Abstract: A fuel cell powered by direct fuel, for example a direct methanol fuel cell, includes a polymer electrolyte membrane which includes a semi-crystalline polymer. Preferred semi-crystalline polymers include first repeat units comprising sulphonated aromatic group containing moieties linked by —SO2— and/or —CO— and/or -Q-groups, where Q is O or S and second repeat units which include aromatic group containing moieties linked by —CO— and/or Q groups.

Abstract: An ion-exchange material, for example a polymer electrolyte membrane or gas diffusion electrode comprises a semi-crystalline copolymer comprising: a first unit which includes an ion-exchange site; a second crystalline unit; and a third unit which is amorphous. The third unit is used to disrupt the crystallinity of the copolymer thereby to increase its solubility in solvents. The material described may be used in fuel cells.

Abstract: Method of purifying a polymeric material of a type which includes (A) phenyl moieties; (B) carbonyl and/or sulphone moieties; and; (C) ether and/or thioether moieties. The method includes contacting the polymeric material with a solvent formulation which is at a temperature of greater than 100° C. and a pressure above ambient pressure thereby to charge the solvent formulation with impurities derived from the polymeric material, and separating the charged solvent from the polymeric material.

Abstract: A polyaryletherketone polymeric material, for example polyetheretherketone and composite materials comprising said polymeric material are described. The polymeric material has a melt viscosity (MV) in the range 0.05 to 0.12 kNsm?2, preferably in the range 0.085 to 0.095 kNsm?2.

Abstract: A method of preparing an ion-conducting material, for example membrane, having reduced sensitivity to water includes a step of treating an ion-conducting polymeric material (especially a sulphonated polyaryletherketone and/or sulphone) which has at least some crystallinity or which is crystallizable with a means to increase its crystallinity. The ion-conducting material prepared may be used in a Membrane Electrode Assembly of a fuel cell.

Abstract: A method of preparing an ion-conducting polymeric material, for example, for a fuel cell, in a desired form (hereinafter “said formed polymeric material”), comprises: (i) selecting a first ion-conducting polymeric material; (ii) selecting a solvent formulation which can dissolve said first ion-conducting polymeric material, wherein said formulation includes a first solvent part which is water; (iii) preparing a composite formulation in a process which includes dissolving first ion-conducting polymeric material in said solvent formulation; (iv) forming said composite formulation into a desired form; (v) providing conditions for removal of said solvent formulation from said form described in (iv) thereby to prepare said formed polymeric material. The first ion-conducting polymeric material preferably includes polyaryletherketone units. Said solvent formulation preferably includes a second solvent part selected from acetone, tetrahydrofuran and acetone.

Abstract: Ion-Exchange polymers for a polymer electrolyte membrane include a moiety of formula (I), and/or a moiety of formula (II), and/or a moiety of formula (III) wherein at least some of the units I, II and/or III are sulphonated; wherein the phenyl moieties in units I, II, and III are independently optionally substituted and optionally cross-linked; and wherein m, r, s, t, v, w and z independently represent zero or a positive integer, E and E? independently represent an oxygen or a sulphur atom or a direct link, G represents an oxygen or sulphur atom, a direct link or a —O—Ph—O— moiety where Ph represents a phenyl group and Ar is selected from one of the above moieties (i) to (x) which is bonded via one or more of its phenyl moieties to adjacent moieties

Abstract: The invention relates to polyetherketones and to a process for the preparation of aromatic polyetherketones which process comprises: a) self-condensing a compound of formula (I) wherein n represents 0 or 1 in the presence of an alkyl or optionally substituted aryl sulphonic acid solvent and in the absence of phosphorous pentoxide; or b) condensing a compound of general formula (II) and a compound of general formula (III) wherein p and q independently represent 0 or 1, in the presence of an alkyl or optionally substituted aryl sulphonic acid solvent and in the absence of phosphorous pentoxide; or c) a combination of a) and b)

Abstract: A composite material, for example a composite membrane for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes a first conductive polymer and a support material for the polymer, wherein the support material comprises a second conductive polymer. A method making of the composite material is also disclosed as is its use as a polymer electrolyte membrane in a fuel cell.

