Evaluation of radiation stability of electron beam irradiated Nafion® and sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membranes

Proton exchange membranes (PEM), which have been commonly used in fuel cells have raised interest for the application in harsh environments involving ionizing radiation. Therefore, radiation stability and ability to sustain their functionality under the radiation environment are of great interest. Within this study, electron beam irradiation in dose range from 50 to 500kGy was used to evaluate the effects of radiation on the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of two types of PEM: commercial Nafion®117 and sulfonated poly(ether-ether-ketone) (SPEEK) with high degree of sulfonation (DS = 0.75±0.5). SPEEK membrane presented higher mechanical and thermal stability compared to that of Na…