Sheet jig and sheet manufacturing method

Abstract

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a jig for a sheet and a method for manufacturing a sheet, which can prevent contamination caused by peeling of an MPL sheet and can manufacture a sheet having a gas diffusion layer and an electrode catalyst layer with high precision. In order to solve the problem, this jig (10) for a sheet (60) is provided with: an SUS jig (40) which is a support member that supports, from one side in the thickness direction of the sheet (60), an end section (62) on the outside of a coating region (61) of the sheet (60); and a magnet (50) which is a fixing member that clamps and fixes the end portion (62) of the sheet (60) together with the SUS jig (40) from the other side in the thickness direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a jig for a sheet and a method for manufacturing a sheet. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a material constituting an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, a sheet-like catalyst-coated diffusion medium (Catalyst-Coated Diffusion Media, CCDM) has been used. For example, Patent Document 1 describes such a sheet-like catalyst-coated diffusion medium.

[0003] [Prior Art Documents]

[0004] (Patent Document)

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-101481 Summary of the Invention

[0006] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0007] That is, in the case of manufacturing a sheet-like catalyst-coated diffusion medium in a single piece, while a sheet (Gas Diffusion Layer, GDL) on which a gas diffusion layer is formed is mounted on a table coater, an electrode catalyst layer is formed by coating on the surface of the sheet (GDL).

[0008] The GDL is fixed to a porous ceramic jig by air suction using the porous ceramic jig and a bonding sheet. Therefore, when the sheet-like catalyst-coated diffusion medium having an electrode catalyst layer formed thereon is peeled off from the table coater after coating, the sheet-like catalyst-coated diffusion medium tilts, and peeling of the Micro Porous Layer (MPL) sheet occurs. The peeling of the MPL sheet causes contamination on the surface of the catalyst-coated diffusion medium.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a jig for a sheet and a method for manufacturing a sheet that can prevent contamination caused by peeling of the MPL sheet and manufacture a sheet having a gas diffusion layer and an electrode catalyst layer with high precision.

[0010] [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0011] (1) The present invention relates to a jig for a sheet, which is a jig (such as jig 10 described later) for fixing the aforementioned sheet in a coating device (such as coating device 1 described later) for coating an electrode catalyst layer on a sheet having a gas diffusion layer (for example, sheet 60 described later). The jig for the sheet includes: a support member (for example, a stainless steel (SUS) jig 40 described later), which supports the outer end (for example, end 62 described later) of the coating area (for example, coating area 61 described later) of the sheet from one side in the thickness direction of the aforementioned sheet; and a fixing member (for example, magnet 50 described later), which clamps and fixes the aforementioned end of the sheet together with the aforementioned support member from the other side in the thickness direction.

[0012] (2) In the above (1), the jig for the sheet may further include a support table (for example, support table 22 described later), which supports the inside of the aforementioned coating area of the aforementioned sheet from one side in the aforementioned thickness direction.

[0013] (3) In the above (2), the jig for the sheet further includes an adhesive sheet (for example, adhesive sheet 25 described later), which is disposed on the support surface of the aforementioned support table and adhered to the inside of the aforementioned sheet.

[0014] (4) In the jig for the sheet in the above (3), the length in the aforementioned thickness direction of the portion of the aforementioned support member that supports the aforementioned end is set to the following length, that is, the height of the aforementioned support table plus the thickness of the aforementioned adhesive sheet.

[0015] (5) In the jig for the sheet according to any one of the above (1) to (4), the aforementioned fixing member is composed of a magnet, and the aforementioned support member is composed of a metal that is attracted to the aforementioned fixing member by magnetic force.

