The electrical and corrosion properties of polyphenylene sulfide/carbon composite coated stainless steel bipolar plate for PEM fuel cell

  • Published : 2011.05.26

Abstract

Stainless steel bipolar plates have many advantage such as high electrical conductivity and mechanical strength and low fabrication cost. However, they need a passivation layer due to low corrosion resistance under PEM fuel cell operation condition. In this study, polyphenyene sulfide(PPS)/carbon composite coated stainless steel bipolar plates were fabricated by compression molding method after PPS/carbon composite sprayed on the stainless steel plate. PPS and carbon were chosen as the binder and conductive filler of passivation layer, respectively. The interfacial contact resistance and corrosion resistance of PPS/carbon composite coated stainless steel bipolar plates were investigated and compared to the stainless steel. The PPS/carbon composite coated stainless steel compared to stainless steel was improved interfacial contact resistance. The results of the potentiodynamic and potentiostatic measurements also showed that the PPS/carbon composite coated stainless steel did not corroded under PEM fuel cell operating conditions.

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