Compositions containing particles of highly fluorinated ion exchange polymer
Solid and liquid compositions containing particles of highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer having sulfonate functional groups with an ion exchange ratio of less than about 33. The compositions contain at least about 25% by weight of polymer particles having a particle size of about 2 nm to about 30 nm.
1. A process for making a film of a highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer having sulfonate functional groups, comprising casting a liquid composition comprising a liquid dispersion medium and about 0.5 to about 50% by weight particles of a highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer having sulfonate functional groups with an ion exchange ratio of less than about 33, at least about 25% by weight of said particles having a particle size of about 2 nm to about 30 nm; and removing said liquid dispersion medium from said composition to form an uncoalesced film of said ion exchange polymer.
2. The process of claim 1 further comprising heating said uncoalesced film to above the coalescence temperature of said ion exchange polymer.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein said liquid dispersion medium further comprises a surfactant.
4. A process for making an elongated shaped article of a highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer having sulfonate functional groups, comprising extruding a liquid composition comprising a liquid dispersion medium and about 0.5 to about 50% by weight particles of a highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer having sulfonate functional groups with an ion exchange ratio of less than about 33, at least about 25% by weight of said particles having a particle size of about 2 nm to about 30 nm; and removing said liquid dispersion medium from said extruded composition to form an uncoalesced shaped article of said ion exchange polymer.
5. The process of claim 4 further comprising heating said uncoalesced shaped article to above the coalescence temperature of said ion exchange polymer.
6. The process of claim 4 wherein said shaped article is a fiber.
7. A process for making an article containing a highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer having sulfonate functional groups, comprising applying to a substrate a liquid composition comprising a liquid dispersion medium and about 0.5 to about 50% by weight particles of a highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer having sulfonate functional groups with an ion exchange ratio of less than about 33, at least about 25% by weight of said particles having a particle size of about 2 nm to about 30 nm; and removing said liquid dispersion medium from said liquid composition to form uncoalesced ion exchange polymer.
8. The process of claim 7 further comprising heating said uncoalesced ion exchange polymer to above the coalescence temperature of said ion exchange polymer.
9. The process of claim 7 wherein said substrate is nonporous and said ion exchange polymer forms a surface coating on said substrate.
10. The process of claim 7 wherein said substrate is porous and at least a portion said ion exchange polymer is incorporated into the interior of said substrate.
11. The process of claim 7 wherein said substrate comprises a fluoropolymer having a composition different from said ion exchange polymer and said liquid dispersion medium is aqueous and further comprises a surfactant to increase adhesion of said ion exchange polymer to said substrate.
12. The process of claim 7 wherein said substrate comprises a fluoropolymer having a composition different from said ion exchange polymer, said fluoropolymer being treated prior to application of said liquid composition to increase adhesion of said ion exchange polymer to said substrate.
13. A process for making an article containing a highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer having sulfonate functional groups, comprising applying to a substrate a liquid composition comprising a liquid dispersion medium and about 0.5 to about 50% by weight particles of a highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer having sulfonate functional groups with an ion exchange ratio of less than about 33, at least about 25% by weight of said particles having a particle size of about 2 nm to about 30 nm; and removing said liquid dispersion medium from said liquid composition to form uncoalesced ion exchange polymer, wherein said liquid composition further comprises particles of a different composition.