Products Description
Titanium-based metal bipolar plate, also known as the current collecting plate, is one of the important components of the fuel cell. It has the following functions and properties: separates fuel and oxidant to prevent gas penetration; collects and conducts electric current with high conductivity; the designed and processed flow channel can evenly distribute gas to the reaction layer of the electrode for electrode reaction; it can discharge heat , to keep the battery temperature field uniform; corrosion-resistant; resistant to impact and vibration; thin; light weight; low cost, easy to machine, suitable for mass manufacturing, etc.
The function of Titanium-based metal bipolar plate (also known as the separator) is to provide a gas flow channel, prevent the hydrogen and oxygen in the battery gas chamber from colluding, and establish a current path between the cathode and anode in series. On the premise of maintaining a certain mechanical strength and good gas barrier effect, the thickness of Titanium-based metal bipolar plate should be as thin as possible to reduce the conduction resistance to current and heat.
Products specification
Products Specifications:
|
Type |
MPS810DS |
MPS8300DS |
MPS8600DS |
MPS81000DS |
|
Tress Force(kN) |
Inner 49 |
Inner 1960 |
Inner 3920 |
Inner 4900 |
|
Outer 49 |
Outer 980 |
Outer 1960 |
Outer 4900 |
|
|
Stroke(mm) |
100 |
150 |
200 |
400 |
|
Open Height(mm) |
600 |
850 |
900 |
1000 |
|
Bolster Size |
400×400 |
1200×600 |
1800×1200 |
2600×1400 |
|
Slide Size |
Inner 75×75 |
Inner φ240 |
Inner 360×220 |
Inner φ300+φ |
|
Outer 400×400 |
Outer 1200×600 |
Outer 1800×1200 |
100×2 |
Essential Parameters:
|
Titanium-based metal bipolar plate |
BW300/BW280A |
|
Stamping depth (mm) |
0.35 |
|
Consistency of thickness(μm) |
±10 |
|
Warpage |
≤0.8% |
|
Contact resistance(mΩ.cm²@1.4MPa) |
≤1.5 |
|
Corrosion current density(μA/cm²@0.84Vvs SHE) |
<0.4 |
|
Bipolar plate life(h) |
>30000 |
Production process
When manufacturing fuel cell metal bipolar plates, there are generally two choices of strips, one is a pre-coated strip, and the other is an uncoated strip.
The use of pre-coated steel strips usually does not require coating after the plates are formed, and bipolar plates can be produced faster and cheaper, but the coating stability is prone to problems after processing and welding.
Once the strip is cleaned, it is formed and segmented to produce cathode and anode plates. The forming methods and processes of each bipolar plate manufacturer may be different. The stamping forming method is used in the figure below.
Stamping forming
The stamping process is a method that uses a pressure device and a rigid mold to apply a certain external force to the plate to cause plastic deformation to obtain the desired shape or size.
Stamping blanks are mainly hot-rolled and cold-forged steel plates, accounting for 60% to 70% of the world's steel products. Therefore, from the perspective of raw materials, the stamping process dominates. Moreover, the bipolar plates produced by the stamping process have low cost and high productivity, are thin (as low as 0.051 mm), uniform and high-strength, and are widely used in automobiles, aerospace and other fields.
Hydroforming
The hydroforming process is a plastic processing technology that uses liquid or molds as force transmission media to process products into products. Compared with the stamping process, hydroforming requires less molds (only one set of molds are needed). Hydroforming is superior to stamping processes in terms of size and surface quality, while stamping processes have higher productivity.
Rubber pad forming
The rubber pad molding process, also known as the flexible molding process, is a new stamping method for micro/medium runner molding. This method can solve problems such as cracks, wrinkles and surface ripples that may occur during stamping and hydroforming.
The advantage of the rubber pad molding process is that the rubber pad and rigid mold do not need to be precisely assembled during the molding process, which can greatly reduce time and cost. The main disadvantage of this type of molding is that the rubber pads have a short lifespan and need to be replaced frequently.
Etching
Etching is a technique that removes material using a chemical reaction or physical impact. Etching technology can be divided into two categories: wet etching) and dry etching.
After the single-piece electrode plate is manufactured, the quality of each electrode plate needs to be inspected to determine whether the size, thickness, and error of the ridges and grooves meet the design requirements.
The cathode and anode plates that meet the quality requirements are fixed together through laser welding to form a complete bipolar plate. After welding, the weld will completely seal the coolant cavity of the bipolar plate. After welding, the coolant cavity of the bipolar plate will be completely sealed, and finally its sealing performance will be tested.
After the bipolar plate is welded, it will be coated to improve the corrosion resistance of the bipolar plate. Currently, the commonly used coating treatment method is the PVD method.
Finally, the sealing material is filled into the designed sealing groove on the bipolar plate.
Functions of bipolar plates
-
Support MEA
-
Separate individual cells
-
Separate cathode and anode reaction gases to prevent them from mixing with each other
-
Provide electrical connections
-
Transport reaction gases and distribute them evenly
-
Conduction reaction heat
-
Remove water by-products
-
Withstand assembly preload
Support MEA. MEA is mainly composed of proton exchange membrane (MEM), catalyst layer (CL), gas diffusion layer (GDL) and other components. The conventional thickness is 0.4~0.5mm and does not have sufficient self-supporting stiffness and strength. In contrast, BPP is usually made of rigid materials, and the compressive strength of the parts is higher than that of MEA, which can play a role in supporting MEA. Figuratively speaking, BPP is like the "skeleton" of the electric pile, supporting the soft tissue "MEA" of the electric pile.
