Exploration on the Basic Formula of Graphite Composite Bipolar Plate Prepared by Tape Casting

Dang Xin’an, Li Shimeng, Yang Lijun, Zhang Songqian, Guo Xiaoli

（College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi’an 710021）

Abstract：the graphite composite bipolar plate for hydrogen fuel cell is prepared by tape casting method with phenol formaldehyde resin as binder, graphite as aggregate and carbon fiber as additive. The electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the graphite composite bipolar plate are taken as the indexes, and characterization analysis of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is used to analyze the rule of effects of material ratio including resin type, resin mass fraction, graphite mesh and graphite mass fraction on the performance of bipolar plates are studied. The results show that the electrical conductivity and the flexural strength are the best, which are 127 S/cm and 29.2 MPA respectively when the phenol formaldehyde resin of PF- 2123 is 30% , the 200- mesh graphite mass fraction is 68% and the carbon fiber mass fraction is 2%. The flexural strength of the bipolar plates increases with the increase of carbon fiber mass fraction, whereas the conductivity decreases to a certain extent.

Key words: Graphite, Phenolic resin, Composite bipolar plate, Tape casting