Abstract
GAMMA irradiation was used effectively for grafting styrene and ... acrylic acid onto commercial poly (tetraflouroethylene) (PTFE) films with 0.5% alumina nano-particle. It was found that; 40 KGy was the optimum dose to attain the maximum grafting yield when the monomers ratio was 60% styrene: 40% acrylic acid. The prepared membranes are characterized using FT-IR, tensile strength and scanning electron microscopy. Some parameters such as water uptake, ion exchange capacity and proton conductivity were determined in order to examine the membranes capability for the fuel cell application. The free volumes sizes were evaluated using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). Fuel cell performance based the highest grafted yield membrane was tested onto proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The membrane proved their applicability up to 450 hr that recommend their utility from the cost benefit point of view.