Title of Invention

CATION-EXCHANGE FLUORINATED MEMBRANE FOR ELECTROLYSIS AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME

Abstract A cation-exchange membrane for electrolysis which comprises a fluoropolymer having ion-exchange groups and a porous base. It is characterized by having, on the anode-side surface of the membrane, protrusions comprising a polymer having ion-exchange groups. It is further characterized in that: when the average value of the heights of the tops of the protrusions from the anode-side surface of the membrane is expressed as h (µm), then 20 ≤ h ≤ 150; when the density of the protrusions distributed is expressed as P (protrusions per cm2), then 50 ≤ P ≤ 1,200; when the average proportion of the areas of those bottom parts of the protrusions which are on the same level as the anode-side surface of the membrane to the area of the anode-side surface of the membrane is expressed as S (cm2 / cm2 ), then 0.001 ≤ S ≤ 0.6; and when the average proportion of the areas of the top parts of the protrusions to the area of the anode-side surface of the membrane is expressed as T (cm2 /cm2), then T ≤ 0.05.
Full Text TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present invention relates to a cation-
exchange membrane for electrolysis, and more
specifically to a cation-exchange membrane for
electrolysis, which is used for electrolyzing an
aqueous solution of an alkali chloride, shows a stable
electrolysis performance while maintaining
electrochemical properties and mechanical strength, and
can improve quality by reducing impurities especially
in an alkali hydroxide produced through an ion
exchange, and relates to a process for producing the
same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
Since a fluorine-containing ion-exchange
membrane has a superior heat resistance and chemical
resistance, it is employed in various applications such
as an ion-exchange membrane for electrolysis used in
producing chlorine and an alkali hydroxide by
electrolyzing an alkali chloride, and a barrier
membrane for electrolysis including ozone generation, a
fuel cell, water electrolysis and hydrochloric acid
electrolysis, and its new usage is further expanding.
[0003]
Among these applications, the ion-exchange
membrane method has recently been the most popular
process for producing chlorine and an alkali hydroxide
by electrolyzing an alkali chloride. The ion-exchange
membrane used here is required not only to have a high
current efficiency, low electrolysis voltage, and an
adequate membrane strength to prevent damages during
handling or electrolysis, but also to reduce the
concentration of impurities, especially alkali
chlorides contained in an alkali hydroxide to be
produced. In order to satisfy such requirements,
various proposals have been made. It is widely known
that the mainstream today is a fluorine-containing ion-
exchange membrane having a multi-layered structure
which includes a layer containing a fluorine-containing
resin having a carboxylic acid group with a high
electric resistance but a high current efficiency, and
a layer containing a fluorine-containing resin having a
sulfonic acid group with a low electric resistance,
because of being useful.
[0004]
In addition, although various proposals have
been made to lower electric resistance by increasing
the water content of a membrane, lowering electric
resistance by increasing the ion-exchange capacity of a
layer containing a carboxylic acid group causes a
problem that current efficiency is lowered, and at the
same time, impurities in an alkali hydroxide increase.
Lowering electric resistance by increasing the ion-
exchange capacity of the layer containing a sulfonic
acid group causes a problem that the impurities in an
alkali hydroxide to be produced increases, and besides,
that the strength of the membrane remarkably decreases.
Recently, as Patent Documents 1 and 2
disclose, a reduction in electrolysis voltage and
improvement of membrane strength are attempted by
increasing the number of layers in the membrane and
specifying the water content of each layer. However,
in that case, if the water content of the layer facing
to the anode side is too high, not only the strength of
the membrane decreases, but also the concentration of
impurities contained in alkali hydroxide to be produced
increases.
[0005]
On the other hand, as Patent Document 3
discloses, for instance, a method is also widely known
which improves the strength of the membrane by
embedding a porous substrate formed of a woven fabric
made from a fluorine-containing polymer such as
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) into the membrane.
Furthermore, a method as in Patent Document 4
has been disclosed, which improves the strength of the
membrane by projecting the shape of the woven fabric
made from PTFE or the like toward the anode side.
However, the method forms a section surrounded by the
projecting parts of the woven fabric pattern, which
reduces an amount of an aqueous solution of an alkali
chloride to be supplied into the anode surface of the
membrane, though depending on the electrolysis
condition or the structure of an electrolysis cell, and
increases an amount of impurities in an alkali
hydroxide to be produced. For this reason, the quality
of the alkali hydroxide cannot be stabilized.
[0006]
Several methods for improving the shape of
the surface of a membrane in an anode side are
disclosed so as to reduce the amount of oxygen in
chlorine produced in the anode side during
electrolysis. Patent Document 5 discloses a method of
forming a groove by transferring the shape of the press
roll having protruding parts to the membrane, and
Patent Document 6 discloses a method of forming a
groove by embedding a woven fabric into the surface of
the membrane and peeling it off. However, the ion-
exchange membranes obtained by these production methods
has to make the thickness of the resin on the porous
substrate substantially thinner, because the porous
substrate made from PTFE or the like preliminarily
embedded in the membrane is pushed up to the reverse
side of the surface of the membrane having the groove
formed thereon, which leads to the lowering of the
strength of the membrane. An ion-exchange membrane
receives stresses from all directions during
electrolysis, so that the ion-exchange membranes
obtained by those production methods show significantly
reduced strength against the stress in the direction
different from the direction of the porous substrate
made from the PTFE or the like, for instance, the
stress in 45-degree direction to the porous substrate,
and consequently cannot provide a stable electrolysis
performance over a long period of time. Furthermore,
the ion-exchange membranes obtained by those methods do
not sufficiently improve the capacity of supplying the
aqueous solution of the alkali chloride into a space
between an anode and the surface of the membrane, and
accordingly cannot reduce the amount of impurities in
the alkali hydroxide to be produced.
[0007]
Patent Document 1: JP-A-63-113029
Patent Document 2: JP-A-63-8425
Patent Document 3: JP-A-03-217427
Patent Document 4: JP-A-04-308096
Patent Document 5: JP-A-60-39184
Patent Document 6: JP-A-06-279600
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0008]
If an alkali hydroxide contains a large
amount of impurities, especially an alkali chloride,
the alkali hydroxide is not suitable for applications
such as a production process for rayon, pulp, paper and
a chemical agent, in which a highly-pure alkali
hydroxide product is required. Accordingly, such a
cation-exchange membrane for electrolysis has been
desperately desired as to be able to reduce the
concentration of impurities in the alkali hydroxide to
be produced.
The present invention relates to an ion-
exchange membrane for electrolysis, which is used for
electrolyzing an aqueous solution of an alkali
chloride, shows a stable electrolysis performance while
maintaining the electrochemical properties and
mechanical strength over a long period of time, can
improve the quality by reducing impurities especially
in an alkali hydroxide produced through an ion
exchange, and consequently has a level that has not
been realized by a conventional technology, and relates
to the process for producing the same.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0009]
The present inventors made an extensive
investigation to solve the above problems, as a result,
found that impurities in an alkali hydroxide to be
produced are generated when an anion enters a membrane
from an anode side, is coupled with a cation and
dissolves in a catholyte as an impurity, and that the
phenomenon becomes apparent when the supply of the
aqueous solution of an alkali chloride is insufficient
on the surface in the anode side of the membrane, and
accomplished the present invention.
[0010]
In more detail, the present inventors
analyzed ion-exchange membranes used in electrolysis
cells made by various manufactures and in various
operating conditions, and as a result, found the fact
that when an anode closely contacting an ion-exchange
membrane has a large area, when a current density of
electrolysis is high, or when an aqueous solution is
