Name: experimental implementation of a new composite fabrication method: exposing bare fibers on the composite surface by the soft layer method
Uploaded: 2017-10-06T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Experimental Implementation of a New Composite Fabrication Method: Exposing Bare Fibers on the Composite Surface by the Soft Layer Method at JoVE.com

This research was supported by the Climate Change Research Hub of KAIST (grant No. N11160012), the Leading Foreign Research Institute Recruitment Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (grant No. 2011-0030065), the Leading Human Resource Training Program of Regional Neo Industry through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (grant no. NRF-2016H1D5A1910603). Their support is greatly appreciated.

1. Material Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Preparation of the composite material 
	NOTE: CAUTION, Please consult all relevant material safety data sheets (MSDS) before use. Several of the chemicals used in these methods may be toxic and carcinogenic. Nanomaterials may have additional hazards compared to their bulk counterparts. Please use all appropriate safety practices when performing an experiment, including the use of engineering controls (fume hood, glove box) and personal protective equipment (safety...

<ol>
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G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electromagnetic-carbon+surface+treatment+of+composite+bipolar+plate+for+high-efficiency+polymer+electrolyte+membrane+fuel+cells.">Electromagnetic-carbon surface treatment of composite bipolar plate for high-efficiency polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.</a> J Power Sources. 195 (6), 1577-1582 (2010).</li><li>Kim, B. G., Lim, J. W., Lee, D. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+single-type+aluminum/composite+hybrid+bipolar+plate+with+surface+modification+for+high+efficiency+PEMFC.">A single-type aluminum/composite hybrid bipolar plate with surface modification for high efficiency PEMFC.</a> Int J Hydrogen Energy. 36 (4), 3087-3095 (2011).</li><li>Yu, H. N., Lim, J. W., Suh, J. D., Lee, D. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+graphite-coated+carbon+fiber+epoxy+composite+bipolar+plate+for+polymer+electrolyte+membrane+fuel+cell.">A graphite-coated carbon fiber epoxy composite bipolar plate for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.</a> J Power Sources. 196 (23), 9868-9875 (2011).</li><li>Kim, K. H., Kim, B. G., Lee, D. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+carbon+composite+bipolar+plate+(BP)+for+vanadium+redox+flow+battery+(VRFB).">Development of carbon composite bipolar plate (BP) for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB).</a> Compos Struct. 109, 253-259 (2014).</li><li>Lee, D., Lim, J. W., Nam, S., Choi, I., Lee, D. 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G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Method+for+exposing+carbon+fibers+on+composite+bipolar+plates.">Method for exposing carbon fibers on composite bipolar plates.</a> Compos Struct. 134, 1-9 (2015).</li><li>Lee, D., Lee, D. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Carbon+composite+bipolar+plate+for+high-temperature+proton+exchange+membrane+fuel+cells+(HT-PEMFCs).">Carbon composite bipolar plate for high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs).</a> J Power Sources. 327, 119-126 (2016).</li><li>Lee, D., Choe, J., Nam, S., Lim, J. W., Choi, I., Lee, D. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+non-woven+carbon+felt+composite+bipolar+plates+using+the+soft+layer+method.">Development of non-woven carbon felt composite bipolar plates using the soft layer method.</a> Compos struct. 160, 976-982 (2016).</li><li>Lee, D., Lim, J. W., Lee, D. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cathode/anode+integrated+composite+bipolar+plate+for+high-temperature+PEMFC.">Cathode/anode integrated composite bipolar plate for high-temperature PEMFC.</a> Compos Struct. 167, 144-151 (2017).</li><li>Lee, D., Oh, Y., Nam, S., Choe, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adhesion+Characteristics+of+Fiber-exposed+Glass+Composites.">Adhesion Characteristics of Fiber-exposed Glass Composites.</a> Compos Struct. 165, 9-14 (2017).</li></ol>

The soft layer method provides significant advantages compared with the conventional methods, and with a lower manufacturing cost. All three types of composites manufactured by the soft layer method show unique characteristics in terms of the electrical properties, mechanical properties, gas permeability, and adhesion properties.
For the measurement of the electrical property, a four-point probe method was used. ASR was measured 5 times and the average value was taken as a representative value...

The bipolar plate is a multi-functional key component of energy conversion systems and energy storage systems such as fuel cells and batteries. The key functional requirements of the bipolar plate are as follows: high electrical conductivity in the through-thickness direction to reduce ohmic-loss, high mechanical properties to withstand high compaction pressure and external impacts, and high productivity for mass production.
Compared with the graphite and metals that were conventionally adopted as materials for the bipolar plate, carbon fiber/epoxy composites have a higher specific strength and stiffness, which indicates that the weight of the system can be greatly reduced by replacing the conventional bipolar plate materials with composites1. However, conventional carbon/epoxy composites have poor electrical conductivity in the through-thickness direction, which results in a large areal specific resistance (ASR), due to the resin-rich layer that is formed on the composite surface. The insulating resin-rich layer prevents direct contact between the conductive carbon fibers and adjacent components, such as another bipolar plate, gas diffusion layer (GDL), and carbon felt electrode (CFE). 
Many studies were conducted to resolve the high ASR due to the resin-rich layer. The first approach was surface treatment methods to selectively remove the resin-rich layer. For example, mechanical abrasion was attempted to remove the resin on the surface2. However, the carbon fibers were also damaged, which resulted in a poor ASR. Plasma treatment3,4 and microwave treatment methods5,6 were also developed to avoid fiber damage, but they resulted in low productivity and uniformity. The second approach, conductive layer coating methods, includes expanded graphite coating7,8. This method successfully reduced the ASR and has been regarded as a standard method to manufacture a composite bipolar plate. However, it is costly and has durability and delamination issues due to the low mechanical strength.
In this study, the "soft layer method", a novel manufacturing method that can expose carbon fibers on the composite bipolar plate surface, is demonstrated. The main purpose of this method is to obtain a low ASR with a low manufacturing cost. The soft layer method adopts a thin soft layer such as a polymer release film between the compression mold and bipolar plate. After curing in the compression mold and the detaching of the soft layer, the fabricated bipolar plate displays carbon fibers exposed on the surface without any post-surface treatment. This method not only decreased the ASR but also significantly increased the mechanical properties and solved the gas permeability issue. This method can be applied for many other purposes: the development of an electrically conductive plate, the manufacture of a thin composite, and the fabrication of an adhesive joint without surface treatment.

