Anion Exchange Membranes (AEM)

The Orion Polymer Anion Exchange Membranes (AEMs) are currently being offered in both mechanically reinforced membranes and self-supporting membranes forms.  Mechanically reinforced membranes are also known as composite AEMs.  Orion TM1 Durion^TM resin has an ion exchange capacity of 2.0-2.3 mequiv/g. AEMs made with Orion BN2 resin have an ion exchange capacity that is greater than 2.0-2.3 mequiv/g.They are stable under neutral and alkaline conditions.  The blind study conducted by NREL demonstrated that AEMs manufactured with Orion TM1 Durion^TM and Orion BN2 resins are the ONLY anion exchange membranes that would provide excellent lifetime at high temperatures without any degradation (>1000 hours of durability at 80 °C with 1M KOH electrolyte). 

Orion Polymer Corp. is offering the following membranes through FuelCellStore site: Orion TM1 Durion^TM AEM - Self Supporting 30 μm membrane, Orion BN2 AEM - Self Supporting 30 μm membrane, Orion BN2 AEM - Mechanically Reinforced 5 μm membrane, and Orion BN2 AEM - Mechanically Reinforced 30 μm membrane.

Orion TM1 Durion^TM resin based mechanically reinforced membranes are currently being manufactured by Xergy team and these membranes can be found here: Xergy AEMs.

All of these anion exchange membranes are ideally suited for un-pressurized or pressurized anion exchange membrane fuel cells (with or without alkaline electrolyte), alkaline fuel cells (with or without alkaline electrolyte), alkaline proton pumps, alkaline oxygen concentrators, alkaline hypoxia, and alkaline batteries or any other neutral to alkaline electrochemical devices.  Gaseous or liquid reactants can be used without any issue.

When would you use a thinner reinforced Orion Polymer anion exchange membrane (less than 30 micrometers)?
When the best efficiency is required and there won't be much differential pressure across the membrane. Or when the reactants (fuel or oxidizer) are supplied as dry gases (0% RH) or partially humidified (<50% RH).  Thinner membranes provides excellent water transport across the membrane, maintains sufficient amount of hydration both at the anode and cathode, and hence minimizes the generation of peroxide radicals and other radical species that are harmful to the membrane when the fuel or oxidant is supplied either as dry or partially humidified.

When would you use a thicker reinforced Orion Polymer anion exchange membrane (30 micrometers)?
Thicker membranes are more appropriate for differential pressure applications (<3 bars) or applications that require long operational lifetimes. Or when the reactants (fuel or oxidizer) are supplied in sufficiently humidified states such as 50%+ RH.