A method of making an ion exchange foam is described. The method includes forming an aqueous phase by suspending an ion exchange resin in an aqueous solvent. An organic phase is formed by mixing at least a divinylbenzene, a monomer, and a surfactant. The formed aqueous phase is mixed with the formed organic phase to form an emulsion. The emulsion is polymerized to form the ion exchange foam. The ion exchange foam can be used with a plurality of sample vials in an autosampler.

A polymer film comprises a polymer composition containing (A) a cyclic olefin polymer and (B) a chlorine-containing polymer. The chlorine-containing polymer (B) may comprise a vinylidene chloride-series polymer. The cyclic olefin polymer (A) may comprise a cyclic olefin copolymer. The ratio of the chlorine-containing polymer (B) relative to 100 parts by weight of the cyclic olefin polymer (A) may be 0.5 to 60 parts by weight. The film has a moderate releasability from an electrolyte membrane and an electrode membrane of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell and a moderate adhesion to the electrolyte membrane and the electrode membrane and can adhere to a commonly-used substrate film without interposition of an adhesive layer such as an easily adhesive layer. The film is thus suitable as a release film for producing a membrane electrode assembly of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

A method of making an ion exchange foam is described. The method includes forming an aqueous phase by suspending an ion exchange resin in an aqueous solvent. An organic phase is formed by mixing at least a divinylbenzene, a monomer, and a surfactant. The formed aqueous phase is mixed with the formed organic phase to form an emulsion. The emulsion is polymerized to form the ion exchange foam. The ion exchange foam can be used with a plurality of sample vials in an autosampler.

A method of making an ion exchange foam is described. The method includes forming an aqueous phase by suspending an ion exchange resin in an aqueous solvent. An organic phase is formed by mixing at least a divinylbenzene, a monomer, and a surfactant. The formed aqueous phase is mixed with the formed organic phase to form an emulsion. The emulsion is polymerized to form the ion exchange foam. The ion exchange foam can be used with a plurality of sample vials in an autosampler.

Disclosed is a pre-treated ion exchange resin comprising at least 15% by total number of exchangeable groups comprising at least one of an ion, or a Lewis acid, or a Lewis base resulting from a heat transfer fluid component having a pK.sub.a or pK.sub.b of greater than 5 in an aqueous solution at 25 C., based on the total number of exchangeable groups. In one embodiment, the heat transfer fluid component is at least one of a colorant, a corrosion inhibitor, an antifoaming agent, a bitterant, a dispersant, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the heat transfer fluid component comprises a heat transfer fluid corrosion inhibitor. Also disclosed are heat transfer systems, assemblies, fuel cell systems and methods of maintaining a conductivity of less than 200 S/cm in a heat transfer fluid that employ the disclosed pre-treated ion exchange resins.

Disclosed is a pre-treated ion exchange resin comprising at least 15% by total number of exchangeable groups comprising at least one of an ion, or a Lewis acid, or a Lewis base resulting from a heat transfer fluid component having a pK.sub.a or pK.sub.b of greater than 5 in an aqueous solution at 25 C., based on the total number of exchangeable groups. In one embodiment, the heat transfer fluid component is at least one of a colorant, a corrosion inhibitor, an antifoaming agent, a bitterant, a dispersant, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the heat transfer fluid component comprises a heat transfer fluid corrosion inhibitor. Also disclosed are heat transfer systems, assemblies, fuel cell systems and methods of maintaining a conductivity of less than 200 S/cm in a heat transfer fluid that employ the disclosed pre-treated ion exchange resins.

One object of the present invention is to produce a weakly acidic cation exchanger under mild conditions. Another object of the present invention is to produce a more firm weakly acidic cation exchange film. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a weakly acidic cation exchanger capable of realizing high-level separation of monovalent cation and simultaneously analyzing monovalent cation and divalent cation and also provide a chromatography column using the ion exchanger. In the production method of a weakly acidic cation exchanger of the invention, a solvent incapable of dissolving a polymer having a double bond within the molecule is used and the weakly acidic cation exchanger is produced by polymerization at temperature of 100 C. or less.

One object of the present invention is to produce a weakly acidic cation exchanger under mild conditions. Another object of the present invention is to produce a more firm weakly acidic cation exchange film. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a weakly acidic cation exchanger capable of realizing high-level separation of monovalent cation and simultaneously analyzing monovalent cation and divalent cation and also provide a chromatography column using the ion exchanger. In the production method of a weakly acidic cation exchanger of the invention, a solvent incapable of dissolving a polymer having a double bond within the molecule is used and the weakly acidic cation exchanger is produced by polymerization at temperature of 100 C. or less.

A liquid composition comprising: a liquid medium comprising at least one aprotic polar organic solvent and less than 25 wt % based on the total weight of the composition of an alcohol; and at least 5 wt % based on the total weight of the composition of at least one fluorinated anion exchange polymer comprising a fluorocarbon backbone and side-chains covalently attached to the backbone having terminal groups of formula (I): SO.sub.2NR.sup.1Q.sup.+X.sup., wherein Q.sup.+ is a group comprising at least one quaternary nitrogen atom, and R.sup.1 is H or a C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group, or forms a ring together with a group in Q.sup.+, wherein the ring contains 2 to 10 carbon atoms and, optionally, up to 4 heteroatoms; and X.sup. is an anion selected among the group consisting of organic anions and lipophilic inorganic anions is disclosed. The liquid composition is suitable for the preparation of ion exchange membranes and as binders for electrocatalytic layers for use in electrochemical applications.

A liquid composition comprising: a liquid medium comprising at least one aprotic polar organic solvent and less than 25 wt % based on the total weight of the composition of an alcohol; and at least 5 wt % based on the total weight of the composition of at least one fluorinated anion exchange polymer comprising a fluorocarbon backbone and side-chains covalently attached to the backbone having terminal groups of formula (I): SO.sub.2NR.sup.1Q.sup.+X.sup., wherein Q.sup.+ is a group comprising at least one quaternary nitrogen atom, and R.sup.1 is H or a C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group, or forms a ring together with a group in Q.sup.+, wherein the ring contains 2 to 10 carbon atoms and, optionally, up to 4 heteroatoms; and X.sup. is an anion selected among the group consisting of organic anions and lipophilic inorganic anions is disclosed. The liquid composition is suitable for the preparation of ion exchange membranes and as binders for electrocatalytic layers for use in electrochemical applications.