Three different types of metallic bipolar plates (commercial stainless steels, Ni-based alloys, and nitride-coated steels) were investigated in terms of their interface contact resistance (ICR) and corrosion resistance in conditions typical of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell environment. The results showed that stainless steels are unsuitable because of the formation of nonconductive oxide that leads to high ICR. Ni-based alloys showed to be prone to corrosion in acidic medium, although they have an ICR comparable to commercially available graphite. Endurance tests carried out on nitride-coated stainless-steel specimens showed a low ICR and very good corrosion resistance of this material.
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Interfacial contact resistance (엯) of commercial SS304, SS310S, SS316, and SS904L, and BMA5 and XM9612 graphites at a compaction force of 220Ncm−2. [Fe+Cr] amount (in weight percent) by EDX is also reported for stainless steel (●).
Interfacial contact resistance (엯) of C-2000B, C-22, C-276, and G-30 alloys, and BMA5 and XM9612 graphites at a compaction force of 220Ncm−2. [Fe+Cr] amount (in weight percent) by EDX is also reported for stainless steel (●).
Silva RF, Pozio AA. Corrosion Study on Different Types of Metallic Bipolar Plates for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells. ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. 2006;4(2):116-122. doi:10.1115/1.2713768.