Abstract: A composite material comprises a matrix material, for example, polyetheretherketone, and a first fibrous material which includes alumina, such as alumina fibres. The material may be used in applications where strength and durability are required, such as in CMP.

Abstract: Ion-Exchange polymers for a polymer electrolyte membrane include a moiety of formula (I), and/or a moiety of formula (II), and/or a moiety of formula (III) wherein at least some of the units I, II and/or III are sulphonated. The phenyl moieties in units I, II, and III are independently optionally substituted and optionally cross-linked; m, r; s, t, v, w and z independently represent zero or a positive integer, E and E′ independently represent an oxygen or a sulphur atom or a direct link, G represents an oxygen or sulphur atom, a direct link or a —O—Ph—O— moiety where Ph represents a phenyl group and Ar is selected from one of the moieties (i) to (x) as set forth herein which is bonded via one or more of its phenyl moieties to adjacent moieties.

Abstract: Ion-Exchange polymers for a polymer electrolyte membrane include a moiety of formula (I). and/or a moiety of formula (II), and/or a moiety of formula (III) wherein at least some of the units I, II and/or III are sulphonated; wherein the phenyl moieties in units I, II, and III are independently optionally substituted and optionally cross-linked; and wherein m, r, s, t, v, w and z independently represent zero or a positive integer, E and E′ independently represent an oxygen or a sulphur atom or a direct link, G represents an oxygen or sulphur atom, a direct link or a —O-Ph-O— moiety where Ph represents a phenyl group and Ar is selected from one of the above moieties (i) to (x) which is bonded via one or more of its phenyl moieties to adjacent moieties.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the preparation of a compound of general formula (I), wherein Y and Z each independently represent a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group, and a, b, c and d independently represent 0, 1, 2 or 3 provided that the sum of a, b, c, and d is 1, 2, 3 or 4; the process comprising treating a compound of general formula (II), wherein a, b, c, and d are as described above and L1 and L2 each independently represent an active group provided that either Y and L1 are different or Z and L2 are different, with a fluorinating system in the presence of oxygen. A preferred compound of general formula (I) is 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone which may be prepared from 4,4′-dinitrophenylmethane using tetramethylammonium fluoride.

Abstract: A process for making a crystallizable aromatic polymer comprises polycondensing difunctional monomers in the presence of a base and adding to the reaction mixture a nucleating agent. The nucleating agent comprises a nucleophilic group and a group of formula --A--X, where X is a metal cation and A is an anion. It is selected to give an increase in the peak crystallization temperature of the nucleated polymer compared to the unnucleated polymer.

Abstract: Polyarylketones are made by electrophilic substitution using a dispersant for the polymer. The dispersant comprises a polymer having first pendent groups which are substantially compatible with the reaction mixture but are substantially incompatible with the polymer and second pendent groups which comprise Lewis bases. Preferred dispersants are copolymers of aliphatic vinyl compounds and N-vinyl pyrollidone, particularly of 1-eicosene (CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.17 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2) and N-vinyl pyrollidone in which the ratio of first groups to second groups is in the range 1.5:1 to 0.5:1, and more preferably is 1:1.

Abstract: An aromatic polyether contains within its chain the repeat units--Ph--CO--Ph-- I--[Ph--SO.sub.2 --Ph]n-- IIat a molar ratio I/II in the range 98:2 to 80:20 where Ph represents paraphenylene; the repeat units are linked through ether oxygen; and n is at least 1.1. pa It can be made by reacting together hydroxy and halogeno aromatic compounds corresponding to units I and II and to any minor units that are to be present. The reactants can be provided at least partly by a polymer containing an ether-linked succession of the units.