Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a coolant channel provided between a first separator of a first power generation cell among power generation cells and a second separator of a second power generation cell among the power generation cells which is adjacent to the first power generation cell. A coolant manifold is connected to the coolant channel. A coolant manifold end member is connected to the coolant manifold. The coolant manifold end member includes an air vent wall having an opening provided at an uppermost position of the coolant manifold end member in a height direction of the fuel cell stack. The coolant manifold end member includes a wall which surrounds the air vent wall and which is thinner than the air vent wall. The air vent pipe protrudes from the air vent wall. The air vent pipe and the coolant manifold end member are integrally made.

Abstract: A method for preparing a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, where the membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a first electrode and a second electrode provided on both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The first electrode and the second electrode each include an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer. The method includes forming the first electrode and the second electrode on both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, providing a preformed resin frame member around the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, overlapping an outer marginal portion of the first electrode and an inner marginal portion of the resin frame member with each other and applying heat and pressure to the overlapped portions of the first electrode and the resin frame member to join the resin frame member around the solid polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A method for preparing a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, where the membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a first electrode and a second electrode provided on both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The first electrode and the second electrode each include an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer. The method includes forming the first electrode and the second electrode on both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, providing a preformed resin frame member around the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, overlapping an outer marginal portion of the first electrode and an inner marginal portion of the resin frame member with each other and applying heat and pressure to the overlapped portions of the first electrode and the resin frame member to join the resin frame member around the solid polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane-electrode structure with a resin frame is provided with: an electrolyte membrane-electrode structure that is provided with an anode-side electrode and a cathode-side electrode, with a solid polymer electrolyte membrane being held therebetween; and a resin frame member that is arranged around the outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. An intermediate layer is continuously arranged: between an outer peripheral end portion of the cathode-side electrode and a first inner peripheral end portion of the resin frame member; on an outer peripheral end portion of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, said outer peripheral end portion being exposed outside the outer peripheral end portion of the cathode-side electrode; and between an outer peripheral end portion of the anode-side electrode and a second inner peripheral end portion of the resin frame member.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a coolant channel provided between a first separator of a first power generation cell among power generation cells and a second separator of a second power generation cell among the power generation cells which is adjacent to the first power generation cell. A coolant manifold is connected to the coolant channel. A coolant manifold end member is connected to the coolant manifold. The coolant manifold end member includes an air vent wall having an opening provided at an uppermost position of the coolant manifold end member in a height direction of the fuel cell stack. The coolant manifold end member includes a wall which surrounds the air vent wall and which is thinner than the air vent wall. The air vent pipe protrudes from the air vent wall. The air vent pipe and the coolant manifold end member are integrally made.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a cell unit. The cell unit includes a first separator, a second separator, and an electrolyte-electrode assembly. The electrolyte-electrode assembly is sandwiched between the first separator and the second separator in a stacking direction. The outer periphery of the electrolyte-electrode assembly is integrally provided with frame members composed of a polymer material. Fluid communication holes are provided as through holes in the stacking direction in each of the frame members. The seal member is sandwiched between the frame members that are adjacent to each other in the stacking direction. The first and second separators each have two plates with an identical outer shape. Each of the frame members has a rib projecting in a thickness direction of the frame member, at least around one of an outermost periphery of the frame member and the fluid communication holes.

Abstract: For use in a fuel cell separator comprising a separator substrate, a primer layer, and an elastomeric seal, a sealing material comprises a primer composition containing Si—H groups of which the primer layer is formed, and a liquid addition-curable silicone rubber composition containing alkenyl groups and Si—H groups of which the elastomeric seal is formed. A molar ratio of the total amount of Si—H groups to the total amount of alkenyl groups per unit weight of the primer composition and the silicone rubber composition is in the range: 5.0<Si—H/alkenyl<50.0.

Abstract: In a fuel cell separator comprising a separator substrate, a first primer layer, a second primer layer, and an elastomeric seal layer, the first primer layer is formed by firing an organometallic compound, the second primer layer is formed by firing an organosilicon compound having a Si—H group, and the elastomeric seal layer is formed by curing a liquid addition-curable silicone rubber composition comprising an alkenyl-containing base polymer and an Si—H group-containing crosslinker.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane-electrode structure with a resin frame is provided with: an electrolyte membrane-electrode structure that is provided with an anode-side electrode and a cathode-side electrode, with a solid polymer electrolyte membrane being held therebetween; and a resin frame member that is arranged around the outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. An intermediate layer is continuously arranged: between an outer peripheral end portion of the cathode-side electrode and a first inner peripheral end portion of the resin frame member; on an outer peripheral end portion of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, said outer peripheral end portion being exposed outside the outer peripheral end portion of the cathode-side electrode; and between an outer peripheral end portion of the anode-side electrode and a second inner peripheral end portion of the resin frame member.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprising (A) an alkenyl-containing organopolysiloxane, (B) a silicone resinous copolymer, (C) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, (D) fumed silica having a BET specific surface area of 50-400 m2/g, (E) carbon powder having a BET specific surface area of 30-150 m2/g, and (F) an addition reaction catalyst cures into a product which is useful as a separator seal in PEFCs. The rubber has a reduced compression set even in an acidic atmosphere or in contact with LLC, and the rubber itself has strength and good adhesion to separator substrates. The separator provides excellent seal performance over a long term.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly is provided with: a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; and an anode-side electrode and a cathode-side electrode that sandwich the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The cathode-side electrode has smaller planar dimensions than the anode-side electrode. In the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly, a resin frame member is provided around the outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The resin frame member is bonded to the cathode-side electrode by having only the outer peripheral portion of the cathode-side electrode being impregnated with the inner peripheral portion of the resin frame member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell separator and a method of producing the fuel cell separator. A first separator and a second separator are provided as the fuel cell separators. Firstly, the first separator and the second separator are heated. Thus, an Fe rich layer is formed in a surface layer of each of the first separator and the second separator, and a Cr rich layer where a proportion of Cr is 60% or more is formed in an inner portion of each of the first separator and the second separator. Then, an electrolytic treatment is applied to each of the first separator and the second separator to remove the Fe rich layer. By the removal, the Cr rich layer is exposed to the outside on the outermost surface layer of each of the first separator and the second separator.

