Abstract A method of shaping an organic polymer insoluble in a polar solvent comprising reacting an insoluble organic polymer containing at least one Lewis acid electron attracting group or Lewis basic electron donating group with a sufficient amount of a lower alkylene oxide to alkoxylate the Lewis group and form an alkoxylated product soluble or easily dispersible in a polar solvent, dissolving or dispersing the alkoxylated product in a polar solvent, shaping the alkoxylated product into the desired form by applying the solution or dispersion to a support and removing the polar solvent, and hydrolyzing the alkoxylated product to obtain the original polymer in the desired form. Products made by the process include self-supporting polymeric films and porous diaphragms for electrolytic cells made by impregnating suitable porous supports with the alkoxylated product.
A method of shaping an organic polymer insoluble in a polar solvent comprising reacting an insoluble organic polymer containing at least one Lewis acid electron attracting group or Lewis basic electron donating group with a sufficient amount of a lower alkylene oxide to alkoxylate the Lewis group and form an alkoxylated product soluble or easily dispersible in a polar solvent, dissolving or dispersing the alkoxylated product in a polar solvent, shaping the alkoxylated product into the desired form by applying the solution or dispersion to a support and removing the polar solvent and hydrolyzing the alkoxylated product to obtain the original polymer into the desired form.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of shaping an organic polymer insoluble in a polar solvent comprising reacting an insoluble organic polymer containing at least one Lewis acid electron attracting group or Lewis basic electron donating group with a sufficient amount of a lower alkylene oxide to alkoxylate the Lewis group and form an alkoxylated product soluble or easily dispersible in a polar solvent, dissolving or dispersing the alkoxylated product in a polar solvent, shaping the alkoxylated product into the desired form by applying the solution or dispersion to a support and removing the polar solvent and hydrolyzing the alkoxylated product to obtain the original polymer into the desired form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the alkylene oxide is selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the solution or dispersion of the alkoxylated polymer is applied to a porous support and the solvent is evaporated so that the support is impregnated with the alkoxylated product.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the support is made of material resistant to conditions found in electrolytic cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the support is made of asbestos.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the support is a nonwoven fabric of a polymeric material belonging to the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene, bromotrifluoroethylene vinylfluoride, vinyldenfluoride, hexafluoropropylene.