Comparative study on the preparation and properties of radiation‐grafted polymer electrolyte membranes based on fluoropolymer films |
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Authors: | Jinhua Chen Upita Septiani Masaharu Asano Yasunari Maekawa Hitoshi Kubota Masaru Yoshida |
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Affiliation: | 1. Conducting Polymer Materials Group, Environment and Industrial Materials Research Division,Quantum Beam Science Directorate, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), 1233 Watanuki‐machi, Takasaki, Gunma 370–1292, Japan;2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Gunma University, 1–5–1 Tenjin‐cho, Kiryu, Gunma 376–8515, Japan |
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Abstract: | In this study the fluoropolymers, poly(ethylene‐co‐tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) films, together with the radiation‐induced crosslinked polytetrafluoroethylene (cPTFE) film were compared on the basis of their preparation and properties of radiation‐grafted polymer electrolyte membranes. The polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared by radiation grafting of styrene into the base films and subsequent sulfonation. The proton conductivity and chemical stability of the three types of membranes with a similar ion exchange capacity (IEC) near 1.0 mmol/g were investigated and are discussed in detail. Although the ETFE‐based polymer electrolyte membrane was relatively more stable, its proton conductivity was lower than those of the PVDF‐ and cPTFE‐based membranes. On the other hand, the cPTFE‐based membrane showed a significantly higher proton conductivity, but its chemical stability was shorter than that of the ETFE‐based membrane. It is considered that the difference in the preparation and properties of the polymer electrolyte membranes was due to the difference in the degree of crystallinity as well as in the chemical structure of the fluoropolymer base films. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1966–1972, 2007 |
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Keywords: | polymer electrolyte membrane radiation grafting proton conduction stability |
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