The United States of America as Represented by the United States

The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the

Charles E May

Warren H Philipp

Dean W Sheibley

Li-Chen Hsu

Stanley J Marsik

A self-supporting sheet structure comprising a water soluble, non-cross-linked polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol which is capable of being cross-linked by reaction with hydrogen atom radicals and hydroxyl molecule radicals is contacted with an aqueous solution having a pH of less than 8 and containing a dissolved salt in an amount sufficient to prevent substantial dissolution of the non-cross-linked polymer in the aqueous solution. The aqueous solution is then irradiated with ionizing radiation to form hydrogen atom radicals and hydroxyl molecule radicals and the irradiation is continued for a time sufficient to effect cross-linking of the water soluble polymer to produce a water-insoluble polymer sheet structure. The method has particular application in the production of battery separators and electrode envelopes for alkaline batteries. Low electrical resistivity, desirable in those applications, can be achieved by incorporating a highly conductive water soluble resin, such as polyacrylic acid, with the polyvinyl alcohol.

Method of cross-linking polyvinyl alcohol and other water soluble resins

A process for the preparation and isolation of high purity anhydrous lower valence state metal halides comprising dissolving the corresponding higher valence state metal halide of the desired lower valence state metal halide in an organic liquid, which is selected such that the higher valence state metal halide is soluble therein and the lower valence state metal halide is insoluble therein, and subjecting the solution to high energy radiation which reduces the higher valence state metal halide to its corresponding lower valence state metal halide, at a temperature in the range of from about 0.degree.C. to about room temperature.

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Rocky River, OH, United States of America

Charles E May