A method and a device for producing bipolar plates for fuel cells. A bipolar plate is formed by joining an anode plate to a cathode plate, wherein the anode plate and the cathode plate are formed by forming a substrate plate. In order to provide a cost-effective and automated method, it is proposed that a plate already provided with a reactive coating or catalyst coating, which is transported, automatically driven, via a transport device from the forming device to the joining device, is used as substrate plate.

An alloy member includes a base member that includes a recess in a surface of the base member and is constituted by an alloy material containing chromium, an anchor portion is disposed in the recess and contains an oxide containing manganese and a covering layer is connected to the anchor portion and contains a low-equilibrium oxygen pressure element whose equilibrium oxygen pressure is lower than that of chromium.

A stainless steel material including a base material made of ferritic stainless steel, a Cr oxide layer formed on a surface of the base material, and a spinel oxide layer formed on a surface of the Cr oxide layer, wherein a chemical composition of the base material satisfies [16.0≤Cr+3×Mo−2.5×B−17×C−3−Si≤35.0], a thickness of the Cr oxide layer (T.sub.Cr) and a thickness of the spinel oxide layer (T.sub.S) satisfy [0.55≤T.sub.Cr/T.sub.S≤6.7], the base material contains precipitate including one or more kinds selected from a M.sub.23C.sub.6, a M.sub.2B, a complex precipitate in which M.sub.2B acts as a precipitation nucleus, and M.sub.23C.sub.6 precipitates on a surface of the M.sub.2B, and a complex precipitate in which NbC acts as a precipitation nucleus, and M.sub.23C.sub.6 precipitates on a surface of the NbC, and a part of the precipitate protrude from the surface of the Cr oxide layer.

A stainless steel material including a base material made of ferritic stainless steel, a Cr oxide layer formed on a surface of the base material, and a spinel oxide layer formed on a surface of the Cr oxide layer, wherein a chemical composition of the base material satisfies [16.0≤Cr+3×Mo−2.5×B−17×C−3−Si≤35.0], a thickness of the Cr oxide layer (T.sub.Cr) and a thickness of the spinel oxide layer (T.sub.S) satisfy [0.55≤T.sub.Cr/T.sub.S≤6.7], the base material contains precipitate including one or more kinds selected from a M.sub.23C.sub.6, a M.sub.2B, a complex precipitate in which M.sub.2B acts as a precipitation nucleus, and M.sub.23C.sub.6 precipitates on a surface of the M.sub.2B, and a complex precipitate in which NbC acts as a precipitation nucleus, and M.sub.23C.sub.6 precipitates on a surface of the NbC, and a part of the precipitate protrude from the surface of the Cr oxide layer.

A fuel cell component including a fuel cell substrate and a nitride material. The material may be a nitride compound having a chemical formula A.sub.xB.sub.yN.sub.z, where A is a metal, B is a metal different than A, N is nitrogen, x>0, y<7 and 0<z<12. The nitride compound may have a ratio of a stoichiometric factor to a reactivity factor of greater than 1.0. The stoichiometric factor indicates the reactivity of a nitride compound with chemical species as compared to a baseline nitride compound. The reactivity factor indicates the reaction enthalpy of the nitride compound and the chemical species as compared to a baseline nitride compound and the chemical species. The nitride compound may be Fe.sub.3Mo.sub.3N, Ni.sub.2Mo.sub.3N, Ni.sub.2W.sub.3N, CuNi.sub.3N, Fe.sub.3WN, Zn.sub.3Nb.sub.3N, V.sub.3Zn.sub.2N or a combination thereof. The nitride compound may be Si.sub.6Y.sub.3N.sub.11, Ni.sub.2Mo.sub.4N, Fe.sub.3Mo.sub.5N.sub.6 or a combination thereof.

A fuel cell component including a fuel cell substrate and a nitride material. The material may be a nitride compound having a chemical formula A.sub.xB.sub.yN.sub.z, where A is a metal, B is a metal different than A, N is nitrogen, x>0, y<7 and 0<z<12. The nitride compound may have a ratio of a stoichiometric factor to a reactivity factor of greater than 1.0. The stoichiometric factor indicates the reactivity of a nitride compound with chemical species as compared to a baseline nitride compound. The reactivity factor indicates the reaction enthalpy of the nitride compound and the chemical species as compared to a baseline nitride compound and the chemical species. The nitride compound may be Fe.sub.3Mo.sub.3N, Ni.sub.2Mo.sub.3N, Ni.sub.2W.sub.3N, CuNi.sub.3N, Fe.sub.3WN, Zn.sub.3Nb.sub.3N, V.sub.3Zn.sub.2N or a combination thereof. The nitride compound may be Si.sub.6Y.sub.3N.sub.11, Ni.sub.2Mo.sub.4N, Fe.sub.3Mo.sub.5N.sub.6 or a combination thereof.

Fuel cell alloy bipolar plates. The alloys may be used as a coating or bulk material. The alloys and metallic glasses may be particularly suitable for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells because of they may exhibit reduced weights and/or better corrosion resistance. The alloys may include any of the following Al.sub.xCu.sub.yTi.sub.z, Al.sub.xFe.sub.yNi.sub.z, Al.sub.xMn.sub.yNi.sub.z, Al.sub.xNi.sub.yTi.sub.z, Cu.sub.xFe.sub.yTi.sub.z, Cu.sub.xNi.sub.yTi.sub.z, Al.sub.xFe.sub.ySi.sub.z, Al.sub.xMn.sub.ySi.sub.z, Al.sub.xNi.sub.ySi.sub.z, Ni.sub.xSi.sub.yTi.sub.z, and C.sub.xFe.sub.ySi.sub.z. The alloys or metallic glass may be doped with various dopants to improve glass forming ability, mechanical strength, ductility, electrical or thermal conductivities, hydrophobicity, and/or corrosion resistance.

Fuel cell alloy bipolar plates. The alloys may be used as a coating or bulk material. The alloys and metallic glasses may be particularly suitable for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells because of they may exhibit reduced weights and/or better corrosion resistance. The alloys may include any of the following Al.sub.xCu.sub.yTi.sub.z, Al.sub.xFe.sub.yNi.sub.z, Al.sub.xMn.sub.yNi.sub.z, Al.sub.xNi.sub.yTi.sub.z, Cu.sub.xFe.sub.yTi.sub.z, Cu.sub.xNi.sub.yTi.sub.z, Al.sub.xFe.sub.ySi.sub.z, Al.sub.xMn.sub.ySi.sub.z, Al.sub.xNi.sub.ySi.sub.z, Ni.sub.xSi.sub.yTi.sub.z, and C.sub.xFe.sub.ySi.sub.z. The alloys or metallic glass may be doped with various dopants to improve glass forming ability, mechanical strength, ductility, electrical or thermal conductivities, hydrophobicity, and/or corrosion resistance.

[Problem] To provide a separator excellent in corrosion resistance and a sealing property for a fuel gas.

[Means for Resolution] Provided is a separator (4) for fuel cells. The separator (4) includes a conductive substrate (41), and a protective layer (42) that covers at least a part of a surface of the substrate (41). The protective layer (42) contains a self-restoring material.

[Problem] To provide a separator excellent in corrosion resistance and a sealing property for a fuel gas.

[Means for Resolution] Provided is a separator (4) for fuel cells. The separator (4) includes a conductive substrate (41), and a protective layer (42) that covers at least a part of a surface of the substrate (41). The protective layer (42) contains a self-restoring material.