US 12,148,959 B2
Metal separator, fuel cell, and method of producing metal separator
Shuhei Goto, Wako (JP); and Akihito Giga, Wako (JP)
Assigned to Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/190,978.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-036391 (JP), filed on Mar. 4, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0280877 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. H01M 8/0258 (2016.01); H01M 8/0206 (2016.01); H01M 8/0221 (2016.01); H01M 8/0228 (2016.01); H01M 8/0247 (2016.01); H01M 8/0267 (2016.01); H01M 8/1004 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/0258 (2013.01) [H01M 8/0206 (2013.01); H01M 8/0221 (2013.01); H01M 8/0228 (2013.01); H01M 8/0247 (2013.01); H01M 8/0267 (2013.01); H01M 8/1004 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A metal separator for a fuel cell, the metal separator being configured to be stacked on a membrane electrode assembly, the membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and electrodes provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane,
the metal separator comprising:
a metal plate including a fluid passage configured to allow fluid to flow in a stacking direction, the metal plate forming a fluid flow field configured to allow the fluid to flow along a separator surface; and
a plurality of rubber extension parts adhered to the metal plate, and extending from the fluid passage toward the fluid flow field,
wherein, between the plurality of rubber extension parts, a metal surface of the metal plate is exposed, and a channel configured to connect the fluid passage and the fluid flow field is formed, and
the plurality of rubber extension parts are adhered to the metal plate through a plurality of dot primers between the metal plate and the rubber extension parts,
wherein a joint border between the metal plate and the rubber extension part comprises:
a first adhesive portion where the metal plate and the rubber extension part are adhered together through each of the plurality of dot primers; and
a second adhesion portion where the plurality of dot primers are not coated and the metal plate and the rubber extension part are directly adhered together without intervening the plurality of dot primers, and
the first adhesive portion adheres the metal plate and the rubber extension part together by a joining force which is higher than a joining force of the second adhesion portion.
 
4. A metal separator for a fuel cell, the metal separator being configured to be stacked on a membrane electrode assembly, the membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and electrodes provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane,
the metal separator comprising:
a metal plate including a fluid passage configured to allow fluid to flow in a stacking direction, the metal plate forming a fluid flow field configured to allow the fluid to flow along a separator surface; and
a plurality of rubber extension parts adhered to the metal plate, and extending from the fluid passage toward the fluid flow field,
wherein, between the plurality of rubber extension parts, a metal surface of the metal plate is exposed, and a channel configured to connect the fluid passage and the fluid flow field is formed, and
the plurality of rubber extension parts are adhered to the metal plate through a plurality of dot primers between the metal plate and the rubber extension parts, wherein
the rubber extension part is a part of a rubber member provided on the metal plate, and
an adhesion portion of the rubber member excluding adhesion portions of the plurality of rubber extension parts is adhered to the metal plate through a planar primer coated in a planar shape.
 
8. A fuel cell comprising metal separators stacked on both surfaces of a membrane electrode assembly, the membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and electrodes provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane,
wherein each of the metal separators comprises:
a metal plate including a fluid passage configured to allow fluid to flow in a stacking direction, the metal plate forming a fluid flow field configured to allow the fluid to flow along a separator surface; and
a plurality of rubber extension parts adhered to the metal plate, and extending from the fluid passage toward the fluid flow field,
wherein, between the plurality of rubber extension parts, a metal surface of the metal plate is exposed, and a channel configured to connect the fluid passage and the fluid flow field is formed, and the plurality of rubber extension parts are adhered to the metal plate through a plurality of dot primers between the metal plate and the rubber extension parts,
wherein a joint border between the metal plate and the rubber extension part comprises:
a first adhesive portion where the metal plate and the rubber extension part are adhered together through each of the plurality of dot primers; and
a second adhesion portion where the plurality of dot primers are not coated and the metal plate and the rubber extension part are directly adhered together without intervening the plurality of dot primers, and
the first adhesive portion adheres the metal plate and the rubber extension part together by a joining force which is higher than a joining force of the second adhesion portion.
 
9. A method of producing a metal separator for a fuel cell, the metal separator being configured to be stacked on a membrane electrode assembly, the membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and electrodes provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane,
the method comprising:
a metal plate processing step of producing a metal plate including a fluid passage configured to allow fluid to flow in a stacking direction, the metal plate forming a fluid flow field configured to allow the fluid to flow along a separator surface; and
a rubber adding step of providing, on the metal plate, a plurality of rubber extension parts extending from the fluid passage toward the fluid flow field,
wherein, between the plurality of rubber extension parts, a metal surface of the metal plate is exposed, and a channel configured to connect the fluid passage and the fluid flow field is formed, and
in the rubber adding step, the plurality of rubber extension parts are adhered to the metal plate through a plurality of dot primers,
wherein a joint border between the metal plate and the rubber extension part comprises:
a first adhesive portion where the metal plate and the rubber extension part are adhered together through each of the plurality of dot primers; and
a second adhesion portion where the plurality of dot primers are not coated and the metal plate and the rubber extension part are directly adhered together without intervening the plurality of dot primers, and
the first adhesive portion adheres the metal plate and the rubber extension part together by a joining force which is higher than a joining force of the second adhesion portion.