[0016] (6) Further, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sheet (for example, sheet 60 described later) having a gas diffusion layer and an electrode catalyst layer. The method for manufacturing the sheet includes the following steps: while the sheet is fixed by a support member (for example, SUS jig 40 described later) that supports the outer end (for example, end 62 described later) of the coating area (for example, coating area 61 described later) of the sheet from one side in the thickness direction of the sheet having the aforementioned gas diffusion layer, and a fixing member (for example, magnet 50 described later) that clamps and fixes the aforementioned end of the sheet together with the aforementioned support member from the other side in the thickness direction, coating the aforementioned electrode catalyst layer; and while maintaining the fixed state of the aforementioned support member and the aforementioned fixing member, moving the sheet coated with the aforementioned electrode catalyst layer upward from the coating position and disposing it in a drying furnace (for example, drying furnace 5 described later).

[0017] (Effect of the Invention)

[0018] According to the present invention, there is provided a jig for a sheet and a method for manufacturing a sheet, which can prevent contamination caused by peeling of the MPL sheet and manufacture a sheet having a gas diffusion layer and an electrode catalyst layer with high precision. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 FIG. is a schematic view showing a state in which a jig for a sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged in a coating apparatus.

[0020] Figure 2 FIG. is a perspective view of a porous ceramic jig and a SUS jig included in the jig for a sheet of the present embodiment.

[0021] Figure 3 FIG. is a sectional view of the porous ceramic jig arranged on a table mold platform.

[0022] Figure 4 FIG. is a sectional view of the porous ceramic jig and the SUS jig with the sheet fixed.

[0023] Figure 5 FIG. is a sectional view of the porous ceramic jig and the SUS jig with the sheet fixed during coating.

[0024] Figure 6 FIG. is a perspective view showing a state in which the SUS jig with the sheet formed with an electrode catalyst layer fixed thereto is separated from the porous ceramic jig.

[0025] Figure 7 FIG. is a schematic view showing a state in which the SUS jig with the sheet formed with an electrode catalyst layer fixed thereto is arranged in a drying furnace.

[0026] Figure 8 FIG. is a schematic view of the MPL sheet generated due to the inclined peeling of the existing sheet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 FIG. is a schematic view showing a state in which a jig 10 for a sheet 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged in a coating apparatus 1. Figure 1 The illustrated coating apparatus 1 is a tabletop die coater that forms a coating layer with a uniform film thickness on a sheet 60 as a coating object.

[0029] In the present embodiment, the sheet 60 to be coated is a Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) formed by using carbon paper as a base material and forming a gas diffusion layer on the base material. The coating layer formed on the sheet 60 by the coating device 1 is an electrode catalyst layer. The electrode catalyst layer is, for example, a cathode electrode in which Pt or the like is supported on a carbon material.

[0030] The coating device 1 manufactures a Catalyst-Coated Diffusion Media (CCDM) having an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer by coating the GDL with the electrode catalyst layer.

[0031] The coating device 1 of the present embodiment includes: a slot die 2 that forms a coating layer with a uniform film thickness on the sheet 60; and a stage die platform 3 that places the sheet 60 on which the coating layer is formed by the slot die 2. The stage die platform 3 has a suction function for sucking air from the sheet 60 mounted on the jig 10. By this suction function, the position of the coating object is stably maintained.

[0032] Refer to Figure 2 , and the jig 10 for fixing the sheet 60 in the coating device 1 for coating the electrode catalyst layer on the sheet 60 having a gas diffusion layer will be described. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the porous ceramic jig 20 and the SUS jig 40 included in the jig 10 for the sheet 60 of the present embodiment. As Figure 2 shown, the jig 10 includes a porous ceramic jig 20 and a SUS jig 40.

[0033] The porous ceramic jig 20 is made of ceramic having a plurality of porous bodies inside. The porous ceramic jig 20 is disposed on the stage die platform 3. Due to the suction force of the stage die platform 3 and the porous bodies of the porous ceramic jig 20, a negative pressure is generated on the upper surface of the porous ceramic jig 20.

[0034] The porous ceramic jig 20 of the present embodiment includes a flat base 21 disposed on the stage die platform 3 and a support table 22 located at the center of the base 21. A step is formed on the upper surface of the porous ceramic jig 20 by the base 21 and the support table 22. In the present embodiment, the base 21 and the support table 22 are integrally formed.

