(US4505992-A)      An assembly for distributing reactant materials in a fuel cell comprises two adjacent electrically conductive plate members forming an interface where they contact each other, at least one of the plate members being made of a porous material suitable for distributing reactant material, the two plate members being integrally bonded to one another at the interface by a sealant residing in the pores of the plate member, whereby the two plate members maintain electrical contact with one another while preventing the reactant material from passing from the porous plate member to the other plate through the interface.    The other plate is also pref. porous for distributing another reactant material. Each of the porous plates pref. include relatively orthogonally disposed parallel grooves.    USE -   In gas distribution systems for fuel cells.    (5pp)    (US4732637-A)      Bipolar assembly for a fuel cell stack in which contiguous plates distribute oxidant and reactant gas respectively to adjacent cells is produced by disposing a layer of heat sensitive, insulative sealant material between at least two electrically conductive distribution plates having foraminous structure suitable for transporting gas. Pressure and heat is applied to bond the plates together and redistribute the sealant within the pores of the plates. The sealant material is in an amt. to impregnate the pores and form a gas-impermeable barrier at the interface between the plates. The plates are bonded in electroconductive registry. The sealand material is e.g. fluorinated ethylene-propylene, poly(ether) sulphone, perfluorinated alkoxy TFE, etc..    USE -   For a series type electrical arrangement in the fuel cell stack to isolate reactant and oxidant gases on opposite sides of the interface between the plates during operation of the cell.    (10pp)    (JP93052037-B)      An assembly for distributing reactant materials in a fuel cell comprising two adjacent electrically conductive plate members forming an interface between each other where they contact each other, at least one of the plates being made of a porous material suitable for distributing reactant material from a surface of it other than the surface forming the interface with the other plate, the two plates being bonded together at their interface with a sealant material in the pores of the first plate in the region of the interface so that the two plates maintain electrical contact with each other whilst preventing the reactant material from passing from the first plate to the other plate through the interface.    The porous gas distribution assembly is easily made by a simple hot pressing technique; the bipolar assemblies can be combined into stacked assemblies for use in fuel cells; the resulting fuel cells have high reliability. (J60023975-A)