Abstract: The present invention relates to ionically and covalently cross-linked polymers and polymer membranes having recurrent units of the general formula (1), wherein Q is a link, oxygen, sulfur, (2) or (3) and the R radical is a divalent radical of an aromatic or heteroaromatic compound, and which are characterized in that a) R radical comprises at least partially substituents of general formula (4A), (4B), (4C), (4D), (4E), (4F), (4G) and/or (4H), b) R radical comprises at least partially substituents of the general formula (5A) and/or (5B) and/or the R radical is at least partially a group of the general formula (5C) and/or (5D) and c) the R radical comprises at least partially bridges of the general formula (6) linking at least to R radicals together, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, M, X, Y, Z and m having the herein-mentioned meanings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer blends and polymer blend membranes which consist of a polymeric sulfonic acid and of a polymer which contains primary, secondary or tertiary amino groups, which are prepared via mixing of a salt of the polymeric sulfonic acid with the polymer which contains primary, secondary or tertiary amino groups. The invention further relates to the use of polymer blend membranes in membrane fuel cells, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEM fuel cells) or direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC), in membrane electrolysis, in aqueous or non-aqueous electrodialysis, in diffusion dialysis, in the perstractive separation of alkenes from alkene/alkane mixtures (here the membranes are in the SO3Ag form, where the Ag+ forms a reversible complex with the alkene (→facilitated transport)), in pervaporative separation of water from water/organics mixtures, or in gas separation.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel organic/inorganic hybrid membranes which have the following composition: a polymer acid containing —SO3H, PO3H2, —COOH or B(OH)2 groups, a polymeric ease (optional), which contains primary, secondary or tertiary amino groups, pyridine groups, imidazole, benzimidazole, triazole, benzotriazole, pyrazole or benzopyrazole groups, either in the side chain or in the main chain; an additional polymeric base (optional) containing the aforementioned basic groups; an element or metal oxide or hydroxide, which has been obtained by hydrolysis and/or sol-gel reaction of an elementalorganic and/or metalorganic compound during the membrane forming process and/or by a re-treatment of the membrane in aqueous acidic, alkaline or neutral electrolytes. The invention also relates to methods for producing said membranes and to various uses for membranes of this type.

Abstract: The invention relates to organic/inorganic hybrid polymer blends and hybrid polymer blend membranes that are composed of: one polymer acid halide containing SO2X, POX2 or COX groups (X═F, Cl, Br, I); one elemental or metallic oxide or hydroxide, obtained by the hydrolysis and/or the sol/gel reaction of an elemental and/or organometallic compound during the membrane forming process and/or by subsequently treating the membrane in aqueous acidic, alkaline or neutral electrolytes. The invention further relates to hybrid blends and hybrid blend membranes containing polymers that carry SO3H, PO3H2 and/or COOH groups, obtained by aqueous, alkaline or acidic hydrolysis of the polymer acid halides contained in the polymer blend or the polymer blend membrane. The invention also relates to methods for producing the inventive hybrid blends and hybrid blend membranes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compatible binary and ternary cation-exchanger polymer and anion-exchanger polymer blend membranes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionically and covalently cross-linked polymers and polymer membranes having recurrent units of the general formula (1), wherein Q is a link, oxygen, sulfur, (2) or (3) and the R radical is a divalent radical of an aromatic or heteroaromatic compound, and which are characterized in that a) R radical comprises at least partially substituents of general formula (4A), (4B), (4C), (4D), (4E), (4F), (4G) and/or (4H), b) R radical comprises at least partially substituents of the general formula (5A) and/or (5B) and/or the R radical is at least partially a group of the general formula (5C) and/or (5D)) and c) the R radical comprises at least partially bridges of the general formula (6) linking at least to R radicals together, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, M, X, Y, Z and m having the herein-mentioned meanings.

Abstract: A method for lateral chain modification of aryl main chain polymers with aromatic ketones or aldehydes containing tertiary basic N-groups is described. The modification can be accomplished via addition of an aromatic carboxylic acid or an acid derivative containing a tertiary amine moiety to a metallized polymer. The tertiary amines on the modified polymer can be converted to quaternary amines with halogen alkanes. Modification of the aryl main chain polymers with aromatic groups containing sulphonic acid radicals is also described. The polymers formed can be crosslinked and prepared for use in a wide variety of membrane technologies including ion exchange, dialysis, reverse osmosis, nanofiltration.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for the cross-linking of modified engineering thermoplastics, in particular, of polymeric sulfinic acids or sulfinic acid salts. In particular, the invention pertains to a process for the preparation of cross-linked polymers, characterized in that solutions of polymeric sulfinic acids or sulfinic acid salts (—SO2Me), optionally in the presence of organic di- or oligohalogeno compounds [R(Hal)x], are freed from solvent and cross-linked to polymers, wherein Me stands for a monovalent or polyvalent metal cation; R stands for an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl residue containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and Hal stands for F, Cl, Br or I.