electrolyzed in a zero-gap electrolysis cell which
brings the cathode of the electrolysis cell in contact
with the surface of the ion-exchange membrane in the
cathode side, fine foams are formed in the ion-exchange
membrane along the shape of the anode of the
electrolysis cell. As a result of evaluation of the
performance, the present inventors discovered the fact
that the amount of impurities in the alkali hydroxide
increases in that part.
[0011]
The reason why the fine foams are formed in
the ion-exchange membrane was considered as follows: an
aqueous solution of an alkali chloride is not
sufficiently supplied to an anode chamber in the part
where the anode of the electrolysis cell closely
contacts the surface in the anode side of the ion-exchange membrane, and the
concentration of the aqueous solution of the alkali chloride is lowered. Then, in
order to solve the problem, the present inventors studied various shapes of the
surface in the anode side of the ion-exchange membrane and achieved the
present invention.
Accordingly, the aspects of the present invention are as described below.
A cation-exchange membrane for electrolysis comprising a fluorine-
containing polymer having an ion-exchange group and a porous substrate,
characterized in that the membrane has projecting parts comprising a polymer
having an ion-exchange group on the surface of an anode side of the
membrane;
20 = h = 150, where h is defined as an average value of heights (µm)
from the surface of the anode side of the membrane to the tops of the projecting
parts;
50 = P = 1,200, where P is defined as a distribution density (piece/cm2)
of the projecting parts;
0.001 = S = 0.6, where S is defined as an average value of area
fractions (cm2 / cm2) of the bottom faces of the projecting parts on the same
plane as the bottom surface of the anode side of the membrane; and
value of area fractions (cm2 / cm2) of the top parts of the projecting parts on the
surface of the anode side of the membrane.
The membrane
0.5 = b/a = 0.9 and
0.25 = h/a = 0.80,
where a is defined as an average value of lengths (µm) of the bottom
sides of the projecting parts on the same plane as the surface of the anode side
of the membrane, and b is defined as an average value of widths (µm) of the
projecting parts at the half heights h/2 (µm) of the projecting parts.
The cation-exchange membrane, the projecting parts are discontinuous
with each other.
The projecting parts have a single shape or a mixed shape of two or more
shapes selected from the group consisting of a circular cone-like shape, a
quadrangular pyramid-like shape, a circular truncated cone-like shape and a
truncated quadrangular pyramid-like shape.
A process for producing an ion-exchange membrane for electrolysis,
characterized by bringing an embossed release paper closely in contact with the
surface of the anode side of the membrane and transferring the embossed shape
of the release paper to the surface, when stacking a fluorine-containing polymer
having an ion-exchange group is layered on a porous substrate, thereby forming
a projecting part comprising a polymer having an ion-exchange group on the
surface of an anode side.
The release paper is closely brought in contact with the surface of the
anode side of the membrane by reducing pressure through the release paper.
The embossed shape is one shape or a mixed shape of two or more
shapes selected from the group consisting of a circular cone-like shape, a multi-
angular pyramid-like shape, a hemisphere-like shape, a dome-like shape, a
circular truncated cone-like shape and a truncated multi-angular pyramid-like
shape.
An electrolysis apparatus comprising the cation-exchange membrane, a
cathode and an anode, said apparatus being an electrolysis tank, wherein the
surface having the projecting part of the cation-exchange membrane contacts or
faces to the anode.
Advantages of the Invention
A fluorine-containing cation-exchange membrane according to the present
invention can reduce impurities in an alkali hydroxide to be produced, while
maintaining electrochemical properties and mechanical
strength in electrolysis of an aqueous solution of an
alkali chloride, and enables a high-quality alkali
hydroxide to be produced over a long period of time.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0015]
The details of the present invention will now
be described below especially with reference to a
preferred embodiment.
The present invention provides a cation-
exchange membrane for electrolysis comprising a
fluorine-containing polymer having an ion-exchange
group and a porous substrate, characterized in that the
membrane has projecting parts comprising a polymer
having the ion-exchange group on the surface of an
anode side of the membrane; 20 = h = 150, where h is
defined as an average value of heights (µm) from the
surface of the anode side of the membrane to the tops
of the projecting parts; 50 = P = 1,200, where P is
defined as a distribution density (piece/cm2) of the
projecting parts; 0.001 = S = 0.6, where S is defined as
an average value of area fraction (cm2/cm2) of the
bottom faces of the projecting parts on the same plane
as the surface of the anode side of the membrane; and T
= 0.05, where T is defined as the average value of area
fraction (cm2/cm2) of the top parts of the projecting
parts on the surface of the anode side of the membrane.
[0016]
Here, the surface of the anode side means the
membrane surface which faces to the anode when the
cation-exchange membrane for electrolysis according to
the present invention is placed in an electrolysis
cell. In the present invention, the surface of the
anode side has projecting parts comprising a polymer
having an ion-exchange group. In addition, in the
present invention, the membrane surface including the
projecting parts is referred to as "surface of anode
side" for convenience sake, even when the membrane
independently exists by itself without being embedded
in the electrolysis cell.
[0017]
As described above, in the present invention,
projecting parts comprising a polymer having an ion-
exchange group existing on the surface of the anode
side of the membrane preferably has: a height of 20 = h
= 150 and more preferably 20 = h = 120, where h
represents an average value of heights (µm) from the
surface of the anode side of the membrane to the tops
of the projecting parts; a distribution density
(piece/cm2) of the projecting part on the surface of the
anode side of the membrane of 20 = P = 1,500 and more
preferably 50 = P = 1,200; an area fraction of the
bottom faces of 0.001 = S = 0.6, where S is defined as
an average value of the area fractions (cm2/cm2)of the
bottom faces on the same plane as the surface of the
anode side of the membrane; and an area fraction of the
top parts T = 0.05, where T is defined as an average
value of the area fractions (cm2/cm2) of the top parts.
It has not been anticipated that the projecting parts
of such a shape on the surface of the anode side of the
membrane remarkably increase the supply of an aqueous
solution of an alkali chloride onto the surface of the
anode side of the membrane during electrolysis without
damaging the mechanical strength or electrochemical
properties of the membrane, and significantly reduce
impurities in an alkali hydroxide produced by
electrolysis.
[0018]
The projecting parts on the surface of the
anode side of the membrane preferably has a value of
b/a of 0.5 = b/a = 0.9, where a is defined as an average
value of lengths (µm) of the bottom sides on the same
plane as the surface of the anode side of the membrane,
and b is defined as an average value of widths (µm) of
the projecting parts at the half heights h/2 (µm) of
the projecting parts. If the value of b/a is 0.5 or
more, the projecting part has a sufficient height
within a preferred range of distribution density P of
the projecting part necessary in the present invention,
can sufficiently supply the aqueous solution of the
alkali chloride onto the surface of the anode side of
the membrane, does not decrease the strength of the
projecting part, and can easily keep the shape of the
projecting part even when the membrane is pressed
against the anode of an electrolysis cell. If the
value of b/a is 0.9 or less, the area of the projecting
part contacting the anode of the electrolysis cell does
not become excessive, and an adequate amount of the
aqueous solution of the alkali chloride in an anode
chamber of the electrolysis cell is supplied to the
surface of the anode side of the membrane.
Furthermore, the projecting part hardly decreases its
strength.
[0019]
The projecting parts in a more preferred
embodiment satisfy 0.25 = h/a = 0.80 in terms of a
relation between an average height h ((µm) of the
projecting part on the surface of the anode side of the
membrane and an average length a (µm) of the bottom
side of the projecting part on the same plane as the
surface of the anode side of the membrane. If the
value of h/a is 0.25 or more, the projecting parts have
sufficient height, the aqueous solution of the alkali
chloride is sufficiently supplied, the area of the
projecting part on the surface of the anode side of the
