Process for the treatment of sulfonyl fluoride polymers

Abstract

A process for reducing the amount of soluble polymeric fractions in a sulfonyl fluoride polymer. The process comprises contacting the sulfonyl fluoride polymer with a fluorinated fluid followed by separation of the polymer from the fluid. The fluorinated fluid is selected from hydrofluoroethers and hydrofluoropolyethers. The invention further relates to sulfonyl fluoride polymers obtainable by the process and having a heat of fusion not exceeding 4 J/g and containing less than 15% by weight of polymeric fractions having an average content of monomeric units comprising a sulfonyl functional group exceeding 24 mole %. The sulfonyl fluoride polymers so obtained are particularly suitable for the preparation of ionomeric membranes for use in electrochemical devices.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.