A study on fabrication condition of the 2-step manufacturing method for PEMFC composite bipolar plates

PEMFC용 복합소재 분리판을 위한 2단계 제조공법의 제조 조건에 대한 연구

The 2-step manufacturing method consisting of preforming and stamping processes was developed to manufacture composite bipolar plates for PEMFCs. The preform was composed of expanded graphite, graphite flake and phenol resin. Precuring conditions were optimized by checking the electrical conductivity, flexural strength and microstructure. Precuring temperature ($100^{\circ}C$) slightly above the melting point of phenol powders ($90^{\circ}C$) induced moderate curing, but also prevented excessive curing. Preforms utilizing the tangled structure of expanded graphite were easily fabricated at low pressure of 0.07-0.28MPa. The proper precuring time, 5min, was determined to fabricate the preform stably because insufficient and excessive precuring deteriorated the flexural strength of composite bipolar plates.