# US 9,437,881 B2 · Reinforcing material for solid polymer fuel cell, and cohesive/adhesive composition for use in same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,437,881 B2 - Document ID: US9437881B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/111,123 - Filed: 2012-04-10 - Published: 2014-05-08 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-11 - Assignees: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Hirotoshi Sakamoto; Takahisa Taniguchi; Koujun Utaka; Hidenori Asai; Kazufumi Kodani; Kuniaki Yoshikata - Inventors: Hirotoshi Sakamoto; Takahisa Taniguchi; Koujun Utaka; Hidenori Asai; Kazufumi Kodani; Kuniaki Yoshikata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437881B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/0273: with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame - C08K 5/37: Thiols - C08L 63/00: Compositions of epoxy resins; Compositions of derivatives of epoxy resins - C08L 77/00: Compositions of polyamides obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic amide link in the main chain (of polyhydrazides C08L79/06; of polyamideimides or polyamide acids C08L79/08); Compositions of derivatives of such polymers - C08L 81/04: Polysulfides - C09J 7/20: characterised by their carriers - C09J 163/00: Adhesives based on epoxy resins; Adhesives based on derivatives of epoxy resins - C09J 177/02: Polyamides derived from omega-amino carboxylic acids or from lactams thereof (C09J177/10 takes precedence) - C09J 177/06: Polyamides derived from polyamines and polycarboxylic acids (C09J177/10 takes precedence) - H01M 8/028: Sealing means characterised by their material - H01M 8/0284: Organic resins; Organic polymers - H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence) - C09J 2203/33: for batteries or fuel cells - C09J 2463/00: Presence of epoxy resin - C09J 2477/00: Presence of polyamide - C09J 2481/00: Presence of sulfur containing polymers - H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes} - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - C09J: ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES (preparation of glue or gelatine C09H) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract There is provided a reinforcing material equipped with a cohesive/adhesive layer, having a proper initial adhesion force to an adherend, such as an electrolyte membrane, a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer, and which can be temporarily fixed readily. A reinforcing material produced by forming a cohesive/adhesive layer on a substrate. The cohesive/adhesive layer includes an aliphatic polyamide, an epoxy resin and a polythiol. When the reinforcing material is used, it becomes possible to correct the position of an adherend after the adhesion of the reinforcing material to the adherend. In addition, it can prevent the formation of wrinkles on the adherend or the like upon the adhesion of the reinforcing material. Therefore, a catalyst layer laminated membrane or the like which has a reinforcing material attached thereto can be produced readily without requiring the employment of any highly skilled technique. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reinforcing material comprising a substrate and a cohesive/adhesive layer laminated on the substrate, wherein the cohesive/adhesive layer comprises an aliphatic polyamide, an epoxy resin and a polythiol, wherein the polythiol is solid at normal temperature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reinforcing material according to claim 1, wherein the cohesive/adhesive layer further comprises an ionic liquid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The reinforcing material according to claim 2, wherein the content of the ionic liquid in the cohesive/adhesive layer is 0.01 to 10% by mass. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A catalyst layer laminated membrane equipped with a reinforcing material, comprising: a catalyst layer laminated membrane including an electrolyte membrane and catalyst layers formed on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane excepting outer peripheral edges thereof; and the reinforcing material according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing material is in the shape of a frame having an opening, and the reinforcing material is adhered on the outer peripheral edge of at least one of the surfaces of the catalyst layer laminated membrane with a cohesive/adhesive layer of the reinforcing material interposed therebetween. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method for production of a catalyst layer laminated membrane equipped with a reinforcing material, the method comprising the steps of: (i) adhering the reinforcing material according to claim 1, which is in the shape of a frame having an opening, to an outer peripheral edge of an electrolyte membrane with a cohesive/adhesive layer of the reinforcing material interposed therebetween, thereby obtaining an electrolyte membrane equipped with a reinforcing material; and (ii) laminating a catalyst layer to the electrolyte membrane exposed from the opening in the electrolyte membrane equipped with a reinforcing material, thereby obtaining a catalyst layer laminated membrane equipped with a reinforcing material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A film-electrode assembly equipped with a reinforcing material, comprising: a membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and catalyst layers and gas diffusion layers sequentially laminated on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane; and the reinforcing material according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing material is in the shape of a frame having an opening, and the reinforcing material is adhered on the outer peripheral edge of at least one of the surfaces of the membrane-electrode assembly with a cohesive/adhesive layer of the reinforcing material interposed therebetween. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method for production of a membrane-electrode assembly equipped with a reinforcing material, the method comprising the steps of: (i) adhering the reinforcing material according to claim 1, which is in the shape of a frame having an opening, to an outer peripheral edge of an electrolyte membrane with a cohesive/adhesive layer of the reinforcing material interposed therebetween, thereby obtaining an electrolyte membrane equipped with a reinforcing material; and (ii) sequentially laminating a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer or laminating a two-layer structure composed of a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer to the electrolyte membrane exposed from the opening in the electrolyte membrane equipped with a reinforcing material, thereby obtaining a membrane-electrode assembly equipped with a reinforcing material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising the membrane-electrode assembly equipped with a reinforcing material according to claim 6. ### Claim 9 A cohesive/adhesive composition comprising an epoxy resin, an aliphatic polyamide and a polythiol, wherein the polythiol is solid at normal temperature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cohesive/adhesive composition according to claim 9, further comprising an ionic liquid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cohesive/adhesive composition according to claim 10, wherein the content of the ionic liquid is 0.01 to 10% by mass. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The cohesive/adhesive composition according to claim 9, which is used for adhesion of an electrolyte membrane to be used in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) A cohesive/adhesive sheet, wherein a cohesive/adhesive layer formed of the cohesive/adhesive composition according to claim 9 is formed on a peelable protective film.