Alkali anion exchange membrane (AEM) fuel cells have the potential for electrochemical energy conversion using inexpensive catalyst and a variety of fuel types. Stability and transport must be improved in AEMs before these devices can be fully realized. Mechanical failure of the membrane can contribute to failure of the fuel cell, thus membrane durability is critical to overall system design. Compared to well researched proton exchange membranes, there is no standard baseline AEM to compare mechanical properties. This work attempts a fundamental study of the mechanical properties of three well-established AEMs using a modified extensional rheometer platform that simulates tensile testing using small membrane samples. The limitations of using this instrument for tensile tests with brittle polymers are also discussed.
