Through the thickness flaws or “pinholes” in proton exchange membranes (PEM) allow gas crossover that can lead to fuel cell failure. The formation of these flaws is not fully understood, but one possible mechanism is that small flaws could grow through crack propagation in the fracture mechanics sense. Although relatively brittle features are sometimes observed in failures resulting under simulated fuel cell conditions, the stress strain plots of the membranes themselves exhibit considerable ductility. In an effort to use fracture mechanics principles to characterize PEMs, fracture parameters associated with the essential work of fracture from double edge notch tensile (DENT) specimens; the tear energy obtained from the trouser tear test; and cutting energies associate with knife slitting were measured and compared. Presumably through reducing crack tip blunting, the knife slitting test is able to measure fracture energies as low as 200J/m2, two orders of magnitude smaller than measured in the other tests. The results are sensitive to rate, temperature, and moisture level. Although the implications of these properties to fuel cell durability are not yet understood, they may have applicability in the more brittle features that are sometimes observed.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME 2005 3rd International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology
May 23–25, 2005
Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Nanotechnology Institute
ISBN:
0-7918-3764-5
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Tear Resistance of Proton Exchange Membranes Available to Purchase
David A. Dillard,
David A. Dillard
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Search for other works by this author on:
Yeh-Hung Lai,
Yeh-Hung Lai
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Michael Budinski,
Michael Budinski
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Craig Gittleman
Craig Gittleman
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
David A. Dillard
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Yeh-Hung Lai
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Michael Budinski
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Craig Gittleman
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Paper No:
FUELCELL2005-74119, pp. 153-159; 7 pages
Published Online:
October 13, 2008
Citation
Dillard, DA, Lai, Y, Budinski, M, & Gittleman, C. "Tear Resistance of Proton Exchange Membranes." Proceedings of the ASME 2005 3rd International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology. 3rd International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology. Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA. May 23–25, 2005. pp. 153-159. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/FUELCELL2005-74119
Download citation file:
18
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
The Effect of Mechanical Fatigue on the Lifetimes of Membrane Electrode Assemblies
J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol (August,2010)
On the Use of Pressure-Loaded Blister Tests to Characterize the Strength and Durability of Proton Exchange Membranes
J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol (August,2009)
Performance Degradation Tests of Phosphoric Acid Doped Polybenzimidazole Membrane Based High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol (April,2015)
Related Chapters
Recent Developments in J Ic Testing
Developments in Fracture Mechanics Test Methods Standardization
Experiments Concerning Brittle, Ductile, and Environmentally Controlled Fatigue Crack Growth
Fatigue Mechanisms
Impact Testing
A Quick Guide to API 510 Certified Pressure Vessel Inspector Syllabus