Pemtex Composite Makes Fuel Cell Manufacturing Cost Effective

NORTH KINGSVILLE, Ohio, June 8 - In an innovative move guaranteed to spark interest among fuel cell manufacturers throughout the world, Quantum, a subsidiary of Premix Inc., announces a new product called Pemtex, a conductive and corrosion-resistant composite material.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000608/PHTH043 )

When used in injection molding, it enables fuel cell processors to mold bipolar plates with a high-volume, cost-effective thermoset process never before possible.

"We are working with major developers of proton exchange membrane fuel cells to provide a key element that enables mass production and commercialization of fuel cells," said Marc Imbrogno, market development specialist at Premix Inc. "This technology offers an economic solution to the manufacture of bipolar plates, an essential component in fuel cell manufacturing."

The process, for which a patent has been applied, couples specialized injection-molding techniques, and uses the patent-pending Pemtex material.

Representatives from Quantum Composites will be demonstrating the process and the new material on Ferromatik Milacron injection equipment at NPE from June 19 to 23. Demonstrations will be conducted at the Apex Plastics Technology booth #S 349 South Hall at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Apex, Milacron and Premix began a cooperative development project in 1999 to create the material and molding technology to capture this market for injection-molding. Premix created a proprietary, patent-applied-for, injection-grade, fuel-cell molding compound.

Apex Plastics Technology President Taras Konowal said the cooperative effort yielded innovations that evolved over time. "We started with the initial formulation and process, and then invested a lot of research and development in order to injection-mold Pemtex. Throughout the process, we developed technology advancements with the injection system and mold, as well as in the machine and control software."

Premix, a thermoset composite company established in 1959, operates facilities at its headquarters in North Kingsville, Ohio and also in Midland, Mich. Premix manufactures and markets a full line of composites including Premi-Glas, Premi-Ject, OpTorr and Quantum Composites compounds.

The company also uses compression, transfer and injection molding to manufacture components for the electrical, appliance, business equipment, sanitary, lighting, aerospace and transportation markets. Premix serves its global customers through affiliation with companies in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Contact: Marc Imbrogno, Market Development Specialist of Quantum Composites, 440-224-2181