Effect of relative humidity on mechanical strength of zirconia/ Nafion® Nano-composite membrane

Nemavhola, Fulufhelo; Dhlamini, Simon; Sigwadi, Rudzani; Mokrani, Touhami

doi:10.22061/jcarme.2017.2484.1239

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ University of South Africa Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

² University of South Africa

https://doi.org/10.22061/jcarme.2017.2484.1239

Abstract

This paper presents the results of mechanical strength of wet and dry zirconia/ Nafion^® nano-composite membrane. The tensile tests were conducted to determine elastic modulus and stiffness of dry and wet pristine Nafion^® membrane and modified Nafion^® membrane. The composite membranes were prepared by recast method of different synthesized zirconium oxide with the zirconia content of 10% by weight. The uniaxial mechanical properties of nano-composite membranes and recast Nafion^® membrane were captured using a CellScale UStretch uniaxial testing system. The length, width, and thickness of samples were measured using a Vernier caliper and recorded prior to testing. It was found that elastic modulus of the wet Nafion recast is 62.06 %, 35.26 %, 30.79 % and 35.26 % higher than that of Nafion^®/ Zr-100, Nafion/^® Zr-80, Nafion^®/Zr-50, and Nafion^®/Zr-0, respectively. The elastic modulus of dry Nafion recast, Nafion^®/Zr-100, Nafion^®/Zr-80, Nafion^®/Zr-50, and Nafion/Zr-0 membranes are 46.29 %, 83.31 %, 64.81 %, 59.84 %, and 78.36 % higher than those of wet Nafion^® recast, Nafion^®/Zr-100, Nafion^®/Zr-80, Nafion^®/Zr-50, and Nafion^®/Zr-0 membranes, respectively. Furthermore, the results showed that when the water content increases in the nano-composite membranes the mechanical strength also decreases.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

20.1001.1.22287922.2018.7.2.4.4

Main Subjects

Mechanics of Materials

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Journal of Computational & Applied Research in Mechanical Engineering (JCARME)

Effect of relative humidity on mechanical strength of zirconia/ Nafion® Nano-composite membrane

References

References

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Volume 7, Issue 2 - Serial Number 14
March 2018
Pages 175-187

Effect of relative humidity on mechanical strength of zirconia/ Nafion® Nano-composite membrane

References

References

Send comment about this article

Volume 7, Issue 2 - Serial Number 14March 2018Pages 175-187

Volume 7, Issue 2 - Serial Number 14
March 2018
Pages 175-187