Bipolar plates

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What are bipolar plates for fuel cells?

Fuel cells are produced by stacking precise and intricate bipolar plates machined with complex channels which enable liquid and gases to flow.

Traditional bipolar plate machining

Whilst CNC machining, stamping and hydroforming can be used to produce these channels, traditional metalworking has limitations, such as compromising planarity (flatness) and introducing stresses and burrs.

Single-point machining processes and presswork tooling can also be slow and uneconomical to produce.

Chemical etching bipolar plates

We offer a market-leading bipolar plate chemical etching service, working in collaboration with leading alternative energy providers in developing etched bipolar plates for fuel cell stacks.

Benefit from complexity at no added cost

Our chemical etching process removes metal simultaneously, meaning complex channels or flow fields can be etched on both sides of the plate at the same time.

This versatility enables designers to vary the size and shape of channels and incorporate headers, collectors and port features without additional cost.

Digital tooling, which is low-cost and quick to produce, can be adapted easily and inexpensively to optimise designs.

Burr-free, stress-free and flat

Unlike CNC machining, stamping and hydroforming, chemical etching imparts no mechanical or thermal stress on the plates which can compromise stack bonding.

Materials

Typically etched from 316 stainless steel, we also supply etched bipolar plates from a wide range of metals, including titanium for lighter-weight and corrosion resistance.

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