Mechanical reliabilities of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are a major concern to fuel cell vehicles. Hygro-thermal cyclic conditions induce the mechanical stress in MEA and cracks are formed under operating conditions. The purpose of this paper is to understand the failure mechanism of MEA under several mechanical and environmental conditions for the critical design of durable PEFCs. We carried out both static tensile tests and low cycle fatigue tests for MEA. For tensile tests, temperature and humidity in a test chamber were controlled and the surface crack formation of MEA was observed by a video micro scope in situ. Low cycle fatigue tests were carried out in room condition and the number of cycles to crack formation was measured. The results showed that the mechanical properties of MEA were influenced by temperature and humidity. The observations of MEA during tensile tests revealed that cracks were formed on the surface of catalyst layers just after the yielding of MEA. This result indicates that the deformation mismatch between catalyst layer and proton exchange membrane (PEM) is an important parameter to suppress the crack formation in MEA. The results of low cycle fatigue tests revealed that the fatigue strength of MEA followed the Coffin-Manson law and the fatigue design of MEA based on the Coffin-Manson law is possible. This result is valuable for the critical design of durable PEFCs.
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ASME 2012 10th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology collocated with the ASME 2012 6th International Conference on Energy Sustainability
July 23–26, 2012
San Diego, California, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Advanced Energy Systems Division
- Solar Energy Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4482-3
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Crack Formation on Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) Under Static and Cyclic Loadings
Yusuke Kai,
Yusuke Kai
Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
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Yuki Kitayama,
Yuki Kitayama
Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
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Masaki Omiya,
Masaki Omiya
Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
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Tomoaki Uchiyama,
Tomoaki Uchiyama
Toyota Motor Corporation, Susono, Shizuoka, Japan
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Manabu Kato
Manabu Kato
Toyota Motor Corporation, Susono, Shizuoka, Japan
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Yusuke Kai
Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Yuki Kitayama
Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Masaki Omiya
Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Tomoaki Uchiyama
Toyota Motor Corporation, Susono, Shizuoka, Japan
Manabu Kato
Toyota Motor Corporation, Susono, Shizuoka, Japan
Paper No:
FuelCell2012-91164, pp. 143-151; 9 pages
Published Online:
July 23, 2013
Citation
Kai, Y, Kitayama, Y, Omiya, M, Uchiyama, T, & Kato, M. "Crack Formation on Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) Under Static and Cyclic Loadings." Proceedings of the ASME 2012 10th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology collocated with the ASME 2012 6th International Conference on Energy Sustainability. ASME 2012 10th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology. San Diego, California, USA. July 23–26, 2012. pp. 143-151. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/FuelCell2012-91164
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