Construction of Composite Polymer Bipolar Plate for Pem Fuel Cell

Abstract

Bipolar plates play the most significant role in weight, volume and corresponding costs of fuel cells. Initially, metallic and graphite materials had been used for production of bipolar plates due to their electrical conductivity characteristics. Later, these plates due to their deficiency such as corrosion, weight and production expenses were appropriately substituted by composite plates. This article presents results of a study on construction of bipolar plates using conductive polymeric composites. In the constructed composites, polypropylene was implement as polymer matrix and conductive carbon black and graphite as filler in order to supply the required electrical conductivity. The added fillers have been distributed in polypropylene by using an internal mixer. Then, bipolar plate specimens were prepared by molding of composite in hot press. The prepared specimens have been characterized to evaluate their specifications such as mechanical properties and their performance properties like thermal and electrical conductivities. The results of performed tests have shown a good performance on thermal conductivity greater than 10W/m.K, electrical conductivity higher than 50S/cm and high mechanical strength, flexural strength greater than 25MPa. The constructed composite plates were optimized and their weight in compare to similar metallic plates 80% and in contrast to graphite plates 40% were reduced. This method for production of bipolar plates is more economical as it reduces the cost of used materials and expenses of manufacturing operations.

Polymer based flow field plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and the scope of additive manufacturing: A techno‐economic review

“…The CB composites exhibited better electrical conductivity than the other fillers where at 65 wt%, the conductivity was ∼24 Scm −1 for through‐plane conductivity and had a flexural strength of ∼32 MPa. Injection moulding produced composites with more material stability and greater mechanical strength than compression mouldings although compression mouldings, produced composites with higher thermal conductivities where graphite displayed the highest thermal conductivity of ∼2 Wm −1 K −1 105 …”

“…Injection moulding produced composites with more material stability and greater mechanical strength than compression mouldings although compression mouldings, produced composites with higher thermal conductivities where graphite displayed the highest thermal conductivity of $2 Wm À1 K À1 . 105 Zarmehri et al (2013) developed PP composite FFP with 20% CB and 50% graphite. Thermal conductivity greater than 10 Wm À1 K À1 , electrical conductivity higher than 50 Scm À1 and flexural strength greater than 25 MPa were achieved.…”

Pengaruh Tekanan Compression Moulding terhadap Kinerja Pelat Bipolar Komposit Grafit/Resin Epoksi Komposisi 20% Karbon Tempurung Kelapa

“…Penelitian sebelumnya dengan menggunakan komposit berbahan grafit limbah elektroda arc furnace, carbon black serabut kelapa dan polimer epoksi dengan proses produksi Compression Molding bertekanan 300-450 MPa menunjukkan adanya pengaruh terhadap penekanan, semakin tinggi tekanan yang diberikan, maka komposit pelat bipolar memiliki konduktivitas, kekuatan lentur dan densitas yang semakin tinggi serta terjadi penurunan nilai porositas [4]. Penelitian selanjutnya, menunjukkan bahwa pelat bipolar stabil yang didapat dengan menggunakan komposit grafit, carbon black filler dan polimer polypropilene sebagai matriks dengan metode molten hot press tercapai pada komposisi berat karbon lebih dari 70% yaitu carbon black 20% dan grafit 50% [5].…”

Evaluating the Effect of Metal Bipolar Plate Coating on the Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

“…Advantages presented by these composite materials such as graphite/vinyl ester composite include the reduced brittleness in comparison with machined graphite and better corrosion resistance than metallic bipolar plates [32]. Additionally, composite designs have commercially available raw materials, which possess low bulk weight and are less expensive [33].…”