Preparation and characterization of a poly(vinylbenzyl sulfonic acid)‐grafted FEP membrane |
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| Authors: | Geng Fei Junhwa Shin Sung‐A Kang Beom‐Seok Ko Phil‐Hyun Kang Youn‐Sik Lee Young Chang Nho |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Radiation Research Division for Industry & Environment, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1266 Sinjeong‐dong, Jeongeup‐si, Jeollabuk‐do 580‐185, Republic of Korea;2. Division of Semiconductor and Chemical Engineering, Nanomaterials Processing Research Center, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju‐si, Jeollabuk‐do 560‐756, Republic of Korea |
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| Abstract: | In this study, a novel polymer electrolyte membrane, poly(vinylbenzyl sulfonic acid)‐grafted poly(tetrafluoroethylene‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (FEP‐g‐PVBSA), has been successfully prepared by simultaneous irradiation grafting of vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) monomer onto a FEP film and taking subsequent chemical modification steps to modify the benzyl chloride moiety to the benzyl sulfonic acid moiety. The chemical reactions for the sulfonation were carried out via the formation of thiouronium salt with thiourea, base‐catalyzed hydrolysis for the formation of thiol, and oxidation with hydrogen peroxide. Each chemical conversion process was confirmed by FTIR, elemental analysis, and SEM‐EDX. A chemical stability study performed with Fenton's reagent (3% H2O2 solution containing 4 ppm of Fe2+) at 70 °C revealed that FEP‐g‐PVBSA has a higher chemical stability than the poly(styrene sulfonic acid)‐grafted membranes (FEP‐g‐PSSA). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 563–569, 2010 |
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| Keywords: | fluoropolymers functionalization of polymers graft copolymers ion exchangers irradiation membrane poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) radiation graft radical stability sulfonation |
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