Patent ID: 6649703
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: C08F,C08J

Abstract:
Process for cross-linking sulfonyl groups of a sulfonated polymer wherein at least a fraction of the cross-linking bonds bear an ionic charge, the process comprising contacting the polymer with the cross-linking agent allowing the reaction between two sulfonyl groups from adjacent polymeric chains to form the cross-linking bonds,wherein the cross-linking bonds are of the type: Pâ€”SO2â€”Yâˆ’(M+)â€”SO2â€”Pâ€²; or Pâ€”SO2(M+)Yâˆ’SO2â€”(Qâ€”SO2)râ€”Yâˆ’(M+)SO2â€”Pâ€²wherein P and Pâ€² are the same or different and are part of a polymeric chain; Y comprises N or CR wherein R comprises H, CN, F, SO2R3, C1-20 alkyl substituted or unsubstituted; C1-20 aryl substituted or unsubstituted; C1-20 alkylene substituted or unsubstituted, wherein the substituent comprises one or more halogen, and wherein the substituted chain comprises one or more substituent F, SO2R, aza, oxa, thia or dioxathia; R3 comprises F, C1-20 alkyl substituted or unsubstituted; C1-20 aryl substituted or unsubstituted; C1-20 alkylene substituted or unsubstituted, wherein the substituent comprises one or more halogens; M+ comprises an inorganic or organic cation; Q comprises a divalent radical C1-20 alkyl, C1-20 oxaalkyl, C1-20 azaalkyl, C1-20 thiaalkyl, C1-20 aryl or C1-20 alkylaryl, each being optionally substituted by one or more halogens, and wherein the chain may comprise one or more substituents oxa, aza, or thia; r is 0 or 1; and the divalent radical and the sulfonated polymer are partially or completely fluorinated.