Method for making reinforced ion exchange membranes
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorShoibal Banerjee
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Abstract
A method for making a composite fluorinated ion exchange membrane is provided comprising applying a continuous fluorinated ion exchange polymer film to a porous reinforcing substrate, preferably made from a polyolefin such as linear high density polyethylene. The composite membrane is made by applying a solvent to the surface of the film and/or the substrate and then affixing the reinforcing substrate. These reinforced membranes may advantageously be used as separators in fuel cells, and as selective barriers in permeation separation and facilitated transport operations.
Claims19
A process for making a composite membrane comprising:
- a) forming an ion exchange film from a fluorinated polymer;
- b) forming a porous hydrocarbon substrate;
- c) coating at least one side of said film or substrate or both with a solvent for said polymer, said coating being performed at a temperature below the degradation temperature of the substrate and the film;
- and
- d) pressing together the coated side or sides of the substrate and the film at a temperature below the degradation temperature of the substrate and the film to facilitate bonding of the substrate and the film.
A process for making a composite membrane comprising:
- a) forming an ion exchange film from a fluorinated polymer;
- b) hydrolyzing said polymer film;
- c) forming a porous hydrocarbon substrate;
- d) coating at least one side of said hydrolyzed film or substrate or both with a solvent for said polymer, said coating being performed at a temperature below the degradation temperature of the substrate and the film;
- and
- e) pressing together the coated side or sides of the substrate and the film at a temperature below the degradation temperature of the substrate and the film to facilitate bonding of the substrate and the film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.