Preparation, Characterization, and Properties of Resole Type Phenolic Resin/Exfoliated Graphite Composite Bipolar Plates for PEM Fuel Cell

摘要

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of carbon/polymer composite bipolar plates through mould pressing method at room temperature. Here resole type phenolic resin has been used as a polymer matrix and exfoliated graphite (EG) as conducting carbon filler. Crosslinking or curing of phenolic resin in composite has been attained by using p-toluene sulfonic acid as a catalyst or curing agent. The exfoliated graphite (EG) with expanded volume of 570±10 mL/g used as conducting filler was prepared by microwave irradiation of chemically intercalated natural flake graphite in a few minutes. The composite plates were fabricated by varying EG weight percentage in phenolic resin from 10 to 80. These plates were investigated for structural, thermal, mechanical, and electrical characterizations. The plates show desired mechanical strength, low bulk density, excellent thermal stability, and high electrical conductivity. Hence, the EG/resin composites prepared in this study have shown desired properties of bipolar plate as per the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE-2015) targets and can be used as bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells.