Abstract:
Bulk polymerization is suggested as an alternative
to solution polymerization to graft N-containing
monomers onto poly(ethylene-alt-tetrafluoroethylene) films
to produce highly conductive membranes. Among the
tested monomers, 4-vinyl pyridine was found as the most
reactive monomer giving grafting levels (%GL)[120 %
compared with %GL\45 % previously reported under
similar conditions. Doping grafted films with H3PO4 converted
them to membranes with enhanced water swellability
but their conductivity values were at the same order
of magnitude of membranes prepared by solution polymerization.
These results demonstrate the importance of
having both high grafting levels and homogeneous distribution
of grafting throughout the base polymer.
