Joining
Laser welding is commonly used to join the metal bipolar plates of fuel cells that joins the coolant side surface of the cathode and the anode separators. However, the weld seams on the surface of metal sheets are very likely to be corrosive after long-term operation of the fuel cell stack. In contrast, APT has developed the soft joining technology using EPDM to join the metal anode separator and the cathode separator. It has the advantages of low equipment cost, no damage to materials, and good adhesive performance. It is suitable for long-running vehicle fuel cell stacks.
| Item | Hard Joining | Soft Joining |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | Laser Welder | Dispenser |
| Material | Non | Silicon Rubber |
| Pros | Process speed is fast No need joining material |
Low equipment cost Good joining quality Will not damage the metal separator |
| Cons | Since surface material of the metal sheet is melted by laser, there is a risk of corrosion at the welded seam in long-term operation. High equipment cost |
Process speed is slow Need additional joining material |
