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Study on radiation grafting of acrylic acid onto fluorine‐containing polymers. II. Properties of membrane obtained by preirradiation grafting onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene)
Author(s) -
Hegazy ElSayed A.,
Ishigaki Isao,
Rabie Abdelgawad,
Dessouki Ahmed M.,
Okamoto Jiro
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1981.070261132
Subject(s) - tetrafluoroethylene , membrane , grafting , monomer , polymer chemistry , acrylic acid , materials science , swelling , electrolyte , chemical engineering , polymer , chemistry , composite material , copolymer , electrode , biochemistry , engineering
Some properties of the membranes obtained by the preirradiation grafting of acrylic acid onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) film have been studied. The dimensional change by grafting and swelling, water uptake, electric conductivity, and mechanical properties of the grafted PTFE films were measured and were found to increase as the grafting proceeds. These properties were found to be dependent mainly on the degree of grafting regardless of grafting conditions except higher monomer concentration (80 wt %). The electric conductivity and mechanical properties of the membranes at 80 wt % monomer concentration is lower than those at a lower monomer concentration. The results suggest that the membranes obtained at 80‐wt % acrylic acid solution have a somewhat heterogeneous distribution of electrolyte groups as compared with those prepared at a monomer concentration less than 60 wt %. X‐ray microscopy of the grafted films revealed that the grafting begins at the part close to the film surface and proceeds into the center with progressive diffusion of monomer to give finally the homogeneous distribution of electrolyte groups. The membranes show good electrochemical and mechanical properties which make them acceptable for the practical uses as cation exchange membrane.