membrane contacting the anode of the electrolysis cell
does not become excessive, the fine foams can be
inhibited from forming in the membrane, and the
electrolysis performance can be inhibited from
lowering. On the other hand, if the value of h/a is
0.8 or less, the projecting part does not decrease the
strength, which stabilizes the electrolysis
performance.
[0020]
The projecting part including a polymer
having an ion-exchange group is preferably
discontinuous on the surface of the anode side of the
membrane according to the present invention. The
projecting part having the shape can make the aqueous
solution of the alkali chloride sufficiently be
supplied during electrolysis. Here, "being
discontinuous" means that the projecting parts do not
form an enclosed space on the surface of the anode side
by connecting with each other to form a continuous wall
in a narrow range of the membrane surface. The
projecting part on the surface of the anode side of the
membrane has preferably a shape of a circular cone, a
multi-angular pyramid such as a triangular pyramid and
a quadrangular pyramid, a hemisphere, a dome, a
circular truncated cone, or a truncated multi-angular
pyramid, and more preferably has a circular cone-like
shape, a circular truncated cone-like shape, a
quadrangular pyramid-like shape, a truncated
quadrangular pyramid-like shape or the like, because
the shape is superior in a contacting area between the
projecting part and the anode of the electrolysis cell,
and the balance of the strength of the projecting part.
The projecting parts of the surface of the anode side
of the membrane may have a single shape or a mixed
shape of two or more shapes selected from these shapes.
[0021]
Here, an average value a (µm) of lengths of
the bottom sides on the same plane as the surface of
the anode side of the membrane was obtained by cutting
the cross section of the membrane passing the top of
the projecting part into a thin film, and observing it
with the magnification of 40 times by using an optical
microscope. Specifically, when the projecting part has
a shape of a circular cone, a circular truncated cone,
a hemisphere or a dome, the bottom face of the
projecting part was considered to be a circle, and the
diameter was observed. On the other hand, when the
projecting part has a shape of a quadrangular pyramid
or a truncated quadrangular pyramid, the shape of the
bottom face was considered to be a square and the
length of a side was observed. The length of a side of
the projecting part was determined. The average value
was determined by observing 10 sides in each case.
[0022]
Subsequently, the average value of heights h
(µm) of the projecting parts and a half height h/2 (µm)
of the projecting part were determined by cutting the
cross section of the membrane passing the top of the
projecting part into a thin film, and observing it with
the magnification of 40 times by using an optical
microscope. The average value was determined from the
result of having observed 10 pieces of the cross
sections. A width b (µm) of the projecting part at the
half height h/2 of the projecting part was determined
by measuring the diameter when the projecting part has
a shape of a circular cone or a truncated circular
cone, and by measuring the length of a side when the
projecting part has a shape of a quadrangular pyramid
or a truncated quadrangular pyramid. The average value
was obtained similarly by observing 10 pieces.
[0023]
Furthermore, the average value of area
fractions S (cm2/cm2) of the bottom faces of the
projecting parts on the same plane as the surface of
the anode side of the membrane was determined by using
the value of a and by approximating the area of the
bottom face into the area of a circle or the area of a
polygonal shape. An average value T (cm2/cm2) of an
area fraction of the top part of the projecting part
was approximately determined by cutting the cross
section of the membrane into a thin film; observing the
projecting part with the magnification of 100 times by
using an optical microscope; measuring an average value
of widths of the part 5 µm lower from the top of the
projecting part toward the bottom face; and supposing
the area of the cut shape as the area of a circle when
the projecting part has a shape of the circular cone or
the truncated circular cone and supposing the area of
the cut shape as the area of the polygonal shape when
the projecting part has a shape of the pyramid or the
truncated pyramid. In addition, the values of S and T
were respectively determined as the percentages of the
areas of the bottom faces and the top parts to the unit
area of the surface of the anode side of the membrane.
The distribution density P (piece/cm2) of the projecting
parts was determined by observing the surface of the
anode side of the membrane with the magnification of 40
times by using an optical microscope.
[0024]
A porous substrate used in the present
invention is used for imparting strength and
dimensional stability to a membrane, and it is
indispensably required that the most of the porous
substrate exists in the membrane. Such a porous
substrate is required to have heat resistance and
chemical resistance over a long period of time, and
accordingly is preferably formed of fibers made from a
fluorinated polymer. The examples of the fluorinated
polymer include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),
tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether
copolymer (PFA), tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer
(ETFE), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoro propylene
copolymer, trifluorochloroethylene-ethylene copolymer
and vinylidene fluoride polymer (PVDF). However, it is
preferable to use a fiber made from
polytetrafluoroethylene in particular.
[0025]
A porous substrate to be used in the present
invention is formed of fibers having a diameter
preferably of 20 to 300 denier, and more preferably of
50 to 250 denier; and is woven at a weave density
preferably of 5-50 lines/inch. The porous substrate to
be used has a shape of a fabric cloth, a nonwoven cloth
or a knitted cloth, but preferably has the shape of the
fabric cloth. The fabric cloth has a thickness
preferably of 30 to 250 µm, and more preferably of 30
to 150 µm.
[0026]
The fabric cloth or a knitted cloth of the
porous substrate employs a monofilament, a
multifilament, or a yarn thereof, a slit yarn or the
like, and is woven with various types of weaving
methods such as a plane fabric, a leno weave, a knit
weave, a cord weave, and a seersucker.
The fabric cloth or the knitted cloth has an
opening rate preferably of 30% or more, and more
preferably of 50% or more and 90% or less. The opening
rate is preferably 30% or more from the viewpoint of
electrochemical properties as an ion-exchange membrane,
and is preferably 90% or less from the viewpoint of a
mechanical strength of the membrane.
[0027]
A particularly preferable form among these
various forms of porous substrates includes, for
instance, a form which employs a tape yarn prepared by
slitting a high-strength porous sheet made from PTFE
into a shape of a tape, or a highly oriented
monofilament of 50 to 300 denier made from PTFE, has a
plain-weave structure with a weave density of 10 to 50
lines/inch, and further has a thickness in a range of
50 to 100 µm and an opening rate of 50% or more.
Furthermore, the fabric cloth may include a supporting
fiber which is usually referred to as a sacrificial
core material, for the purpose of preventing a
deviation of a texture of the porous substrate in a
process of producing the membrane. The supporting
fiber has solubility in the process of producing the
membrane or under an electrolysis environment. A
material to be used for the supporting fiber includes
rayon, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), cellulose and
polyamide. The amount of the blended fabric of the
supporting fiber in this case is preferably 10 to 80
wt%, and more preferably is 30 to 70 wt% with respect
to the whole fabric cloth or the whole knitted cloth.
[0028]
A fluorine-containing polymer used in the
present invention is a polymer formed of a main chain
of fluorinated hydrocarbon, has a functional group as a
pendant side chain, which is transformable to an ion-
exchange group by hydrolysis and the like, and can be
melt-processed.
[0029]
In the next place, an example of a general
production method of such a fluorine-containing polymer
will be described.
A fluorine-containing polymer can be produced
by copolymerizing at least one monomer selected from
the following first group with at least one monomer
selected from the following second group and/or third
group.
The monomer of the first group is a vinyl
fluoride compound, for instance, at least one compound
that is selected from vinyl fluoride,
hexafluoropropylene, vinylidene fluoride,
trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene,
perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) and tetrafluoroethylene,
and when the polymer is used particularly as a membrane
for alkaline electrolysis, is preferably selected from
tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) and
hexafluoropropylene, which are perfluoromonomers
