Surface modified stainless steels for PEM fuel cell bipolar plates
Abstract
A nitridation treated stainless steel article (such as a bipolar plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell) having lower interfacial contact electrical resistance and better corrosion resistance than an untreated stainless steel article is disclosed. The treated stainless steel article has a surface layer including nitrogen-modified chromium-base oxide and precipitates of chromium nitride formed during nitridation wherein oxygen is present in the surface layer at a greater concentration than nitrogen. The surface layer may further include precipitates of titanium nitride and/or aluminum oxide. The surface layer in the treated article is chemically heterogeneous surface rather than a uniform or semi-uniform surface layer exclusively rich in chromium, titanium or aluminum. The precipitates of titanium nitride and/or aluminum oxide are formed by the nitriding treatment wherein titanium and/or aluminum in the stainless steel are segregated to the surface layer in forms that exhibit a low contact resistance and good corrosion resistance.
- Inventors:
-
- Oak Ridge, TN
- Littleton, CO
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 913099
- Patent Number(s):
- 7247403
- Application Number:
- 11/071,830
- Assignee:
- UT-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C23 - COATING METALLIC MATERIAL C23C - COATING METALLIC MATERIAL
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10T - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Citation Formats
Brady, Michael P, Wang, Heli, and Turner, John A. Surface modified stainless steels for PEM fuel cell bipolar plates. United States: N. p., 2007.
Web.
Brady, Michael P, Wang, Heli, & Turner, John A. Surface modified stainless steels for PEM fuel cell bipolar plates. United States.
Brady, Michael P, Wang, Heli, and Turner, John A. Tue .
"Surface modified stainless steels for PEM fuel cell bipolar plates". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/913099.
@article{osti_913099,
title = {Surface modified stainless steels for PEM fuel cell bipolar plates},
author = {Brady, Michael P and Wang, Heli and Turner, John A},
abstractNote = {A nitridation treated stainless steel article (such as a bipolar plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell) having lower interfacial contact electrical resistance and better corrosion resistance than an untreated stainless steel article is disclosed. The treated stainless steel article has a surface layer including nitrogen-modified chromium-base oxide and precipitates of chromium nitride formed during nitridation wherein oxygen is present in the surface layer at a greater concentration than nitrogen. The surface layer may further include precipitates of titanium nitride and/or aluminum oxide. The surface layer in the treated article is chemically heterogeneous surface rather than a uniform or semi-uniform surface layer exclusively rich in chromium, titanium or aluminum. The precipitates of titanium nitride and/or aluminum oxide are formed by the nitriding treatment wherein titanium and/or aluminum in the stainless steel are segregated to the surface layer in forms that exhibit a low contact resistance and good corrosion resistance.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2007},
month = {7}
}