Ion-exchange structures of copolymer blends useful in electrolytic cells

Abstract

Ion-exchange films, membranes and laminar structures incorporating a layer of a blend of a first fluorinated polymer which contains sulfonyl groups in ionizable form and a second fluorinated polymer which contains carboxylic acid functional groups, when used to separate the anode and cathode compartments of an electrolysis cell, permit operation at high current efficiency and low power consumption. They can be made by synthesis of precursor polymers in melt-fabricable form, blending, fabrication of the film, membrane or laminar structure, and hydrolysis of the functional groups to ionizable form, such as the free acid form or alkali metal salt thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.