Degradation of Silicone Rubbers in Fenton’s Reagents

Gaskets are applied in PEMFCs (proton exchange membrane fuel cells) to keep reactant gases and liquid within their respective regions, which are of great significance for the both sealing and electrochemical performance of fuel cells during the long-term operation. In this study, the degradation of silicone rubbers, often selected as seals in PEMFCs, in Fenton’s reagents with different H2O2 concentrations was investigated. The changes in chemical properties, mechanical behavior and surface morphology of the samples were studied before and after exposure to the test environment over time. It is found that increasing H2O2 concentration will degrade the rubbers more severely. The experimental results elucidate the degradation mechanism of silicone rubbers in Fenton’s reagents and the influence of H2O2 in the degradation process.