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Durability of Niobium-Titanium Alloys in Fuel Cells Compared to Other Materials

The durability of niobium-titanium alloys in fuel cells has significant advantages over other materials (such as stainless steel and traditional titanium alloys), mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Durability comparison
1. Corrosion resistance:
• Niobium-titanium alloy exhibits superior corrosion resistance in a sulfuric acid solution environment containing fluorine ions, and its corrosion current density is 4 to 9 times lower than that of traditional titanium alloys. This remarkable corrosion resistance enables niobium-titanium alloys to maintain a longer service life in the harsh environment of fuel cells.

2. Service life:
• At present, the life of stainless steel as a fuel cell bipolar plate is usually difficult to exceed 5,000 hours, mainly due to its insufficient corrosion resistance. Due to its excellent corrosion resistance, niobium-titanium alloy can significantly extend the overall service life of fuel cells and better meet the needs of new energy vehicles for long-life batteries.

3. Conductive properties:
• The electrical conductivity of niobium-titanium alloys is similar to that of pure titanium, but significantly better than that of typical titanium alloy grades currently available. This characteristic enables the niobium-titanium alloy to effectively resist corrosion while maintaining good electrical conductivity, thus improving the overall efficiency and durability of the fuel cell.

4. Mechanical strength:
• Niobium-titanium alloy not only has good chemical stability, but also has high mechanical strength, allowing it to maintain structural integrity under high temperature and high pressure conditions. This provides better long-term reliability than stainless steel and some titanium alloy materials.

Taken together, the durability of niobium-titanium alloys in fuel cells is significantly better than traditional stainless steel and titanium alloys. Its superior corrosion resistance, long service life, and good electrical conductivity and mechanical properties make it an ideal choice as a fuel cell bipolar plate material, especially in applications such as new energy vehicles.