containing no hydrogen.
[0030]
The monomer of the second group is a vinyl
compound having a functional group which is
transformable to a carboxylic acid type ion-exchange
group. A monomer to be generally used is expressed by
the formula of CF2=CF (OCF2CYF) s-O (CZF) t-COOR. Here, s is
an integer of 0 to 2, t is an integer of 1 to 12, Y and
Z represent F or CF3, and R represents a lower alkyl
group.
A preferable monomer is a compound expressed
by CF2=CFO(CF2CYFO)n- (CF2)m-COOR. Here, n is an integer
of 0 to 2, m is an integer of 1 to 4, Y represents F or
CF3, R represents CH3, C2H5 and C3H7.
When the polymer is used particularly as a
membrane for alkaline electrolysis, the monomer is
preferably a perfluoro compound, but only R (lower
alkyl group) is not necessary to be a perfluoro type,
because it disappears when the functional group is
hydrolyzed into the ion-exchange group. Such a
preferable monomer includes, for instance, CF2=CFOCF2-
CF (CF3) -0-CF2COOCH3, CF2=CFOCF2CF (CF2) 0 (CF2) 2COOCH3,
CF2=CF [OCF2-CF (CF) 3] 2O (CF2) 2COOCH3,
CF2=CFOCF2CF(CF3)0(CF3)3COOCH3, CF2=CFO (CF2) 2COOCH3 and
CF2=CFO (CF2) 3COOCH3 .
[0031]
The monomer of the third group is a vinyl
compound having a functional group which is
transformable to a sulfone type ion-exchange group. A
preferable compound is expressed by the general formula
of CF2=CFO-X-CF2-SO2F, where X is a group selected from
various types of perfluorocarbon groups. A specific
example of the compound includes CF2=CFOCF2CF2SO2F,
CF2=CFOCF2CF (CF3) OCF2CF2SO2F,
CF2=CFOCF2CF(CF3)OCF2CF2CF2S02F, CF2=CF (CF2) 2S02F,
CF2=CFO [CF2CF (CF3) O] 2CF2CF2S02F, and
CF2=CFOCF2CF(CF2OCF3)OCF2CF2SO2F, and a particularly
preferable example among these is
CF2=CFOCF2CF (CF3) OCF2CF2CF2SO2F and
CF2=CFOCF2CF (CF3) OCF2CF2SO2F.
[0032]
A copolymer of these monomers can be produced
with a polymerization method developed for single
fluorinated ethylene and a copolymer thereof, and
particularly with a general polymerization method used
for tetrafluoroethylene. For instance, there is a non-
aqueous method which includes: employing an inert
liquid such as perfluoro hydrocarbon and chloro
fluorocarbon as a solvent; using a radical-
polymerization initiator such as a perfluorocarbon
peroxide and an azo compound; and can copolymerize the
monomer at a temperature of 0 to 200°C and a pressure of
0.1 to 20 MPa.
A type and a ratio of the monomers to be used
for copolymerization are selected and determined from
among the above described three groups according to a
type and amount of a desired functional group required
for a fluorinated polymer.
[0033]
For instance, when a polymer containing only
a carboxylic ester functional group is required, it is
acceptable to select at least one monomer respectively
from the monomers of the first group and the second
group, and copolymerize them.
On the other hand, when a polymer containing
only a sulfonyl fluoride functional group is required,
it is acceptable to select at least one monomer
respectively from the monomers of the first group and
the third group, and copolymerize them.
Furthermore, when a polymer containing both
of two functional groups, carboxylic ester and sulfonyl
fluoride, is required, it is acceptable to select at
least one monomer respectively from the monomers of the
first group, the second group and the third group, and
copolymerize them.
In this case, an objective fluorinated
polymer can be obtained by separately polymerizing a
copolymer from monomers of the first group and the
second group and a copolymer from monomers of the first
group and the third group, and then mixing the
copolymers. As for a mixing ratio of each monomer,
when it is desired to increase an amount of the
required functional group per unit monomer, it is
acceptable to increase the ratio of the monomers
selected from the second group or the third group.
[0034]
An ion-exchange membrane according to the
present invention having an ion-exchange capacity in a
range preferably of 0.5 to 2.0 mg equivalent weight/g
of dried resin, and more preferably of 0.6 to 1.5 mg
equivalent weight/g of dried resin in general, after
the whole amount of the functional groups have been
converted to an exchange group is used.
A process for producing an ion-exchange
membrane according to the present invention is
characterized in that a projecting part including a
polymer having an ion-exchange group is formed on the
surface of an anode side by bringing an embossed
release paper closely in contact with the surface of
the anode side and transferring the embossed shape of
the release paper to the surface, when a fluorine-
containing polymer having an ion-exchange group is
layered on a porous substrate.
[0035]
Here, an objective shape is previously
embossed on the release paper to be used when
integrating the film with the porous substrate, in
order to provide the projecting part on the surface of
the membrane in the anode side, which is an object of
the present invention. A method for forming the
embossed shape on the release paper includes, for
instance, the steps of: bringing the release paper
closely in contact with the heated metallic roll having
a surface to which an objective projecting shape is
formed in advance; and pressing the release paper to
the heated metallic roll by using a pressure roll made
from a resin, at a forming temperature preferably of 20
to 120°C and more preferably of 25 to 80°C, with a line
pressure of preferably 500N/cm or more and more
preferably of 600 to 2,000N/cm, and at a forming speed
preferably of 50m/minute or smaller, and more
preferably of 40m/minute or smaller. In addition, the
depth of an embossed recess can be controlled by
changing the line pressure of the pressure roll made
from a resin for pressing the release paper to the
heated metal roll. The basis weight of the release
paper to be used may be selected from a comparatively
wide range, but preferably is 50 to 400g/m2 from the
viewpoint of handling resistance and heat resistance.
[0036]
In addition, when transferring the embossed
shape to the membrane, it is preferable for keeping the
mechanical strength of the membrane to employ a method
of bringing the release paper closely contact with the
surface of the membrane in an anode side by reducing
the pressure through the release paper.
Furthermore, it is preferable for surely
transferring a previously embossed shape formed on the
release paper to the surface of the membrane in the
anode side to control the temperature of the surface of
the membrane preferably at 180°C or higher and 300°C or
lower.
In addition, when embossing the release
paper, it is preferable to employ the release paper
having the air permeability of 0.03 MPa or less, and
preferably of 0.025 MPa or less and emboss the release
paper under a reduced pressure, in order to further
improve the adhesiveness of the release paper to the
membrane and surely transfer a previously embossed
shape formed on the release paper.
The air permeability of the release paper was
measured with a pneumatic micrometer type testing
instrument according to a standard of JAPAN TAPPI No. 5
- 1:2000.
[0037]
The release paper can have any embossed shape
thereon because the metallic roll transfers an
embossing shape formed thereon to the surface of the
release paper.
In order to achieve the purpose of the
present invention, various shapes can be selected from
the shapes of a circular cone, a multi-angular pyramid
such as a triangular pyramid and a quadrangular
pyramid, a hemisphere, a dome, a circular truncated
cone and a truncated pyramid, and mixed shapes of two
or more of the above shapes may be selected.
[0038]
In addition, the average height of the
embossed shape is preferably 20 to 150 µm, and more
preferably is 20 to 120 µm, as described above, because
when the ion-exchange membrane is integrated,
approximately the same shape as the embossed shape is
transferred to the surface of the anode side of the
membrane. Furthermore, a distribution density of
embossment is preferably 20 to 1,500 pieces/cm2, and
more preferably is 50 to 1,200 pieces/cm2. An average
value of an area fraction of bottom faces of the
embossed shape is preferably 0.001 to 0.6 cm2/cm2. An
area fraction of the top part of the embossed shape
differs depending on the embossed shape, but is
preferably 0.05 cm2/cm2 or less in any case.
The embossed shape preferably has such a
relationship between a and b as to satisfy the
expression of 0.5 = b/a = 0.9, where a is defined as an
average value of lengths of the bottom sides of the
bottom faces in the embossed shape, and b is defined as
an average value of widths at the half height of the
embossed shape; and preferably has such a relationship
between a and h as to satisfy the expression of 0.25 =
h/a = 0.8, where a is defined as the average value of
the lengths of the bottom sides of the bottom faces in
the embossed shape, and h is defined as an average
value of heights of the embossed shape.
[0039]
When the membrane described above is produced
by using the release paper, the membrane acquires
projecting parts comprising a polymer having an ion-
exchange group formed on the surface in an anode side,
the projecting parts mitigate the adhesiveness of the