[0035] The SUS jig 40 is made of stainless steel (metal) that attracts a magnet. In the present embodiment, the SUS jig 40 is disposed above the porous ceramic jig 20.

[0036] The SUS jig 40 of this embodiment includes: a frame portion 41 having a rectangular hole 42 formed in the center corresponding to the shape of the support table 22; and bent portions 43 provided on both sides of the frame portion 41. The frame portion 41 functions as a clamping portion that clamps the end portion 62 of the sheet 60 together with a magnet 50 described later. The bent portions 43 are formed to extend obliquely upward as they move outward from the frame portion 41, and then further extend horizontally outward. The bent portions 43 can function as a grip portion when loading and unloading the SUS jig 40.

[0037] Next, with reference to Figures 3 to 7 , a process of forming an electrode catalyst layer 65 on a sheet 60 having a gas diffusion layer to manufacture a catalyst-coated diffusion medium (CCDM) will be described.

[0038] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the porous ceramic jig 20 disposed on the table mold platform 3. Figure 3 is Figure 2 a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 3 . As shown in

[0039] Figure 4 a cross-sectional view of the porous ceramic jig 20 and the SUS jig 40 with the sheet 60 fixed. First, a fixing operation of fixing the sheet 60 is performed in advance by the SUS jig 40 and the magnet 50. In the fixing operation of the sheet 60, the sheet 60 is arranged such that the coating region 61 coincides with the rectangular hole 42 of the frame portion 41 of the SUS jig 40, and the end portion 62 of the sheet 60 is supported from below by the frame portion 41. The end portion 62 of the sheet 60 is located outside the coating region 61 and outside the rectangular hole 42 in the sheet 60.

[0040] In a state where the sheet 60 is arranged on the SUS jig 40, the magnet 50 is arranged at the end portion 62 of the sheet 60. A plurality of magnets 50 are arranged. In this embodiment, four magnets 50 are arranged at the four corners of the rectangular sheet 60. A state is formed in which the SUS jig 40 having a magnetic body and the magnet 50 clamp the end portion 62 of the sheet 60 in the vertical direction. In addition, the fixing operation of the sheet 60 can also be performed in advance at other places using a mounting jig (not shown).

[0041] The sheet 60 fixed by the SUS jig 40 and the magnet 50 is disposed on the porous ceramic jig 20. The SUS jig 40 is arranged such that the support table 22 of the porous ceramic jig 20 is located inside the rectangular hole 42 of the frame portion 41. Further, the inner surface of the coating region 61 of the sheet 60 is adhesively held to the upper surface of the adhesive sheet 25 suction-fixed to the support table 22.

[0042] In addition, the length in the thickness direction of the frame portion 41 of the SUS jig 40 is designated as T1, the height (length in the thickness direction) of the support table 22 protruding from the base 21 of the porous ceramic jig 20 is designated as T2, and the length in the thickness direction of the adhesive sheet 25 is designated as T3. In the present embodiment, the SUS jig 40, the porous ceramic jig 20, and the adhesive sheet 25 are configured such that T1 = T2 + T3 holds. In this example, the thickness direction coincides with the up-and-down direction, and the height-direction positions of the upper surfaces of the frame portion 41 of the SUS jig 40 and the upper surface of the adhesive sheet 25 coincide with each other. Accordingly, the coating region 61 and the end portion 62 of the sheet 60 are held at the same height.

[0043] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view of the porous ceramic jig 20 and the SUS jig 40 that have fixed the sheet 60 during the coating process. As Figure 5 shown, the coating process is performed in a state where the sheet 60 is fixed by the jig 10. By this coating process, an electrode catalyst layer 65 is formed on the sheet 60.

