RT - Journal Article T1 - Investigation of lubricant effect on depth filling of metallic bipolar plates with concave and convex patterns in rubber pad forming process JF - mdrsjrns YR - 2016 JO - mdrsjrns VO - 15 IS - 12 UR - http://mme.modares.ac.ir/article-15-10538-en.html SP - 450 EP - 460 K1 - Rubber Pad forming K1 - Solid and oil Lubricant K1 - Depth filling K1 - Thickness distribution of metallic bipolar AB - Rubber pad forming is a practical and low-cost method of producing metal bi-polar plates with complicated multi- array contours since it only needs a rigid die and a flexible rubber. In this study, 316 stainless steel sheets with the thickness of 0.1 mm were used. To form the plates, a polyurethane rubber was used with the hardness shore of A 85 with the thickness of 25 mm. In order to increase the depth of the channel flow and form filling plates with a high depth-to-width ratio, firstly, the effects of lubricants on shaping metal plates were ignored. Subsequently, by implementing lubricants, their effects on achieving a higher filling depth and a more uniform thickness distribution were investigated. The results showed that in rubber pad forming process, lubricants could be used to further enhance the depth of filling and have a uniform thickness distribution in the channels of generated plates. Moreover, among available lubricants, polypropylene nylon will be the best alternative for the production of bipolar plates due to its high tensile strength and low thickness. LA eng UL http://mme.modares.ac.ir/article-15-10538-en.html M3 ER -