Jig of sheet material and manufacturing method of sheet material

Abstract

To provide a jig of a sheet material which can prevent contamination caused by peeling of an MPL piece and accurately manufacture a sheet material having a gas diffusion layer and an electrode catalyst layer, and to provide a manufacturing method of the sheet material.SOLUTION: A jig 10 of a sheet material 60 includes: an SUS jig 40 serving as a support member which supports an outer end 62 of an application area 61 of the sheet material 60 from one side in a thickness direction of the sheet material 60; and a magnet 50 serving as a fixing member which sandwiches the end 62 of the sheet material 60 with the SUS jig 40 to fix the end 62 from the other side in the thickness direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a sheet-like catalyst-coated diffusion medium (CCDM) has been used as a material for constituting an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure. For example, Patent Document 1 describes this type of sheet-like catalyst-coated diffusion medium.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when manufacturing a sheet-like catalyst-coated diffusion medium on a single-sheet basis, with the sheet material (GDL) having a gas diffusion layer set on a tabletop die coater, an electrode catalyst layer is formed on the surface of the sheet material (GDL) by coating.

[0005] The GDL is fixed onto a porous ceramic jig by air suction using the porous ceramic jig and an adhesive sheet. Therefore, when peeling the sheet-like catalyst-coated diffusion medium having an electrode catalyst layer formed on the GDL from the tabletop die coater after coating, the sheet-like catalyst-coated diffusion medium becomes inclined, and peeling of the MPL (Micro Porous Layer) piece occurs. The peeling of the MPL piece causes contamination on the surface of the catalyst-coated diffusion medium.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a jig for a sheet material and a method for manufacturing a sheet material that can prevent contamination caused by peeling of the MPL piece and accurately manufacture a sheet material having a gas diffusion layer and an electrode catalyst layer.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] (1) The present invention relates to a jig (for example, jig 10 described later) used for fixing a sheet material having a gas diffusion layer (for example, sheet material 60 described later) in a coating apparatus (for example, coating apparatus 1 described later) for coating an electrode catalyst layer on the sheet material. The jig includes a support member (for example, SUS jig 40 described later) that supports an outer end (for example, end 62 described later) outside a coating region (for example, coating region 61 described later) of the sheet material from one side in the thickness direction of the sheet material, and a fixing member (for example, magnet 50 described later) that sandwiches and fixes the end of the sheet material from the other side in the thickness direction together with the support member. It is a jig for a sheet material.

[0008] (2) The jig for the sheet material in (1) above may further include a support base (for example, support base 22 described later) that supports the back side of the coating region of the sheet material from one side in the thickness direction.

[0009] (3) The jig for the sheet material in (2) above further includes an adhesive sheet (for example, adhesive sheet 25 described later) that is disposed on the support surface of the support base and adheres to the back side of the sheet material.

[0010] (4) In the jig for the sheet material in (3) above, the portion of the support member that supports the end is set such that the length in the thickness direction thereof is the length obtained by adding the height of the support base and the thickness of the adhesive sheet.

[0011] (5) In the jig for the sheet material according to any one of (1) to (4) above, the fixing member is constituted by a magnet, and the support member is constituted by a metal that attracts the fixing member by magnetic force.

[0012] (6) The present invention is also a method for manufacturing a sheet material having a gas diffusion layer and an electrode catalyst layer (for example, the sheet material 60 described later), the method including: a support member (for example, the SUS jig 40 described later) that supports an outer end portion (for example, the end portion 62 described later) of a coating region (for example, the coating region 61 described later) of the sheet material having the gas diffusion layer from one side in the thickness direction of the sheet material; and a fixing member (for example, the magnet 50 described later) that sandwiches and fixes the end portion of the sheet material from the other side in the thickness direction together with the support member, and coating the electrode catalyst layer in a state where the sheet material is fixed; and moving the sheet material coated with the electrode catalyst layer upward from the coating position while maintaining the fixed state of the support member and the fixing member, and disposing the sheet material in a drying furnace (for example, the drying furnace 5 described later).

Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, there is provided a jig for a sheet material and a method for manufacturing a sheet material, which can prevent contamination caused by peeling of an MPL piece and can accurately manufacture a sheet material having a gas diffusion layer and an electrode catalyst layer.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state where a jig 10 for a sheet material 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention is placed in a coating apparatus 1. The coating apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a tabletop die coater that forms a coating layer with a uniform film thickness on the sheet material 60 to be coated.

[0017] In the present embodiment, the sheet material 60 to be coated is a GDL (Gas Diffusion Layer) formed by using carbon paper as a base material and forming a gas diffusion layer on this base material. The coating layer formed on the sheet material 60 by the coating apparatus 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.

[0018] The coating apparatus 1 manufactures a catalyst-coated diffusion medium (CCDM: Catalyst-Coated Diffusion Media) having an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer by coating the electrode catalyst layer on the GDL.

[0019] The coating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a slot die 2 that forms a coating layer with a uniform film thickness on the sheet material 60, and a table die platen 3 on which the sheet material 60 on which the coating layer is formed by the slot die 2 is installed. The table die platen 3 has a suction function for sucking air with respect to the sheet material 60 set in the jig 10. By this suction function, the position of the object to be coated is stably held.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 2, a jig 10 used for fixing a sheet material 60 in a coating apparatus 1 that coats an electrode catalyst layer on the sheet material 60 having a gas diffusion layer will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a porous ceramic jig 20 and a SUS jig 40 included in the jig 10 for the sheet material 60 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the jig 10 includes a porous ceramic jig 20 and a SUS jig 40.

[0021] The porous ceramic jig 20 is made of a ceramic having a large number of pores (porous bodies) inside. The porous ceramic jig 20 is disposed on a table die surface plate 3. A negative pressure is generated on the upper surface of the porous ceramic jig 20 by the suction force of the table die surface plate 3 and the pores of the porous ceramic jig 20.

[0022] The porous ceramic jig 20 of the present embodiment includes a flat base 21 disposed on the table die surface plate 3 and a support base 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 base 22. In the present embodiment, the base 21 and the support base 22 are integrally formed.

[0023] 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.

[0024] The SUS jig 40 of the present embodiment includes a frame portion 41 having a rectangular hole 42 formed at the center according to the shape of the support base 22, and bent portions 43 installed 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 material 60 together with a magnet 50 described later. The bent portion 43 is formed to extend obliquely upward from the frame portion 41 and then further extend horizontally outward. The bent portion 43 can function as a gripping portion when the SUS jig 40 is attached and detached.

[0025] Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7, a process for manufacturing a catalyst-coated diffusion medium (CCDM) by forming an electrode catalyst layer 65 on a sheet material 60 on which a gas diffusion layer is formed will be described.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a porous ceramic jig 20 disposed on a table die surface plate 3. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional arrow view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, an adhesive sheet 25 is disposed on the upper surface (support surface) of a support base 22 of the porous ceramic jig 20. The adhesive sheet 25 of the present embodiment has no adhesive region formed on its lower surface, and an adhesive region is formed on the upper surface that contacts the sheet material 60. The lower surface of the adhesive sheet 25 is sucked by air suction of the table die surface plate 3.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the porous ceramic jig 20 fixing the sheet material 60 and a SUS jig 40. First, a fixing operation for fixing the sheet material 60 is performed in advance by the SUS jig 40 and a magnet 50. In this fixing operation of the sheet material 60, the coating region 61 of the sheet material 60 overlaps the rectangular hole 42 of the frame portion 41 of the SUS jig 40, and the end portion 62 of the sheet material 60 is disposed so as to be supported from below by the frame portion 41. The end portion 62 of the sheet material 60 is located outside the coating region 61 and outside the rectangular hole 42 in the sheet material 60.

[0028] With the sheet material 60 disposed on the SUS jig 40, the magnet 50 is disposed at the end portion 62 of the sheet material 60. A plurality of magnets 50 are disposed. In the present embodiment, four magnets 50 are disposed at the four corners of the rectangular sheet material 60. The end portion 62 of the sheet material 60 is sandwiched in the vertical direction by the SUS jig 40 having a magnetic body and the magnet 50. Note that this fixing operation of the sheet material 60 may be performed in advance at another location using a set jig (not shown).

