Disturbance factors in a one impression gravure printing process for the production of PEM fuel cell electrodes

Alternative technologies for a fast and sufficient production of carbon based electrodes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells are under research to follow the future demand of fuel cells for different applications. The main drives for this trend are governmental programs for the automotive industry. Printing technology has advantages for the continuous production of active electrodes caused by good patterning possibilities and high efficiency. This publication presents an adapted roll-to-roll gravure printing process. Due to the adaptation of the applied gravure structures disturbance factors are searched to quantify their influence on the production process. The influence of doctor-blade abrasion, nip pressure and ink drying within the gravure cylinder are evaluated with printing tests and following optical analysis according to amount and size of defects (pinholes) and layer thicknesses.