Electrochemical properties of polyethylene membrane modified with carboxylic acid group

Two cation-exchange membranes modified with the carboxylic acid group for b attery separator were prepared by radiation-induced grafting of acrylic aci d (AA) and methacrylic acid (MA) onto a polyethylene (PE) film. The surface area, thickness, volume, water uptake, ion-exchange capacity, specific ele ctric resistance, and electrolyte flux were evaluated after PE film was gra fted with AA and MA. It was found that KOH diffusion flux of AA-grafted PE membrane and MA-grafted PE membrane increased with an increase in the degre e of grafting. AA-grafted PE membrane had a higher diffusion flux than MA-g rafted PE membrane. Electrical resistance of two cation-exchange membranes modified with AA and MA decreased rapidly with an increase in the degree of grafting. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.