Method for Producing Components and Components Produced in Accordance with Said Method

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This patent describes an efficient, roll-to-roll method for producing metal components, particularly bipolar plates used in energy systems such as fuel cells and electrolyzers. The method involves unwinding thin metal sheets, coating them with specialized protective and conductive layers (using vapor deposition techniques), deforming them into shape, and then cutting them into finished parts. The resulting components have improved electrical conductivity, high corrosion resistance, and durability, especially for applications in harsh electrochemical environments.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Manufacturing of bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells
• Production of metal components for water electrolyzers used in hydrogen generation
• Mass production of thin, corrosion-resistant metal parts for other electrochemical systems
• Automated, high-throughput processing of coated metal sheets for automotive or stationary energy storage applications

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables cost-effective, automated mass production of high-performance energy system components
• Provides excellent corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity, enhancing component lifespan
• Reduces component thickness and weight, improving the efficiency and compactness of fuel cells and electrolyzers
• Improves process efficiency and material utilization with a continuous, roll-to-roll approach
• Ensures that coatings remain durable and effective even after subsequent metal forming and cutting processes

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing components, in particular components for energy systems such as fuel cells or electrolyzers, having the following successive steps: a) providing a first roll of metal sheet with a material thickness of the metal sheet of less than 500 µm; b) unwinding the metal sheet from the first roll by virtue of a first end of the first roll being transported in a feed direction; c) transporting the first end of the first roll and following metal sheet regions through at least one coating installation in which the metal sheet is coated at least on one side by means of a physical and/or chemical vapor deposition process; d) performing at least one deformation process on the coated metal sheet; e) forming a multiplicity of components by severing from the coated metal sheet; f) winding up the coated remaining metal sheet to form a second roll, wherein continuous transport of the metal sheet from the first roll to the second roll is performed. The invention furthermore relates to a bipolar plate and to a fuel cell and an electrolyzer.