Patent ID: 7601788

Claim:
A process for preparing a branched aromatic ionomer comprising: co-polymerizing a first monomer comprising an aromatic moiety and an unsaturated alkyl moiety and 1 pph or less of a second monomer to thereby form a branched aromatic ionomer, wherein said second monomer comprises an ionic moiety and at least two unsaturated moieties, wherein the ionic moiety has at least two ionizable groups, a cationic group that ionizes to form cations and an anionic group that ionizes to form anions, and wherein the cationic group is polyvalent and one capable of forming bridges to other molecules; and wherein the second monomer is comprised of a compound having a formula of: R is a hydrocarbon chain having from 2 to 7 carbons and at least one polymerizable unsaturation, A is an anionic group, M is a cationic group, Z is −1 or −2, X is +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5, and y is an integer having a value of from 1 to 4; and wherein the second monomer is prepared prior to the co-polymerization by admixing components in-line to a reactor or in-situ in a reactor.