Radiation-grafted solid polymer electrolyte membrane: studies of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) copolymer-g-acrylic acid grafted membranes and their sulfonated derivatives

Acrylic acid was grafted onto FEP by simultaneous radiation technique and the resulting membranes were sulfonated. Results of dynamic mechanical properties of the membranes showed that storage modulus and temperature at tan δ(max) increases on grafting. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the grafted and sulfonated membranes showed decreasing trend in crystallinity with increase in degree of grafting. From scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies it was confirmed that grafting takes place by the front mechanism. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.