Contamination on bipolar plates impairs the efficiency and service life of the plates, making cleaning a must. The parts2clean trade fair for industrial parts and surface cleaning will be showcasing processes and systems for cleaning bipolar plates in Stuttgart from October 7 to 9, 2025.
Stacks made from different materials
Bipolar plates connected in stacks form the heart of a fuel cell or electrolyser. The plates consist of an anode and a cathode with a proton-conducting foil in between. They are made from different materials, such as coated metal, graphite or graphite-polymer compounds. During production, particulate and filmic impurities such as burrs, chips, fibers, dust, oils, emulsions, smoke and oxides can settle on the plates. Any of these residues can later impair the quality of the bipolar plates, reduce their efficiency and service life or cause a defect.
Laser, steam and CO2 snow jet cleaning
The cleaning processes presented include wet-chemical cleaning with solvents and water-based media, laser, steam and CO2 snow jet cleaning as well as plasma cleaning and hydro-cleaning. These methods are used individually or in combination, depending on the material, the contamination to be cleaned and the cleaning requirements.
CO2 snow jet cleaning and high-pressure CO2 blasting
Dry CO2 snow jet cleaning with liquid carbon dioxide enables both the selective and full-area removal of sludge and oxides as well as chemical-film contaminants and particles within very short cycle times. High-pressure (HP) CO2 blasting, in which liquid carbon dioxide at a pressure of up to 4000 bar is used as the blasting medium, represents a promising solution.
Solutions from Ecoclean and SLCR
In addition to various cleaning systems in the form of chamber and immersion systems, Ecoclean offers the new EcoCvolta, a continuously operating system for cleaning bipolar plates. SLCR Lasertechnik has developed an innovative solution for fully automated surface structuring before coating and subsequent laser cleaning of bipolar plates.
Exhibitors offer information on processes
The exhibitors at parts2clean will inform visitors about these processes and systems as well as their advantages and limitations from October 7 to 9, 2025, parallel to Hy-Fcell at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre.