RAFT polymerization and thermal behavior of trimethylphosphonium polystyrenes for anion exchange membranes

Abstract

Ionomers of trimethyl(4-vinylbenzyl)phosphonium chloride and styrene comonomers were synthesized with between 15 and 98 mol% ionic content. The thermal properties were explored and a significant increase in the glass transition of the high ion content polymers was found, most likely due to ion aggregation into clusters.