Several methods are reviewed for determining compositions in multiphase, reacting mixtures at equilibrium. Wolfe's quadratic programming algorithm is applied and results compared with the Rand method (Dluzniewski and Adler 1972), NASA method (Gordon and McBride 1971) and the George et al. (1976) implementation of Powell's method. For poor guesses in compositions, local and constrained minima in Gibbs free energy may arise, giving incorrect phase distributions. SCOPE The objective of this research has been to devise new methods for calculating compositions in phase and chemi-0 Present address for Gautam is Union Carbide Corporation, South Charleston, West Virginia. 0001-1541-79-3132-0991-$01.05. 0 The American Institute of Chemi-cal equilibrium that are applicable for use in simulators. The methods should provide the proper blend of generality, reliability, and speed.Today's simulators permit calculation of phase equilibrium for, at most, three phases (vapor-liquid-liquid), involving no solids, and no chemical reaction.

The most essential and costly component of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells is the bipolar plate. The production of suitable composite bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with good mechanical properties and high electrical conductivity is scientifically and technically very challenging. This paper reports the development of composite bipolar plates using exfoliated graphite, carbon black, and graphite powder in resole-typed phenol formaldehyde. The exfoliated graphite with maximum exfoliated volume of 570 + 10 mL g -1 used in this study was prepared by microwave irradiation of chemically intercalated natural flake graphite in a few minutes. The composite plates were prepared by varying exfoliated graphite content from 10 to 35 wt.% in phenolic resin along with fixed weight percentage of carbon black (5 wt.%) and graphite powder (3 wt.%) by compression molding. The composite plates own desired mechanical properties with low bulk density, high electrical conductivity, and good thermal stability as per the U.S. department of energy targets at low filler concentration and can be used as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

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Efficient ORR electrocatalyst and modular design of MFC.

Exfoliated graphite (EG) was synthesized from natural flake graphite by acid treatment followed by microwave irradiation. A maximum expanded volume of 560 mL/g was achieved for this exfoliation of graphite. EG/phenolic resin composite bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell were fabricated with a high loading of EG by compression molding. The composites possess low density, high electrical conductivity, high thermal stability, and high compressive strength. The composite bipolar plates were also characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and so on. The composite prepared with 50 wt% of EG has shown the desired properties for bipolar plate as per the US Department of Energy (DOE-2015) targets. As a result, the EG-resin composites can be used as bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:917-923, 2015.