porous electrode substrate for fuel cell and a process for producing the same, which contains 35 to 60% carbonized resin by weight, and has pores with a mean pore size of 20 to 60 .mu.m and a porosity of 60 to 80%, and a compression ratio of 20% or less. Chopped carbon fibers with fiber lengths of 3 to 20 mm and fiber diameters of 4 to 9 .mu.m are dispersed in random directions within substantially 2-dimensional plane, and bound with an organic binder to make an carbon fiber mat. The carbon fiber mat is impregnated with a resin to make prepreg and hot pressing the prepreg under a temperature of 120.degree. to 200.degree. C. and a pressure of 2 to 10 kg/cm.sup.2. Then, the press molded product is carbonized by heat treatment under a temperature of 1300.degree. to 3000.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere or in vacuum to obtain an electrode substrate excellent in various characteristics such as gas permeability, flexural strength, compression strength, etc. Further, for improvement of electroconductivity, it is preferable to use a mixture of a curable resin and a non-curable resin as the resin impregnated into the carbon fiber mat.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.