Polyethylene-poly(methacrylic acid-co-divinylbenzene) interpolymer-type carboxylic membranes

A short review of the methods of preparation of carboxylic membranes was presented. Details were given on the preparation procedure of polyethylene-poly(methacrylic acid-co-divinylbenzene) PE-poly(MA-co-DVB) interpolymer-type carboxylic membranes and on the optimization of the procedure. The membranes were synthesized by swelling PE in sheet form in a mixture of MA, DVB, and benzoyl peroxide (BP), with subsequent heating of the gel to interpolymerize the monomers. The dependence of ion exchange capacity, swelling, resistivity, and permeability on poly(MA-co-DVB) and DVB contents were investigated. With the use of an electron microscope a domain-type morphology was observed at low poly(MA-co-DVB) and DVB contents. Crystallinity of PE was not influenced by the presence of poly(MA-co-DVB).