# US 11,110,401 B2 · Method for hydrophilizing porous membrane and method for manufacturing ion-exchange membrane using same

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- Number: US 11,110,401 B2
- Document ID: US11110401B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/599,391
- Filed: 2019-10-11
- Published: 2020-02-06
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2017-04-13
- Assignees: W-Scope Korea Co., Ltd.; W-Scope Chungju Plant Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: W-Scope Korea Co., Ltd.; W-Scope Chungju Plant Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kyung Seok Yoon; Byung Hyun Kim; Won Sun Ryoo; Myung Su Jung; Bom Yi Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110401B2

## CPC

- B01D 67/009: {with wave-energy, particle-radiation or plasma}
- C08J 5/2287: {After-treatment}
- B01D 71/261: {Polyethylene}
- B01D 71/82: characterised by the presence of specified groups, e.g. introduced by chemical after-treatment
- C08J 5/22: Films, membranes or diaphragms
- C08J 5/2293: {After-treatment of fluorine-containing membranes}
- C08J 7/12: Chemical modification
- C08K 3/013: Fillers, pigments or reinforcing additives
- C08K 9/04: Ingredients treated with organic substances {(treated with macromolecular compounds C08K9/08)}
- H01M 8/1086: After-treatment of the membrane other than by polymerisation
- B01D 2323/02: Hydrophilization
- B01D 2323/21: Fillers
- B01D 2325/0283: Pore size
- B01D 2325/42: Ion-exchange membranes
- C08J 2323/06: Polyethene
- C08J 2423/06: Polyethene
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there are provided a method of hydrophilizing a porous membrane which includes treating a porous membrane with plasma in the presence of a mixed gas containing sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxygen (O2), and a method of preparing an ion-exchange membrane using the same.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of hydrophilizing a porous membrane, comprising treating a porous membrane with plasma in the presence of a mixed gas containing sulfur dioxide (SO2) at 60 to 80 vol % and oxygen (O2) at 20 to 40 vol %.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the porous membrane includes two types of polyethylene having different weight-average molecular weights at 30 to 90 wt % and an inorganic filler at 10 to 70 wt %.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the polyethylene includes a first polyethylene having a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 g/mol and a second polyethylene having a weight-average molecular weight of 200,000 to 500,000 g/mol.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the inorganic filler has an average particle size of 10 to 1,000 nm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the inorganic filler includes a hydrocarbon layer formed on a surface thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the porous membrane has an average pore size of 20 to 2,000 nm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plasma treatment is carried out for 0.5 to 20 minutes.

### Claim 8

A porous membrane hydrophilized by a method of hydrophilizing a porous membrane, the method comprising treating a porous membrane with plasma in the presence of a mixed gas containing sulfur dioxide (SO2) at 60 to 80 vol % and oxygen (O2) at 20 to 40 vol %, and the porous membrane has a contact angle of 15° or less.

### Claim 9

A method of preparing an ion-exchange membrane, comprising:
(a) hydrophilizing a porous membrane by treating the porous membrane with plasma in the presence of a mixed gas containing sulfur dioxide (SO2) at 60 to 80 vol % and oxygen (O2) at 20 to 40 vol %;
(b) preparing an electrolytic solution by dissolving a polymer electrolyte in a solvent; and
(c) impregnating the porous membrane hydrophilized in the step (a) with the electrolytic solution.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the polymer electrolyte is a sulfonated polymer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the sulfonated polymer is one sulfonated hydrocarbon-based polymer selected from the group consisting of sulfonated polysulfones, sulfonated polyethersulfones, sulfonated polythiosulfones, sulfonated polyether ether ketones, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polystyrenes, sulfonated polyphosphazenes, and a mixture of two or more thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the sulfonated polymer has a degree of sulfonation of 60 to 90%.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the electrolytic solution includes the polymer electrolyte at 30 to 60 wt %.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the solvent is one selected from the group consisting of an ester-based solvent, an ether-based solvent, an alcohol-based solvent, a ketone-based solvent, an amide-based solvent, a sulfone-based solvent, a carbonate-based solvent, an aliphatic hydrocarbon-based solvent, an aromatic hydrocarbon-based solvent, and a mixture of two or more thereof.