Bipolar plates Introduction

This section is devoted to a brief description of the main comptments of DAFC as an introduction to the most exhaustive analysis in Chaps. 2, 3,4, and 5 for electrocatalysts for methanol, ethanol, and higher alcohols, in Chap. 6 for proton exchange and alkaline membranes, and Chap. 7 for carbonous materials used as catalysts support, gas diffusion layers and bipolar plates. 

Hdi Wang and John A. Turner Introduction 361 Metallic Bipolar Plates 363 Bare Metallic Bipolar Plates 363 Light Alloys 366... 

Degradation mechanisms of the polymeric matrices and the contamination effects due to migration of additives coming from the plastics into the fuel cell environment are significant concerns for the choice of bipolar plate materials. For a deeper understanding of the relevant processes a brief introduction of the chemical and physical nature of polymers is necessary. 

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