membrane to an anode while electrolysis, and an alkali
chloride solution in the anode side is sufficiently
supplied to the surface of the anode side of the
membrane. Thus, the object of the present invention can
be achieved.
The embossed recess formed in the release
paper is preferably discontinuous. If the embossed
recesses form a closed shape such as grid, the part
surrounded by the projecting part is formed, when the
embossed shape is transferred to the surface of the
anode side of the membrane. The surrounded part makes
it difficult for the alkali chloride solution to be
sufficiently supplied to the anode side during
electrolysis.
The recesses embossed in the release paper
may be regularly arrayed or arranged at random, as long
as the arrangement does not exceed the range of the
distribution density and the depth of the embossed
recess according to the present invention.
[0040]
A particularly preferred method includes
forming a film by coextruding a fluorine-containing
polymer (first layer) which contains a carboxylic ester
functional group and is located in a cathode side and a
fluorine-containing polymer (second layer) which
contains a sulfonyl fluoride functional group. Aside
from the above prepared film, a fluorine-containing
polymer (third layer) which contains a sulfonyl
fluoride functional group is singly formed into a film
beforehand. Those prepared films are integrated by the
steps of: stacking the third layer film, a porous
substrate and a composite film of the second layer with
the first layer in this order on a flat plate or a drum
which is provided with a heat source and a vacuum
source and has many pores on the surface, through a
heat-resistant release paper having gas permeability;
and integrating them at a temperature at which each
polymer melts while removing air among the layers by
reducing pressure. Here, coextruding the first layer
and the second layer contributes to the enhancement of
the adhesive strength between the interfaces, and
integration of the layers under the reduced pressure
has a feature of making the thickness of the third
layer on the porous substrate larger, in comparison
with a pressurization process. Furthermore, sufficient
mechanical strength of the membrane can be retained,
because the porous substrate is fixed in the inner face
of the membrane.
[0041]
In the above description, for the purpose of
enhancing the electrical performance of the ion-
exchange membrane, a fourth layer containing both
functional groups of carboxylate ester and sulfonyl
fluoride can be interposed between the first layer and
the second layer, or the second layer itself can be
replaced with the layer containing both of the
functional groups of the carboxylic ester and the
sulfonyl fluoride. In this case, a process may be
employed which separately produces a polymer containing
the sulfonyl fluoride functional group, and a polymer
containing the carboxylic ester functional group, and
then mixing the polymers, or a process may be also
employed which copolymerizes both of a monomer
containing the carboxylic ester functional group and a
monomer containing the sulfonyl fluoride functional
group. When inserting the forth layer as a structure
of the membrane, it is an acceptable process to form a
co-extruded film of the first layer and the fourth
layer, singly form the third layer and the second layer
into films separately, and stack them with the above
described method, or to form a film by coextruding
three layers of the first layer, the fourth layer and
the second layer at one time.
[0042]
Here, the first layer has a thickness
preferably of 5 to 50 µm and more preferably of 5 to 30
µm The second layer has a thickness preferably of 30
to 120 µm and more preferably of 40 to 100 µm, because
of being a layer of dominating the strength of the
membrane. The third layer has a thickness preferably
of 15 to 50 µ. Furthermore, when interposing the above
described fourth layer between the first layer and the
second layer, the total thickness of the ion-exchange
membrane prior to hydrolysis is appropriately
controlled to preferably 200 µm or less and more
preferably in a range of 50 to 180 µm. The thickness
of the membrane is particularly preferably 50 µm or
more from the viewpoint of mechanical strength, and is
180 µm or less from the viewpoint of electrolytic
resistance.
[0043]
As mentioned before, the cation-exchange
membrane for electrolysis is required to cause a low
voltage. As one method for lowering the voltage, a
method is employed which decreases the thickness of a
layer made from a fluororesin containing a carboxylic
acid group, and the layer made from a fluororesin
containing a sulfonic acid group. In this case, as for
the strength of the membrane, there is a problem that
the strength of the membrane decreases proportionally
to the thickness of the membrane. In order to prevent
the decrease of the strength of the membrane, a method
is adopted which embeds a porous substrate made from
PTFE or the like in the membrane, but the ion-exchange
membrane containing the porous substrate makes a resin
layer around the porous substrate the thinnest part
which strongly affects the strength of the membrane.
Accordingly, in order not to decrease the
strength of the ion-exchange membrane, such a
production method is effective as not to decrease the
thickness of the resin layer around the porous
substrate.
[0044]
A method of transferring an embossed shape
previously formed on a release paper to the surface of
the membrane according to the present specification can
provide discontinuous projecting parts made from a
fluorinated resin on the surface of the anode side of
the ion-exchange membrane without thinning the resin
layer around the porous substrate, and can improve the
surface of the anode side of the membrane in a shape
without lowering the strength of the membrane. In
addition, a production method according to the present
invention does not make a melted fluorine-containing
polymer directly contact a roll, and accordingly can
prevent the metallic roll from being corroded even when
forming the projecting parts, for instance, by using
the metallic roll. Furthermore, the production method
according to the present invention provides small and
discontinuous projecting parts on the surface of the
anode side of the membrane, consequently reduces a
contact portion between the anode in an electrolytic
tank and the surface of the membrane, makes an alkali
chloride solution sufficiently be supplied, and
accordingly can largely reduce impurities in an alkali
hydroxide to be produced.
[0045]
A membrane according to the present invention
may have an inorganic coating layer for preventing the
gases from being entrapped on the surfaces of the
cathode side and the anode side, as needed. The
coating layer can be formed on the membrane, for
instance, by spraying a liquid having fine inorganic
oxide particles dispersed in a polymer binder solution.
The fluorine-containing cation-exchange
membrane according to the present invention can be used
for various types of electrolysis, but the case of
being used for the electrolysis of an aqueous alkali
chloride solution will now be described here, as a
representative example. A known condition can be
adopted as an electrolysis condition. For instance,
the electrolysis is conducted on the conditions of an
electrolysis temperature of 50 to 120°C and a current
density of 5 to 100 A/dm2, while supplying a 2.5 to 5.5
normal (N) aqueous solution of an alkali chloride into
an anode chamber, and supplying water or a diluted
aqueous solution of an alkali hydroxide into a cathode
chamber.
[0046]
An electrolysis cell, in which a fluorine-
containing cation-exchange membrane for electrolysis
according to the present invention is used, may be a
single-electrode type or a double-electrode type as
long as the tank has the above described structure
including a cathode and an anode. The electrolysis
cell is formed preferably, for instance, from titanium
as a material having resistance to an alkali chloride
and chlorine in an anode chamber, and from nickel as a
material having resistance to an alkali hydroxide and
hydrogen in a cathode chamber. As for the arrangement
of electrodes, the fluorine-containing cation-exchange
membrane for electrolysis according to the present
invention and the anode may be arranged at a suitable
space, but in the case of the membrane according to the
present invention, the purpose can be achieved without
any problem even if the anode and the ion-exchange
membrane are arranged so as to contact each other. In
addition, the cathode is generally arranged adjacent to
the ion-exchange membrane at a suitable space, but an
advantage offered by the present invention is not lost
even in a contact type electrolysis cell having no such
space (zero-gap-type electrolysis cell).
In the next place, the present invention will
now be described with reference to examples and
comparative examples.
Examples
[0047]
The present invention will now be described
below with reference to the examples and the
comparative examples, but the present invention is not
limited to these examples at all.
In the examples and comparative examples, the
