An investigation into nickel implanted 316L stainless steel as a bipolar plate for PEM fuel cell

The process of stamping stainless steel bipolar plates is developed from initial plate design through manufacturing and use in a fuel cell stack. A stamped design incorporating a serpentine flow field for the cathode and an interdigitated flow field for the anode is designed. This bipolar plate consists of only one piece of thin stainless steel sheet. The process of rubber-pad stamping was chosen to reduce shearing of the thin sheet. Dies were designed and made. Stainless steel plates were stamped, but stress were higher than anticipated and die failure was observed. The plates were tested both in-situ and by doing simulated fuel cell testing. Although sealing was an issue due to lack of proper gaskets and endplates, tests determined that the stamped bipolar plates will work in a PEM fuel cell stack. Dies were redesigned to improve durability. Gaskets and endplates were designed to complete the stack construction.

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Degradation of the Tensile Properties of an Au-Coated 316L Stainless Steel Bipolar Plate in a Fuel Cell Stack

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces ◽

10.1134/s2070205119030298 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 535-538

Author(s):

Cheng Zhang ◽

Qi Feng ◽

Li Yao

Keyword(s):

Stainless Steel ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Tensile Properties ◽

316L Stainless Steel ◽

Bipolar Plate ◽

Fuel Cell Stack

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Chromium nitride/Cr coated 316L stainless steel as bipolar plate for proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Journal of Power Sources ◽

10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.08.028 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 196 (3) ◽

pp. 1258-1263 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Rujin Tian

Keyword(s):

Stainless Steel ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

316L Stainless Steel ◽

Bipolar Plate ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Chromium Nitride ◽

Exchange Membrane

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Investigation on the Corrosion Resistance of PIM 316L Stainless Steel in PEM Fuel Cell Simulated Environment

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.660-661.209 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 660-661 ◽

pp. 209-214 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mara Cristina Lopes de Oliveira ◽

Isolda Costa ◽

Renato Altobelli Antunes

Keyword(s):

Stainless Steel ◽

Corrosion Resistance ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Large Scale ◽

316L Stainless Steel ◽

Electrochemical Impedance ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Corrosion Current ◽

Pem Fuel Cells ◽

Sem Images

Bipolar plates play main functions in PEM fuel cells, accounting for the most part of the weight and cost of these devices. Powder metallurgy may be an interesting manufacturing process of these components owing to the production of large scale, complex near-net shape parts. However, corrosion processes are a major concern due to the increase of the passive film thickness on the metal surface, lowering the power output of the fuel cell. In this work, the corrosion resistance of PIM AISI 316L stainless steel specimens was evaluated in 1M H2SO4 + 2 ppm HF solution at room temperature during 30 days of immersion. The electrochemical measurements comprised potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The surface morphology of the specimens was observed before and after the corrosion tests through SEM images. The material presented low corrosion current density suggesting that it is suitable to operate in the PEM fuel cell environment.

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