Synergistic enrichment of electrically conductive polypropylene‐graphite composites for fuel cell bipolar plates

Abstract

In this research study, electrically conductive Polypropylene (PP) based composites were developed using twin-screw extrusion technique with the objective of investigating the effects of primary and binary fillers on the overall electrical performance of the composites with relation to their mechanical properties. Thermoplastic polymers are suitable for a wide variety of applications due to their inherent characteristics, such as low density, ease of processibility, and recyclability. The addition of conductive fillers to thermoplastic resins reduces the material's resistivity and provides the ability to conduct heat and electricity, making them an excellent candidate for the manufacturing of fuel cell bipolar plates. The first part of this research study consists of studying the effect of graphite content on the electrical and mechanical properties of PP composites, whereas the second part focuses on the analysis of the effects of a multi-filler composite system consisting of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) and Carbon Black (CB) in the graphite-PP composites. The experimental results revealed that the maximum electrical conductivity obtained from the binary filler composites is up to 127% higher compared to that of the single filler composites. The addition of binary fillers also improved the flexural strength of the composites. This experimental study constitutes new prospects in the development of electrically conductive thermoplastic composites with sound mechanical properties for fuel cell bipolar plates.