Ultrasonic Systems, Inc. announced it has expanded its installed base of fuel cell coating systems in Asia. Companies in Shanghai, Chengdu, and Shenzhen, China, as well as Hyderabad, India have recently implemented USI’s PRISM systems for their fuel cell manufacturing processes.
 
USI products deliver superior performance in coating deposition for fuel cell manufacturing, with an advanced technology that provides precise control of coating pattern and film thickness.  Numerous coatings are used in the construction of fuel cells, many of which are precious metal or ceramic based slurries containing suspended particles.  The ability to apply these coatings uniformly and keep the suspended particles properly mixed during the coating process is critical to the quality and performance of the fuel cell.
 
USI’s automated method for the precise application of fuel cell coating materials utilizes USI’s proprietary ultra-Thin Coating Application Technology (tCAT), combining ultrasonic “nozzle-less” spray with a high-performance programmable motion and control platform with advanced material handling capabilities.  Ultrasonic energy breaks liquids into small drops to form the spray and directed air streams are used to shape the ultrasonically produced spray, providing a rectangular, uniform spray pattern.  USI’s advanced liquid delivery components ensure the coating liquid properties remain consistent during the coating process.
 
“USI systems meet the demand for thin, uniform thickness down to sub-micron level required by modern fuel cell manufacturers,” said Larry Sirois, senior applications engineer for USI.  “Process repeatability is another area where USI products lead the industry.”
 
USI offers a full line of coating systems for fuel cell coating from the PRISM-400 for lab-scale and R&D applications to the PRISIM-800 for high-volume production and large size substrates.