IP Library › Patent Application 12365843
Patent Application
App. No. 12/365,843

FLUORINATION OF A POROUS HYDROCARBON-BASED POLYMER FOR USE AS COMPOSITE MEMBRANE

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/365,843
Abstract

Fluorination of a porous hydrocarbon-based polymer for use as a composite membrane and, more particularly, for use as a composite proton exchange membrane for a fuel cell. The composite membrane is formed by fluorination of the porous hydrocarbon-based polymer to yield a selectively fluorinated polymer, which is then loaded with an ionomer to yield the composite membrane.

Claims (12)

1 . A method for making a composite membrane, comprising fluorinating a porous hydrocarbon-based polymer to yield a fluorinated substrate, and loading the fluorinated substrate with ionomer to yield the composite membrane.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the porous hydrocarbon-based polymer is polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyimide or polyurethane.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the porous hydrocarbon-based polymer has a molecular weight in excess of 1,000,000.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the porous hydrocarbon-based polymer has a porosity in excess of 70 vol. %.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the ionomer is Nafion®, BAM®, Flemion®, Hyflon®, Aciplex®, PFSA resins, partially fluorinated sulfonic acid resins, sulfonated polyarylene ethers (PAEs), and sulfonated styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrenes (SEBS).

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the ionomer is loaded by surface coating the fluorinated substrate with ionomer.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer is in the form of a film.

8 . A composite membrane made by the method of claim 1 .

9 . A membrane electrode assembly comprising the composite membrane of claim 8 .

10 . A fuel cell comprising the membrane electrode assembly of claim 9 .

11 . A fuel cell stack comprising the fuel cell of claim 10 .

12 - 15 . (canceled)