Low Cost and Rapidly Processed Randomly Oriented Carbon/Carbon Composite Bipolar Plate for PEM Fuel Cell

Abstract The objective of the present work is to develop carbon/carbon (C/C) composite bipolar plate at low cost with rapid processing time by a novel process. Carbon/carbon composite was developed using exfoliated carbon fiber reinforcement, isroaniso as primary matrix precursor, and resole type phenolic resin as secondary matrix precursor. Randomly oriented hybrid carbon fiber (T‐800 and P‐75) reinforced hybrid carbon matrix composite was fabricated. The slicing and channel forming were carried out using simple and conventional machines. The competency of the material was investigated by characterizing and analyzing density, scanning electron miscroscopy (SEM), compressive strength, compressive modulus, flexural strength, tensile strength, impact strength, hardness, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, permeability, and corrosion current. The C/C composite bipolar plate with exfoliated carbon fibers offered bulk density 1.75 g cm −3 , tensile strength 45 MPa, flexural strength 98 MPa, compressive strength 205 MPa, electrical conductivity 190 (through‐plane) and 595 S cm −1 (in‐plane), and thermal conductivity 24 (through‐plane) and 51 W m −1 K −1 (in‐plane). Further, single cell test was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the C/C composite bipolar plate in the PEM fuel cell and the performance was compared with the commercial graphite bipolar plate at different operating temperatures.