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Influence of the Surface Microstructure of Conductive Polymer Composite Bipolar Plate on the Fuel Cell Performance
Author(s) -
Serban Daniiel,
Opran Constantin Gheorghe
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.202000324
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , microstructure , composite number , contact resistance , stack (abstract data type) , molding (decorative) , clamping , contact area , graphite , wetting , deformation (meteorology) , contact angle , layer (electronics) , mechanical engineering , computer science , engineering , programming language
Abstract All components contribute to the total electrical resistance in the fuel cell including the bipolar plates (BP). Contact interface between BP and gas diffusion layers (GDL) can influence the voltage losses. It is usually assumed the real contact area of two metal surfaces is determined by the plastic deformation of their highest asperities. The contact deformation of the polymer composite BP and GDL made of graphite paper or graphite cloth, is depending on the complex topography of the surfaces which touch elastically and plastically and on the clamping force the stack. This paper presents the analysis of the influence of microstructures of the BP surfaces on the voltage losses and directly affecting the performance of the fuel cells. For same model of the BP made by injection molding in a conductive poly(propylene) matrix composite, the mold cavities surface microstructure of the gas flow fields have been manufactured by micro‐milling at two different roughness Ra of 0.77 µm (first type) and then, laser ablation at respectively Ra of 9.9 µm (second type). Voltage loss through the BP and membrane electrodes assembly have been investigated at different clamping forces the stack.