Study on the Composites of Phenol Formaldehyde Resin/Graphite Reinforced by Milled Carbon Fibers for Bipolar Plates

Composites of phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin/graphite reinforced by milled carbon fibers (MCFs) for bipolar plates are obtained by hot compression molding. The raw materials of the MCF particles, PF resin powder and graphite powder are simply dry powder ball milled and mixed. The effects of PF resin content and the content, granularity and surface treatment methods, such as air oxidation and Fenton/ultraviolet (UV) liquid-phase oxidation of MCFs on the electrical conductivity and flexural strength of the composites are measured by methods of four-point probe technique and three point flexural test, and the fracture patterns of the composites are analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicate that the electrical conductivity decreases and flexural strength increases with the increase of PF resin content. Especially, the values of electrical conductivity and flexural strength can reach 165.28 S.cm(-1) and 55.11MPa respectively when the PF resin content was 17% in weight. The properties of composites reinforced by air oxidation treated MCFs are better than those by liquid-phase oxidation treated one. The electrical conductivity and flexural strength of the composites are 208.12S.cm(-1) and 57.44 MPa when they reinforced by 5% MCFs which treated by air oxidation at 450 degrees C. Compared with the nonreinfoced composites, the properties of reinforced composites increase 25.92% in electrical conductivity and 4.23% in flexural strength.