Method of controlling thickness of form-in-place sealing for PEM fuel cell stacks

摘要

A sealed assembly is made using sealant including a deformable spacer to control thickness without adversely impacting elasticity and sealing force. Deformable spacers (e.g., elastomer, polyolefin, etc.) are mixed with an elastomeric precursor material and dispensed onto an assembly component, such as a fuel cell bipolar plate, and the remaining component(s) are assembled by pressing against the deformable spacer to ensure a defined seal thickness. The precursor is cured to form a seal that is further compressed to provide an effective sealing force. The deformable spacers control the thickness of a sealed area and allow use of form-in-place sealing processes.

主权项

1. A method of sealing an assembly comprising a first component and second component, the method comprising:
applying a sealant to one of the first component and the second component, the sealant comprising a precursor material and a deformable spacer, wherein the deformable spacer comprises a second resilient material and the second resilient material comprises a silicone elastomer; contacting the sealant with the other of the first component and the second component; compressing the sealant between the first component and the second component, wherein a first dimension of the deformable spacer defines a distance between the first component and the second component; and curing the precursor material to form a seal comprising a first resilient material and the deformable spacer.