Abstract: A covalently cross-linked polymer or polymer membrane consisting of one or more polymers, which can bear the following functional groups (M=Hal(F, Cl, Br, I), OR, NR2; R=alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl; (Me=H, Li, Na, K, Cs, or other metal cations or ammonium ions): a) precursors of cation exchange groups: SO2M and/or POM2 and/or COM b) sulphinate groups SO2Me and which can be covalently cross-linked using the following organic compounds: a) di-, tri- or oligofunctional haloalkanes or haloaromatics, which have been reacted with sulphinate groups SO2Me, whereby the following cross-linking bridges are present in the polymer/in the polymer blend/in the polymer membrane: (Y=cross-linking bridges, X=Hal (F, Cl, Br, I), OR, (CH2)x−; -arylene-; —(CH2)x-arylene-; CH2arylene-CH2—, x=3-12): polymer-SO2Y—SO2-polymer and/or b) compounds containing the following groups: Hal-(CH2)x—NHR, one side of which (Hal-) has been reacted with sulphinate groups SO2ME a

Abstract: The invention relates to the following: a method for step-by-step alkylation of primary polymeric amines by step-by-step deprotonation with a metallo-organic base and a subsequent reaction with an alkyl halide; a method for modifying tertiary polymeric amines with other functional groups; polymers with secondary/tertiary amino groups and with quaternary ammonium groups; polymers with secondary/tertiary amino groups and other functional groups, especially cation exchanger groupings; membranes consisting of the above polymers, either non-crosslinked or ionically or covalently cross-linked; acid-base-blends/membranes, and a method for producing same, consisting of basic polymers with polymers containing sulphonic acid, phosphonic acid or carboxyl groups; the use of ion exchanger polymers as membranes in membrane processes, e.g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite or a composite membrane consisting of an ionomer and of an inorganic optionally functionalized phyllosilicate. The isomer can be: (a) a cation exchange polymer; (b) an anion exchange polymer; (c) a polymer containing both anion exchanger groupings as well as cation exchanger groupings on the polymer chain; or (d) a blend consisting of (a) and (b), whereby the mixture ratio can range from 100% (a) to 100% (b). The blend can be ionically and even covalently cross-linked. The inorganic constituents can be selected from the group consisting of phyllosilicates or tectosilicates.

Abstract: A composite membrane comprising organic functional polymers and ceramic nanoparticles (1-100 nm), with the exception of sheet silicates and three-dimensional silicates, with intercalated water and/or a high surface concentration of acidic/basic groups (e.g. hydroxyl) and water. The use of such particles makes possible not only a satisfactorily high mechanical stability of the composite material but also stabilization of the proton concentration necessary for the conductivity in the membrane up to operating temperatures of 300° C. Important factors are the interfaces between polymer and ceramic powder which are formed in the microheterogeneous mixture and allow, if they are present in sufficient number (high proportion of the phase made up of nanosize particles), proton transport at low pressure and temperatures above 100° C.

Abstract: A method for lateral chain modification of aryl main chain polymers with aromatic ketones or aldehydes containing tertiary basic N-groups is described. The modification can be accomplished via addition of an aromatic carboxylic acid or an acid derivative containing a tertiary amine moiety to a metallized polymer. The tertiary amines on the modified polymer can be converted to quaternary amines with halogen alkanes. Modification of the aryl main chain polymers with aromatic groups containing sulphonic acid radicals is also described. The polymers formed can be crosslinked and prepared for use in a wide variety of membrane technologies including ion exchange, dialysis, reverse osmosis, nanofiltration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of ion-exchange membranes for use in electromembrane processes and ion-exchange membranes obtained from the process. The membranes are prepared from a solution, in a dipolar-aprotic solvent, containing (a) a polymeric sulfonic acid or a polymeric sulfonate salt of formula Polymer-SO3X, where X is H or a monovalent cation, and (b) a basic polymer containing primary, secondary or tertiary basic nitrogen. The dissolved polymer blend is spread in a thin layer onto a support, and the solvent is evaporated to form a polymeric film. The films produced by the process are particularly useful as ion-exchange membranes due to improved properties relative to the component polymers with regard to ionic conductivity, swelling permselectivity, and thermal resistance.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for the cross-linking of modified engineering thermoplastics, in particular, of polymeric sulfinic acids or sulfinic acid salts.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for the cross-linking of modified engineering thermoplastics, in particular, of polymeric sulfinic acids or sulfinic acid salts. In particular, the invention pertains to a process for the preparation of cross-linked polymers, characterized in that solutions of polymeric sulfinic acids or sulfinic acid salts (—SO2Me), optionally in the presence of organic di- or oligohalogeno compounds [R(Hal)x], are freed from solvent and cross-linked to polymers, wherein Me stands for a monovalent or polyvalent metal cation; R stands for an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl residue containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and Hal stands for F, Cl, Br or I.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of ion-exchange membranes for use in electromembrane processes. The membranes are prepared from a solution, in a dipolar-aprotic solvent, containing (a) a polymeric sulfonic acid or a polymeric sulfonate salt of formula Polymer-SO3X, where X is H or a monovalent cation, and (b) a basic polymer containing primary, secondary or tertiary basic N. The dissolved polymer blend is spread in a thin layer onto a support, and the solvent is evaporated to form a polymeric film. The films produced by the process are particularly useful as ion-exchange membranes due to improved properties relative to the component polymers with regard to ionic conductivity, swelling permselectivity, and thermal resistance.