Studies on the thermal stability of the perfluorinated cation-exchange membrane Nafion-417

The thermal stability of the perfluorinated cationexchange membrane Nafion-417 was determined by means of simultaneous TG-DTA. The individual decomposition stages were studied via IR spectroscopy and ion-exchange capacity determinations. Nafion-417 is thermally stable up to 280 ‡C. Above this temperature, sulfonic groups present in the membrane are split off (T max = 345 ‡C. In the temperature range 420–590 ‡C, oxidative destruction of the perfluorinated matrix occurs, which is accompanied by practically total weight loss.