Fluid permeable flexible graphite article with enhanced electrical and thermal conductivity

A fluid permeable graphite electrode comprising a compressed mass of expanded graphite particles in the form of a sheet having parallel, opposed first and second surfaces, said sheet having a plurality of transverse fluid channels passing through said sheet between said first and second parallel, opposed surfaces, said channels being formed by mechanically impacting at least the first surface of said sheet at a plurality of locations to displace graphite within said sheet at said locations and provide said channels with openings at both of said first and second parallel, opposed surfaces.

Method for making a fluid permeable graphite article comprising:

• (i) providing a compressed mass of expanded graphite particles in the form of a sheet having parallel, opposed planar first and second surfaces;
• (ii) mechanically impacting said first surface of said sheet at a plurality of predetermined locations with flat-ended protrusions extending outward from a pressing member which penetrate said sheet and contact a smooth bearing surface directly beneath said sheet to form a plurality of channels passing through said sheet from said first surface to said second surface by displacing graphite within said sheet and forming channel openings at said first surface and said second surface.