Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers (한국자동차공학회논문집)

The Korean Society of Automotive Engineers (한국자동차공학회)
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Evaluation of Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Bipolar Plate Made of Fiber-reinforced Composites for PEM Fuel Cell

섬유강화 복합재를 사용한 PEM 연료전지 분리판의 전기적.기계적 특성 평가

  • 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)
  • 이희섭 (서울대학교 기계항공공학부) ;
  • 안성훈 (서울대학교 기계항공공학부) ;
  • 전의식 (현대모비스 선행연구부 연료전지그룹) ;
  • 안상열 (현대모비스 선행연구부 연료전지그룹) ;
  • 안병기 (현대모비스 선행연구부 연료전지그룹)
  • Published : 2006.09.01
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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

References

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