Patent ID: 7569616

Claim:
A process for producing an electrolyte membrane, wherein the electrolyte membrane predominantly comprises an unreinforced outer layer on one or each side of a reinforced inner layer, wherein the reinforced inner layer comprises an inner ion exchange resin reinforced with a non-woven fabric comprising a melt moldable fluororesin in the form of a continuous fiber, wherein some intersecting points of the continuous fiber are fused or bonded, and wherein the unreinforced outer layer comprises an outer ion exchange resin, which may be the same as or different from the inner ion exchange resin, and wherein the process comprises: dispensing the melt moldable fluororesin in a molten state from a spinning nozzle; stretching and spinning the melt moldable fluororesin dispensed from the spinning nozzle with a gas discharged from a gas discharge nozzle to obtain a continuous fiber; and forming the non-woven fabric by fusing or bonding some intersecting points of the continuous fiber.