Process for treating perfluorinated polymer membranes having carboxyl groups used in alkalichloride electrolysis

摘要

In the treatment of a perfluorinated polymer membrane containing acid ion exchanger groups in a corona discharge, the improvement which comprises employing a membrane containing carboxyl groups and maintaining the membrane at a temperature below about 80 DEG C. during the discharge treatment. Advantageously the corona discharge treatment is carried out intermittently, the temperature is maintained at about -10 DEG to +22 DEG C., during the treatment the average rate of irradiation is below about 2 Ah/m2, the frequency of the corona discharge is from about 5 to 15 kHz, the voltage for producing the corona discharge is from about 1 to 20 kV and the dose is from about 0.1 to 10 Ah/m2 of membrane surface. The resulting membranes exhibit lowered resistance resulting in lower cell voltages when used in the electrolysis of sodium chloride.