Electrophoresis deposition Arabic gum effect on aluminium 5052 reduce corrosion

Abstract

Bipolar plates are one of the main components of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). Aluminum alloy (Al5052) is one of the metals used as a bipolar plate because it has a high conductivity, light weight. However, the acidic PEMFC system (pH3-6) is easy for Al5052 ingredients to experience corrosion so as to reduce PEMFC achievement. Therefore, in order to reduce the prevailing sidewalks, this study used a green Arabic gum inhibitor with an electrophoresis deposition (EPD). The impression of a 0.5 gL-1 Arabic gum-coated Al5052 plate sidewalk in the sulphuric acid solution was tested using an electrochemical method and a morphological test. The surface morphology of Al5052 coated with Arabic gum appeared to be smoother and homogeneous compared to uncoated surface and the cross section of the coating thickness was between 7.5 μm and 8.8 μm. Effect of temperature increase (30°C-90°C) on the interfacial contact resistance (ICR) value of the uncoated Al5052 will decrease from 11.8552 to 9.9042 mO cm2 where the Arabic gum coated has a value of 13,3497 to 11,812 mO cm2. The results showed that Arabic gum can provide protection against metal surfaces where the test using linear tafel polarization technique in 0.5 M H2SO4 (pH4) solution with corrosion current value (Icorr) decreased from 0.00264 to 0.00012 μA cm-2. Despite that, the corrosion rate reduced from 3.06 × 10-5 mpy to 1.61 × 10-6 mpy as being coted with Arabic gum. It can be concluded that Arabic gum and coating techniques with EPD can be used to reduce corrosion on the Al5052 plate, therefore, the life span of this material is longer and may reach the targets set by the DOE for bipolar plates.