Highly conductive thermoplastic composites for rapid production of fuel cell bipolar plates
US7365121B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 18, 2004 |
| Grant date | Apr 29, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 29, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC08K7/02
- WIPO fieldMacromolecular chemistry, polymers
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A low cost method of fabricating bipolar plates for use in fuel cells utilizes a wet lay process for combining graphite particles, thermoplastic fibers, and reinforcing fibers to produce a plurality of formable sheets. The formable sheets are then molded into a bipolar plates with features impressed therein via the molding process. The bipolar plates formed by the process have conductivity in excess of 150 S/cm and have sufficient mechanical strength to be used in fuel cells. The bipolar plates can be formed as a skin/core laminate where a second polymer material is used on the skin surface which provides for enhanced conductivity, chemical resistance, and resistance to gas permeation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.