SHEET STAINLESS STEEL FOR SEPARATORS IN SOLID POLYMER FUEL CELLS, AND SOLID POLYMER FUEL CELLS USING THE SAME

摘要

Provided is stainless steel material for separators in solid polymer fuel cells which gives outstanding cell properties with little deterioration in performance during long-term operation, without any loss of corrosion resistance of the stainless steel separators. The stainless steel material is provided with a stainless steel matrix material and both a passive coating film on the surface of this stainless steel matrix material and an electrically conductive precipitate. The electrically conductive precipitate penetrates the passive coating film and includes material originating from the stainless steel matrix material. There is an electrically conductive layer comprising a non-metallic electrically conductive material on the surface of the passive coating film, and this electrically conductive layer is preferably electrically connected to the stainless steel matrix material with the electrically conductive precipitate interposed.