SOUTHAMPTON, England, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Fuel cell materials company Bac2 will launch its first standard product, blank bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, at the Fuel Cell Pavilion, Hall 13, during Hannover Messe 2008. The plates, which are based on Bac2's unique conductive polymer, ElectroPhen, can be machined more simply than metal plates, making them ideal for fuel cell prototyping and development work. Each plate measures 300mm x 200mm x 3mm and its conductivity easily exceeds US Department of Energy specifications for use in automotive applications. Up to 100 plates can be ordered on 7-day delivery. It is anticipated that customers will purchase blank plates for fuel cell stack evaluation before migrating quickly to custom-molded ElectroPhen plates to take maximum advantage of the material's performance and low cost in mass production.
Bipolar plates make up to 30% of the cost of a PEM fuel cell stack. ElectroPhen plates offer substantial cost savings without compromising performance. The material has a raw state conductivity one billion times higher than commonly used resin binders, which means that no post-processing, such as extreme temperature or surface machining, is required to meet conductivity goals. ElectroPhen plates are easily molded and economical to produce in high volume. The material can be customised with plasticizers, reinforcers, and conductive filler, allowing fine-tuning of its characteristics for specific applications. ElectroPhen is thermally stable, resilient to temperature and inert towards fuel cell catalysts and membranes. It cures at room temperature and its basic raw materials are widely available from major chemical suppliers.
Graphic link:
http://www.technopr.com/download/Figure1-FuelCellConstruction.jpg
Graphic caption: Bipolar plates make up to 30% of the cost of a PEM fuel cell stack. ElectroPhen plates offer substantial cost savings without compromising performance.
For further information and reader enquiries:
James Lewis, Bac2, Millbrook Technology Campus, Second Avenue,
Southampton, SO15 0DJ, UK
Tel:+44 (0) 23 8031 2784
E-mail: james.lewis@bac2.co.uk
Web: http://www.bac2.co.uk
PR agency contact:
Bob Jones, TechnoPR Limited, The Old Vicarage, Upper South Wraxall,
Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire BA15 2SB, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1225 866930
E-mail: bob.jones@technopr.com
Web: http://www.technopr.com
Editors' notes:
Bac2 Ltd -- http://www.bac2.co.uk Bac2 is the developer of ElectroPhen(TM), an electrically conductive plastic that will make a significant contribution to the early adoption of clean energy from fuel cell stacks. Bac2 is in the process of developing ElectroPhen(TM) commercially and has patents pending in Europe, America and Japan. ElectroPhen(TM) is made from readily available low-cost constituents, can be pressed or molded to complex shapes, and is robust enough for harsh environments. By comparison, competitors produce composite plates using electrically insulating resins to bind together conductive particles such as graphite. In addition to its role in fuel cells, Bac2 will find an increasingly wide range of applications for ElectroPhen in electrical and electronic industries.
Bac2, Millbrook Technology Campus, Second Avenue, Southampton, S015 0DJ james.lewis@bac2.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1865 331413
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