electrolysis was conducted in a self-circulation type
electrolysis cell with an area of 1 dm2 having a cathode
of an expanded metal and an anode of a porous plate
(having pores of 4 mmF arranged at 6 pitches, open area
rate of 40%), at a temperature of 90°C with a current
density of 60 A/dm2 for seven days, while supplying an
aqueous solution of sodium chloride controlled to the
concentration of 205 g/liter to an anode side, keeping
the concentration of caustic soda of a cathode side at
32% by weight, and setting a differential pressure
between a fluid pressure in the cathode side of the
electrolysis cell and a fluid pressure in the anode
side so that the fluid pressure of the cathode side can
be higher by 8.8 kPa.
[0048]
Example 1
A fabric cloth with a thickness of 100 µm was
obtained as a porous substrate by the steps of:
preparing a thread by twisting a tape yarn of 100
deniers made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) at 900
times/m; preparing a supporting fiber (sacrificial
thread) by twisting 6 filaments of polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) of 30 deniers at 200 times/m as a
warp; preparing a weft by twisting 8 filaments of a PET
thread of 35 deniers at 10 times/m; and plain-weaving
these threads while alternately disposing the PTFE
threads at 24 threads per inch and the sacrificial
threads at 64 threads per inch which is 4 times higher
density than that of the PTFE threads. The obtained
fabric cloth was controlled into the thickness of 70 µm
by being crimped by a heated metallic roll. At this
time, the open area ratio of only the PTFE thread was
75%.
[0049]
Next, a polymer (A) was prepared which was a
copolymer of CF2=CF2 and CF2=CFOCF2CF (CF3) OCF2CF2COOCH3,
and had an ion-exchange capacity of 0.85 mg
equivalent/g dry resin; a polymer (B) was prepared
which was a copolymer of CF2=CF2 and
CF2=CFOCF2CF(CF3)OCF2CF2S02F, and had an ion-exchange
capacity of 0.95 mg equivalent/g dry resin; and a
polymer (C) was prepared which had the same structure
as the polymer (B) and had an ion-exchange capacity of
1.05 mg equivalent/g dry resin. A dual-layer film (x)
was prepared by coextruding the above polymers with a
T-die technique. The film was formed of the polymer
(A) with the thickness of 25 µm and the polymer (B)
with the thickness of 75 µm. In addition, a film (y)
with the thickness of 25 µm formed of a polymer (C) was
obtained with a single-layer T-die technique.
[0050]
Next, a metallic roll having protrusions
(projecting parts) on the surface was prepared, which
had a circular truncated cone shape, a average height
of 150 urn, a distribution density of about 500
pieces/cm2, an area fraction of the bottom faces of
0.157 cm2/cm2, a length of the bottom sides of 200 µm,
and a width of 125 µm at the half height of the
protruding part, and was heated to 40°C; and an embossed
shape was formed on a release paper with a basis weight
of 127 g/m2 by crimping the release paper with the
heated metallic roll and a resinous pressure roll at a
line pressure of 1,000 N/cm for the resinous pressure
roll at a embossing speed of 10 m/min.
[0051]
The air permeability of the release paper
used herein before being embossed was 0.005 MPa when
measured with a pneumatic micrometer type tester
according to a technical standard of JAPAN TAPPI NO.5-
1:2000.
A composite membrane was obtained by the
steps of: stacking the release paper, the film (y), the
porous substrate and the film (x) of various materials
obtained here in this order, on a drum having a heat
source and a vacuum source in the inner part, and
having fine pores on its surface; crimping the stacked
films while heating and depressurizing them; and then
removing the release paper. At this time, a forming
temperature was 225°C and a reduced pressure was 0.022
MPa.
[0052]
The surface of the obtained membrane was
observed, and as a result, it was confirmed that a film
(y) of an anode side had projecting parts with a
truncated-cone-like shape formed thereon, which have
the height of about 45 µm by an average value h, are
distributed at a density P of 500 pieces/cm2, have such
bottom faces as to occupy about 0.04 cm2/cm2 by an
average value S of area fraction, have such top parts
as to occupy about 0.012 cm2/cm2 by an average value T
of area fraction, have bottom sides with the length of
about 100 µm by an average value a, have a width of
about 7 5 µm by an average value b at the half height of
the projecting part, and are made from a polymer having
an ion-exchange group. At this time, a value of b/a
was 0.75 and a value of h/a was 0.45.
[0053]
Next, the obtained composite membrane was
hydrolyzed at 90°C for one hour, and then was rinsed and
dried. Furthermore, a suspension was prepared by
adding and dispersing 20% by weight of zirconium oxide
particles with a primary particle diameter of 0.02 µm
into an ethanol solution containing 5% by weight of an
acid type polymer of a polymer (C), and a gas-releasing
coating film of 0.5 mg/cm2 was formed on both surfaces
of the above described composite membrane by spraying
the suspension with a spraying technique.
[0054]
Tensile strength, tensile elongation and
electrolysis performance were evaluated on the
fluorine-containing cation-exchange membrane obtained
as described above. The tensile strength and the
tensile elongation were measured according to JIS K6732
by the steps of: preparing a sample which was taken out
from the membrane in a direction of 45 degrees with
respect to a porous substrate embedded in the membrane
and had a width of 1 cm; and stretching the sample on
conditions of a distance between chucks of 50 mm and a
tensile speed of 100 mm/min. The electrolysis was
performed in the above described electrolysis cell in
which a film (y) was arranged so as to face an anode at
a current density of 60 A/dm2 and a temperature set at
90°C for seven days. Electrolysis voltage, current
efficiency and an amount of sodium chloride in produced
caustic soda were measured, and electrolysis stability
was evaluated from respective values measured on the
second day and the seventh day after electrolysis has
been started. The amount of sodium chloride in the
produced caustic soda (NaCl/50%-NaOH) was determined
by: obtaining a value measured by the steps of reacting
chloride ions of sodium chloride in the caustic soda
with mercury thiocyanate to isolate thiocyanate ions,
reacting the thiocyanate ions with iron (III) ions to
form thiocyanate iron (III), and measuring the
intensity of coloration due to the thiocyanate iron
(III); and converting the value to the case in which a
caustic soda solution concentration was 50% by weight.
[0055]
The results are shown in Table 1 together
with the results of other examples and comparative
examples. The membrane showed the values of tensile
strength and tensile elongation sufficiently tolerable
for the electrolysis. The membrane also showed a small
degradation of electrolysis performance on the second
day after the initiation of electrolysis and the
seventh day, an ultratrace amount of sodium chloride
contained in caustic soda, no remarkable increase even
on the seventh day after the initiation of
electrolysis, and consequently stable electrolysis
performance.
[0056]
Example 2
A release paper was embossed by a resinous
pressure roll at a line pressure of 800 N/cm. A
composite membrane was prepared with the same method as
Example 1 so that the projecting parts made from a
polymer having an ion-exchange group formed on the
surface of an anode side could show the height of about
33 µm by an average value h, be distributed at a
density P of 500 pieces/cm2, have such bottom faces as
to occupy about 0.025 cm2/cm2 by an average value S of
area fraction, have such top parts as to occupy about
0.012 cm2/cm2 by an average value T of area fraction,
have bottom sides with the length of about 80 µm by an
average value a, and have a width of about 67 µm by an
average value b at the half height of the projecting
part. At this time, a value of b/a was about 0.84 and
a value of h/a was about 0.41. The obtained composite
membrane was subjected to electrolysis on the same
conditions as in Example 1. The results are shown in
Table 1 in the same way. The Example 2 showed adequate
results similar to the case of Example 1.
[0057]
Example 3
A metallic roll having protrusions
(projecting parts) on the surface was prepared, which
had a quadrangular pyramid shape, an average height of
150 µm, a distribution density of about 250 pieces/cm2,
an area fraction of the bottom faces of 0.4 cm2/cm2, a
length of the bottom sides of 400 µm, and a width of
225 µm at the half height of the protruding part, and
was heated to 40°C; and an embossed shape was formed on
a release paper with a basis weight of 127 g/m2 by
crimping the release paper with the heated metallic
roll and a resinous pressure roll at a line pressure of
1,100 N/cm for the resinous pressure roll at a
embossing speed of 10 m/min. A composite membrane was
made by using the release paper with the same method as
in Example 1.
[0058]
It was confirmed that the obtained composite
membrane made from a polymer having an ion-exchange
group had the projecting parts formed on the surface of
