Mould Design and Material Selection for Film Insert Moulding of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Packaging

This paper presents the mould design for an injection moulding (IM) process for the production of a methanol container for the use in small, passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) systems, which are intended to be used in behind-the-ear hearing aid systems. One of the crucial properties of this container is to enable venting of CO2, which is produced during the use of the DMFC system. This attribute is realized by a functional film insert in the form of a microporous, oleophobic membrane, which covers a venting hole in the injection moulded part of the container. The mould was designed to allow for the production of containers with different venting area and location of the venting holes and the use of different membrane thicknesses by using the same mould. Mould design and material selection are presented.