Patent ID: 8679697
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell stack, comprising: a pair of plates disposed in a stack, the plates comprising an anode manifold, a cathode manifold, and a coolant manifold; a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the pair of plates; and an extrusion based, microcellular polymeric foam subgasket disposed between the pair of plates, the subgasket comprising: an active region that is configured to frame the membrane electrode assembly; a feed region comprising a manifold portion that conforms to the anode manifold, the cathode manifold, and the coolant manifold of the pair of plates; at least one seal bead channel integrated into the polymeric foam and configured to receive and contain a seal bead material; and a cured seal bead disposed in the at least one seal bead channel, the seal bead formed by depositing a seal bead material into the channel before disposing the subgasket between the pair of plates, after disposing the subgasket between the pair of plates, or both, and curing the seal bead material.