Development of Metallic Bipolar Plate for Automotive PEMFC

자동차 구동용 PEMFC 금속계 분리판 개발

Bipolar plate is the main part with MEA in automotive PEMFC. It must have a good electrical conductivity and excellent corrosion resistance, be cost effective. Therefore, stainless steels have been studied by many researchers because of its corrosion resistance and cost benefits. But their properties are not sufficient for the application to bipolar plate for automotive PEMFC. In this work, we have performed stamping using various commercial stainless steels to select candidate material for biploar plate and to derive design parameters for stamping simulation. The results showed that a small curvature at the corner of flow field is more favorable due to easier a plastic deformation. Stamping process was simulated by changing surface condition, and the size and angle of channel. The optimum shape and spring back phenomena were evaluated. Surface coating was applied to increase the corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity of stainless steel. The electrical interfacial resistance was 10 to $15m{\Omega}cm^2$ under clamping force of 150psi. But corrosion resistance of coating on the stainless steel was not good due to the unstableness of microstructure.