Effects of low-temperature nitridation on the electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance of 446M stainless steel as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Low-temperature nitridation was used to form a protective and conductive layer on stainless steel. The surface characterization reveals that a continuous and protective Cr-nitride/oxide layer (CrN and Cr2O3) forms on the 446M stainless steel surface after low-temperature nitridation. The electrical conductivity of the sample is investigated in terms of the interfacial contact resistance. This value for nitrided 446M at low temperature is 6 mΩ cm2, which is much lower than that of the bare 446M stainless steel (about 77 mΩ cm2) at a compaction force of 140 N/cm2. The corrosion resistance of low-temperature nitrided 446M stainless steel is examined in potentiodynamic and potentiostatic tests under simulated polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) conditions with pH 3 H2SO4 at 80 °C. In a simulated anode condition, the current density is −1 × 10−6 A/cm2. In a simulated cathode condition, the current density is 1 × 10−7 A/cm2. Low-temperature nitrided 446M stainless steel shows superior electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance than bare 446M stainless steel.