Polyethylene–poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐divinylbenzene) interpolymer‐type carboxylic membranes

A short review of the methods of preparation of carboxylic membranes was presented. Details were given on the preparation procedure of polyethylene‐poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐divinylbenzene) PE‐poly(MA‐co‐DVB) interpolymer‐type carboxylic membranes and on the optimization of the procedure. The membranes were synthesized by swelling PE in sheet form in a mixture of MA, DVB, and benzoyl peroxide (BP), with subsequent heating of the gel to interpolymerize the monomers. The dependence of ion exchange capacity, swelling, resistivity, and permeability on poly(MA‐co‐DVB) and DVB contents were investigated. With the use of an electron microscope a domain‐type morphology was observed at low poly(MA‐co‐DVB) and DVB contents. Crystallinity of PE was not influenced by the presence of poly(MA‐co‐DVB).