Metallic separator for fuel cell and method for anti-corrosion treatment of the same

• Main Author: KIM TAE-YOUNG,KIM KYOO-YOUNG,PARK JUNG-OCK,YOO DUCK-YOUNG
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.10.2007
• Subjects: APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; CHEMISTRY; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATIONOR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY IONIMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; ELECTRICITY; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION INGENERAL; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; METALLURGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROCESSES FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TOSURFACES, IN GENERAL; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THESURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; TRANSPORTING

The present invention provides a separator for a fuel cell that comprises a metal substrate that contains at least one metal element M and a surface layer formed on a surface of the metal substrate and that contains at least one conductive oxide represented by LaMxO3 (wherein x=0 to 1). Also, the present invention provides a method for anti-corrosion treatment of a metallic separator for a fuel cell. The method involves first forming an La layer on a surface of a metal substrate having a desired dimension and a desired flow field formed therein. Next, the metal substrate having the La layer on its surface is heated such that at least one metal component contained in the metal substrate is diffused into the La layer and an La component in the La layer is diffused into the metal substrate to form a mixed layer composed of La and the at least one metal component on the surface of the metal substrate. Finally, the mixed layer is heated under an oxidizing atmosphere to form a layer composed of oxides containing La and the at least one metal component on the surface of the metal substrate.