Simple Introduction of Sulfonic Acid Group onto Polyethylene by Radiation-Induced Cografting of Sodium Styrenesulfonate with Hydrophilic Monomers

Abstract

The sulfonic acid (SO[sub 3]H) group was readily introduced into a polyethylene (PE) membrane by radiation-induced cografting of sodium styrenesulfonate (SSS) with hydrophilic monomers such as acrylic acid (AAc) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The density of SSS grafted onto the PE membrane was determined as a function of molar ratio of hydrophilic monomer to SSS in the monomer mixture. Immersion of the electron-beam-irradiated PE membrane into the mixture of SSS and HEMA for 5 h at 323 K provided to the SO[sub 3]H density of 2.5 mol/kg of the H-type product.