Development of high energy surfaces on stainless steels for improved wettability
US8097377B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 27, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jan 17, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/12993
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A bi-polar plate is provided for a fuel cell stack. The bi-polar plate has improved surface wettability. The bi-polar plate includes a body including at least approximately ninety percent by weight of a metal and defining at least one flow channel. At least about 0.05 percent and up to 100 percent by weight of silicon is disposed on a surface of the at least one flow channel to form a high energy surface to form a high energy surface for the bi-polar plate. This can be achieved by adding from 0.5 to 10 weight % silicon to the steel. The percent of silicon is pre-determined based on a desired wettability of the high energy surface of the at least one flow channel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.