Study on Graphite Electric Arc Furnace Waste as a Bipolar Plate Composite Material for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell （PEMFC） Application

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell （PEMFC） is a promising candidate for zero-emission power source due to its high efficiency and low temperature range operation. Bipolar plate is an important key component in fuel cell system application. Present research and development efforts focus on developing light weight composite bipolar plate that are cost effective and environmentally safe. These objectives can be achieved by utilizing graphite electrode waste product from electric arc furnace （EAF）. Here, we report the development of bipolar plate （1= 15.0 cm in length, w = 15.0 cm width, t = 4.0 mm） by hot press molding process at 70 ℃ for 4 h. The composites were prepared by mixing different carbon fillers： graphite from waste of electrode EAF （electric arc furnace）, carbon black, and epoxy resin as a matrix composite. The difference between each bipolar plate was based on the ratio of carbon black weight fraction （0%-20%）. All materials were mixed, molded, and measured bases on their instrinsic properties.