POROUS ION-EXCHANGE MEMBRANES .2. EFFECT OF ADHESION PROMOTERS

The previously described preparation of porous ion-exchange membranes (PIEM's) from the ternary blends of polyethylene interpolymer with poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) and polypropylene and calcium carbonate filler has been supplemented with the use of stearic acid and dibutyl phthalate as adhesion promoters. It was noted that both promoters govern the huge increase of pore diameter without any significant disturbances in the other PIEM's properties. The facilitating effect of chlorosulfonic acid diffusion toward calcium carbonate grains and large amounts of carbon dioxide volatilization was concluded. This is the basic point of pore creation to be discussed in this paper.