Novel phosphonated fluoroelastomers (pfkms), phosphonated perfluoroelastomers (pffkms), their process of preparation and use in electromembrane applications

A phosphonated polymer, comprising:

• an aliphatic polymer backbone;
• and
• a phosphonic acid group,
• wherein the phosphonated polymer is selected from the group consisting of phosphonated aliphatic fluoropolymer rubbers (pFKM) synthesized from fluoropolymer rubber (FKM) and phosphonated aliphatic perfluoropolymer rubbers (pFFKM) synthesized from perfluoropolymer rubber (FFKM),
• wherein the phosphonic acid group is present directly on the backbone or on a side chain of the phosphonated polymer.

A method for preparing a phosphonated polymer, comprising:

• dissolving or suspending FKM or FFKM in a phosphonating agent;
• heating the dissolved or suspended FKM or FFKM to temperatures between 40° C. to 200° C. for 30 minutes to 12 hours;
• thereafter
• distilling off or otherwise removing excess phosphonating agent;
• and
• isolating the phosphonated polymer by dialysis or precipitation,
• wherein the FKM or FFKM has at least one reactive group (—X),
• wherein the least one reactive group (—X) is at least one member selected from the group consisting of —I, —Br, —Cl, —H, —CN, —N3, —OCN, —NCO, —CNO, —SCN, —NCS, —SeCN, and free —OH of a bisphenol AF side chain.