Preliminary Study of Membrane Preparation for Fuel Cell Polymer Electrolyte Membrane

Proton conducting membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) have been prepared by radiation graft copolymerization of acrylic acid onto back bone polymers such as linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP). Graft copolymers are prepared by γ-radiation and electron beam irradiation. The methods used are grafting on radiation-peroxide and grafting initiated by trapped radicals, in which the grafting reaction is done after the irradiation process (pre-irradiation grafting). The influence of the preparation conditions and the role of the initial polymer matrixes are studied. The degrees of grafting are determined by the total absorbed dose during irradiation, monomer's concentration, grafting temperature, and the time of grafting. It is found that dose rate does not have a significant effect on the yield of grafting. The best suitable conditions for the grafting are as follows: 45 kGy for total dose, 40% (v/v) for monomer's concentration, 70 °C for temperature and 90 minutes for period of grafting. Membranes based on different polymer matrixes show differences in their water uptake from liquid water. Apparently the ability of the membranes to take in the solvent depends on matrixes of the back bone polymers. It reflects the hydrophilic membranes properties. The preliminary characterization of the prepared grafted membranes is done by the treatment of metal uptake, using atomic absorption technique. The maximum uptake of the membranes for a given metal is Fe > Cu > Co except for LLDPE-g-Aac in which the uptake of Co > Cu. The maximum uptake of the membranes for a mixture of the metals in the same feed solution is Fe > Cu > Co. (author)