<table width="891">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt">
			<td class="xl63" height="21" style="width:223pt;height:15.75pt" width="297">Unidirectional carbon/epoxy prepreg</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:72pt" width="96">SK Chemicals</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:110pt" width="146">USN020</td>
			<td class="xl66" style="width:264pt" width="352">Used to fabricate unidirectional carbon composite</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt">
			<td class="xl63" height="21" style="width:223pt;height:15.75pt" width="297">Plain weave carbon fabric/epoxy prepreg</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:72pt" width="96">SK Chemicals</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:110pt" width="146">WSN 1k</td>
			<td class="xl66">Used to fabricate fabric carbon composite</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt">
			<td class="xl63" height="21" style="width:223pt;height:15.75pt" width="297">Plain weave carbon fabric</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:72pt" width="96">SK Chemicals</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:110pt" width="146">C-112</td>
			<td class="xl66">Used to fabricate fabric carbon composite</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt">
			<td class="xl63" height="21" style="width:223pt;height:15.75pt" width="297">Non-woven carbon felt</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:72pt" width="96">Newell</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:110pt" width="146">Graphite felt 3 mm</td>
			<td class="xl66">Used to fabricated felt carbon composite</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt">
			<td class="xl63" height="21" style="width:223pt;height:15.75pt" width="297">Film type epoxy resin</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:72pt" width="96">SK Chemicals</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:110pt" width="146">K51</td>
			<td class="xl66">Used as a matrix of the composite</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt">
			<td class="xl63" height="21" style="width:223pt;height:15.75pt" width="297">Acetone 99.5%</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:72pt" width="96">Samchun</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:110pt" width="146">67-64-1</td>
			<td class="xl66">Used to cleanse the carbon fiber and the soft layers</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt">
			<td class="xl63" height="21" style="width:223pt;height:15.75pt" width="297">Mold release</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:72pt" width="96">ShinEtsu</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:110pt" width="146">KF-96</td>
			<td class="xl66">Used to coat the mold</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt">
			<td class="xl63" height="21" style="width:223pt;height:15.75pt" width="297">Release film</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:72pt" width="96">Airtech</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:110pt" width="146">A4000V</td>
			<td class="xl66">Used as a soft layer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt">
			<td class="xl63" height="21" style="width:223pt;height:15.75pt" width="297">Compression mold</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:72pt" width="96">N/A</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:110pt" width="146">N/A</td>
			<td class="xl66">Machined in lab. Material: NAK80</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt">
			<td class="xl63" height="21" style="width:223pt;height:15.75pt" width="297">Hot press</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:72pt" width="96">Hydrotek 100</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:110pt" width="146">N/A</td>
			<td class="xl66">Used to apply pressure and heat</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt">
			<td class="xl63" height="21" style="width:223pt;height:15.75pt" width="297">Scanning electron microscope</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:72pt" width="96">FEI Compnay</td>
			<td class="xl63" style="width:110pt" width="146">Magellan 400</td>
			<td class="xl66">Used to investigate the surface of the composite</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

experimental implementation of a new composite fabrication method: exposing bare fibers on the composite surface by the soft layer method

The bipolar plate is a key component in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). It is a multi-functional component that should have high electrical conductivity, high mechanical properties, and high productivity.
In this regard, a carbon fiber/epoxy resin composite can be an ideal material to replace the conventional graphite bipolar plate, which often leads to the catastrophic failure of the entire system because of its inherent brittleness. Though the carbon/epoxy composite has high mechanical properties and is easy to manufacture, the electrical conductivity in the through-thickness direction is poor because of the resin-rich layer that forms on its surface. Therefore, an expanded graphite coating was adopted to solve the electrical conductivity issue. However, the expanded graphite coating not only increases the manufacturing costs but also has poor mechanical properties.
In this study, a method to expose fibers on the composite surface is demonstrated. There are currently many methods that can expose fibers by surface treatment after the fabrication of the composite. This new method, however, does not require surface treatment because the fibers are exposed during the manufacture of the composite. By exposing bare carbon fibers on the surface, the electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of the composite are increased drastically.

The fabricated specimens are observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (Figure 1). Because the resin-rich layer that covers the top of the fibers is only a few micrometers thick, an optical microscopic image observed at the top of the specimen is not appropriate. A SEM image observed by tilting the specimen by 5&#176; provides a more representative image. Compared to the composites fabricated by conventional compression molding, which has its surface ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Experimental Implementation of a New Composite Fabrication Method: Exposing Bare Fibers on the Composite Surface by the Soft Layer Method at JoVE.com

Experimental Implementation of a New Composite Fabrication Method: Exposing Bare Fibers on the Composite Surface by the Soft Layer Method

A protocol to expose bare fibers on the composite surface by eliminating resin rich area is presented. The fibers are exposed during fabrication of the composites, not by the post surface treatment. The exposed carbon composites exhibit high electrical conductivity in the through-thickness direction and high mechanical property.

The bipolar plate is a key component in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). It is a multi-functional ...

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