A separator includes a gas flow path forming body, which includes a substrate made of stainless steel, a resin layer arranged on the substrate, and a conductive layer arranged on the surface of the resin layer. The resin layer contains a filler, which has conductivity and greater hardness than an oxide film of the substrate. The conductive layer contains graphite. The filler extends through the oxide film of the substrate and contacts the base material.

A bipolar fuel cell plate made of a stainless steel including the following elements, in mass %: Cr 11-14; Ni; 7-11; Mo 3-5; Co 0-2; Cu 0.5-4; Ti 0.4-2.5; Mn <5; Si <1.5; S <0.04; Al 0.05-1.0; N <0.05; C <0.05; and
a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities.

A bipolar fuel cell plate made of a stainless steel including the following elements, in mass %: Cr 11-14; Ni; 7-11; Mo 3-5; Co 0-2; Cu 0.5-4; Ti 0.4-2.5; Mn <5; Si <1.5; S <0.04; Al 0.05-1.0; N <0.05; C <0.05; and
a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities.

There is provided a steel for solid oxide fuel cells which contains Zr and has a composition balance which allows a thin plate to stably obtain excellent oxidation resistance. The steel for solid oxide fuel cells contains more than 0 and not more than 0.05 mass % of C, 0.05 mass % or less of N, 0.01 mass % or less of O, 0.2 mass % or less of Al, 0.15 mass % or less of Si, 0.1 to 1.0 mass % of Mn, 20.0 to 25.0 mass % of Cr, more than 0 mass % and not more than 1.0 mass % of Ni, 0.02 to 0.12 mass % of La, 0.1 to 0.5 mass % of Zr, 0.15 to 0.5 mass % of La+Zr, and Fe and impurities as a remainder. The following relational formula is satisfied, and an Fe and Zr-containing intermetallic compound viewed in a ferrite matrix is 1.1 mass % or less in terms of a visual field area ratio.

5(7C+6N)/(7−4(7C+6N))≦Zr≦41(7C+6N)/(7+66(7C+6N))

There is provided a steel for solid oxide fuel cells which contains Zr and has a composition balance which allows a thin plate to stably obtain excellent oxidation resistance. The steel for solid oxide fuel cells contains more than 0 and not more than 0.05 mass % of C, 0.05 mass % or less of N, 0.01 mass % or less of O, 0.2 mass % or less of Al, 0.15 mass % or less of Si, 0.1 to 1.0 mass % of Mn, 20.0 to 25.0 mass % of Cr, more than 0 mass % and not more than 1.0 mass % of Ni, 0.02 to 0.12 mass % of La, 0.1 to 0.5 mass % of Zr, 0.15 to 0.5 mass % of La+Zr, and Fe and impurities as a remainder. The following relational formula is satisfied, and an Fe and Zr-containing intermetallic compound viewed in a ferrite matrix is 1.1 mass % or less in terms of a visual field area ratio.

5(7C+6N)/(7−4(7C+6N))≦Zr≦41(7C+6N)/(7+66(7C+6N))

A separator plate for an electrochemical system is described. The separator plate may be used with a bipolar plate and for an electrochemical system comprising a plurality of bipolar plates. The separator plate may have a flow field and guiding structures for guiding a medium through the flow field. The guiding structures of the flow field have a mean height h.sub.1 determined perpendicularly to the planar surface plane of the plate. The separator plate may also have a contiguous, lowered transition region where medium flowing from a channel into the flow field, or from the flow field into the channel, flows through the transition region, wherein the transition region has a maximum height h.sub.max determined perpendicularly to the planar surface plane of the plate, where applies: h.sub.max≤0.95.Math.h.sub.1.

The invention to which this application relates is for the formation of a coating onto a surface of an article and, in particular, although not necessarily exclusively, to form a coating which has conductive characteristics in order for the purpose of use of the article to be achieved. In one embodiment, the article base to which the coating is applied is a fuel cell or plate for a fuel cell. The coating includes at least one layer and an external layer applied thereto, said external layer provide as a discontinuous layer formed of discrete portions. The invention also relates to the method of application of a coating having the required characteristics.

The invention to which this application relates is for the formation of a coating onto a surface of an article and, in particular, although not necessarily exclusively, to form a coating which has conductive characteristics in order for the purpose of use of the article to be achieved. In one embodiment, the article base to which the coating is applied is a fuel cell or plate for a fuel cell. The coating includes at least one layer and an external layer applied thereto, said external layer provide as a discontinuous layer formed of discrete portions. The invention also relates to the method of application of a coating having the required characteristics.

A method of making an interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell stack includes contacting an interconnect powder located in a die cavity with iron, the interconnect powder including a chromium and iron, compressing the interconnect powder to form an interconnect having ribs and fuel channels on a first side of the interconnect, such that the iron is disposed on tips of the ribs; and sintering the interconnect, such that the iron forms an contact layer on the tips of the ribs having a higher iron concentration than a remainder of the interconnect. A glass containing cathode contact layer having a glass transition temperature of 900° C. or less may be located over the rib tips on the oxidant side of the interconnect.

A method of making an interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell stack includes contacting an interconnect powder located in a die cavity with iron, the interconnect powder including a chromium and iron, compressing the interconnect powder to form an interconnect having ribs and fuel channels on a first side of the interconnect, such that the iron is disposed on tips of the ribs; and sintering the interconnect, such that the iron forms an contact layer on the tips of the ribs having a higher iron concentration than a remainder of the interconnect. A glass containing cathode contact layer having a glass transition temperature of 900° C. or less may be located over the rib tips on the oxidant side of the interconnect.