Separator assembly for fuel cell and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A separator assembly for a fuel cell having an anode separator, a cathode separator, a cooling surface frame, and a gasket. In particular, the cooling surface frame is integrally bonded between peripheral portions of the anode separator and the cathode separator. Additionally, the gasket encloses the peripheral portions of the anode separator and the cathode separator between which the cooling surface frame is interposed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A separator assembly for a fuel cell, comprising:
 an anode separator;   a cathode separator;   a cooling surface frame integrally bonded between peripheral portions of the anode separator and the cathode separator; and   a gasket enclosing the peripheral portions of the anode separator and the cathode separator between which the cooling surface frame is interposed.   
     
     
         2 . The separator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling surface frame is formed of a polymer resin, the polymer resin is one selected from the group consisting of polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), and liquid crystal polymer (LCP). 
     
     
         3 . The separator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the anode separator and the cathode separator are respectively metal separators formed as thin plates. 
     
     
         4 . A method of manufacturing a separator assembly for a fuel cell, the method comprising:
 injection-molding a cooling surface frame at a peripheral portion of an inner surface of an anode separator or a cathode separator;   stacking another separator on a cooling surface frame;   bonding the anode separator or the cathode separator; and   injection-molding a gasket enclosing peripheral portions of outer surfaces of the anode separator and the cathode separator at the same time.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the gasket is bonded to the peripheral portions of the outer surfaces of the anode separator and the cathode separator at the same time as when the gasket is injection-molded. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein an adhesive is applied to a peripheral portion of an inner surface of a separator in which a cooling surface frame is not formed yet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the cooling surface frame is formed of a polymer resin, the polymer resin is one selected from the group consisting of polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), and liquid crystal polymer (LCP). 
     
     
         8 . The separator assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the anode separator and the cathode separator are respectively metal separators formed as thin plates.