an anode side, which had the height of about 66 µm by
an average value h, were distributed at a density P of
250 pieces/cm2, had such bottom faces as to occupy about
0.1 cm2/cm2 by an average value S of area fraction, had
such top parts as to occupy about 0.009 cm2/cm2 by an
average value T of area fraction, had bottom sides with
the length of about 200 µm by an average value a, and
had a width of about 125 µm by an average value b at
the half height of the projecting part. At this time,
the value of b/a was about 0.63 and the value of h/a
was about 0.33. The obtained composite membrane was
subjected to electrolysis on the same conditions as in
Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1 in the
same way. The Example 3 showed adequate results
similar to the case of Example 1.
[0059]
Example 4
A release paper was embossed at a line
pressure of 1400 N/cm for a resinous pressure roll. A
composite membrane was prepared with the same method as
Example 3 so that the projecting parts made from only a
polymer having an ion-exchange group formed on the
surface of an anode side showed the height of about 95
µm by an average value h, were distributed at a density
P of 250 pieces/cm2, had such bottom faces as to occupy
about 0.18 cm2/cm2 by an average value S of area
fraction, had such top parts as to occupy about 0.009
cm2/cm2 by an average value T of area fraction, had
bottom sides with the length of about 270 µm by an
average value a, and had a width of about 135 µm by an
average value b at the half height of the projecting
part. At this time, a value of b/a was about 0.50 and
a value of h/a was about 0.35. The obtained composite
membrane was subjected to electrolysis on the same
conditions as in Example 1. The results are shown in
Table 1 in the same way. The Example 4 showed adequate
results similar to the case of Example 1.
[0060]
Comparative Example 1
A composite membrane was prepared by using a
release paper that had not been embossed with the same
method as in Example 1 and evaluated. As a result of
having observed the surface of an anode side, there was
not such a projecting part as seen in Examples. The
result is shown in Table 1. The Comparative Example 1
showed adequate mechanical strength which was confirmed
in a tensile test, but showed a large degradation of
current efficiency among electrolysis performances, and
showed a large amount of sodium chloride in caustic
soda even on the second day after initial electrolysis,
and a remarkably increased amount of the sodium
chloride on the seventh day.
[0061]
Comparative Example 2
A release paper was embossed at a line
pressure of 400 N/cm for a resinous pressure roll. A
composite membrane was prepared with the same method as
Example 3 so that the projecting parts made from a
polymer having an ion-exchange group formed on the
surface of an anode side showed the height of about 16
µm by an average value h, were distributed at a density
P of 250 pieces/cm2, had such bottom faces as to occupy
about 0.019 cm2/cm2 by an average value S of area
fraction, had such top parts as to occupy about 0.009
cm2/cm2 by an average value T of area fraction, had
bottom sides with the length of about 87 µm by an
average value a, and have a width of about 46 µm by an
average value b at the half height of the projecting
part. At this time, a value of b/a was about 0.53 and
a value of h/a was about 0.18. The obtained composite
membrane was subjected to electrolysis on the same
conditions as in Example 1. Results are shown in Table
1 in the same way. Similarly to Comparative Example 1,
Comparative Example 2 showed adequate mechanical
strength, but showed a large degradation of current
efficiency among electrolysis performances, and showed
a large amount of sodium chloride in caustic soda even
on the second day after initial electrolysis.
[0062]
Comparative Example 3
A release paper was embossed at a line
pressure of 400 N/cm for a resinous pressure roll. A
composite membrane was prepared with the same method as
Example 1 so that the projecting parts made from a
polymer having an ion-exchange group formed on the
surface of an anode side showed the height of about 15
µm by an average value h, were distributed at a density
P of 500 pieces/cm2, had such bottom faces as to occupy
about 0.017 cm2/cm2 by an average value S of area
fraction, had such top parts as to occupy about 0.012
cm2/cm2 by an average value T of area fraction, had
bottom sides with the length of about 65 µm by an
average value a, and have a width of about 35 µm by an
average value b at the half height of the projecting
part. At this time, a value of b/a was about 0.54 and
a value of h/a was about 0.23. The obtained composite
membrane was subjected to electrolysis on the same
conditions as in Example 1. The result is shown in
Table 1. The Comparative Example 3 also showed
adequate mechanical strength, but showed a large
degradation of current efficiency among electrolysis
performances, and showed a large amount of sodium
chloride in caustic soda even on the second day after
initial electrolysis.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0064]
A cation-exchange membrane for electrolysis
according to the present invention can reduce
impurities in an alkali hydroxide to be produced, while
maintaining excellent electrochemical properties and
mechanical strength in the electrolysis of an aqueous
solution of an alkali chloride, provides an alkali
hydroxide of high quality, can exhibit stable
electrolysis performance over a long period of time,
and can significantly contribute to a reduction of an
electrolysis cost and provision of an alkali hydroxide
of high purity.
We claim:
1. A cation-exchange membrane for electrolysis comprising a fluorine-
containing polymer formed of a main chain of fluorinated hydrocarbon and
having an ion-exchange group and a porous substrate having a shape of a fabric
cloth, a nonwoven cloth or a knitted cloth,
characterized in that the membrane has projecting parts comprising the
fluorine-containing polymer formed of a main chain of fluorinated hydrocarbon
and having an ion-exchange group on the surface of an anode side of the
membrane;
20 = h = 150, where h is defined as an average value of heights (µm)
from the surface of the anode side of the membrane to the tops of the projecting
parts;
50 = P = 1, 200, where P is defined as a distribution density (piece/cm2)
of the projecting parts;
0.001 = S = 0.6, where S is defined as an average value of area
fractions (cm2 / cm2) of the bottom faces of the projecting parts on the same
plane as the surface of the anode side of the membrane;
T = 0.05, where T is defined as an average value of area fractions (cm2 /
cm2) of the top parts of the projecting parts on the surface of the anode side of
the membrane; and
0.5 = b/a = 0.9 and 0.25 = h/a = 0.80, where a is defined as an
average value of lengths (µm) of the bottom sides of the projecting parts on the
same plane as the surface of the anode side of the membrane, and b is defined
as an average value of widths (µm) of the projecting parts at the half height h/2
(µm) of the projecting part.
2. The cation-exchange membrane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
projecting parts are discontinuous with each other.
3. The cation-exchange membrane as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the
projecting parts have a single shape or a mixed shape of two or more shapes
selected from the group consisting of a circular cone-like shape, a quadrangular
pyramid-like shape, a circular truncated cone-like shape and a truncated
quadrangular pyramid-like shape.
4. A process for producing a cation-exchange membrane for electrolysis as
claimed in any one of claims 1-3, characterized by bringing an embossed release
paper in contact with the surface of the anode side of the membrane and
transferring the embossed shape of the release paper to the surface, when a
fluorine-containing polymer formed of a main chain of fluorinated hydrocarbon
and having an ion-exchange group is layered on a porous substrate having a
shape of a fabric cloth, a nonwoven cloth or a knitted cloth, thereby forming a
projecting part comprising a fluorine-containing polymer formed of a main chain
of fluorinated hydrocarbon and having an ion-exchange group on the surface of
an anode side.
5. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the release paper is closely
brought in contact with the surface of the anode side of the membrane by
reducing pressure through the release paper.
6. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the embossed shape is one
shape or a mixed shape of two or more shapes selected from the group
consisting of a circular cone-like shape, a multi-angular pyramid-like shape, a
hemisphere-like shape, a dome-like shape, a circular truncated cone-like shape
and a truncated multi-angular pyramid-like shape.
7. An electrolysis apparatus comprising the cation-exchange membrane as
claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, a cathode and an anode, said apparatus
being an electrolysis tank, wherein the surface having the projecting part of the
cation-exchange membrane contacts or faces to the anode.


