Producing metallic bipolar plates for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells by forming is still a topic of research. So far, it has mainly been applied for small batches, but it offers substantial advantages regarding both costs and installation space compared to the established graphite based solutions. One new possibility for an efficient manufacturing process of these metallic bipolar plates is the forming by rolling. For the first time, this technology was used for relevant industrial scale channel geometries. By the use of an experimental rolling mill, 0.1 mm thick 316L (1.4404) stainless steel foils were roll-formed to achieve previously designed channel geometries within one rolling pass. The conducted experiments show promising results regarding the forming accuracy and the shape of the channel cross-sections. With the aim for a proof of concept in the beginning and a subsequent optimization of the process, a numerical simulation was set up prior to the real experiments and later calibrated with the experimental forming results. This calibrated model was used for further improvements of the process with the objective at reducing wrinkles and distortion. The investigation of this new process method for the manufacturing of metallic bipolar plates shows enormous potential and can lead to a more efficient and cheaper production.

Modern production equipment is based on the results of quality control as well as process parameters. The magnetic anisotropy of materials is closely connected to internal mechanical stress by the Villari effect, and also to hardening effects due to plastic deformations, and could therefore provide an interesting basis for process control. Nevertheless, the analysis of anisotropic properties is extremely sensitive to sensor and workpiece misalignments, such as tilting. In this work, a novel eddy current sensor system is introduced, performing a non-contact measurement of the magnetic anisotropy of a workpiece and realizing a separation and correction of tilting effects. The measurement principle is demonstrated with the example of two samples with different magnetic anisotropy values induced by cold forming. Both samples are analyzed under different tilt angles between the sensor axis and the surface of the workpiece. In this work, digital signal processing is demonstrated on the acquired raw data in order to differentiate the effects of tilt and of anisotropy, with the use of preliminary results as an example of two prepared samples.

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) involves the deposition of weld beads layer by layer using an electric arc energy source. However, during this procedure, the properties of each layer may differ because of unequal thermal distribution, resulting in a difference in microstructure and, therefore, mechanical properties in between the layers. This negative effect can be compensated for by combining WAAM with a subsequent forming process to introduce dynamic recrystallization, which allows a more homogeneous microstructure distribution within the material. This paper investigates numerically and experimentally the hybrid process of combined WAAM and forming of fine-grained mild steel (FGMS) SG3/G4Si (1.5130) to achieve a high degree of recrystallization in all layers of the WAAM-deposited material. Three different possible combinations of WAAM and forming are considered regarding the sequence and setup of the processes to show their influences on the recrystallization behavior. It was found that combining welding and forming allows recrystallization of up to two layers; however, the top layer is not recrystallized. Preliminary simulation results show that this can be resolved by adding a top roller to induce plastic strain after welding, leading to recrystallization in the top layer. The found results promise a certain controllability of the recrystallization behavior.

This paper examines how the initial austenite grain size in quench and partitioning (Q-P) processes influences the final mechanical properties of Q-P steels. Differences in austenite grain size distribution may result, for example, from uneven heating rates of semi-finished products prior to a forging process. In order to quantify this influence, a carefully defined heat treatment of a cylindrical specimen made of the Q-P-capable 42SiCr steel was performed in a dilatometer. Different austenite grain sizes were adjusted by a pre-treatment before the actual Q-P process. The resulting mechanical properties were determined using the upsetting test and the corresponding microstructures were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These investigations show that a larger austenite grain size prior to Q-P processing leads to a slightly lower strength as well as to a coarser martensitic microstructure in the Q-P-treated material.