IP Library Granted Patent US 7,297,445
Granted Patent B2
US 7,297,445 · App. 10/651,953 · Granted Nov 20, 2007

Porous carbon electrode substrate and its production method and carbon fiber paper

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,297,445
App. No.
10/651,953
Granted
Nov 20, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides carbon fiber paper consisting of an organic high-molecular compound as a binder and carbon fibers, characterized in that the carbon fibers contain thin fibers with an average diameter smaller than 5 μm and an average fiber length of 3 to 10 mm; a porous carbon electrode substrate for a fuel cell having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 mm and a bulk density of 0.3 to 0.8 g/cm 3 , also having a bending strength of 10 MPa or higher and a deflection of 1.5 mm or more at the time of bending, measured by a three-point bending test in conditions of using a sample width of 1 cm, a strain rate of 10 mm/min, and a distance between supporting points of 2 cm; and a method of producing a porous carbon electrode substrate for a fuel cell by impregnating the carbon fiber paper with a thermosetting resin, curing the thermosetting resin by heating and pressing treatment, and then carbonizing the paper.

Claims (5)

1. A porous carbon electrode substrate for a fuel cell having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 mm and a bulk density of 0.3 to 0.8 g/cm 3 , and also having a bending strength of 40 MPa or higher and a deflection of 1.5 mm or more at the time of bending, measured by a three-point bending test in conditions of using a sample width of 1 cm, a strain rate of 10 mm/min and a distance between supporting points of 2 cm.

2. The porous carbon electrode substrate for a fuel cell as claimed in claim 1 , characterized by having a length of 1 m or larger and being able to be rolled around a roll with an outer diameter of 50 cm or smaller.

3. The porous carbon electrode substrate for a fuel cell as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , characterized by containing carbon fibers which are only of polyacrylonitrile type carbon fibers.

4. The porous carbon electrode substrate for a fuel cell as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2 , characterized by containing carbon fibers which are a mixture of thin fibers with an average diameter larger than 3 μm and smaller than 5 μm and an average fiber length of 3 to 10 mm and thick fibers with an average diameter not smaller than 5 μm and smaller than 9 μm and an average fiber length of 3 to 10 mm.

5. The porous carbon electrode substrate for a fuel cell as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2 , characterized by containing carbon fibers which contain not less than 40% by mass of thin fibers with an average diameter larger than 3 μm and smaller than 5 μm and an average fiber length of 3 to 10 mm in the carbon fibers.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 5, 2017
From: MITSUBISHI RAYON CO., LTD.
To: MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043750/0834 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 2, 2003
From: NAKAMURA, MAKOTO; HOSAKO, YOSHIHIKO; OHASHI, HIDEHIKO; HAMADA, MITSUO; MIHARA, KAZUSHIGE
To: MITSUBISHI RAYON CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 014454/0465 →