[0029] The sheet material 60 fixed by the SUS jig 40 and the magnet 50 is disposed on the porous ceramic jig 20. The SUS jig 40 is disposed such that the support base 22 of the porous ceramic jig 20 is positioned inside the rectangular hole 42 of the frame portion 41. Then, the sheet material 60 is adhesively held on the upper surface of the adhesive sheet 25 whose back surface of the coating region 61 is suction-fixed to the support base 22.

[0030] Also, let the length in the thickness direction of the frame portion 41 of the SUS jig 40 be T1, the height (length in the thickness direction) of the support base 22 protruding from the base 21 of the porous ceramic jig 20 be T2, and the length in the thickness direction of the adhesive sheet 25 be 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 vertical direction, and the upper surface of the frame portion 41 of the SUS jig 40 and the upper surface of the adhesive sheet 25 are in the same position in the height direction. Therefore, the coating region 61 and the end portion 62 of the sheet material 60 are held at the same height.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the porous ceramic jig 20 and the SUS jig 40 fixing the sheet material 60 during coating. As shown in FIG. 5, the coating process is performed with the sheet material 60 fixed by the jig 10. By this coating process, the electrode catalyst layer 65 is formed on the sheet material 60.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the SUS jig 40 fixing the sheet material 60 on which the electrode catalyst layer 65 is formed is separated from the porous ceramic jig 20. As shown in FIG. 6, in order to take out the sheet material 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 fixing by the magnet 50 and the SUS jig 40, the sheet material 60 on which the electrode catalyst layer 65 is formed also moves integrally with the SUS jig 40.

[0033] Note that the adhesive force of the adhesive sheet 25 is set to be such that it can be easily separated from the lower surface of the sheet material 60 as the SUS jig 40 is lifted and moved.

[0034] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a SUS jig 40 fixing a sheet material 60 on which an electrode catalyst layer 65 is formed is placed in a drying furnace 5. As shown in Figure 7, the sheet material 60 on which the coating process is completed and the electrode catalyst layer 65 is formed is put into the drying furnace 5 together with the magnet 50 and the SUS jig 40. For example, the sheet material 60 is moved horizontally together with the magnet 50 and the SUS jig 40 and placed at the drying position of the drying furnace 5.

[0035] The movement of the sheet material 60 on which the electrode catalyst layer 65 is formed into the drying furnace 5 is performed while the fixation by the magnet 50 and the SUS jig 40 is maintained. Through the drying process of the drying furnace 5, the sheet material 60 of the catalyst-coated diffusion medium (CCDM) is manufactured as a product.

[0036] As described above, the jig 10 for the sheet material 60 of the present embodiment includes a SUS jig 40 as a support member that supports the outer end portion 62 of the coating region 61 of the sheet material 60 from one side in the thickness direction of the sheet material 60, and a magnet 50 as a fixing member that sandwiches and fixes the end portion 62 of the sheet material 60 together with the SUS jig 40 from the other side in the thickness direction.

[0037] Further, a manufacturing method of the sheet material 60 having the gas diffusion layer and the electrode catalyst layer 65 includes a SUS jig 40 as a support member that supports the outer end portion 62 of the coating region 61 of the sheet material 60 having the gas diffusion layer from one side (lower side) in the thickness direction of the sheet material 60, and a magnet 50 that sandwiches and fixes the end portion 62 of the sheet material 60 together with the SUS jig 40 from the other side (upper side) in the thickness direction, and coating the electrode catalyst layer 65 in a state where the sheet material 60 is fixed; and moving the sheet material 60 coated with the electrode catalyst layer 65 upward from the coating position while maintaining the fixed state of the SUS jig 40 and the magnet 50, and placing it in the drying furnace 5.

[0038] Here, referring to FIG. 8, a conventional example will be described. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining an MPL (Micro Porous Layer) piece F generated by obliquely peeling a conventional sheet material 160. FIG. 8 shows a state of removing the coated sheet material 160 from the adhesive sheet 125 fixed to the porous ceramic jig 120 by air suction. In the operation of peeling this sheet material 160, since the sheet material 160 is peeled obliquely, peeling of the MPL piece F on the surface of the sheet material 160 occurs. The peeling of the MPL piece F from the surface of the sheet material 160 causes foreign matter to be mixed in, resulting in contamination on the surface of the sheet material 160.

