Sealing arrangement, plate assembly, electrochemical system, and method for producing a sealing arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021351421-A1
Application number	US-202117316593-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 10, 2021
Priority date	May 11, 2020
Publication date	Nov 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a sealing arrangement, comprising: an elastomeric sealing element, which comprises a foamed material containing microspheres, and a metal layer having a surface structuring, the surface structuring comprising a plurality of depressions, wherein the sealing element is configured as a coating of the metal layer and is arranged at least in some areas on the surface structuring, wherein a concentration of the microspheres in the sealing element, measured perpendicular to the surface of the metal layer, is inhomogeneous. The disclosure additionally relates to a plate assembly, to an electrochemical system, and to a method for producing the sealing arrangement.

First claim

1 . A sealing arrangement, comprising:
an elastomeric sealing element, which comprises a foamed material containing microspheres, a metal layer having a surface structuring, the surface structuring comprising a plurality of depressions, the sealing element formed as a coating on the metal layer and is arranged at least in some areas on the surface structuring, and a concentration of the microspheres in the sealing element, measured perpendicular to the surface of the metal layer, is inhomogeneous.

2 . The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing element has a first interface adjoining the metal layer, and the concentration of the microspheres in the sealing element is lower within the first interface than outside of the first interface.

3 . The sealing arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the sealing element has a second interface directed away from the metal layer, and the concentration of the microspheres in the sealing element is lower within the second interface than outside of the first interface and second interface.

4 . The sealing arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein the first and second interface together have a thickness of no more than 35%, relative to a total maximum layer thickness of the sealing element measured perpendicular to the surface of the metal layer.

5 . The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a mean diameter of the microspheres is at least 20 μm and/or at most 80 μm.

6 . The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the depressions have a width and/or a diameter, measured at the mid-height of the depressions and/or parallel to the untreated metal surface, of at most 150 μm.

7 . The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the depressions have a depth, measured from the untreated surface to the lowest point of the depression, of at least 2 μm and/or at most 40 μm, and/or wherein the depressions have a depth of no more than 20% of the thickness of the metal layer.

8 . The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , having at least one bead integrally formed in the metal layer, the surface structuring being formed on a surface of the bead and the sealing element being arranged on the bead.

9 . The sealing arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the bead has a bead top and at least one bead flank adjoining the bead top, the surface structuring extending at least in some areas over the bead top and/or the at least one bead flank.

10 . The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric sealing element contains FPM (fluoroelastomer), silicone rubber or NBR rubber (nitrile butadiene rubber), PUR (polyurethane), NR (natural rubber), FFKM (perfluoro rubber), SBR (styrene butadiene rubber), BR (butyl rubber), FVSQ (fluorosilicone), CSM (chloro-sulphonated polyethylene), silicone resin, epoxy resin, or mixtures of the aforementioned substances, or pressure sensitive adhesive and/or physically binding adhesive.

11 . The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the microspheres are filled with a gaseous medium of a gaseous hydrocarbon.

12 . The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing element surrounds, in an intrinsically closed manner, at least one through-opening for gas or liquid which is formed in the metal layer.

13 . The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the metal layer is configured as a separator plate or as part of a bipolar plate for an electrochemical system.

14 . A plate assembly for an electrochemical system, comprising:
a sealing arrangement having an elastomeric sealing element, which comprises a foamed material containing microspheres, two separator plates configured as metal layers, having a surface structuring at least in some areas, the surface structuring comprising a plurality of depressions, a membrane electrode assembly arranged between the separator plates, the sealing element formed as a coating on at least one side of each of the separator plates and arranged at least in some areas on the surface structuring, and an inhomogeneous concentration of the microspheres in the sealing element, measured perpendicular to the surface of the metal layer.

15 . An electrochemical system, comprising a plurality of plate assemblies according to claim 14 .

16 . A method for producing a sealing arrangement, comprising the steps:
providing a metal layer; providing the metal layer with a surface structuring, the surface structuring comprising a plurality of depressions; applying a foamable material containing expandable microspheres to the surface structuring; and forming an elastomeric sealing element on the metal layer by expanding the microspheres, wherein a distribution of the expanded microspheres in the sealing element, measured perpendicular to the surface of the metal layer, is inhomogeneous.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the microspheres have a mean diameter of at least 5 and/or at most 50 μm in the non-expanded state, wherein the microspheres have a mean diameter of at least 20 and/or at most 80 μm in the expanded state.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the depressions are created by laser radiation and a pulsed laser is used.

19 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the depressions are created by engraving to produce a microstructure.

20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the foamable material is applied by spraying, brush electroplating, screen printing, roller printing, stencil printing or metering processes.

Assignees

• Reinz Dichtungs Gmbh

Inventors

• Wenzel Stephan
• Berroth Wolfgang
• Gaugler Bernd
• Lemke Kai-Uwe
• Speidel Andrè

Classifications

• Y02E60/36

  Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis · CPC title

• H01M8/0286

  Processes for forming seals · CPC title

• H01M8/0276 Primary

  Sealing means characterised by their form (H01M8/0273 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C25B1/04

  by electrolysis of water · CPC title

• H01M8/028 Primary

  Sealing means characterised by their material · CPC title