Abstract
Metal matrix composite materials having low electrical contact resistance based on 316L stainless steel (STS) matrix alloy with ZrB2 or TiB2 particles were fabricated for PEMFC separator by powder metallurgy (PM). The addition of the boride particles remarkably enhanced electrical conductivity on the surface compared to commercial STS alloys. SEM observation on the surface of the samples revealed that the boride particles were protruded out of the matrix surface and the particle density existing on the surface increased with increasing the boride content, causing increase of the total contact area between the conductive particles and gas diffusion layer. The ICR of the samples also decreased with increasing the boride content resulted from the increased contact area. The enhanced electrical property is possibly attributed to the conductive particles protruded out of the matrix surface acting as electrically conductive channels through the passive film formed on the stainless steel matrix.
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