Method of producing exfoliated graphite composite compositions for fuel cell flow field plates
Abstract
A method of producing an electrically conductive composite composition, which is particularly useful for fuel cell bipolar plate applications. The method comprises: (a) providing a supply of expandable graphite powder; (b) providing a supply of a non-expandable powder component comprising a binder or matrix material; (c) blending the expandable graphite with the non-expandable powder component to form a powder mixture wherein the non-expandable powder component is in the amount of between 3% and 60% by weight based on the total weight of the powder mixture; (d) exposing the powder mixture to a temperature sufficient for exfoliating the expandable graphite to obtain a compressible mixture comprising expanded graphite worms and the non-expandable component; (e) compressing the compressible mixture at a pressure within the range of from about 5 psi to about 50,000 psi in predetermined directions into predetermined forms of cohered graphite composite compact; and (f) treating the so-formed cohered graphite composite to activate the binder or matrix material thereby promoting adhesion within the compact to produce the desired composite composition. Preferably, the non-expandable powder component further comprises an isotropy-promoting agent such as non-expandable graphite particles. Further preferably, step (e) comprises compressing the mixture in at least two directions. The methodmore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Nanotek Instruments, Inc., Dayton, OH (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1129176
- Patent Number(s):
- 8691129
- Application Number:
- 11/800,730
- Assignee:
- Nanotek Instruments, Inc. (Dayton, OH)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B22 - CASTING B22F - WORKING METALLIC POWDER
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2007 May 08
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Citation Formats
Zhamu, Aruna, Shi, Jinjun, Guo, Jiusheng, and Jang, Bor Z. Method of producing exfoliated graphite composite compositions for fuel cell flow field plates. United States: N. p., 2014.
Web.
Zhamu, Aruna, Shi, Jinjun, Guo, Jiusheng, & Jang, Bor Z. Method of producing exfoliated graphite composite compositions for fuel cell flow field plates. United States.
Zhamu, Aruna, Shi, Jinjun, Guo, Jiusheng, and Jang, Bor Z. Tue .
"Method of producing exfoliated graphite composite compositions for fuel cell flow field plates". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1129176.
@article{osti_1129176,
title = {Method of producing exfoliated graphite composite compositions for fuel cell flow field plates},
author = {Zhamu, Aruna and Shi, Jinjun and Guo, Jiusheng and Jang, Bor Z},
abstractNote = {A method of producing an electrically conductive composite composition, which is particularly useful for fuel cell bipolar plate applications. The method comprises: (a) providing a supply of expandable graphite powder; (b) providing a supply of a non-expandable powder component comprising a binder or matrix material; (c) blending the expandable graphite with the non-expandable powder component to form a powder mixture wherein the non-expandable powder component is in the amount of between 3% and 60% by weight based on the total weight of the powder mixture; (d) exposing the powder mixture to a temperature sufficient for exfoliating the expandable graphite to obtain a compressible mixture comprising expanded graphite worms and the non-expandable component; (e) compressing the compressible mixture at a pressure within the range of from about 5 psi to about 50,000 psi in predetermined directions into predetermined forms of cohered graphite composite compact; and (f) treating the so-formed cohered graphite composite to activate the binder or matrix material thereby promoting adhesion within the compact to produce the desired composite composition. Preferably, the non-expandable powder component further comprises an isotropy-promoting agent such as non-expandable graphite particles. Further preferably, step (e) comprises compressing the mixture in at least two directions. The method leads to composite plates with exceptionally high thickness-direction electrical conductivity.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 08 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Tue Apr 08 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}
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