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La pile à combustible apparaît comme une technologie prometteuse pour la conversion énergétique à faible impact environnemental mais sa commercialisation à grande échelle nécessite de relever certains défis économiques et technologiques. Tout d'abord, pour fonctionner, la pile a besoin de systèmes (compresseurs, convertisseurs,...) parfois volumineux et coûteux en énergie. Ensuite, le prix de certains éléments constituants la pile reste élevé car ce sont des produits à haute valeur technologique utilisant des matériaux parfois très onéreux (membrane polymère, couche catalytique,...). L'optimisation du système pile à combustible et des éléments environnants n'est pas le seul défi à relever. En effet, la durabilité des assemblages membrane-électrodes (AME) constitue une barrière majeure à la commercialisation de ces systèmes pour des applications stationnaires ou dans les transports. Afin d'améliorer la durabilité de ces assemblages, il est nécessaire de bien caractériser les différents éléments les constituant et de déterminer et de quantifier les mécanismes de dégradation. Le premier chapitre de cette thèse présente une étude bibliographique sur les PEMFC et l'électrochimie fondamentale régissant le fonctionnement de ces systèmes. Le second chapitre présente les matériaux composant les différents éléments du système ainsi que les méthodes expérimentales utilisées pour caractériser les AME. Le chapitre suivant évoque l'étude et la mise en oeuvre d'une technique électrochimique de caractérisation d'un empilement, notamment la mesure de surface active des différentes cellules. Enfin, le quatrième et dernier chapitre concerne une étude du vieillissement hétérogène d'empilements de trois cellules / Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are seen as a promising technology for environmentally friendly energy conversion but its wide spread commercialization need taking up several technological and economic challenges. First, to operate PEM fuel cells require sizeable and energy consuming surrounding systems (compressors, converters,...). Then, elements constituting the cell remain costly because with high technological value and using expensive materials (polymer membrane, catalyst layer,...). The optimization of the system and the surrounding elements is not the only challenge to take up. Indeed, durability of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) constitutes the major barrier to commercialization of these systems for stationary or transport applications. In order to increase durability of the assemblies, a better understanding of the aging mechanisms is necessary. The first chapter of the thesis introduces a bibliographical study on PEMFC and the fundamental electrochemistry governing the system operation. The second chapter introduces materials composing the different system elements and experimental methods used for PEMFC characterization. The next chapter deals with a study on stack characterization, particularly the development of an electrochemical technique allowing active surface area measurement of the cells composing the stack. Finally, the last chapter deals with heterogeneous aging within PEMFC stacks

[Truncated abstract] Corrosion of steel structures caused by sulphide is a common engineering problem encountered by many industries, such as the petroleum, chemical processing, mining and mineral processing industries. The control of sulphide corrosion is still a controversial topic among corrosion engineers. There is an absence of guideline for a reliable acceptable limit of sulphide level in service and each processing industry has its own empirical values. Selection of inhibitors in the sulphide environment depends on laboratory testing before its actual application in pipelines and reaction vessels. Many investigators have postulated the corrosion mechanisms due to sulphide based on operating envelopes such as pH, chloride, manganese, hydrogen sulphide, sulphate reducing bacteria levels and inhibitor concentration. It is recommended in the literature that the batch dosing of inhibitor and biocide needs to be evaluated in regards to sulphide reducing bacteria (SRB) level, which may produce sulphide concentrations up to 2000 ppm. Although sulphide scale formation may protect the base metal by providing a physical barrier, the detrimental effects of sulphide are often inevitable, such as stress corrosion cracking, hydrogen embrittlement, etc. Currently, there are many chemicals that are used as inhibitors to prevent corrosion by scavenging the sulphide from the environment. Cerium, a rare-earth element, is not used as inhibitor in the sulphide environment. Also, there are no previous research findings on the effects of compounds of rare-earth metals, such as cerium chloride (CeCl3), in sulphide environment. This research examines the corrosion behaviour of 0.4Mo-0.8Cr steel, a High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) steel, in sulphide-polluted artificial seawater with the addition of CeCl3 and glutaraldehyde. ... It is postulated that the moderate inhibiting effect of CeCl3 is due to the scavenging effect thereby forming Ce2S3 complex. Further reaction of sulphide with steel resulted in ferrous sulphide, leading to an increased corrosion rate. It is also concluded that the CeCl3 interferes with both anodic and cathodic reactions in deaerated conditions. Addition of glutaraldehyde in the sulphide-polluted seawater was found to decrease the corrosion rate. According to the electrochemical measurements conducted, the concurrent addition of glutaraldehyde and CeCl3 appeared to have an added effect on reducing the corrosion of the steel, as evidenced by the increase of the open circuit potential during the short-term testing. From the weight loss measurements after 60 days, sulphide pollution in deaerated seawater was found to increase corrosion rate. This is attributed to the increase of sulphide activity whereby continual dissolution of steel was encountered. From the weight loss tests, it was found that the addition of CeCl3 and glutaraldehyde reduced the corrosion rate of the steel in the solutions containing 0-10 ppm sulphide. There is no noticeable corrosion rate decrease for the solution containing 100 ppm sulphide. The added effect of CeCl3 and glutaraldehyde to the SRB medium has resulted in lower corrosion rates. Further detailed experimentation is required to elucidate the corrosion reduction mechanism in glutaraldehyde-containing environments.