[0044] Figure 6 It is a perspective view showing a situation where the SUS jig 40 that has fixed the sheet 60 on which the electrode catalyst layer 65 is formed is separated from the porous ceramic jig 20. As Figure 6 shown, in order to remove the sheet 60 on which the electrode catalyst layer 65 is formed from the coating apparatus 1, the SUS jig 40 is moved upward from the porous ceramic jig 20 without removing the magnet 50. Due to the fixation by the magnet 50 and the SUS jig 40, the sheet 60 on which the electrode catalyst layer 65 is formed also moves integrally with the SUS jig 40.

[0045] In addition, the adhesive force of the adhesive sheet 25 is set to such an extent that it simply separates from the lower surface of the sheet 60 as the SUS jig 40 is lifted and moved.

[0046] Figure 7 It is a schematic view showing a state where the SUS jig 40 that has fixed the sheet 60 on which the electrode catalyst layer 65 is formed is disposed in the drying furnace 5. As Figure 7As shown, the sheet 60 with the electrode catalyst layer 65 formed thereon after the coating treatment, together with the magnet 50 and the SUS jig 40, is put into the drying furnace 5. For example, with respect to the sheet 60, it is moved horizontally together with the magnet 50 and the SUS jig 40 and arranged at the drying position of the drying furnace 5.

[0047] The movement of the sheet 60 with the electrode catalyst layer 65 formed thereon into the drying furnace 5 is carried out while maintaining the state of being fixed by the magnet 50 and the SUS jig 40. Through the drying treatment in the drying furnace 5, the sheet 60 of the catalyst-coated diffusion medium (CCDM) is manufactured as a product.

[0048] As described above, the jig 10 for the sheet 60 of the present embodiment includes: the SUS jig 40, which is a supporting member for supporting the outer end 62 of the coating region 61 of the sheet 60 from one side in the thickness direction of the sheet 60; and the magnet 50, which is a fixing member for clamping and fixing the end 62 of the sheet 60 together with the SUS jig 40 from the other side in the thickness direction.

[0049] In addition, the manufacturing method of the sheet 60 having the gas diffusion layer and the electrode catalyst layer 65 includes the following steps: while the sheet 60 is fixed by the SUS jig 40, which is a supporting member for supporting the outer end 62 of the coating region 61 of the sheet 60 from one side (lower side) in the thickness direction of the sheet 60 having the gas diffusion layer, and the magnet 50, which clamps and fixes the end 62 of the sheet 60 together with the SUS jig 40 from the other side (upper side) in the thickness direction, the electrode catalyst layer 65 is coated; and while maintaining the fixed state of the SUS jig 40 and the magnet 50, the sheet 60 coated with the electrode catalyst layer 65 is moved upward from the coating position and arranged in the drying furnace 5.

[0050] Here, refer to Figure 8 to describe the existing example. Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram for explaining the MPL (Micro Porous Layer) sheet F generated due to the inclined peeling of the existing sheet 160. In Figure 8 is shown the situation of removing the coated sheet 160 from the adhesive sheet 125 that is fixed to the porous ceramic jig 120 by air suction. In the operation of peeling the sheet 160, since the sheet 160 is peeled obliquely, the MPL sheet F on the surface of the sheet 160 will peel off. The peeling of the MPL sheet F from the surface of the sheet 160 will cause foreign matter to mix in and contaminate the surface of the sheet 160.

[0051] In this regard, according to the jig 10 for the sheet 60 and the manufacturing method of the sheet 60 according to the present embodiment, during the process of taking out the painted sheet 60 from the coating device 1 and putting it into the drying furnace 5, the painted sheet 60 can be vertically lifted from the coating device together with the SUS jig 40 and the magnet 50 without tilting the sheet 60. In this way, it is possible to prevent the peeling of the MPL sheet F and prevent contamination, and at the same time, it is easy to move the painted sheet 60 from the coating device 1 to the drying furnace 5.

[0052] In addition, the jig 10 of the present embodiment further includes a support table 22 that supports the inside of the coating region 61 of the sheet 60 from one side in the thickness direction.

