Lamination apparatus and methods

Abstract

Components for the manufacture of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells are provided, as well as apparatus and automatable methods for their manufacture by rotary die cutting and by lamination of various layers to form membrane electrode assemblies. A method and apparatus for performing the method are provided for making a membrane electrode assembly comprising the steps of providing a web of polymer electrolyte membrane material and a laminating station, where the web of polymer electrolyte membrane material is drawn between a pair of laminating rollers in the laminating station which form a laminating nip; die-cutting a first and second web of catalyst decal materials or electrode materials to make first and second workpieces at first and second rotary die stations; which typically have a shape other than a four-sided parallelogram; holding the die-cut workpieces by action of sub-ambient air pressure to an endless perforated belt of first and second vacuum conveyors, typically before they are fully cut from the first and second webs; transporting first and second workpieces to opposing sides of the membrane in the laminating station; concurrently feeding the first and second workpieces into the laminating nip adjacent to the membrane, typically before they are fully released by the first and second vacuum conveyors; and laminating the first and second workpieces to the membrane, advantageously in accurate registration.