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Evaluation of Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Bipolar Plate Made of Fiber-reinforced Composites for PEM Fuel Cell  

Lee, Hee-Sub (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University)
Ahn, Sung-Hoon (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, & Institute of Advanced Machinery and Design, Seoul National University)
Jeon, Ui-Sik (Department of Advanced Technology Fuel Cell Group, Hyundai-Mobis Company)
Ahn, Sang-Yeoul (Department of Advanced Technology Fuel Cell Group, Hyundai-Mobis Company)
Ahn, Byung-Ki (Department of Advanced Technology Fuel Cell Group, Hyundai-Mobis Company)
Publication Information
Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers / v.14, no.5, 2006 , pp. 39-46 More about this Journal
Abstract
The fuel cell is one of promising environment-friendly energy sources for the next generation. The bipolar plate is a major component of the PEM fuel cell stack, which takes a large portion of stack cost. In this study, as alternative materials for bipolar plate of PEM fuel cells, graphite composites were fabricated by compression molding. Graphite particles mixed with epoxy resin were used as the main substance to provide electric conductivity To achieve desired electrical properties, specimens made with different mixing ratio, processing pressure and temperature were tested. To increase mechanical strength, one or two layers of woven carbon fabric were added to the graphite and resin composite. Thus, the composite material was consisted of three phases: graphite particles, carbon fabric, and epoxy resin. By increasing mixing ratio of graphite, fabricated pressure and process temperature, the electric conductivity of the composite was improved. The results of tensile test showed that the tensile strength of the two-phase graphite composite was about 4MPa, and that of three-phase composite was increased to 57MPa. As surface properties, contact an91e and surface roughness were tested. Graphite composites showed contact angles higher than $90^{\circ}$, which mean low surface energy. The average surface roughness of the composite specimens was $0.96{\mu}m$.
Keywords
PEM fuel cell; Bipolar plate; Electric conductivity; Graphite particles; Fiber-reinforced composite; Mechanical strength;
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