Through the designed and processed flow channels, the fluid can be evenly distributed to the reaction layer of the electrode for electrochemical reaction. There are channels on the surface of BPP that uniformly distribute the reaction gases, called flow fields, ensuring that the reaction medium is evenly distributed throughout the entire electrode. Figuratively speaking, BPP is also the blood vessel of the electric pile, transporting fuel (hydrogen) and oxidant (oxygen) to the tissue "MEA" of the electric pile, causing the hydrogen and oxygen to react at the electrodes to generate electrical energy. The common pipes of BPP are like the aorta and main vein of the human body, transporting hydrogen and oxygen to each single cell of the stack. The flow channels of BPP are like capillaries in the human body, transporting hydrogen and oxygen to every corner of the single cell electrode, allowing them to fully react.
Separates hydrogen and oxygen to prevent mixing with each other. BPP needs to be a gas barrier and usually has a non-porous structure between fluid cavities.
Collect and conduct electric current. BPP needs to be a good conductor of electricity to avoid excessive resistance and excessive waste heat generation when high-power fuel cells are running.
Conduct heat. BPP needs to be a good conductor of heat to ensure uniform temperature distribution when the battery is working, so that the waste heat of the battery can be discharged smoothly.
Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of bipolar plates made of different materials
|
Bipolar plate type |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|
Graphite Bipolar Plate |
Good corrosion resistance, high thermal and electrical conductivity, stable chemical properties, and mature manufacturing process |
Poor mechanical properties (brittleness), large mass and volume, poor processability, and high processing costs |
|
Metal bipolar plate |
High thermal and electrical conductivity. Excellent mechanical properties, easy to manufacture at low cost, good structural durability, resistant to shock and vibration, |
Easy to corrode, poison the proton exchange membrane and catalyst, and form a passivation film |
|
Composite bipolar plate |
Corrosion-resistant, small size, light weight, high strength |
Poor mechanical strength, low electrical conductivity, difficult to mass produce, high price |
FAQ
FAQ
01.What are the primary advantages of your titanium-based bipolar plates over graphite or coated stainless steel plates?
Our titanium-based plates offer a superior balance of properties:
Exceptional Corrosion Resistance: Titanium naturally forms a protective oxide layer, making it highly resistant to the harsh chemical environment inside a PEM fuel cell, leading to longer lifespan and reduced metal ion leaching.
High Strength-to-Weight Ratio: They are significantly lighter and mechanically stronger than graphite plates, allowing for more compact and durable stack designs, which is crucial for automotive and mobile applications.
Excellent Durability: They are less brittle than graphite, offering higher impact resistance and structural integrity, reducing breakage during handling and stack assembly.
Good Electrical Conductivity: While pure titanium is a semiconductor, our specialized alloy and surface treatment process ensures surface electrical conductivity comparable to or better than many coated alternatives.
02.How do you ensure the electrical conductivity of the titanium plates, since titanium is not a highly conductive metal?
This is a key insight. Pure titanium does have lower bulk conductivity. Our solution involves a multi-faceted approach:
Specialized Alloy: We use a carefully formulated titanium alloy designed to enhance bulk electrical properties.
Advanced Surface Treatment & Coating: We apply a proprietary, ultra-thin, and highly conductive coating or surface modification (e.g., nitriding, carburizing, or a PVD coating). This creates a conductive surface layer while maintaining the excellent corrosion-resistant properties of the titanium substrate beneath.
Optimized Interface: The surface treatment is engineered to provide low interfacial contact resistance (ICR) with the Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL).
03.What is the typical lifespan and performance degradation rate of your plates?
04.Are your plates compatible with both anode and cathode environments, including high-potential conditions?
Yes. Our proprietary surface technology is specifically designed to withstand the aggressive conditions on both the anode (hydrogen) and cathode (air/oxygen) sides of the fuel cell. The coating and substrate are highly stable, even under cathode start-up/shutdown and fuel starvation events where high potentials can occur, preventing rapid corrosion and failure.
05.What are the thickness and dimensional tolerances you can achieve?
We specialize in precision manufacturing. Our standard plates can be produced with a thickness ranging from 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm, with standard tolerances of ±0.01 mm. We can hold extremely tight tolerances on channel depth, width, and land areas to ensure perfect sealing and uniform flow distribution across the active area. Custom geometries and micro-features are also available.
Order Instructions
Please quote following information when ordering:
◼ Product description
◼ Quality (the number of this specification must be mentioned)
◼ Material number
◼ Quantity in m or kg
◼ Required certificate and content in case of a 3.1 inspection certificate
◼ For special packing: Specification of packaging
Packaging And Shipping
1. Packaging Materials: Use Moisture-Proof Paper, Plastic Film, Foam Plastic And Other Packaging Materials To Prevent Molybdenum Flanges From Getting Damp Or Suffering Minor Collisions. In Addition, Wooden Outer Packaging Boxes Or Wooden Pallets Can Also Be Used As Packaging Auxiliary Materials.
2. Outer Packaging: The Product Can Be Placed In A Wooden Outer Packaging Box Or Wooden Pallet Of Appropriate Size To Prevent It From Being Squeezed Or Bumped During Transportation.
3. Transportation Method: Choose The Appropriate Transportation Method, Such As Sea Transportation, Land Transportation Or Air Transportation, And Ensure Suitable Handling Equipment To Avoid Product Damage During Transportation.
about us
ehisen
The company is created in 2004 as a high-tech organization focused on advanced metal material production,including melting,profiling,machining,and precious metal anode research and development.Our company, which employs 50 people and occupies a 15 mu area, is focused on innovative manufacturing.
The business is equipped with rolling, heat-treating, stamping, and alloy production machinery.Processing centers, electroplating,titanium anode production lines and precious metal coating laboratory,as well as related testing equipment.It has evolved over years into a whole business that combines R&D, manufacturing, and sales.
contact us
we are here for you
+86 18700703333 Elsa lin
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