Anionic membranes obtained by radiation grafting of 4-vinylpyridine onto poly(vinyl chloride)

Some properties of the membranes obtained by radiation grafting of 4-vinylpyridine onto poly(vinyl chloride), PVC, have been studied. Quaternization of nitrogen atoms in the grafted films was completely achieved by using Mel and HCL as quaternizing agents. The grafted quaternized pure and plasticized PVC films possess much higher water uptake percent than those grafted unquaternized ones. The quaternized grafted films also show higher electrical conductivity than grafted unquaternized ones. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of Mel- and HCL-quaternized plasticized PVC films was 100 times that those of quaternized pure, at a given degree of grafting. The tensile strength and elongation percent for the trunk films were measured at various irradiation doses in N₂ atmosphere and in air. The mechanical properties of the wet grafted films were also investigated for films having various degrees of grafting. The good swelling behaviour of the grafted quaternized PVC films and the good mechanical strength of the grafted films may make them acceptable for handling and practical use as anion-exchange membranes.