Gas Diffusion Substrate
First Claim
1. A gas diffusion substrate comprisinga non-woven network of carbon fibres wherein the carbon fibres are graphitised but the non-woven network has not been subjected to a graphitisation process;
- anda mixture of graphitic particles and hydrophobic polymer disposed within the network, wherein the longest dimension of at least 90% of the graphitic particles is less than 100 μ
m.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gas diffusion substrate includes a non-woven network of carbon fibres, the carbon fibres are graphitised but the non-woven network has not been subjected to a graphitisation process. A mixture of graphitic particles and hydrophobic polymer is disposed within the network. The longest dimension of at least 90% of the graphitic particles is less than 100 μm. A process for manufacturing gas diffusion substrates includes depositing a slurry of graphitised carbon fibres onto a porous bed forming a wet fibre network, preparing a suspension of graphitic particles and hydrophobic polymer, applying onto, and pulling the suspension into, the network, and drying and firing the network. Another process includes mixing a first slurry of graphitic particles and hydrophobic polymer with a second slurry of graphitised carbon fibres and liquid forming a third slurry, depositing the third slurry onto a porous bed forming a fibre-containing layer, and drying and firing the layer.
70 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A gas diffusion substrate comprising
a non-woven network of carbon fibres wherein the carbon fibres are graphitised but the non-woven network has not been subjected to a graphitisation process; - and
a mixture of graphitic particles and hydrophobic polymer disposed within the network, wherein the longest dimension of at least 90% of the graphitic particles is less than 100 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- and
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15. A process for preparing a gas diffusion comprising the steps of:
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a) depositing a slurry of graphitised carbon fibres onto a porous bed to form a wet fibre network; b) preparing a suspension of graphitic particles and hydrophobic polymer, wherein the longest dimension of at least 90% of the graphitic particles is less than 100 μ
m;c) applying the suspension onto the wet fibre network; d) pulling the suspension into the wet fibre network; and e) drying and firing the wet fibre network at a temperature that does not exceed 1000°
C. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 19, 20)
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18. A process for preparing a gas diffusion substrate comprising the steps of:
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a) mixing graphitic particles, wherein the longest dimension of at least 90% of the graphitic particles is less than 100 μ
m, with a suspension of hydrophobic polymer to form a first slurry;b) mixing graphitised carbon fibres and a liquid to form a second slurry; c) mixing the first slurry with the second slurry to form a third slurry; d) depositing the third slurry onto a porous bed to form a fibre-containing layer; and e) drying and firing the fibre-containing layer at a temperature that does not exceed 1000°
C. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification