Key Parameters in Hollow Embossing Rolling of Metallic Bipolar Plates

Hollow embossing rolling (HER) is an innovative process in which two oppositely embossed rollers continuously form strip metal into a variety of complex three-dimensional shaped goods. This new rolling technology enables the time- and cost enhanced manufacture of bipolar half-plates for fuel cells and electrolyzers, and it can potentially be used for producing components of HVAC appliances or of consumer electronic devices. While first, predominantly simulation-based,
improvements of HER have been achieved, it lacks an experimental investigation of the process’s key parameters. Here, these key parameters are identified, and the importance of the interaction effects in HER is shown.