Abstract
Open circuit voltage tests were conducted on sixteen 3M Ionomer and eight Nafion™ NR211 membranes. Lifetime distributions were determined, and ion chromatography (IC) techniques were used to measure fluoride, sulfate, trifluoro acetate, and oxalate ions. Combustion Ion Chromatography (CIC) was used to determine the total organic fluoride (TOF) associated with water soluble membrane degradation fragments. The ratio of these products relative to the fluoride release rates were used to infer the likely degradation mechanism for each membrane. Peroxide attack at the sulfonic acid side chain was determined to be the least relevant reaction pathway while the long-proposed polymer chain end unzipping appears to be the dominant mechanism. ion of the tertiary fluorine in the NR211 backbone and side chain is evident by organic fluoride release rates higher than can be explained by unzipping alone.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