Abstract: A cell unit of a fuel cell includes a first membrane electrode assembly, a first metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a second metal separator. Resin frame members are provided at outer ends the first and second membrane electrode assemblies. A dual seal provided on the resin frame member includes an outer seal member and an inner seal member. A front end of the outer seal member contacts the resin frame member, and a front end of the inner seal member contacts the outer end of the first metal separator. The outer seal member and the outer seal member have the same height.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a cell unit. The cell unit includes a first separator, a second separator, and an electrolyte-electrode assembly. The electrolyte-electrode assembly is sandwiched between the first separator and the second separator in a stacking direction. The outer periphery of the electrolyte-electrode assembly is integrally provided with frame members composed of a polymer material. Fluid communication holes are provided as through holes in the stacking direction in each of the frame members. The seal member is sandwiched between the frame members that are adjacent to each other in the stacking direction. The first and second separators each have two plates with an identical outer shape. Each of the frame members has a rib projecting in a thickness direction of the frame member, at least around one of an outermost periphery of the frame member and the fluid communication holes.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprising (A) a liquid alkenyl-containing organopolysiloxane with Mw<100,000, (B) a gum-like organopolysiloxane with Mw?150,000, (C) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, (D) fumed silica, and (E) an addition reaction catalyst and having a viscosity of 20-200 Pa-s at a shear rate of 10 s?1 and 25° C. is effectively injection moldable into a cured product which is useful as a separator seal in PEFCs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rubber composition for separator seal, comprising (A) a mixture of two or more alkenyl-containing liquid organopolysiloxanes having different weight average molecular weights, (B) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, (C) fumed silica having a BET specific surface area of 50-400 m2/g, (D) carbon black having a BET specific surface area of 30 to 120 m2/g, an iodine adsorption value of 30 to 120 mg/g, and a DBP absorption value of 100 to 200 ml/100 g, and (E) an addition reaction catalyst cures into a product which is useful as a separator seal in PEFCs.

Abstract: Auxiliary seals are provided on a surface of a first metal separator, between load receivers and an oxygen-containing gas supply passage, a fuel gas supply passage, an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage, and a fuel gas discharge passage, in relatively wide areas. The cross sectional shape of the auxiliary seal is the same as those of a flow field seal and ring-like seals, and the auxiliary seals are formed independently from the flow field seal and the ring-like seals.

Abstract: A power generation cell includes an anode side seal member and a cathode side seal member. The anode side seal member is provided outside an anode of a membrane electrode assembly, and directly contacts a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The cathode side seal member is provided outside the membrane electrode assembly. A space is formed between the anode side seal member and the cathode side seal member. First ribs are formed integrally with the anode side seal member. The first ribs protrude toward the space. Further, second ribs are formed integrally with the cathode side seal member. The second ribs protrude toward the space. The first ribs and the second ribs are arranged alternately.

Abstract: An injection-molding method made up of a step of preparing a first die (41), a second die (46) and a third die (47), a step of sandwiching a separator proper (16) with the first die (41) and the second die (46), a step of molding a front side molded layer (32) by injecting silicone rubber (59) into the front side cavity (50) through a gate (52), a step of replacing the second die (46) with a third die (47) while the front side molded layer (32) is still soft, and a step of molding a rear side molded layer (34) by piercing the front side molded layer (32) with an injection pressure injecting the silicone rubber (59) through the gate (52) and filling a rear side cavity (63) with silicone rubber (59) through the through hole (30).

Abstract: An injection-molding method made up of a step of preparing a first die (41), a second die (46) and a third die (47), a step of sandwiching a separator proper (16) with the first die (41) and the second die (46), a step of molding a front side molded layer (32) by injecting silicone rubber (59) into the front side cavity (50) through a gate (52), a step of replacing the second die (46) with a third die (47) while the front side molded layer (32) is still soft, and a step of molding a rear side molded layer (34) by piercing the front side molded layer (32) with an injection pressure injecting the silicone rubber (59) through the gate (52) and filling a rear side cavity (63) with silicone rubber (59) through the through hole (30).