Tanking up with water

Fuel cells are a key 21st century technology. This energy source of the future is already being tested in cell phones, laptops and building automation. The automotive industry, too, is very far advanced in the development of this new energy source, with numerous prototypes.

Nearly all major automotive manufacturers are working flat out to realize the dream of a zero-emission car. Prototypes of fuel cell-powered cars are finally on the road. But before the eco-friendly drive power of the future can be used commercially, three fundamental problems have to be solved: price and weight continue to be too high and service life too short.

Ticona engineering polymers open the way to serial production

In the face of this challenge, development engineers have not been idle. In future, it will be possible to produce large parts of a fuel cell from high-performance polymers instead of metal. In bipolar plates, these polymers are replacing gold-coated stainless steel, aluminum, graphite and thermoset/graphite blends. This saves money and weight. Plastics also offer the advantage of making fuel cells more efficient long-term. Vectra® LCP and Fortron® PPS, for example, can resist the aggressive media acting on fuel cells without any problem. They are also corrosion-resistant and remain dimensionally stable, even at temperatures of up to 240°C. For so-called peripheral components, too, the use of high-tech polymers, such as Hostaform® POM, pays off. After all, pumps, compressors and units that supply fuel cells with the necessary operating materials must also withstand aggressive substances.

Hydrogen is the solution to the eco-friendly energy revolution

The only energy source that fuel cells need is hydrogen, an element that, unlike oil, is in plentiful supply. Another advantage of this eco-friendly “fuel” is that it does not form carbon dioxide during conversion into electricity – in contrast to the 750 million or so cars that pollute the environment every day with their internal combustion engines. This development gives hope that we may all be able to breathe more freely again in the future.