Bac2 announces all-moulded bipolar plates for 
high temperature PEM fuel cells

Hannover Fair, Germany, April 20-24, 2009 Hall 13, Booth G46/3

Southampton, UK, April 17, 2009: Bac2, the fuel cell materials and components company, announces an extended family of products made from its ElectroPhen™ conductive polymer to include high temperature bipolar plates. High temperature operation, typically between 180 and 200 degrees Centigrade, is required to achieve good efficiency in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The new plates are mechanically and electrically stable at over 200 degrees Centigrade. They will be on show for the first time at the Hannover Fair, Germany, from April 20-24.

Traditional bipolar plates for fuel cells have to be machined to create the channels through which fuel, air and water vapour flow. ElectroPhen is an electrically conductive thermoset material, made from readily available bulk constituents, which can be compression moulded and cured at room temperature. Bipolar plates based upon ElectoPhen do not need further machining, so they can be produced quickly and economically in any quantity. High temperature versions are subject to a proprietary conditioning process but this does not add significant cost or production time.

ElectroPhen is a unique, patented conductive polymer that requires relatively little loading with graphite to achieve the required conductivity for fuel cell plate applications. In addition to offering customised plates in high volume, Bac2 markets blank plates that customers can machine for prototyping work before committing to mould tooling expense.

Photo caption: Economical ElectroPhen bipolar plates are now rated up to 200 deg C

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