Process for making liquid composition of perfluorinated ion exchange polymer, and product thereof

A process for making a liquid composition of a perfluorinated ion exchange polymer having --SO.sub.3 M functional groups, wherein M is H, Na, K or NR.sub.4 where each R separately is H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5, in a liquid medium, said liquid composition being liquid at room temperature, said process comprising contacting a said polymer having an equivalent weight in the range of 1025 to 1500, with a mixture consisting essentially of about 90 to 99% by weight water and about 1 to 10% by weight of at least one member of the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, dioxane and acetonitrile at a temperature in the range of about 240.degree. to 300.degree. C. for at least 0.5 hour in a closed vessel, and separating from said liquid composition any lower density liquid phase present.

A process for making a liquid composition of a perfluorinated ion exchange polymer having --SO.sub.3 M functional groups wherein M is H, Na, K or NR.sub.4 where each R separately is H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5, in water, said liquid composition being liquid at room temperature, said process comprising contacting a said polymer having an equivalent weight in the range of 1025 to 1500, with water at a temperature in the range of about 240.degree. to 300.degree. C. for at least 0.5 hour in a closed vessel.

A process for separating a first perfluorinated ion exchange polymer having --SO.sub.3 M functional groups wherein M is H, Na, K or NR.sub.4, and each R is separately H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5, said first polymer having an equivalent weight in the range of 1025 to 1250, from a second perfluorinated ion exchange polymer having --COOQ functional groups wherein Q is H, lower alkyl, Na, K or NR.sub.4 where each R is separately H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5, said second polymer having an equivalent weight in the range of 600 to 2000, which process comprises contacting material which contains both said first and second polymers with a liquid consisting essentially of 20 to 100% by weight of water and 0 to 80% by weight of at least one member of the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, dioxane and acetonitrile at a temperature in the range of about 180.degree. to 300.degree. C. and below the critical temperature of each component member of said liquid, for at least 0.5 hour in a closed vessel, and separating a liquid composition containing said first polymer from remaining solids by filtration or centrifugation.

A process for making a second liquid composition of a perfluorinated ion exchange polymer having --SO.sub.3 H functional groups in a liquid medium, said second liquid composition being liquid at room temperature, said process comprising contacting a perfluorinated ion exchange polymer having --SO.sub.3 M' functional groups, wherein M' is Na, K or NR.sub.4 where each R separately is H, CH.sub.3, or C.sub.2 H.sub.5, and having an equivalent weight in the range of 1025 to 1500, with a mixture consisting essentially of about 20 to 100% by weight water and 0 to about 80% by weight of at least one member of the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethyoxyethanol, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, dioxane and acetonitrile at a temperature in the range of about 180.degree. to 300.degree. C. and below the critical temperature(s) of said member(s) employed, for at least 0.5 hour in a closed vessel to form a first liquid composition, and then contacting said first liquid composition with a cation exchange resin in acid form to convert said first liquid composition to said second liquid composition.