Fabrication of a poly-electrolyte membrane based on cross-linked PTFE thin film by EB irradiation grafting

Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) membranes based on cross-linked polytetrafluoroethylene (RX-PTFE) very thin film have been fabricated by radiation grafting with reactive styrene monomers using electron beam irradiation under nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature. The characteristic properties of obtained materials have been measured by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, etc. The glass transition temperatures and thermal decomposition temperatures of grafted materials strongly depend on the yields of styrene grafting onto base materials. The higher yields of grafting give lower thermal stability. The ion-exchange capacity of sulfonated materials is 3.0 mEquiv/g. The other properties of obtained membranes, such as chemical structure and rates of hydrogen gas transmission, are discussed.