Learn about chemical etching for bipolar plates in this Tech Talk. Steven and Aurelia Montoya discuss chemically etched bipolar plates for fuel cell and electrolyzer applications. The etching process includes material selection, cleaning, lamination, digital imaging, developing, etching, stripping, and inspection. Etching advantages like low tooling costs, design flexibility, and precise features are highlighted. The conversation covers cost factors, hazardous chemical waste handling, and the industry's evolving trends, such as increased complexity, larger format plates, factory automation, and growing demand for bipolar plates in fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies.
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Jump right into the discussion topics:
0:00 Hyfindr Tech Talks
0:44 Welcome Aurelia Montoya
1:02 What are photochemically etched bipolar plates?
1:27 What is photochemical etching?
2:14 Selecting the material for etching
3:13 Cleaning metal plates before laminating
3:51 Laminating metal sheets
4:52 Digital imaging of laminated plates
7:36 Developing the imaged metal sheets
9:00 Etching a metal sheet
10:38 How to control the etching depth during chemically etching?
15:05 Stripping a etched metal sheet
15:40 Inspecting the etched bipolar plate
16:15 Examples of etched bipolar plates
17:36 Advantages of photochemical etching
19:21 What makes etching expensive?
20:17 What happens to the chemicals used for etching?
22:12 Future developments of photochemical etching
23:34 Thank you, Aurelia!
23:50 Please subscribe & share
Executive Summary of Tech Talk Script:
In this Hyfindr Tech Talk, Steven introduces Aurelia Montoya, a process engineer from Elcon Precision, to discuss chemically etched bipolar plates for fuel cell applications. They discuss the process of etching for bipolar plates.
Material selection constitutes the initial phase, requiring metals with electrical conductivity and etchability such as aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel. Cleaning, a pivotal step, readies the metal surface for subsequent processes through immersion in degreasing and acidic solutions. Lamination follows, enveloping the metal in protective photosensitive film, pivotal for transferring the desired image during the subsequent digital imaging stage.
The technique of digital imaging employs UV light to print the targeted pattern onto the laminated surface. Developing then serves to dissolve the unexposed film using a mild alkaline solution, revealing the pattern to be etched.
Etching, the crux of the process, deploys corrosive chemicals that selectively dissolve the unprotected metal, thus creating the desired features. The complexity of this process lies in controlling the etching speed and pressure to ensure uniformity and prevent unintended holes.
Stripping of the remaining film marks a transition, as the etched plate emerges without protective layers. Inspection caps the process, involving optical tools to measure crucial features like channel depth and width.
The conversation navigates hazardous chemical handling, underscoring strict regulations and meticulous waste management protocols in place to ensure environmental safety.
Looking to the future, Aurelia paints a dynamic landscape. Complexity in design is on the rise, facilitated by etching's versatility. Larger plates and factory automation offer glimpses into the efficiency enhancements to come. As the green energy movement advances, the demand for these meticulously crafted bipolar plates, integral to fuel cells, is set to soar.
Interview partner and company: Aurelia Montoya (Elcon Precision)
Products shown:
Etched Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates: hyfindr.com/marketplace/compo...
Product Category: Fuel Cell Plates - hyfindr.com/product-category/...
Store: hyfindr.com/store/elcon-preci...
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We are adressing in this tech talk the following topics: chemical etching, metal etching with ferric chloride, bipolar plate etching, digital imaging for etching, steps of chemical etching for bipolar pates, advantages of etching, hydrogen technology,