Crosslinked ion exchange resin composite membranes were prepared by casting sulfonated polystyrene(SPS) solution with suspended ion exchange resin(crosslinked SPS) and crosslinker (trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate (TMPETA)) follow by gamma-ray irradiation. The physicochemical properties of the composite membranes were evaluated by measuring gel-fraction, ion exchange capacity, water-uptake and dimensional stability. We confirmed that the introduction of ion exchange resin and radiation crosslinking in the membranes improved the water uptake, dimensional stability and permselectivity.

Crosslinked PVA membranes were fabricated by solution casting of the substituted PVA (SPVA), synthesized by the reaction of PVA with glycidyl acrylate (GMA) without catalyst in different molar ratios [-OH(PVA)/GMA], followed by electron beam irradiation. The chemical changes in the SPVA compared to PVA were confirmed from H-NMR and FT-IR analysis. Crosslinking degree and dimensional stability of the crosslinked PVA membranes also investigated by measuring gel fraction and dimensional change of the membranes under acidic and basic solution.

In order to observe the effect of radiation crosslinking on the properties of cationic exchange membrane, the crosslinked SPS/TMPETA membranes were fabricated by solution casting of various composition of sulfonated polystyrene(SPS) prepared by sulfonation of polystyrene(PS) and trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate(TMPETA) crosslinker followed by an electron beam irradiation. The physicochemical properties of the membranes before and after radiation crosslinking were evaluated by measuring gel-fraction, ion exchange capacity, water-uptake and tensile strength. We confirmed that the introduction of radiation crosslinking in SPS membranes improved the water uptake, and tensile strength. The thermal properties of the prepared membranes were also observed using DSC and TMA.