Patent US4989203A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3943006A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3943006A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of making a fuel cell electrode
Assignee: Fuelcell Energy Inc
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Filing: 1974-10-01
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Granted: 1976-03-09
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Expires: 1994-10-01
Abstract
Abstract Electrode structures for fuel cells are made by blending noble metal black, dry polytetrafluoroethylene and a soluble bulking agent in a liquid, filtering liquid from the blend and rolling the remnant to form a sheet of fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene containing noble metal black and bulking agent. The bulking agent may be leached from the sheet and the sheet then pressed or the sheet may be first pressed and the bulking agent then leached from the sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard Baker
- 👤 Martin Klein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/86; H01M4/88; H01M4/8875; H01M4/8663; H01M4/8668; H01M4/8825; H01M4/8828; H01M4/8878; H01M4/8882; H01M4/8803; H01M4/8807; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for use in producing electrode structure for fuel cells comprising the steps of: a. blending particles of noble metal black, particles of dry polytetrafluoroethylene and particles of a soluble bulking agent in a liquid in which said bulking agent is insoluble, said polytetrafluoroethylene constituting at least 10 percent of the combined weight of said noble metal black and said polytetrafluoroethylene; b. filtering liquid from said blend to form a filtered mixture; c. subjecting said filtered mixture to rolling forces to form a sheet of fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene containing noble metal black and bulking agent; and d. removing the remainder of said liquid from said sheet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for use in producing electrode structure for fuel cells comprising the steps of: a. blending particles of noble metal black, particles of dry polytetrafluoroethylene and particles of a soluble bulking agent in a liquid in which said bulking agent is insoluble, said polytetrafluoroethylene constituting at least 10 percent of the combined weight of said noble metal black and said polytetrafluoroethylene; b. filtering liquid from said blend to form a filtered mixture; c. subjecting said filtered mixture to rolling forces to form a sheet of fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene containing noble metal black and bulking agent; and d. removing the remainder of said liquid from said sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method claimed in claim 1 including the further steps of: e. applying to said sheet a solvent in which said bulking agent is soluble, thereby leaching said bulking agent from said sheet thereby providing a sheet of fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene containing noble metal black; and then f. subjecting opposed sides of said leached sheet to pressing forces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method claimed in claim 2 including the terminal steps of placing such pressed sheet on a substrate, then further pressing said sheet and subjecting said sheet to temperature above the sintering temperature of said polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method claimed in claim 1 including the further steps of: e. pressing such rolled sheet onto a substrate; and then f. applying to said sheet a solvent in which said bulking agent is soluble, thereby leaching said bulking agent from said sheet thereby providing on said substrate a sheet of fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene containing noble metal black.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method claimed in claim 4 including the terminal steps of further pressing said sheet on said substrate and subjecting said sheet to temperature above the sintering temperature of said polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method claimed in claim 1 including the further steps of: e. applying such rolled sheet to a substrate comprised of graphite and polytetrafluoroethylene; and then f. applying to said sheet a solvent in which said bulking agent is soluble, thereby leaching said bulking agent from said sheet thereby providing on said substrate a sheet of fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene containing noble metal black.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method claimed in claim 6 including the terminal steps of further pressing said sheet on said substrate and subjecting said sheet to temperature above the sintering temperature of said polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said noble metal black is platinum black.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method claimed in claim 8 wherein said liquid is mineral spirits.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method claimed in claim 2 wherein said bulking agent is fine sugar and wherein said solvent is water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method claimed in claim 2 wherein said bulking agent is zine oxide and wherein said solvent is sulfuric acid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-09 | 1979-09-08 | 1980-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-09 | 1983-09-08 | 1984-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-09 | 1987-09-08 | 1988-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |