CORROSION ANALYSIS OF SINTERED MATERIAL USED FOR LOW-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELL PLATES

摘要

A significant part of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) stack is the bipolar plates (BPs), which account for about 80% of total weight and 45% of stack cost. They are designed to accomplish many functions, e.g. they distribute reactants uniformly over the active areas, remove heat from active areas, carry current from cell to cell and prevent leakage of reactants and coolant. Furthermore, the plates must be of inexpensive, lightweight materials and must be easily manufactured.Materials designed for interconnectors must, among other things, be characterized by resistance to corrosion in the environment with pH= 2-3. This study presents opportunities of use of sintered stainless steel for this part of fuel cells. Resistance to corrosion of sintered materials was compared to properties of material (with the same ferritic phase composition) manufactured in conventional way (plastic forming), i.e. X20Crl3 stainless steel.