Method of making a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene having sulfonyl pendant groups

US11155661B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Gregg D. Dahlke · Windom, US
• Denis Duchesne · Woodbury, US
• Klaus Hintzer · Woodbury, US
• Markus E. Hirschberg · Mühldorf, DE
• Kai H. Lochhaas · Neuötting, DE
• Arne Thaler · Emmerting, DE
• Tilman C. Zipplies · Burghausen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 22, 2016
• Grant date: Oct 26, 2021
• Expiry date: Jan 24, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P70/50
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method of making a copolymer is disclosed. The method includes copolymerizing components including tetrafluoroethylene and a compound represented by formula CF2═CF—O—(CF2)a—SO2X, wherein “a” is a number from 1 to 4, and X is —NZH, —NZ—SO2—(CF2)1-6—SO2X′, or —OZ, wherein Z is independently a hydrogen, an alkali metal cation, or a quaternary ammonium cation, and wherein X′ is independently —NZH or —OZ. The components include at least 60 mole % of tetrafluoroethylene based on the total amount of components. A copolymer prepared by the method is also provided. A method of making a membrane using the copolymer is also provided. The present disclosure also provides a polymer electrolyte membrane that includes a copolymer made by the method and a membrane electrode assembly that includes such a polymer electrolyte membrane.