The Effects of Carbon Black Loading on the Characteristics of Carbon Composite Bipolar Plate by Utilizing Graphite Waste Products

Abstract

Current energy resources derived from fossil fuels thinning, and the issue global warning make the relevant parties that concern about the environment has been trying to find alternative renewable energy. Among the renewable energy options, the fuel cell is one of the many alternatives studied by the researchers in the world. One type of fuel cell that is currently being investigated is the proton exchange membrane fuel cell cel. The utilization of graphite and carbon black waste product is expected to result in light-weight and cost-effective bipolar plates.by using recycle materials. In this paper, we used graphite EAF as reinforcement together with carbon black that comes from the coconut husk pyrolysis process and epoxy resin as a binder. We examined the effects of carbon black loading at 5 %wt and 10 %wt, which influenced by differential pressure applied on compression molding process on density, porosity, flexural strength and electrical conductivity of the resulting polymer carbon composite bipolar plate. Pressure was applied from 30 MPa - 60 MPa in increments of 5 MPa while maintaining constant temperature operation at 70oC for 4 hours. Maximum value of bipolar plate was achieved by 5 %wt CB at application 55 MPa, density of 1.69 g/cm3, the flexural strength was measured to be 48 MPa with the porosity of 0.7%, and electrical conductivity of 1.03 S/cm.We demonstrated that waste product such as graphite EAF and carbon black are a good candidate for manufacturing of polymer carbon composite bipolar plates.