United Technologies Corporation

John F Austin

Anthony B LaConti

Thomas G Coker

Anthony R Fragala

A process for fabricating a unitary membrane-electrode structure by attaching an electrode to a permselective membrane while the latter is in a non-hydrated (and essentially non-dissociated) form. The electrode, in the form of a bonded aggregate of catalytic and polymeric binder particles, is attached to a membrane having less than 0.01 grams of matrix water per gram of dry membrane by the application of heat and pressure. The membrane is then hydrated causing the membrane to swell by a controlled amount and converting it to the dissociated form. A membrane-electrode structure fabricated in this manner is particularly useful in the electrolysis of alkali metal halides because it is characterized by improved cathodic current efficiency and by reduced susceptibility to permeation of gaseous hydrogen.

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Hamilton, MA, United States of America

John F Austin