Manufacture and characterization of sandwiched polymer nanocomposite for using in bipolar plate of PEMFC

The aim of this article is the manufacture of polymer based composite for using in bipolar plate (BP) of polymer exchange fuel cell (PEMFC). In this regard, some single-filler and double-filler and triple-filler composites are manufactured by using phenolic resin as polymer (P) and graphite (G), carbon fiber (CF) and expanded graphite (EG) as fillers. The electrical conductivity (EC), flexural strength (FS), toughness, porosity and gas permission of composites are determined. Characterization is performed by SEM and optic microscope. The final composite is a triple-filler composite sandwiched by a layer of CF cloth in the middle. Determining electrical and thermal conductivity, mechanical properties and gas permeation of this composite show that the properties of this nanocomposite is reached to DOE and these properties are better than graphite or metallic bipolar plates, therefore it can be introduced as a suitable candidate for bipolar plates.

Keywords:

PEMFC , bipolar plate , nanocomposite