PROTON-EXCHANGE MEMBRANES BY RADIATION-INDUCED GRAFT-COPOLYMERIZATIONOF MONOMERS INTO TEFLON-FEP FILMS

A state-of-the-art in radiation-induced graft copolymerization of styr ene and acrylic acid monomers into Teflon-FEP films is presented with a view to develop proton exchange membranes for various applications. This process offers an easy control over the composition of a membrane by careful variation in radiation dose, dose rate, monomer concentrat ion, and temperature of the grafting reaction. By varying the nature a nd the amount of the grafted content, it is possible to achieve a memb rane with desired physico-chemical properties. In this paper, a correl ation among the degree of grafting, structural changes, and properties of graft copolymer membranes is discussed.