Mechanisms and Characterization of the Pulsed Electron-Induced Grafting of Styrene onto Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) to Prepare a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane

Radiat Res. 2018 Sep;190(3):309-321. doi: 10.1667/RR15006.1. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

Abstract

During the pulsed-electron beam direct grafting of neat styrene onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP) substrate, the radiolytically-produced styryl and carbon-centered FEP radicals undergo various desired and undesired competing reactions. In this study, a high-dose rate is used to impede the undesired free radical homopolymerization of styrene and ensure uniform covalent grafting through 125-μm FEP films. This outweighs the enhancement of the undesired crosslinking reactions of carbon-centered FEP radicals and the dimerization of the styryl radicals. The degree of uniform grafting through 125-μm FEP films increases from ≈8%, immediately after pulsed electron irradiation to 33% with the subsequent thermal treatment exceeding the glass transition temperature of FEP of 39°C. On the contrary, steady-state radiolysis using 60Co gamma radiolysis, shows that the undesired homopolymerization of the styrene has become the predominant reaction with a negligible degree of grafting. Time-resolved fast kinetic measurements on pulsed neat styrene show that the styryl radicals undergo fast decays via propagation homopolymerization and termination reactions at an observed reaction rate constant of 5 × 108 l · mol-1 · s-1. The proton conductivity of 25-μm film at 80°C is 0.29 ± 0.01 s cm-1 and 0.007 s cm-1 at relative humidity of 92% and 28%, respectively. The aims of this work are: 1. electrolyte membranes are prepared via grafting initiated by a pulsed electron beam; 2. postirradiation heat-treated membranes are uniformly grafted, ideal for industry; 3. High dose rate is the primary parameter to promote the desired reactions; 4. measurement of kinetics of undesired radiation-induced styrene homopolymerization; and 5. The conductivity of prepared membranes is on par or higher than industry standards.

MeSH terms

  • Electrolytes / chemistry
  • Electrolytes / radiation effects*
  • Electrons
  • Free Radicals / chemistry
  • Free Radicals / radiation effects
  • Gamma Rays
  • Kinetics
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Polymerization / radiation effects*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polymers / radiation effects
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene / analogs & derivatives
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene / chemistry
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene / radiation effects
  • Styrene / chemistry
  • Styrene / radiation effects

Substances

  • Electrolytes
  • Free Radicals
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Polymers
  • fluorinated ethylene propylene
  • Styrene
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene