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Bipolar Plates and Gaskets: Different Materials and Processing Methods

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High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract

This chapter is dedicated to graphite-composite based bipolar plates and gaskets for fuel cells. It describes different material configurations and processing methods for bipolar plates covering the range from conventional low temperature PEM technology at 80 ¯C to high temperature PEM technology at up to 180 ¯C. The chapter discusses bipolar plate manufacturing via two different routes, the resin method and the thermoplastic method as well as technical requirements for their application in fuel cells. Material characterization covers electric conductivity testing, conductivity mapping to measure homogeneity, and thermal analysis. Additionally, manufacturing aspects and technical requirements of gaskets are discussed. Very often the influence of gaskets on performance and life time of fuel cells is underestimated. This chapter presents material candidates and characterization data for a broad variety of gaskets.

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Abbreviations

BBP4:

Phenolic resin bipolar plate (Brand name of Eisenhuth)

CNT:

Carbon nanotubes

CR:

Chloroprene rubber

EPDM:

Ethylene propylene diene monomer

F:

Fluor

FKM:

Fluor caoutchouc material

H3PO4 :

Phosphoric acid

HNBR:

Hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber

LCP:

Liquid crystal polymer

LSR:

Liquid silicon rubber

MFI:

Mold flow index

MFR:

Mold flow rate

NBR:

Nitrile butadiene acrylonitrile rubber

NR:

Natural rubber

PPS:

Polyphenylene sulfide

PSU:

Polysulfone

PVDF:

Polyvinylidenfluoride

SBR:

Styrene butadiene rubber

TGA:

Thermogravimetric analysis

VMQ:

Varmaq = Silicone-based solid raw material

References

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge fruitful collaboration with, extensive test work by, and the positive relationship with TU Clausthal, Next Energy Research Institute of University of Oldenburg, ZBT (Research Center of Fuel Cell Technology) in Duisburg. Thanks are also extended to the colleagues from Elcore and Truma for their input and inspiration. Public funding is gratefully acknowledged from BMWi/Projekttraeger Juelich in the project “Rationalisierung” (#0327849), “HT-Dicht” (03ET2050A) and from the European Commission in the project CISTEM (325262).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eisenhuth GmbH & Co. KG, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 203, Osterode am Harz, 37520, Germany

    Isabel Kundler & Thorsten Hickmann

Authors
  1. Isabel Kundler
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  2. Thorsten Hickmann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thorsten Hickmann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark

    Qingfeng Li

  2. Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark

    David Aili

  3. Danish Power Systems, Kvistgård, Denmark

    Hans Aage Hjuler

  4. Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical Univeristy of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark

    Jens Oluf Jensen

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Kundler, I., Hickmann, T. (2016). Bipolar Plates and Gaskets: Different Materials and Processing Methods. In: Li, Q., Aili, D., Hjuler, H., Jensen, J. (eds) High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17082-4_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17082-4_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-17081-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-17082-4

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

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