Abstract: Fluid permeable graphite article in the form of a perforated flexible graphite sheet having increased electrical and thermal conductivity transverse to the surfaces of the sheet.

Abstract: A radial finned heat sink assembly for an electrical component is constructed from a graphite material, which may be resin impregnated. The assembly includes a base, and a plurality of spaced parallel planar fin members supported by the base. Each fin member includes a planar fin of an anisotropic graphite material having graphite layers aligned primarily with the plane of the fin. In a first construction the fin members include integral core portions. In a second construction the core portions are separately formed so that the graphene layers of the core portion are aligned primarily parallel to the core axis so that heat is efficiently transmitted from the base to the plate members along the core axis.

Abstract: A graphite article in the form of a flexible graphite sheet having transverse fluid channels passing through the sheet and a groove formed in one of the surfaces of the sheet communicating with a plurality of the transverse fluid channels is presented.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical fuel cell is provided. More particularly, an electrode formed of a sheet of a compressed mass of expanded graphite particles having a plurality of transverse fluid channels passing through the sheet between first and second opposed surfaces of the sheet, is provided. The size, shape and/or placement of the channels, and/or the density of the sheet, is engineered so as to reduce or minimize flooding in the fuel cell.

Abstract: A catalyst support material useful in a membrane electrode assembly is presented. The support catalyst material is elongate electrically anisotropic particles of flexible graphite, and the membrane electrode assembly includes a pair of electrodes, an ion exchange membrane having opposed surfaces positioned between the electrodes and a catalyst material on the inventive support, at least a portion of an opposed surface of the ion exchange membrane being adjacent the catalyst which is supported on the elongate electrically anisotropic particles of flexible graphite sheet.

Abstract: An method for producing a material useful for forming a component for an electrochemical fuel cell is provided. More particularly, the component is formed of a sheet of a compressed mass of expanded graphite particles. The component is treated with a water resistant additive sufficient to provide utility as a component in an electrochemical fuel cell. Preferably, the water resistant additive is a fluoropolymer material. More preferably, the water resistant additive is a polytetrafluoroethylene material. The treatment preferably occurs by coating and/or impregnating the water resistant material in the sheet of graphite particles.

Abstract: Fluid permeable graphite article in the form of a perforated flexible graphite sheet having increased electrical and thermal conductivity transverse to the surfaces of the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for managing the heat from a heat source like an electronic component. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system effective for dissipating the heat generated by an electronic component using a heat sink formed from a compressed, comminuted particles of resin-impregnated flexible graphite mat or sheet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode for an electrochemical fuel cell is disclosed, comprising providing a sheet of compressed mass of expanded graphite particles having a plurality of perforations defined by walls of the expanded graphite particles, and the perforations passing through the sheet between first and second opposed surfaces of the sheet; coating the sheet with a thermosettable organic resin, said coating step comprising filling a portion of said perforations with the thermosettable organic resin; curing and baking the sheet, and reopening a portion of the filled perforations during the curing and baking step; activating the thermosettable organic resin to form a high surface area carbon on the walls of the perforations; and loading a catalyst onto the high surface area carbon.

Abstract: Methods are provided for manufacturing bipolar graphite articles. First and second components are formed from flexible graphite material. The first component may have a protrusion formed thereon, and the second component may have a recess formed therein which is complementary to the protrusion of the first component. The first and second components are assembled so that the protrusion of the first component is received in the recess of the second component. Preferably, the components are made from uncured resin impregnated graphite material. The assembled components are then pressed together and heated to cure the resin so as to bond the components together. Alternatively the second component, or both the components, may have flat surfaces which engage the other component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible graphite sheet having increased isotropic properties. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flexible graphite sheet formed from particles of expanded natural graphite formed from graphite flake sized no more than about 30% by weight +80 mesh prior to expansion. The resulting sheet of flexible graphite exhibits improved conductive and fluid sealing properties.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical fuel cell is provided. More particularly, an electrode formed of a sheet of a compressed mass of expanded graphite particles having a plurality of transverse fluid channels passing through the sheet between first and second opposed surfaces of the sheet, is provided. The electrode is treated with a water resistant additive sufficient to provide utility as a cathode in an electrochemical fuel cell.

Abstract: A catalyst support material useful in a membrane electrode assembly is presented. The support catalyst material is elongate electrically anisotropic particles of flexible graphite, and the membrane electrode assembly includes a pair of electrodes, an ion exchange membrane having opposed surfaces positioned between the electrodes and a catalyst material on the inventive support, at least a portion of an opposed surface of the ion exchange membrane being adjacent the catalyst which is supported on the elongate electrically anisotropic particles of flexible graphite sheet.

Abstract: The invention presented is a graphite article having predetermined anisotropic characteristics, as well as a process for preparing the article. More particularly, the article is prepared by a process involving determining the desired anisotropic characteristics for a finished flexible graphite article; intercalating and then exfoliating flakes of graphite to form exfoliated graphite particles; forming a substrate graphite article by compressing the exfoliated graphite particles into a coherent article formed of graphene layers; and producing a controlled directional alignment of the graphene layers in the substrate graphite article to provide a finished graphite article having the desired anisotropic ratio.

Abstract: A process is presented for forming an anisotropic heat spreader or heat pipe, comprising forming a laminate comprising a plurality of flexible graphite sheets which comprise graphene layers; and directionally aligning the graphene layers of the laminate.

Abstract: A process is presented for forming an anisotropic graphite article, comprising forming a laminate comprising a plurality of flexible graphite sheets which comprise graphene layers; and directionally aligning the graphene layers of the laminate.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is provided. More particularly, an assembly is provided which includes a pair of electrodes and an ion exchange membrane having opposed major surfaces positioned between the electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being formed of a sheet of a compressed mass of expanded graphite particles having a plurality of transverse fluid channels passing through the sheet between first and second opposed surfaces of the sheet, one of opposed surfaces abutting the ion exchange membrane. At least one of the surfaces of the ion exchange membrane has a catalyst metal selectively loaded thereon.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is provided comprising a pair of electrodes and an ion exchange membrane positioned between the electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being formed of a sheet of a compressed mass of expanded graphite particles having a plurality of transverse fluid channels passing through the sheet between first and second opposed surfaces of the sheet, one of opposed surfaces abutting said ion exchange membrane, said transverse fluid channels being formed by mechanically impacting an opposed surface of the sheet to displace graphite within the sheet at predetermined locations.

Abstract: A composite I-beam is presented. The inventive I-beam includes a first flange and a second flange, with a web extending between the first and second flanges. At least one of the flanges of the inventive I-beam has a reinforcing layer of a supporting material thereon or therein.

Abstract: A thermal insulating device, and process for making it, are presented. The inventive thermal insulating device is formed of a cylindrically shaped shell comprising multiple layers of a continuous spiral wound anisotropic flexible graphite sheet, the layers of spiral wound graphite sheet being separated by and bonded to a cured resin.