[0053] Thereby, the coating region 61 of the sheet 60 can be fixed more stably.

[0054] In addition, the jig 10 of the present embodiment further includes an adhesive sheet 25 that is disposed on the support surface of the support table 22 and adhered to the inside of the sheet 60.

[0055] Thereby, the inside of the sheet 60 is fixed by the adhesive force of the adhesive sheet 25. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the situation of performing the coating process in a state where undulations are generated in the sheet 60, and the coating process can be performed with higher precision. In addition, it is also possible to perform a process of disposing a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film or the like on the coating region 61 of the sheet 60 and making the sheet 60 and the adhesive sheet 25 closely contact with each other by a roller in a state where the PET sheet is disposed. Thereby, while protecting the coating region 61, the close contact between the sheet 60 and the adhesive sheet 25 can be improved, and the occurrence of undulations can be more effectively prevented.

[0056] In addition, in the present embodiment, the length T1 in the thickness direction of the frame portion 41, which is the portion of the SUS jig 40 that supports the end portion 62 of the sheet 60, is set to the following length, that is, the height T2 of the support table 22 plus the thickness T3 of the adhesive sheet 25.

[0057] Thereby, the height of the coating region 61 of the sheet 60 can be made consistent with the end portion 62 outside the coating region 61, and the posture of the sheet 60 can be stably maintained in the horizontal direction, and the coating process can be performed with even higher precision.

[0058] In addition, in the present embodiment, the fixing member is composed of a magnet 50, and the SUS jig 40 is made of a metal that is attracted to the magnet 50 by magnetic force.

[0059] Thereby, it is easy to perform the fixing operation of the sheet 60 using the magnet without damaging the sheet 60.

[0060] The above describes the embodiments of the present invention, but is not limited to the above embodiments. In addition, the effects described in the above embodiments are only exemplary effects and are not limited to the effects described in the above embodiments.

[0061] Reference numeral

[0062] 1 Coating device

[0063] 5 Drying furnace

[0064] 10 Fixture

[0065] 20 Porous ceramic fixture

[0066] 22 Support table

[0067] 25 Bonding sheet

[0068] 40 SUS fixture (support member)

[0069] 50 Magnet (fixing member)

[0070] 60 Sheet

[0071] 61 Coating area

[0072] 62 End

[0073] F MPL sheet

Claims

1. A sheet jig, which is a jig used for fixing the sheet in a coating device for coating an electrode catalyst layer on a sheet having a gas diffusion layer, and the sheet jig comprises: a supporting member for supporting an outer end portion of the coating region of the sheet from one side in the thickness direction of the sheet; and The fixing member sandwiches and fixes the end portion of the sheet from the other side in the thickness direction together with the supporting member. 2 . The sheet jig according to claim 1 , further comprising a support stand for supporting the back side of the coating region of the sheet from one side in the thickness direction. 3 . 3 . The sheet jig according to claim 2 , further comprising an adhesive sheet, wherein the adhesive sheet is disposed on a support surface of the support table and is bonded to a back side of the sheet.

4. The sheet material jig according to claim 3, wherein: The length of a portion of the support member that supports the end portion in the thickness direction is set to a length obtained by adding the height of the support base to the thickness of the bonding sheet.

5. The sheet material jig according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The aforementioned fixing member is composed of a magnet. The supporting member is made of metal that is attracted to the fixing member by magnetic force.

6. A method for manufacturing a sheet material, the sheet material having a gas diffusion layer and an electrode catalyst layer, the method for manufacturing the sheet material comprising the following steps: The electrode catalyst layer is applied while the sheet is fixed by a support member that supports the outer end of the coating region of the sheet having the gas diffusion layer from one side in the thickness direction of the sheet and a fixing member that clamps and fixes the end of the sheet together with the support member from the other side in the thickness direction; and While maintaining the fixed state of the supporting member and the fixing member, the sheet coated with the electrode catalyst layer is moved upward from the coating position and arranged in a drying furnace.

Images