SBIR Phase I: Determining the Manufacturing Limit on Thickness and Size (length and width) of a Metal Injection Molded (MIM) Bipolar Plate for PEM Fuel Cells

该小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将扩大制造技术研究，以达到燃料电池金属双极板使用金属注射成型（MIM）材料的极限。其目的是确定MIM双极板的设计极限，基于最小厚度和宽度。通过使用各种MIM材料和工艺，基于制造数据的限制将为未来MIM双极板设计提供支持。这项研究非常重要，因为最大限度地减少MIM材料将通过显着降低成本推动未来燃料电池的经济成功。该项目的成功结果将扩大金属注射成型加工的知识基础，通过消除机械加工操作有效地避免金属浪费。 双极板中的MIM工艺还将通过降低燃料电池的成本、增加可靠性和改善性能来增强燃料电池的经济可行性。随着燃料电池数量的不断增长，我们的燃料将得到更有效的利用。与使用各种燃料的其他电源相比，燃料电池的效率为40%至60%（例如汽车为25%）。因此，发展氢基燃料电池的结果是减少绿色家用气体，这将减少或避免全球变暖问题。该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will expand manufacturing technology research into the limits of employing Metal Injection Molding (MIM) materials for fuel cell metal bipolar plates. The objective is to determine the design limits of a MIM bipolar plate, based on minimal thickness and widths. By working with various MIM materials and processes, a limitation based on manufacturing data will provide support for future MIM bipolar plate designs. This research is important since minimizing the MIM materials will drive the economic success of future fuel cells by significantly reducing costs.The successful outcome of this project will expand the knowledge base of metal injection molding processing which efficiently avoids metal waste by eliminating machining operations. The MIM process in bipolar plates will also augment the economic viability of fuel cells by reducing their cost, increasing reliability, and improving performance. As fuel cells continue to grow in volume, more efficient use of our fuels will result. Fuel cells are 40% to 60% efficient versus other power sources using various fuels (e.g. automobiles at 25%). Thus, the consequence of growing hydrogen based fuel cells is a reduction in green house gases which will reduce or avoid global warming issues.This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).