Low Cost and Rapidly Processed Randomly Oriented Carbon/Carbon Composite Bipolar Plate for PEM Fuel Cell

Abstract

The objective of the present work is to develop carbon/carbon (C/C) composite bipolar plate at low cost with rapid processing time by a novel process. Carbon/carbon composite was developed using exfoliated carbon fiber reinforcement, isroaniso as primary matrix precursor, and resole type phenolic resin as secondary matrix precursor. Randomly oriented hybrid carbon fiber (T‐800 and P‐75) reinforced hybrid carbon matrix composite was fabricated. The slicing and channel forming were carried out using simple and conventional machines. The competency of the material was investigated by characterizing and analyzing density, scanning electron miscroscopy (SEM), compressive strength, compressive modulus, flexural strength, tensile strength, impact strength, hardness, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, permeability, and corrosion current. The C/C composite bipolar plate with exfoliated carbon fibers offered bulk density 1.75 g cm−3, tensile strength 45 MPa, flexural strength 98 MPa, compressive strength 205 MPa, electrical conductivity 190 (through‐plane) and 595 S cm−1 (in‐plane), and thermal conductivity 24 (through‐plane) and 51 W m−1 K−1 (in‐plane). Further, single cell test was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the C/C composite bipolar plate in the PEM fuel cell and the performance was compared with the commercial graphite bipolar plate at different operating temperatures.

Effect of alfa fiber loading on the mechanical, physical and dielectric properties of epoxy-amine composite

“…In accordance with Verma et al, 2016, 33 the uniform distribution of fibers in the matrix in the x-y plane facilitates the interlocking mechanism between the filler and matrix entities, thus strengthening the composites and improving their dielectric properties.…”

Comparative Investigation of Polyphenylene Sulfide Polymer-Graphite Bipolar Plates for Fuel Cell Application

“…They should fulfil many functions in a fuel cell stack such as feeding H 2 and O 2 gases through the flow field upon operation, heat transfer, physical separation of individual fuel cells in series, collection and transport of electrons from anode to cathode of adjacent cells (1,3). Significant efforts have resulted in light-weight and cost effective BPPs for fuel cell applications (2,(8)(9)(10)(11). In order to properly perform in a fuel cell, BPPs should provide mechanical, electrical, thermal and electrochemical stability of the system.…”

Research Progress and Prospects of Bipolar Plate Materials for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

“…The results indicated that as the molding temperature increased from 170°C to 200°C, the mechanical performance and electrical conductivity of the alloy decreased from 60 MPa to 10 MPa and from 425 S/cm to 300 S/cm, respectively, attributed to the changes in the resin network structure at high temperatures. [79][80][81][82][83][84] This phenomenon can be attributed to the thermal degradation and volatilization of diphenyl ether in the resin structure, leading to a significant decrease in the mechanical and electrical properties of the composite material. Minkook Kim proposed a flame treatment method for CBP and subjected CBP with phenolic resin as a binder to treatment at different temperatures.…”