FLUOROPOLIMERO MATERIAL, FLUOROPOLIMERO FILM, PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE CELL AND PROCESS TO OPERATE A FUEL CELL

摘要

The invention is a fluoropolymer material particularly suitable for use as a proton exchange membrane in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The characteristics that make the material particularly useful are the fact that is has an equivalent weight between 700 and 1,000 and a water absorption as high as about 100 weight percent, based on dry membrane. In addition, it is desirable for the nonionic precursor form of the proton exchange membrane polymer to have a melt viscosity of between 6,000 and 80,000 Poise at 250 DEG C in accordance with ASTM test method D-3835. The invention also includes a film formed from the fluoropolymer material that has a thickness of from 0.002 inch (0.0051) to 0.009 inch (0.0229 cm). In addition, the invention includes a PEM fuel cell containing the high-performance PEM fuel cell film and a method for generating electricity using the PEM fuel cell. IMAGE