The production study of bipolar plate from cuprumcarbon nanocomposite in polypropylene matrix (PP) for the fuel cell application

This research is to get the parameter correlation in synthesis, micro/nano structure processes, and the candidate performance of inorganic-organic nanocomposite from the cuprum and carbon nano particles in polypropylene matrix. Besides, it also aims to get the optimal composition and evenly spread disparity/distribution from the cuprum and carbon particles in polypropylene matrix. To achieve the goals, it is conducted by two processes. The first stage includes the nanocomposite candidate fabrication with the increase of cuprum nanoparticle (0; 0, 5; 1; 1, 5; and 2 wt%)in polypropylene matrix. This cuprum nanocomposite candidate is characterized by the UV-Spectroscopy test, electrical conductivity test, the melt flow rate (MFR) test, the scanning electron microscope test (SEM), and thermal gravity analysis (TGA) test. And the second stage includes the cuprum and carbon nanocomposite candidate fabrication (5; 10; 15; and 20 wt%) with the wet chemical technique. From the research, it can be known that the cuprum nanocomposite (PP-Cu), the optimal composition is achieved in the level of nanocuprum inorganic fulfilment of 2 wt%, which it has the electrical conductivity of 9,306 x 10^-9 S/cm with the lowest band gap energy value of 3.78 eV and the highest critical temperature of 3380C also the increase of MFR value reaches 91.09 g/10 minute. Then, for the cuprum and carbon nanocomposite resulted in the second stage, the optimal composition is achieved at 20 w% of black carbon, has electrical conductivity of 5,590 x 10^-8 S/cm with the flexural modulus of 1650 MPA and also the melt flow rate (MFR) value of 16.75 g/10 minute which meet the requirement for the missal production by the moulding injection tools.