| abstract |
The invention is a sulfonic fluoropolymer having a fluoropolymer backbone having pendant groups attached thereto and represented by the general formula: n n ZSO.sub.2 --(CF.sub.2).sub.a --(CFR.sub.f).sub.b --O-- n n where: Z is a halogen, an alkali metal, hydrogen, or OR; R is a branched or linear alkyl radical having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl radical; a is 0-2; b is 0-2; provided a+b is not equal to 0; R f is selected from the group consisting of --F, --Cl, perfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and fluorochloroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, wherein the sulfonic fluoropolymer has an equivalent weight of less than about 725, and a hydration product of less than about 22,000. n The invention also includes sulfonic fluoropolymers having a fluoropolymer backbone and having pendant groups attached thereto represented by the general formula: n n ZSO.sub.2 --(CF.sub.2).sub.a --(CFR.sub.f)b--O-- n n where Z, a, b and R f are defined above, provided however, that a+b is equal to 1 or 2, and wherein the sulfonic fluoropolymer has an equivalent weight less than about 725. |