Synthesis and characterisation of sulfonic acid-containing ion exchange membranes based on hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon polymers

Radiation-induced graft copolymerisation has been used to modify polymers with styrene to prepare pre-cursor copolymers that can be subsequently functionalised to produce ion exchange membranes. This paper describes the processes of simultaneous and pre-irradiation graft copolymerisation of styrene to modify hydrocarbon and fluorine-containing polymers and their sulfonation to produce hydrophilic membranes. The effect of varying the grafting conditions and their characterisation by ion exchange capacity, electrolytic resistivity and equilibrium water content is reported.