Applying a seal to a fuel cell component

1. A method of applying a seal to a fuel cell component, comprising:

positioning a release layer in direct contact with top and side surfaces of the seal and in direct contact with a surface of the fuel cell component, the release layer including reinforcing fibers;

placing a bottom of the seal against a selected portion of the fuel cell component;

securing the seal to the fuel cell component by heating the fuel cell component, the seal, and the release layer, the securing including constraining exposed surfaces of the top and side surfaces of the seal with the release layer and the reinforcing fibers; and

removing the release layer after the securing.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

positioning the fuel cell component against a first side of a fixture; and

positioning a second side of the fixture that is opposite to the first side against the release layer; and

maintaining the seal against the selected portion of the fuel cell component during the heating, the seal being separated from the fixture by the release layer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the release layer comprises a polymer and the reinforcing fibers.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the polymer comprises polytetraflouroethylene.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell component has a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the reinforcing fibers have a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is approximately equal the first coefficient of thermal expansion.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the seal has a third coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the fuel cell component comprises a carbon plate, the seal comprises an elastomer material, and the reinforcing fibers comprise glass.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing fibers are continuous along the release layer.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected portion of the fuel cell component comprises a groove, the seal is received at least partially within the groove and the release layer covers over any of the seal that is outside of the groove.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a thermoplastic bond film on the bottom of the seal; and

melting the thermoplastic bond film during the heating.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the seal in a location partially within a groove of the selected portion of the fuel cell component with the release layer during the securing.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein constraining includes encapsulating the seal with the release layer, the reinforcing fibers, and the selected portion of the fuel cell component during the securing.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising completely enclosing the seal with the release layer, the reinforcing fibers, and the selected portion of the fuel cell component during the securing.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

placing the bottom of the seal against the selected portion of the fuel cell component includes placing the bottom of the seal within a groove in the fuel cell component such that the top of the seal and portions of a first side of the seal and a second side of the seal are outside of the groove; and

positioning the release layer in direct contact with the top and side surfaces of the seal includes covering the top of the seal and the portions of the first side of the seal and the second side of the seal with the release layer and the reinforcing fibers.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the release layer in contact with the fuel cell component beside the seal.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the release layer in direct contact with the top and side surfaces of the seal and placing the bottom of the seal against the selected portion of the fuel cell component includes positioning the release layer to abut the fuel cell component.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a thermoplastic bond film between the bottom of the seal and the selected portion of the fuel cell component, and positioning the release layer to abut the fuel cell component and the thermoplastic bond film.

18. A method comprising:

positioning a release layer including reinforcing fibers over a seal;

positioning the seal on a fuel cell plate;

bonding the seal to the fuel cell plate by applying heat to the seal, the release layer being in direct contact with top and side surfaces of the seal and in direct contact with a surface of the fuel cell plate during the bonding;

constraining expansion of the seal and movement of the seal with respect to the fuel cell plate with the release layer during the bonding; and

removing the release layer and reinforcing fibers from the seal and the fuel cell plate.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the fuel cell plate includes a carbon fuel cell plate, the seal comprises an elastomeric seal, and the reinforcing fibers comprise glass reinforcing fibers.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising positioning a thermoplastic bond film between the seal and the fuel cell plate and positioning the release layer to abut the thermoplastic bond film.