Block copolymer composition and anion exchange membranes made therefrom

A film comprising:

• 0.1-50 wt. % of a thermoplastic polymer having a tensile strength of >30 MPa, flexural modulus of >1.8 GPa, and heat deflection temperature of ≥75° C.;
• and
• 50-99.9 wt. % of a quaternized crosslinked epoxy functionalized partially hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer having a formula selected from:
• S-BD-E/B, S-BD-E/B-S, (S-BD-E/B)nX, S-I/EP-S, and (S-I/EP)nX,
• wherein
• n
• =
• 2
• -
• 7
• ;
• X is the residual of a coupling agent;
• each block S is a polymer block composed of vinyl aromatic units, and each block S has a peak molecular weight of 5 to 50 kg/mol measured according to ASTM 5296-19;
• each block I is a quaternized crosslinked polymer block composed of isoprene units selectively epoxidized with an epoxy functional group, each block EP is a polymer block composed of an ethylene-propylene block;
• each block BD-E/B is a quaternized crosslinked polymerized block, composed of butadiene units selectively epoxidized with an epoxy functional group, and ethylene/butylene unit, the block BD-E/B has a structure according to formula (I),
• wherein,
• R2=H, CH3;
• x+x′+y>=2, provided x is at least 1 and y is at least 1;
• m>1;
• Z is any of a linear alkyl chain of C1-12, a cyclic alkyl chain of C3-12, or a branched alkyl chain of C4-12;
• and
• HL− is a counter ion selected from OH−, HCO3−, CO32−, F−, Cl−, Br−, and I−;
• and
• optionally, up to 20 wt. % of an initiator, a curing agent, a stabilizer, a neutralizing agent, a surfactant, an antioxidant, a plasticizer, UV stabilizer, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• wherein the film has a thickness of 0.1 to 200 μm, and the film exhibit at least one of the following properties, measured according to ASTM D412;
• a Young's modulus of 40 to 300 MPa;
• an elongation at break of 10 to 40%;
• a tensile strength of 3 to 20 MPa;
• and
• a toughness of 1 to 5 MJ/m3.