Full text: Download
An experimental setup has been designed to measure air-water capillary pressure curves for gas diffusion layers (GDLs) used in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells at elevated temperatures. Experiments were conducted at various temperatures from 25 to 85{degree sign}C for Toray 120 with 0% and 10% PTFE by weight. In untreated samples the results suggest that GDL wettability actually changes with temperature once the temperature dependence of the surface tension has been accounted. In treated samples, however, the wettability remains constant with temperature. This behavior is in agreement with the temperature dependent values of water contact angle on PTFE and graphite.