An experimental investigation of strain rate, temperature and humidity effects on the mechanical behavior of a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane

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. ► Time-dependent mechanical behavior of Nafion® 211 membrane is investigated. ► Response is more sensitive to change in strain rate or temperature than to change in humidity. ► Steady state swelling behavior of the membrane is experimentally investigated. ► Little or no hygro-thermal history effect on the swelling strains is reported.