Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-00401, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Vlachopoulos, John (McMaster University), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Ontario, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Grants for Universities, program name french : Subventions d'engagement partenarial pour les universités, program purpose english : Hydrogenics, a Canadian producer of hydrogen fuel cells, is looking to produce thinner and more defined_x000D_
bipolar plates which will result in the production of more efficient fuel cells used for low density energy_x000D_
storage produced by renewable resources such as wind and solar. The current technology and materials used to_x000D_
manufacture the plates does not allow for the desired thickness or structure. As such it is necessary to develop a_x000D_
material that can be readily shaped while also allowing for fine definition of the plate structure and not add a_x000D_
significant increase in cost, or loss of conductivity. Thus, the development of such a material presents many_x000D_
major technical challenges related to energy density, contact resistance, strength and formability to be solved; a_x000D_
portion of these challenges will be examined through this project. The main challenge handled in this study is_x000D_
the high level yet not completely uniform dispersion of carbon filler for conductivity in a highly viscous_x000D_
polymer matrix required to develop the required material. Conductivity requires pathways produced by_x000D_
aggregated 'chains' of fillers through the thickness of the part that are uniformly spread out in-plane. This_x000D_
requires an atypical level of mixing control, complicated by the very high viscosity of the system. An_x000D_
understanding of polymer chemistry, interfacial science, and polymer processing is required to systematically_x000D_
overcome these challenges._x000D_
The goal of this six-month project is to develop examples of the desired material for Hydrogenics, for the_x000D_
production of highly conductive, lightweight bipolar plates. The goal will be met through a systematic study of_x000D_
filler to polymer ratio, looking at different fillers and compatibilizing additives. The resulting blend will_x000D_
increase the economics of fuel cell production typically used for low density energy storage increasing the_x000D_
efficiency of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar., program purpose french : Hydrogenics, a Canadian producer of hydrogen fuel cells, is looking to produce thinner and more defined_x000D_
bipolar plates which will result in the production of more efficient fuel cells used for low density energy_x000D_
storage produced by renewable resources such as wind and solar. The current technology and materials used to_x000D_
manufacture the plates does not allow for the desired thickness or structure. As such it is necessary to develop a_x000D_
material that can be readily shaped while also allowing for fine definition of the plate structure and not add a_x000D_
significant increase in cost, or loss of conductivity. Thus, the development of such a material presents many_x000D_
major technical challenges related to energy density, contact resistance, strength and formability to be solved; a_x000D_
portion of these challenges will be examined through this project. The main challenge handled in this study is_x000D_
the high level yet not completely uniform dispersion of carbon filler for conductivity in a highly viscous_x000D_
polymer matrix required to develop the required material. Conductivity requires pathways produced by_x000D_
aggregated 'chains' of fillers through the thickness of the part that are uniformly spread out in-plane. This_x000D_
requires an atypical level of mixing control, complicated by the very high viscosity of the system. An_x000D_
understanding of polymer chemistry, interfacial science, and polymer processing is required to systematically_x000D_
overcome these challenges._x000D_
The goal of this six-month project is to develop examples of the desired material for Hydrogenics, for the_x000D_
production of highly conductive, lightweight bipolar plates. The goal will be met through a systematic study of_x000D_
filler to polymer ratio, looking at different fillers and compatibilizing additives. The resulting blend will_x000D_
increase the economics of fuel cell production typically used for low density energy storage increasing the_x000D_
efficiency of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar., agreement title english : The Role of Co-Rotating Twin Screw Extruder In Manufacturing of Conductive Thermoplastic Composites for the Sustainable Energy Sector, agreement title french : The Role of Co-Rotating Twin Screw Extruder In Manufacturing of Conductive Thermoplastic Composites for the Sustainable Energy Sector, agreement number : EGP, agreement value : 25000.0, agreement start date : 2017-06-14, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2018-2019), additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2018-2019), owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada