Corrosion Performance of Stainless Steel and Inconel in Simulated Fuel-Cell Media

Abstract

In a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), the bipolar plates are exposed to oxidant conditions on one side and reducing conditions on the other. The requirement of good electrical and thermal conductivity, good corrosion resistance, low weight, a good impermeability to the reactant gases and low cost restricts the choices of materials to manufacture bipolar plates. The objective of this research is to determine the corrosion resistance of candidate bipolar plate materials in the chemical environment encountered in PEM fuel cells. Several austenitic stainless steels (SS304 and SS316) and nickel alloys have been examined (Inconel 600, Inconel 601, Inconel 625, Incoloy 800H). The out-of-stack tests involved two types of electrochemical measurements, made in solutions that simulate the atmospheres of both the cathode and the anode chambers of a typical fuel cell, bubbled with O 2 and H 2 , respectively, at room temperature and at 50 °C.

Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates.-Commercial and Technical Feasibility Study for Mass Production in Mexico

“…Coatings used in the evaluation were developed in our laboratory except for the metal nitrides which were commercially available (23). The conclusions of this study and previous studies (21,(23)(24)(25)(26) are as follows:…”

“…In this study and previous studies (21,(23)(24)(25) we determined that the raw material for bipolar plates must be Stainless Steel AISI 444 and the coating could be Cr 3 C 2 (NiCr) (21).…”

“…In four previous studies (21,(23)(24)(25), we evaluated various metals as potential candidates to produce bipolar plates in a fuel cell. We evaluated stainless steel types 304, 310, 316, 321, 439 and 441, 444, Ni-alloys Inconel 600, 601, 625, Incoloy 800H, as well as pure Ni (23)(24)25).…”

“…In four previous studies (21,(23)(24)(25), we evaluated various metals as potential candidates to produce bipolar plates in a fuel cell. We evaluated stainless steel types 304, 310, 316, 321, 439 and 441, 444, Ni-alloys Inconel 600, 601, 625, Incoloy 800H, as well as pure Ni (23)(24)25). The drawback of stainless steel is that its resistance to corrosion is due to the development of an oxide layer that can be highly resistive to chemical attack.…”