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Article
An Experimental Investigation of Strain Rate, Temperature and Humidity Effects on the Mechanical Behavior of a Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membrane
Journal of Power Sources
  • Zongwen Lu, University of Delaware
  • Melissa Lugo, University of Delaware
  • Michael H. Santare, University of Delaware
  • Anette M. Karlsson, Cleveland State University
  • F. Colin Busby, Gore Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Peter Walsh, Gore Fuel Cell Technologies
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-15-2012
Abstract

The time-dependent hygro-thermal mechanical behavior of a perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membrane (Nafion® 211 membrane) commonly used in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) is investigated at selected strain rates for a broad range of temperatures and humidities. Tensile tests and relaxation tests are conducted to determine Young’s modulus and proportional limit stress as functions of strain rate, temperature and humidity. The results show that Young’s modulus and proportional limit stress increase as the strain rate increases, and decrease as the temperature or humidity increases. The results also show that the mechanical response of Nafion® 211 membrane is more sensitive to typical changes in strain rate or temperature than to typical changes in humidity. In addition, two temperature/humidity cycles are conducted to determine the steady state swelling behavior of Nafion® 211 membrane as a function of temperature and humidity. The results show that the membrane swells with increasing temperature and humidity, and that there is little or no hygro-thermal history effect for the swelling strains.

Comments

This research has been supported by W.L. Gore & Associates under a grant (DE-FC36-086018052) from the United States Department of Energy.

DOI
10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.04.094
Version
Postprint
Citation Information
Lu, Z., Lugo, M., Santare, M. H., 2012, "An Experimental Investigation of Strain Rate, Temperature and Humidity Effects on the Mechanical Behavior of a Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membrane," Journal of Power Sources, 214pp. 130-136.