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Title: Highly conductive thermoplastic composites for rapid production of fuel cell bipolar plates

Abstract

A low cost method of fabricating bipolar plates for use in fuel cells utilizes a wet lay process for combining graphite particles, thermoplastic fibers, and reinforcing fibers to produce a plurality of formable sheets. The formable sheets are then molded into a bipolar plates with features impressed therein via the molding process. The bipolar plates formed by the process have conductivity in excess of 150 S/cm and have sufficient mechanical strength to be used in fuel cells. The bipolar plates can be formed as a skin/core laminate where a second polymer material is used on the skin surface which provides for enhanced conductivity, chemical resistance, and resistance to gas permeation.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Blacksburg, VA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. (Blacksburg, VA)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
985155
Patent Number(s):
7365121
Application Number:
10/779,804
Assignee:
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. (Blacksburg, VA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C08 - ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS C08K - Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Huang, Jianhua, Baird, Donald G, and McGrath, James E. Highly conductive thermoplastic composites for rapid production of fuel cell bipolar plates. United States: N. p., 2008. Web.
Huang, Jianhua, Baird, Donald G, & McGrath, James E. Highly conductive thermoplastic composites for rapid production of fuel cell bipolar plates. United States.
Huang, Jianhua, Baird, Donald G, and McGrath, James E. Tue . "Highly conductive thermoplastic composites for rapid production of fuel cell bipolar plates". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/985155.
@article{osti_985155,
title = {Highly conductive thermoplastic composites for rapid production of fuel cell bipolar plates},
author = {Huang, Jianhua and Baird, Donald G and McGrath, James E},
abstractNote = {A low cost method of fabricating bipolar plates for use in fuel cells utilizes a wet lay process for combining graphite particles, thermoplastic fibers, and reinforcing fibers to produce a plurality of formable sheets. The formable sheets are then molded into a bipolar plates with features impressed therein via the molding process. The bipolar plates formed by the process have conductivity in excess of 150 S/cm and have sufficient mechanical strength to be used in fuel cells. The bipolar plates can be formed as a skin/core laminate where a second polymer material is used on the skin surface which provides for enhanced conductivity, chemical resistance, and resistance to gas permeation.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 29 00:00:00 EDT 2008},
month = {Tue Apr 29 00:00:00 EDT 2008}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Development of New Bi-Polar Plates Based on Electrically Conductive Filled Polymers for PEMFC
book, June 2000


Carbon nanotubular fiber composite for fuel cell bipolar plates
journal, March 2002


Carbon/Carbon Composite Bipolar Plate for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
journal, January 2000