Abstract: The invention is an electrically insulative aqueous polymer composition. The composition includes a thermoplastic acrylic-styrene copolymer emulsion, a wetting agent, water, a surfactant, and a ductility agent. The invention also includes methods of using the electrically insulative composition, as well as methods of using a related electrically conductive aqueous polymeric vehicular emulsion composition.

Abstract: The invention includes a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) comprising at least one fuel cell assembly. The fuel cell assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly interposed between an anode separator and a cathode separator. The membrane electrode assembly comprises a proton exchange membrane interposed between an anode and a cathode, each electrode comprising an electrocatalyst. The anode and cathode separators contain the flow field features necessary to communicate the fuel and oxidant, respectively, to their respective electrodes. A heat transfer separator may be integrated into the fuel cell assembly. Each separator is made up of a series of conductive compression gaskets that distribute fuel, oxidant and heat transfer fluid throughout the fuel cell. Under mechanical load, the respective series of compression gaskets are consolidated into fuel cell separators with sufficient structural integrity to seal the PEMFC fluids.

Abstract: The present invention is a proton exchange membrane fuel cell that includes a fuel cell assembly. The fuel cell assembly includes a bipolar separator, which includes an anode separator, a cathode separator and a membrane electrode assembly. The bipolar separator includes a highly porous, electrically conductive, non-metallic interface and a non-porous frame. The highly porous interface includes micro-channels for fluid communication and diffusion. Both the cathodic interface and anodic interface of the bipolar separator contain the highly porous material in a fluid diffusion region that interfaces with the active area of the MEA interposed between two bipolar separators. The highly porous material connects the fluid diffusion regions with their respective external sources of oxidant and fuel. The bipolar separator includes a non-porous frame that seals the highly porous material and isolates the fluids within the proton exchange membrane fuel cell.