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US 4,365,008 AGranted
Densified edge seals for fuel cell components
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsAnthony J. DeCasperis, Richard J. Roethlein, Richard D. Breault
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A porous fuel cell component, such as an electrode substrate, has a densified edge which forms an improved gas seal during operation when soaked with electrolyte. The edges are made from the same composition as the rest of the component and are made by compressing an increased thickness of this material along the edges during the fabrication process.
Claims3
A component for use in a fuel cell stack comprising:
- a fully graphitized sheet of gas porous, thermosetting resin bonded, carbon fibers, said sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface and comprising a central portion bordered by a pair of parallel edge portions, said central and edge portions having substantially the same thickness and being of essentially the same material, the density of said sheet in said edge portions being two to three times greater than the density of said sheet in said central portion, said edge portion having a mean pore size of less than about 10 microns, and an 80% pore size range with an upper limit no greater than about 20 microns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.