| Title |
Fabrication of 316L Stainless Steel having Low Contact Resistance for PEMFC Separator using Powder Metallurgy |
| Authors |
최준환(Joon Hwan Choi); 김명환(Myong Hwan Kim); 김용진(Yong Jin Kim) |
| ISSN |
1738-8228(ISSN), 2288-8241(eISSN) |
| Keywords |
fuel cell; separator; 316L stainless steel; interfacial contact resistance; powder metallurgy |
| Abstract |
Metal matrix composite (MMC) materials having low electrical contact resistance based on 316L stainless steel (STS) matrix alloy with ZrB2 particles were fabricated for PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) separator by powder metallurgy (PM). The effects of the boride particle addition into the matrix alloy on microstructure, surface morphology, and interfacial contact resistance (ICR) between the samples and gas diffusion layer (GDL) were investigated. Both conventional and PM 316L STS samples showed high ICR due to the existence of non-conductive passive film on the alloy surface. The addition of the boride particles, however, remarkably reduced ICR of the samples. SEM observation revealed that the boride particles were protruded out of the matrix surface and particle density existing on the surface increased with increasing the boride content, causing increase of the total contact area between the conductive particles and GDL. ICR of the samples also decreased with increasing the boride content resulted from the increased contact area. |