Abstracts Book - IMRC 2018

• SWS-O018
TORSION FATIGUE TESTS ON THE PROTON EXCHANGE
MEMBRANE NAFION 115 , USED IN FUEL CELLS
Gonzalo M. Dominguez Almaraz 1 , Luis Miguel Torres Duarte 1 , C. Jesús Torres Pacheco 1
1 Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
Mexico.
Fatigue tests have been carried out on the membrane Nafion 115, used in
Proton Exchange Fuel Cells, under the modality of torsion. This polymeric
material is used as electrolyte in fuel cells and undergoes mechanical loading by
the combined effect of temperature and humidity. From the initial tension when
it is installed in the fuel cells, the polymer Nafion 115 is subjected to mechanical
loading during industrial use, which include the torsion loading.
In order to carry out the fatigue tests on Nafion 115, an experimental equipment
has been designed and constructed, allowing to apply controlled tension and
torsion load. Experimental results were obtained for three angles of torsion and
two initial tension stress, which include some conditions of use of this polymeric
material inside the fuel cells. The fatigue endurance has been obtained under
this modality of loading and the general trends for crack initiation and
propagation were analyzed too for this material.
Acknowledgment:
The authors express their gratitude to the University of Michoacon in Mexico for
the support given to this research work. A special mention of gratitude to
CONACYT in Mexico (The NationalCouncil for Science and Technology), for the
financial support destined to this research by the grant: CB-2014-01 No. 241117.
Keywords: Torsion fatigue tests, Proton exchange membrane, Fuel cell
Presenting authors email: dalmaraz@umich.mx