Fuel cell with proton exchange membrane bonded to acrylic plastic element
AssigneeNK Technologies, LLC
InventorTrung Van Nguyen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A proton exchange membrane fuel cell comprises a membrane formed from a fluorocarbon ionic polymer material capable of being bonded to an acrylic, preferably a polymethylmethacrylate polymer, and at least one desirably electrically conductive plate bonded to an area of a face of the membrane via an acrylic plastic material. The bond may be accomplished by positioning a layer of the acrylic plastic material between a surface of the plate and an area of a face of the membrane. Alternatively, the plate may be constructed of the acrylic plastic material and a surface thereof may be bonded directly to an area of a face of the membrane.
Claims7
A proton exchange membrane fuel cell comprising:
- a plate having a peripheral edge, said plate being either a fuel plate or an oxidant plate, said plate being made entirely of an acrylic plastic and including an integral sealing element portion at said peripheral edge;
- and
- a membrane formed from a material capable of being bonded to an acrylic plastic, said membrane having an edge,
- said sealing element portion being located adjacent said edge of the membrane and having a surface bonded to an area at said edge of said membrane.
A method for preparing a proton exchange membrane fuel cell comprising:
- providing a plate having a peripheral edge, said plate being either a fuel plate or an oxidant plate, said plate being made entirely of an acrylic plastic and including an integral sealing element portion at said peripheral edge;
- furnishing a membrane formed from a material capable of being bonded to an acrylic plastic, said membrane having an edge;
- arranging said membrane and said plate so that the sealing element portion of the latter and said edge of the membrane are adjacent one another;
- and
- bonding a surface of said sealing element portion to an area of said membrane at said edge of said membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.