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Preparation and characterization of a proton‐exchange membrane by the radiation grafting of styrene onto polytetrafluoroethylene films
Author(s) -
Kang Kai,
Kang Phil Hyun,
Nho Young Chang
Publication year - 2005
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.22628
Subject(s) - grafting , styrene , membrane , polymer chemistry , polystyrene , sulfonic acid , materials science , polytetrafluoroethylene , nuclear chemistry , acrylic acid , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , chemical engineering , chemistry , copolymer , composite material , polymer , biochemistry , engineering
Abstract Radiation‐induced simultaneous grafting of styrene onto polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) films and the subsequent sulfonation in the chlorosulfonic acid/dichloroethane were investigated. The effects of the main radiation grafting conditions, such as the type of solvents, irradiation dose, dose rate, the styrene concentrations, etc. , on the degree of grafting (DOG) were studied. To elucidate the influence of both the grafting and sulfonation conditions on the properties of the PTFE‐ g ‐polystyrene‐sulfonic acid (PSSA) membranes, the sulfonation conditions, including the sulfonation temperature and the concentration of the ClSO 3 H with respect to the DOG, were systematically evaluated. The grafted and sulfonated membranes were characterized by FTIR–ATR spectra, ion‐exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, thickness measurement, etc. The as‐prepared PTFE‐ g ‐PSSA membranes in this work showed a good combination of a high IEC (0.85–2.75 meq g −1 ), acceptable water uptake (8.86–56.9 wt %), low thickness, and volume expansion and/or contraction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1415–1428, 2006