Stainless steel product for producing polymer electrode fuel cell
AssigneeSumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
InventorsYoshio Tarutani, Takashi Doi, Akira Seki, Shinji Fukuta
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Abstract
The stainless steel product has passive film on the surface, and at least one of a conductive metallic inclusion of carbide and a conductive metallic inclusion of boride protrudes through an outer surface of passive film from stainless steel under the passive film. The stainless steel product has low contact electrical resistance and suitable for use in bipolar plates of a polymer electrode fuel cell.
Claims28
A stainless steel product exhibiting low contact electrical resistance, wherein a conductive metallic inclusion of carbide and/or a conductive metallic inclusion of boride protrudes through an outer surface of passive film from stainless steel under the passive film.
A method for producing a stainless steel product having a low contact electrical resistance, which comprises:
- corroding the surface of a stainless steel product by use of an aqueous acidic solution so as to expose a conductive metallic inclusion of carbide and/or a conductive metallic inclusion of boride on the surface;
- neutralizing the product by use of an aqueous alkaline solution having a pH of 7 or more;
- and,
- washing and drying the product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.