Device to measure fatigue life of membranes under biaxial loading fatigue: Tension and torsion

•Self-designed and constructed machine for biaxial load in membranes: tension–torsion.•Control algorithm used in the biaxial tests machine.•Developed interface to control the machine using the Arduino software, version 1.8.1.•Measure of fatigue endurance on Nafion 115 strip, subjected to tension and torsion. This paper presents a self-designed and constructed machine to measure fatigue life of membranes under biaxial fatigue: tension–torsion (BTTM). This device works under two controlled environmental parameters: temperature and humidity. The machine is destined to carry out tests on membranes with thickness from 50 to 1500 µm. The working control is implemented using the software Arduino, version 1.8.1, an open and reliable software. Its measurement capacities are as follows: from 1 to 70 MPa of tension and up to 180 degrees of torsion, from room temperature to 80 °C, and from environmental to saturated humidity. Tests were obtained on the Nafion 115 material used as proton exchange membrane in fuel cell, with 127 μm of thickness. The first experimental tests were conducted under the following conditions: room temperature (22–25 °C), environmental humidity (50–55%), tension loading of: 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 MPa, and constant torsion angle of 50°.