[0039] In this regard, according to the jig 10 of the sheet material 60 and the manufacturing method of the sheet material 60 of the present embodiment, in the process of taking out the coated sheet material 60 from the coating device 1 and putting it into the drying furnace 5, the coated sheet material 60 together with the SUS jig 40 and the magnet 50 can be lifted vertically from the coating position without tilting the sheet material 60. In this way, it is possible to prevent peeling of the MPL piece F and prevent contamination, and at the same time, the coated sheet material 60 can be easily moved from the coating device 1 to the drying furnace 5.

[0040] Further, the jig 10 of the present embodiment further includes a support base 22 that supports the back side of the coating region 61 of the sheet material 60 from one side in the thickness direction.

[0041] Thereby, the coating region 61 of the sheet material 60 can be fixed more stably.

[0042] Further, the jig 10 of the present embodiment further includes an adhesive sheet 25 that is disposed on the support surface of the support base 22 and adheres to the back side of the sheet material 60.

[0043] As a result, since the back side of the sheet material 60 is fixed by the adhesive force of the adhesive sheet 25, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a situation where the coating process is performed with the sheet material 60 being wavy, and the coating process can be performed with higher accuracy. Further, a step of disposing a PET film or the like in the coating region 61 of the sheet material 60 and bringing the sheet material 60 into close contact with the adhesive sheet 25 by a roller in a state where the PET sheet is disposed may be performed. Thereby, while protecting the coating region 61, the adhesion between the sheet material 60 and the adhesive sheet 25 can be enhanced, and the occurrence of waviness can be more effectively prevented.

[0044] Further, in the present embodiment, the frame portion 41, which is a portion that supports the end portion 62 of the sheet material 60 in the SUS jig 40, is set such that the length T1 in the thickness direction thereof is the length obtained by adding the thickness T3 of the adhesive sheet 25 to the height T2 of the support base 22.

[0045] Thereby, the height of the coating region 61 of the sheet material 60 and the end portion 62 outside the coating region 61 are made to coincide with each other, and the posture of the sheet material 60 is stably held in the horizontal direction, and the coating process can be performed with even higher accuracy.

[0046] Further, in the present embodiment, the fixing member is constituted by a magnet 50, and the SUS jig 40 is constituted by a metal that attracts the magnet 50 by magnetic force.

[0047] Thereby, the fixing operation of the sheet material 60 can be easily performed using the magnet without damaging the sheet material 60.

[0048] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Further, the effects described in the above embodiments are merely a list of preferable effects, and are not limited to those described in the above embodiments.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0049] 1 Coating apparatus 5 Drying furnace 10 Jig 20 Porous ceramic jig 22 Support base 25 Adhesive sheet 40 SUS jig (supporting member) 50 Magnet (fixing member) 60 Sheet material 61 Coating area 62 End F MPL piece

Claims

1. A jig used for fixing a sheet material in a coating apparatus for coating an electrode catalyst layer on a sheet material having a gas diffusion layer, a support member that supports an outer end portion of the coating region of the sheet material from one side in the thickness direction of the sheet material, and a fixing member that sandwiches and fixes the end portion of the sheet material from the other side in the thickness direction together with the support member. A jig for a sheet material, comprising the above.

2. The jig for a sheet material according to claim 1, further comprising a support base that supports the back side of the coating region of the sheet material from one side in the thickness direction.

3. The jig for a sheet material according to claim 2, further comprising an adhesive sheet that is disposed on the support surface of the support base and adheres to the back side of the sheet material.

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

5. The fixing member is constituted by a magnet, and the support member is constituted by a metal that is attracted to the fixing member by magnetic force. The jig for a sheet material according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A method for manufacturing a sheet material having a gas diffusion layer and an electrode catalyst layer, a step of coating the electrode catalyst layer in a state where the sheet material is fixed by a support member that supports an outer end portion of the coating region of the sheet material having the gas diffusion layer from one side in the thickness direction of the sheet material, and a fixing member that sandwiches and fixes the end portion of the sheet material from the other side in the thickness direction together with the support member; a step of moving the sheet material coated with the electrode catalyst layer upward from the coating position while maintaining the fixed state of the support member and the fixing member, and disposing it in a drying furnace. A method for manufacturing a sheet material, including the above.

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