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-03-23T21:32:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JOÃO PAULO DANTAS DE CARVALHO - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEQ 2015..pdf: 1534561 bytes, checksum: 93959f6eca85fa51565d250b6a984284 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-23T21:32:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JOÃO PAULO DANTAS DE CARVALHO - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEQ 2015..pdf: 1534561 bytes, checksum: 93959f6eca85fa51565d250b6a984284 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-11-11 / CNPq / Desde a sua descoberta, em 1864 por Cailletet, a fragilização de metais por hidrogênio, foi sujeito a inúmeras investigações, sendo primeiramente estudado com a injeção de hidrogênio gasoso em metais e ligas. Devanathan e Stachurski (1962) desenvolveram a técnica eletroquímica de permeação de hidrogênio em metais e ligas, tornando o estudo mais prático, esta metodologia se baseia em uma dupla célula eletroquímica dispostas simetricamente onde o metal a ser estudado é inserido entre elas. Uma delas conhecida como célula de carga irá gerar o H2 a ser permeado através do corpo de prova e na outra, conhecida como célula de detecção, o mesmo será oxidado e quantificado seu fluxo. Toda a detecção é realizada potenciostaticamente, mas a geração pode ser realizada por meio galvanostático (método galvanostático-potenciostático), potenciostacamente (método duplo-potenciostático) ou por permeação em circuito aberto em meio ácido, chamado de „PCAA‟. As normas ASTM 148-97 (2003) e ISO 17081 (2004) padronizam os experimentos de permeação eletroquímica de hidrogênio. Como os diferentes métodos são baseados em soluções de contorno diferenciados para solução da segunda lei de Fick, tais normas não levam isto em consideração adotando o cálculo da difusividade do hidrogênio apenas pelo método duplo potenciostático, mesmo para aqueles que estudam o fenômeno, diga-se de passagem, em sua grande maioria, utilizando a metodologia galvanostático-potenciostático. Autores como McBreen et al (1966) e Boes & Zuchner (1972) descrevem o fenômeno de permeação de hidrogênio em metais de forma matemática, a partir da solução da segunda de lei de Fick, estes trabalhos atestam a diferença entre os métodos duplo-potenciostatico e galvanostático-potenciostático, porém nunca foi proposto um modelo que descreva o comportamento do método PCAA. Com isso, o trabalho tem como objetivo elucidar o emprego dos modelos matemáticos para determinação do coeficiente de difusão do hidrogênio em metais através das distintas técnicas eletroquímicas de permeação, utilizando os aços API 5L X70 e X65, além disto procurou-se um modelo matemático para o caso em que a geração de hidrogênio seja realizada pelo método PCAA. Neste trabalho atesta-se que que o uso das equações proposta pela norma, a princípio, subestimam o valor da difusividade. A equação proposta para o método PCAA, apresentou um perfeito ajuste de dados experimentais de permeação. A correlação proposta para o cálculo da difusividade mostrou-se coerente para estimar este parâmetro, não só para o caso PCAA, como também para todos os casos. / Since its discovery in 1864 by Cailletet, hydrogen embrittlement of metals, was subjected to numerous investigations, first being studied with the injection of gaseous hydrogen in metals and alloys. Devanathan and Stachurski (1962) developed the electrochemical technique of hydrogen permeation in metals and alloys, making it the study more practical this methodology is based on a dual symmetrically arranged electrochemical cell where the metal to be studied is inserted between them. One known as load cell will generate H2 to be permeated through the specimen and the other, known as the detection cell, it will be oxidized and its flow quantified. All detection is performed potentiostaticly, but the generation can be performed by galvanostatic (galvanostaticpotentiostatic method), potentiostaticly (double- potentiostatic method), or by hydrogen permeation on acid environment method known as a PCAA. The regulations ASTM 148-97 (2003) and ISO 17081 (2004) standardize the electrochemical hydrogen permeation experiments. How different methods are based on different workarounds for solution of the second Fick's law, such rules do not take this into account by adopting the calculation of the hydrogen diffusivity only by the dual voltage method, even for those who study the phenomenon, say passing for the most part, using the galvanostatic-potentiostatic methodology. Authors such as McBreen et al (1966) and Boes & Züchner (1972) describe the hydrogen permeation phenomenon in mathematical form of metal from the solution of the second Fick law, these works attest to the difference between the double-potentiostatic methods and galvanostatic-potentiostatic, but has never proposed a model that describes the behavior of the PCAA method. Thus, the study aims to elucidate the use of mathematical models to determine the hydrogen diffusion coefficient in metals through the different electrochemical techniques permeation using the API 5L steels X70 and X65, in addition sought a mathematical model for the case where the hydrogen generation is performed by the PCAA method. This work testifies that the use of the equations proposed by the standard at first underestimate the value of diffusivity. The equation proposed for the PCAA method, presented a perfect fit experimental permeation data. The proposed correlations for calculating the diffusivity was found to be consistent to estimate this parameter not only to the case PCAA, but also for all cases.