Fuel cell component including polytetrafluoroethylene film bonded to graphite

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023197971-A1
Application number	US-202117552607-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 16, 2021
Priority date	Dec 16, 2021
Publication date	Jun 22, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An illustrative example embodiment of method of making a fuel cell component includes placing a graphite substrate and a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer in a heated press with a fluoroelastomer adhesive between the graphite substrate and the PTFE layer; pressing the PTFE layer, the fluoroelastomer adhesive and the graphite substrate together using the heated press; removing the graphite substrate, the fluoroelastomer adhesive and the PTFE layer from the heated press; and allowing the graphite substrate, the fluoroelastomer adhesive, and the PTFE layer to cool.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method of making a fuel cell component, the method comprising:
placing a graphite substrate and a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer in a heated press with a fluoroelastomer adhesive between the graphite substrate and the PTFE layer; pressing the PTFE layer, the fluoroelastomer adhesive and the graphite substrate together using the heated press; removing the graphite substrate, the fluoroelastomer adhesive and the PTFE layer from the heated press; and allowing the graphite substrate, the fluoroelastomer adhesive, and the PTFE layer to cool.

2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising
applying the fluoroelastomer adhesive to a portion of the graphite substrate; and placing the PTFE layer in contact with the fluoroelastomer adhesive.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein applying the fluoroelastomer adhesive comprises applying a bead of the fluoroelastomer adhesive to the portion of the graphite substrate.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the fluoroelastomer adhesive comprises a caulk.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heated press has a temperature greater than 150° C. (300° F.) and less than 200° C. (400° F.) during the pressing.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the temperature is 170° C. (340° F.).

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the pressing is performed for less than one minute.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the pressing is performed for 30 seconds.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein allowing the graphite substrate, fluoroelastomer adhesive, and the PTFE layer to cool comprises exposing the graphite substrate, the fluoroelastomer adhesive, and the PTFE layer to an ambient temperature.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein allowing the graphite substrate, fluoroelastomer adhesive, and the PTFE layer to cool is performed for 1 minute.

11 . The method of claim 1 , comprising avoiding applying pressure to the PTFE layer between the placing and the pressing.

12 . The method of claim 1 , comprising treating at least one side of the PTFE layer prior to placing the PTFE layer in the heated press.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein treating the at least one side of the PTFE layer comprises etching the at least one side.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein treating the at least one side of the PTFE layer comprises applying a silica coating to the at least one side.

15 . A fuel cell component, comprising:
a graphite substrate; a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer adjacent a portion of the graphite substrate, at least one side of the PTFE layer that faces the graphite substrate includes a treated surface configured to make the PTFE layer bondable to the graphite substrate; and a fluoroelastomer adhesive bonding the PTFE layer to the graphite substrate.

16 . The fuel cell component of claim 15 , wherein the treated surface comprises a silica coating.

17 . The fuel cell component of claim 15 , wherein the treated surface has been etched.

18 . The fuel cell component of claim 15 , wherein the fluoroelastomer comprises a bead of caulk applied to the graphite substrate.

Assignees

• Doosan Fuel Cell America Inc

Inventors

• Silverman Benjamin
• Patterson Timothy William
• Liviach Eric
• Odell Jonathan

Classifications

• H01M4/96

  Carbon-based electrodes · CPC title

• H01M4/8657 Primary

  layered · CPC title

• H01M4/043

  involving compressing or compaction · CPC title

• H01M4/366

  as layered products · CPC title

• H01M4/8668

  Binders · CPC title