Conductive composite material, especially for fuel cell bipolar plate

摘要

An electrically and thermally conductive composite material comprises a homogeneous physical mixture of greater than micron size non-conductive sinterable grains or granules and sub-micron or micron size conductive particles in the form of a monolayer joined to each grain or granule surface. Preferably, the non-conductive sinterable material is a glass or an organic polymer, preferably a polymer or copolymer of a 1-4C alkene or of a vinyl compound. Also claimed are: (i) a sintered conductive composite material obtained by sintering the above conductive composite material; (ii) a sintered part of the above conductive composite material; (iii) a bipolar plate of the above conductive composite material in sintered form; and (iv) a fuel cell containing the above bipolar plate. Further claimed is a process for preparing a sintered part of the above conductive composite material by moulding and sintering a homogeneous mixture of the grains or granules and the conductive particles.