Patent ID: 8089027
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: B23K,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of making a fuel cell stack having at least two metallic members that are attached together, each of the metallic members having opposite major surfaces separated by a peripheral edge and at least one of the metallic members having an electrically conductive coating thereon, the method comprising: (a) positioning a first one of the metallic members adjacent a second one of the metallic members with one of said major surfaces of each of said metallic members facing one another, said first metallic member having a first electrically conductive coating thereon; (b) melting adjacent intermediate portions of said major surfaces of each of said adjacent metallic members and contemporaneously removing a portion of said first electrically conductive coating proximate to said melting portions of said adjacent metallic members, thereby resulting in at least one area on at least one of the major surfaces of said first metallic member where previously present first electrically-conductive coating has been removed, said intermediate portions being disposed between the associated peripheral edge; and (c) solidifying said melted portions of said adjacent metallic members thereby forming a fusion bond through said intermediate portions of said adjacent metallic members.