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US 7,906,052 B2Granted
Reinforced ion-conductive membranes
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsIlyess Hadj Romdhane, Scott L. Ciliske
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Abstract
An ion-conductive membrane that includes a first layer comprising a first ionomer, and a porous polymer substrate, where at least a portion of the first ionomer is interpenetrated within the porous polymer substrate by ionomer-induced phase separation.
Claims15
A method of forming an ion-conductive membrane, the method comprising:
- coating a first layer adjacent to a second layer, wherein the first layer comprises a first ionomer dispersed in a first solvent, and wherein the second layer comprises a reinforcement polymer substantially dissolved in a second solvent;
- and
- initiating an ionomer-induced phase separation of the reinforcement polymer from the second solvent, thereby forming a porous polymer substrate from the reinforcement polymer and interpenetrating a portion of the first ionomer within the porous polymer substrate.
A method of forming an ion-conductive membrane, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) coating a first substrate layer having a first surface and a second surface from a first solution, the first solution comprising a reinforcement polymer substantially dissolved in a first solvent;
- b) coating a first ionomer layer adjacent the first surface of the substrate layer, the first ionomer layer comprising a first ionomer;
- c) coating a second ionomer layer adjacent the second surface of the substrate layer, the second ionomer layer comprising a second ionomer;
- and
- d) initiating an ionomer-induced phase separation of the reinforcement polymer from the first solvent, thereby forming a porous polymer substrate from the substrate layer and interpenetrating a portion of the first ionomer and a portion of the second ionomer within the porous polymer substrate.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.