# US 2019/0355997 A1 · Method and device for producing fuel cell separator

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2019/0355997 A1
- Document ID: US20190355997A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/408,566
- Filed: 2019-05-10
- Published: 2019-11-21
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-18
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Satoshi TAKATA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190355997A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/021: Alloys based on iron
- C23C 4/02: Pretreatment of the material to be coated, e.g. for coating on selected surface areas
- C23C 4/11: Oxides
- C23C 4/134: Plasma spraying
- C23C 8/26: of ferrous surfaces
- C23C 8/38: Treatment of ferrous surfaces
- C23C 8/80: After-treatment
- H01M 8/0228: in the form of layered or coated products
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a fuel cell separator, including: a preparation step of preparing a metallic base material having a passive film on at least one part of a surface thereof; and a titanium oxide film formation step of subjecting the surface of the metallic base material to atmospheric pressure plasma treatment using first spraying means for spraying a titanium-containing starting material solution together with argon gas under a 85% to 92.5% by volume nitrogen atmosphere in a chamber. The present disclosure also relates to a device for producing a fuel cell separator having: conveying means for conveying a metallic base material having a passive film on at least one part of a surface thereof; a treatment chamber in which the metallic base material conveyed by the conveying means is disposed so as to be capable of passing therein under a 85% to 92.5% by volume nitrogen atmosphere; and first spraying means for spraying a titanium-containing starting material solution together with argon gas to carry out atmospheric pressure plasma treatment, which is disposed in the passage direction of the metallic base material in the treatment chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing a fuel cell separator, comprising:
a preparation step of preparing a metallic base material having a passive film on at least one part of a surface thereof; and
a titanium oxide film formation step of subjecting the surface of the metallic base material to atmospheric pressure plasma treatment using first spraying means for spraying a titanium-containing starting material solution together with argon gas under an atmosphere of 85% to 92.5% by volume nitrogen in a chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to the titanium oxide film formation step,
a nitridation step of subjecting the surface of the metallic base material to atmospheric pressure plasma treatment using second spraying means for spraying nitrogen gas in a chamber in which the first spraying means is used, thereby nitriding the passive film on at least one part of the surface of the metallic base material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the metallic base material is stainless steel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the titanium-containing starting material solution contains a trivalent titanium compound.

### Claim 5

A device for producing a fuel cell separator, comprising:
conveying means for conveying a metallic base material having a passive film on at least one part of a surface thereof;
a treatment chamber filled with an atmosphere of 85% to 92.5% by volume nitrogen, in which the metallic base material to be conveyed by the conveying means is disposed so as to be capable of passing therein; and
first spraying means for spraying a titanium-containing starting material solution together with argon gas to carry out atmospheric pressure plasma treatment, which is disposed in the direction of passage of the metallic base material in the treatment chamber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device according to claim 5, further having second spraying means for spraying nitrogen gas to carry out atmospheric pressure plasma treatment, which is disposed in front of the first spraying means in the direction of passage of the metallic base material in the treatment chamber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The device according to claim 5, wherein the metallic base material is stainless steel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The device according to claim 5, wherein the titanium-containing starting material solution contains a trivalent titanium compound.