A cation-exchange membrane for electrolysis which comprises a fluoropolymer
having ion-exchange groups and a porous base. It is characterized by having, on
the anode-side surface of the membrane, protrusions comprising a polymer
having ion-exchange groups. It is further characterized in that: when the
average value of the heights of the tops of the protrusions from the anode-side
surface of the membrane is expressed as h (µm), then 20 ≤ h ≤ 150; when the
density of the protrusions distributed is expressed as P (protrusions per cm2),
then 50 ≤ P ≤ 1,200; when the average proportion of the areas of those bottom
parts of the protrusions which are on the same level as the anode-side surface of
the membrane to the area of the anode-side surface of the membrane is
expressed as S (cm2 / cm2 ), then 0.001 ≤ S ≤ 0.6; and when the average
proportion of the areas of the top parts of the protrusions to the area of the
anode-side surface of the membrane is expressed as T (cm2 /cm2), then T ≤
0.05.

Documents:

01084-kolnp-2008-abstract.pdf

01084-kolnp-2008-claims.pdf

01084-kolnp-2008-correspondence others.pdf

01084-kolnp-2008-description complete.pdf

01084-kolnp-2008-form 1.pdf

01084-kolnp-2008-form 2.pdf

01084-kolnp-2008-form 3.pdf

01084-kolnp-2008-form 5.pdf

01084-kolnp-2008-gpa.pdf

01084-kolnp-2008-international publication.pdf

01084-kolnp-2008-international search report.pdf

01084-kolnp-2008-pct priority document notification.pdf

01084-kolnp-2008-translated copy of priority document.pdf

1084-KOLNP-2008-(04-07-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

1084-KOLNP-2008-(29-06-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

1084-KOLNP-2008-ABSTRACT 1.1.pdf

1084-KOLNP-2008-CLAIMS.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 1.1.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-correspondence-1.2.pdf

1084-KOLNP-2008-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE) 1.1.pdf

1084-KOLNP-2008-EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECIEVED.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-examination report.pdf

1084-KOLNP-2008-FORM 1 1.1.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-form 18.pdf

1084-KOLNP-2008-FORM 2 1.1.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-form 3.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-form 5.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-gpa.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-granted-abstract.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-granted-claims.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-granted-description (complete).pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-granted-form 1.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-granted-form 2.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-granted-specification.pdf

1084-KOLNP-2008-OTHERS 1.1.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-OTHERS.pdf

1084-kolnp-2008-reply to examination report-1.1.pdf


Patent Number 253522
Indian Patent Application Number 1084/KOLNP/2008
PG Journal Number 30/2012
Publication Date 27-Jul-2012
Grant Date 26-Jul-2012
Date of Filing 13-Mar-2008
Name of Patentee ASAHI KASEI CHEMICALS CORPORATION
Applicant Address 1-2, YURAKU-CHO 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 AKIKO KASHIWADA C/O ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA OF 1-2, YURAKU-CHO 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8440
2 HIROSHI NAKAYAMA C/O ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA OF 1-2, YURAKU-CHO 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8440
3 TOSHINORI HIRANO C/O ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA OF 1-2, YURAKU-CHO 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8440
PCT International Classification Number C25B 13/08,C25B 1/46
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP2006/300033
PCT International Filing date 2006-01-05
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2005-267316 2005-09-14 Japan