Mv. Rouilly et al., PROTON-EXCHANGE MEMBRANES PREPARED BY SIMULTANEOUS RADIATION GRAFTINGOF STYRENE ONTO TEFLON-FEP FILMS - SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION, Journal of membrane science, 81(1-2), 1993, pp. 89-95
Proton exchange membranes were prepared by simultaneous radiation graf
ting of styrene onto Teflon-FEP films and subsequent sulfonation. Degr
ees of grafting from 13 to 52% were obtained. FTIR-ATR in combination
with FTIR measurements show a homogeneous distribution of polystyrene
across the grafted film. Water uptake after swelling in boiling water
and specific conductivity of the sulfonated membranes were determined.
The strong decrease in specific resistivity with increasing degree of
grafting is due to an increasing proton mobility, reflected by an inc
reasing hydration of the sulfonic acid groups. For degrees of grafting
higher than 30% specific resistivity values as low as 2 OMEGA-cm (20-
degrees-C) are measured,