Mechanical spectroscopy of metal/polymer composite membranes for hydrogen separation

Abstract In the present work, mechanical properties of metal-polymer composite membranes for hydrogen separation have been investigated by tensile test and mechanical spectroscopy methods. The membranes were prepared by high-energy ball milling and subsequent thermal pressing of a powder mixture of polyethylene with 10 wt% hydride-forming intermetallic compound LaNi2.5Co2.4Mn0.1. The membranes were then subjected to activation by long exposure in a hydrogen atmosphere. The static tensile test showed a slight decrease in membrane tensile strength after hydrogen activation that may be explained by intermetallic particle embrittlement. Mechanical spectroscopy study reveals a shift of the internal friction peak of the activated membrane by 22 K towards lower temperatures and a small decrease of the activation energy of polyethylene viscoelastic transformation from 144 kJ/mol to 138 kJ/mol.