Optimization of polymer composite forming parameters for bipolar plate fabrication

Author

Thongsuros, S. ; Wattanutchariya, W. ; Passadee, N.

Author_Institution

Fac. of Eng., Chiang Mai Univ., Chiang Mai, Thailand

fYear

2011

fDate

14-17 Sept. 2011

Firstpage

62

Lastpage

66

Abstract

The objective of this research is to implement the design of experiment method to optimize the forming conditions of bipolar plate fabrication for PEMFC, based on a compression of polymer composite materials. The polymer composite made from epoxy resin mixed with graphite powder, with 1:3 weight ratios. The dimension of specimen is 5 cm × 5 cm in width and 5 mm thick. The flow field area is 70 mm × 70 mm with serpentine flow scheme. Each flow channel is 1×1 mm in width and depth. Three factors are studied, consisting of compression pressure, compression time and compression temperature. Surface roughness and plate flatness are the responses of the experiment. The optimal conditions were found at 1400 lb/in² compression pressure, 5 minute compression time at 125°C compression temperature. At this point, the surface roughness of the specimen was 1.48 μm and the average deviation of plate flatness is 0.15 mm.

Keywords

composite materials; design of experiments; filled polymers; forming processes; graphite; plates (structures); powders; proton exchange membrane fuel cells; resins; surface roughness; PEMFC; bipolar plate fabrication; compression pressure; compression temperature; design of experiment method; flow field area; graphite powder; polymer composite forming parameter; polymer composite material; serpentine flow scheme; surface roughness; Force; Fuel cells; Polymers; Response surface methodology; Rough surfaces; Surface roughness; Temperature; Bipolar Plate; Compression; Design of experiment; Forming; Fuel Cell; Polymer Composite;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Quality and Reliability (ICQR), 2011 IEEE International Conference on

Conference_Location

Bangkok

Print_ISBN

978-1-4577-0626-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICQR.2011.6031682

Filename

6031682