E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Michael S Withers

John C Solenberger

Roger A Smith

Multilayer fluorinated cation exchange membranes prepared by coextrusion of precursor polymers.

Coextruded multilayer cation exchange membranes

A process and apparatus for continuously forming a reinforced membrane of fluorinated polymers containing sulfonyl and/or carboxyl groups in melt-fabricable form and, after hydrolysis, the corresponding membrane in ion exchange form. The membrane thus formed has exceptional uniformity, and this membrane so made, when used as the membrane which separates the compartments of a chloroalkali cell, offers the advantages of low operating voltage, low power consumption and high current efficiency, and a long useful life without rupture.

Apparatus for making a web-supported membrane

A process and apparatus for continuously forming a reinforced membrane of fluorinated polymers containing sulfonyl and/or carboxyl groups in melt-fabricable form and, after hydrolysis, the corresponding membrane in ion exchange form. The membrane thus formed has exceptional uniformity, and this membrane so made, when used as the membrane which separates the compartments of a chloralkali cell, offers the advantages of low operating voltage, low power consumption and high current efficiency, and a long useful life without rupture.

Web-supported membrane

A cation permeable membrane containing areas of thin wall construction comprises a cation exchange polymer matrix having a reinforcement fabric embedded therein. A two-step lamination procedure is described where holes are formed in a film of laminated polymer prior to a second lamination step. The cation permeable membrane has utility in membrane ion exchange, reverse osmosis devices or in electrolytic cells such as chlor-alkali cells.

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Landenberg, PA, United States of America

Michael S Withers