Sains Malaysiana 48(3)(2019): 669–676

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4803-21

Influence the Filler Orientation on the Performance of Bipolar Plate

(Pengaruh Orientasi Pengisi ke atas Prestasi Plat Dwikutub)

NABILAH AFIQAH MOHD RADZUAN¹, ABU BAKAR SULONG^1,2* & MAHENDRA RAO SOMALU¹

¹Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Centre for Materials Engineering and Smart Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering Programme, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 13 September 2018/Accepted: 23 December 2018

ABSTRACT

Bipolar plates significantly contribute to the development of the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells technology due to their ability to produce high electrical conductivity based on the type of materials used. Mismatching of inappropriate materials and manufacture may lead to the inferior performance of PEM fuel cells. Hence, material development was determined crucial to balance the overall performance of PEM fuels including the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of the materials. Studies on conductive polymer composites (CPCs) offered filler with orientation in terms of filler with aspect ratio and shape as an alternative method to enhance the overall performance of the bipolar plate. Filler orientations permit an excellent conductivity network formation while controlling the filler alignment based on required applications. This paper reviewed various studies of filler orientations including materials used and methods of manufacture of CPC materials for the effective development of bipolar plate. The technique to orientate the filler was highlight in terms of materials processing and its effects on the materials performance.

Keywords: Conductive polymer composite; electrical conductivity; orientation

ABSTRAK

Plat dwikutub menyumbang kepada pembangunan teknologi sel fuel polimer elektrolit membran (PEM) memandangkan keupayaannya dalam menghasilkan nilai keberaliran elektrik yang tinggi bersandarkan jenis bahan yang digunakan. Ketidaksepadanan bahan dan proses pembuatan merendahkan prestasi PEM. Oleh itu, penentuan pembangunan bahan amat kritikal dalam memastikan keseimbangan prestasi keseluruhan SFPEM termasuklah sifat mekanik dan nilai keberaliran elektrik bahan. Kajian terhadap bahan komposit polimer pengalir menawarkan orientasi pengisi seperti pengisi bernisbah bidang dan berbentuk sebagai kaedah alternatif dalam meningkatkan prestasi keseluruhan plat dwikutub. Orientasi pengisi membolehkan pembentukan jaringan keberaliran elektrik yang baik dengan mengawal arah penjajaran berdasarkan jenis aplikasi yang ditetapkan. Kertas ini menekankan kepelbagaian kajian orientasi pengisi termasuk bahan serta kaedah pembuatan bahan komposit polimer pengalir dalam pembangunan plat dwikutub yang lebih berkesan. Kaedah bagi mengorientasikan pengisi turut ditekankan daripada segi pemilihan bahan dan kesannya terhadap prestasi bahan.

Kata kunci: Keberaliran elektrik; komposit polimer pengalir; orientasi

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*Corresponding author; email: abubakar@ukm.edu.my