Commercializing Technology Development of Bipolar Plates for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

To promote the industry of PEMFC, the commercialization of its parts especially bipolar plate is needed. The bipolar plate is one of key parts for PEMFC, which occupies cost portion of 5~8% in the system. To replace the bipolar plate of machined graphite highly costly, the stamped thin matal or the molded carbon composite has been developed. According to the merits and demerits of each material and its forming process, the stamped metallic plate has been considered to the bipolar plate of PEMFC for automotive, and on the other hand, the molded composite plate has been considered to one for building applications. Hankook Tire Co., Ltd. has developed the carbon composite material and the manufacturing process for the bipolar plates. The developed bipolar plates were proved to be fully applicable to PEMFC of building applications in characteristics and performance, and so government strategic project to develop the mass-production technology for bipolar plates was started and is being conducted by the company. Through the government project for obtaining both the commercialization technology and production capacity for the bipolar plates, the price and the performance of domestic PEMFCs are expected to become competitive in international market.

고분자연료전지용 분리판 상용화 기술개발

건물용 고분자연료전지는 저탄소 녹색산업화에 기여할 수 있는 대표적인 신재생에너지원으로, 정부 주도의 보급사업을 통해 초기 시장창출이 이루어지고 있다. 고분자연료전지 산업화 촉진을 위해서는 분리판을 비롯한 구성 부품의 상용화 기술개발과 저가화가 필수적이다. 탄소복합체 몰딩분리판의 적용은 고분자연료전지 상용화를 앞당기는데 기여할 것이다. 한국타이어에서 개발한 복합체 몰딩분리판은 고분자연료전지 스택 부품으로서의 요구 특성과 성능을 모두 만족시키는 것으로 나타났다. 한국타이어는 분리판 상용화 기술개발과 지속적인 생산능력 확보를 통해 국산 연료전지의 가격 및 성능 경쟁력 향상을 위해 최선의 노력을 다하고 있다.