Patent ID: 8003279

Claim:
An electrically conductive element comprising: an electrically conductive corrosion susceptible metal substrate comprising stainless steel having a contact resistance of less than or equal to about 10 mΩ-cm 2 under a compressive force of about 2700 kPa, and an electrically conductive corrosion resistant coating comprising a polymeric matrix including an organic polymer and a mixture of graphite and carbon particles, said coating directly overlying one or more regions of a surface of said metal substrate, wherein said surface comprises an activated area free of metal oxides, and said surface directly overlaid with said electrically conductive corrosion resistant coating has a total contact resistance of less than about 30 mΩ-cm 2 at a pressure of about 2700 kPa wherein said electrically conductive corrosion resistant coating has a thickness of less than about 30 μm, and wherein said electrically conductive metal substrate forms a bipolar plate configured as part of an electrochemical cell.