Molded Graphite Bipolar Separator Plates for Fuel Cells

IGT and its subcontractors, Superior Graphite Corporation and Stimsonite Corporation identified moldable blends of graphites, resins, and additives and produced a molded composite graphite bipolar separator plate that is equivalent in function and performance to state-of-the-art machined graphite plates. Complicated flow field designs can be formed by molding.

Applications for patents for the blended components have been submitted and PEM Plates, LLC was formed to commercialize the production of the molded graphite bipolar separator plates. Material and production costs for commercial quantities of the plates are estimated to be within $10 / kW, depending on the complexity of the design of the bipolar plate and fuel cell stack.