Inventors:
Vincent F. D'Agostino - Huntington Station NY
Joseph Y. Lee - Lake Grove NY
Edward H. Cook - Lewiston NY
Assignee:
Hooker Chemicals & Plastics Corporation - Niagara Falls NY
RAI Research Corporation - Hauppauge NY
International Classification:
C25B 116
C25B 124
C25B 1308
Abstract:
This disclosure is directed to fluorocarbon polymers, polymeric membranes, and electrochemical cells and processes. The polymers and membranes are produced by radiation techniques to provide improved products. For example,. alpha. ,. beta. ,. beta. -trifluorostyrene in an inert organic solvent is grafted onto an inert film, such as tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, by irradiation, i. e. with Co-60 gamma radiation at a dose of several Mrad. The grafted film is then sulfonated, preferably in a chlorosulfonic acid bath. The resulting film is useful as a membrane or diaphragm in various electrochemical cells such as chlor-alkali or fuel cells.