Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-15-2012
Publication Title
Journal of Power Sources
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.
Recommended Citation
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.
DOI
10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.04.094
Version
Postprint
Publisher's Statement
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Power Sources. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Power Sources, 214, , (09-15-2012); 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.04.094
Volume
214
Comments
This research has been supported by W.L. Gore & Associates under a grant (DE-FC36-086018052) from the United States Department of Energy.