Poly(aryl piperidinium) polymers with pendant cationic groups are provided which have an alkaline-stable cation, piperidinium, introduced into a rigid aromatic polymer backbone free of ether bonds. Hydroxide exchange membranes or hydroxide exchange ionomers formed from these polymers exhibit superior chemical stability, hydroxide conductivity, decreased water uptake, good solubility in selected solvents, and improved mechanical properties in an ambient dry state as compared to conventional hydroxide exchange membranes or ionomers. Hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells comprising the poly(aryl piperidinium) polymers with pendant cationic groups exhibit enhanced performance and durability at relatively high temperatures.

Poly(aryl piperidinium) polymers with pendant cationic groups are provided which have an alkaline-stable cation, piperidinium, introduced into a rigid aromatic polymer backbone free of ether bonds. Hydroxide exchange membranes or hydroxide exchange ionomers formed from these polymers exhibit superior chemical stability, hydroxide conductivity, decreased water uptake, good solubility in selected solvents, and improved mechanical properties in an ambient dry state as compared to conventional hydroxide exchange membranes or ionomers. Hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells comprising the poly(aryl piperidinium) polymers with pendant cationic groups exhibit enhanced performance and durability at relatively high temperatures.

Poly(aryl piperidinium) polymers with pendant cationic groups are provided which have an alkaline-stable cation, piperidinium, introduced into a rigid aromatic polymer backbone free of ether bonds. Hydroxide exchange membranes or hydroxide exchange ionomers formed from these polymers exhibit superior chemical stability, hydroxide conductivity, decreased water uptake, good solubility in selected solvents, and improved mechanical properties in an ambient dry state as compared to conventional hydroxide exchange membranes or ionomers. Hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells comprising the poly(aryl piperidinium) polymers with pendant cationic groups exhibit enhanced performance and durability at relatively high temperatures.

Poly(aryl piperidinium) polymers with pendant cationic groups are provided which have an alkaline-stable cation, piperidinium, introduced into a rigid aromatic polymer backbone free of ether bonds. Hydroxide exchange membranes or hydroxide exchange ionomers formed from these polymers exhibit superior chemical stability, hydroxide conductivity, decreased water uptake, good solubility in selected solvents, and improved mechanical properties in an ambient dry state as compared to conventional hydroxide exchange membranes or ionomers. Hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells comprising the poly(aryl piperidinium) polymers with pendant cationic groups exhibit enhanced performance and durability at relatively high temperatures.

Family of non-homopolymers synthesized from N-vinyl lactam, (meth)acrylic acid, hydrophobic (meth)acrylic ester of a straightchain or branched-chain alkyl alcohol and monomer selected from the group consisting of functionalized and unfunctionalized: dialkyl maleates, dialkyl fumarates, and combinations thereof. The non-homopolymers may exhibit solubility in one or more lower molecular weight alcohols and/or a glass transition temperature greater than 80 C. ##STR00001##

Family of non-homopolymers synthesized from N-vinyl lactam, (meth)acrylic acid, hydrophobic (meth)acrylic ester of a straightchain or branched-chain alkyl alcohol and monomer selected from the group consisting of functionalized and unfunctionalized: dialkyl maleates, dialkyl fumarates, and combinations thereof. The non-homopolymers may exhibit solubility in one or more lower molecular weight alcohols and/or a glass transition temperature greater than 80 C. ##STR00001##

There is described a low number average molecular weight (M.sub.N<10 kD) and high glass transition temperature (>75 C.) copolymer (optionally a solid grade oligomer (SGO)) that comprises (a) at least 20 wt-% of itaconate functional monomer(s), (b) not more than 40% of a hydrophilic monomer, preferably an acid functional monomer(s) in an amount sufficient to achieve an acid value from 65 to 325 mg KOH per g of solid polymer; (c) optionally not more than 70% of other monomers not being either (a) or (b), having a max content of vinyl aromatic monomer(s) of 40 wt-% and/or max content of methacrylate(s) of 40 wt-%; where the weight percentages of monomers (a), (b) and (c) are calculated as a proportion of the total amount of monomers in the copolymer being 100%.

There is described a low number average molecular weight (M.sub.N<10 kD) and high glass transition temperature (>75 C.) copolymer (optionally a solid grade oligomer (SGO)) that comprises (a) at least 20 wt-% of itaconate functional monomer(s), (b) not more than 40% of a hydrophilic monomer, preferably an acid functional monomer(s) in an amount sufficient to achieve an acid value from 65 to 325 mg KOH per g of solid polymer; (c) optionally not more than 70% of other monomers not being either (a) or (b), having a max content of vinyl aromatic monomer(s) of 40 wt-% and/or max content of methacrylate(s) of 40 wt-%; where the weight percentages of monomers (a), (b) and (c) are calculated as a proportion of the total amount of monomers in the copolymer being 100%.

There is described a low number average molecular weight (M.sub.N<10 kD) and high glass transition temperature (>75 C.) copolymer (optionally a solid grade oligomer (SGO)) that comprises (a) at least 20 wt-% of itaconate functional monomer(s), (b) not more than 40% of a hydrophilic monomer, preferably an acid functional monomer(s) in an amount sufficient to achieve an acid value from 65 to 325 mg KOH per g of solid polymer; (c) optionally not more than 70% of other monomers not being either (a) or (b), having a max content of vinyl aromatic monomer(s) of 40 wt-% and/or max content of methacrylate(s) of 40 wt-%; where the weight percentages of monomers (a), (b) and (c) are calculated as a proportion of the total amount of monomers in the copolymer being 100%.

There is described a low number average molecular weight (M.sub.N<10 kD) and high glass transition temperature (>75 C.) copolymer (optionally a solid grade oligomer (SGO)) that comprises (a) at least 20 wt-% of itaconate functional monomer(s), (b) not more than 40% of a hydrophilic monomer, preferably an acid functional monomer(s) in an amount sufficient to achieve an acid value from 65 to 325 mg KOH per g of solid polymer; (c) optionally not more than 70% of other monomers not being either (a) or (b), having a max content of vinyl aromatic monomer(s) of 40 wt-% and/or max content of methacrylate(s) of 40 wt-%; where the weight percentages of monomers (a), (b) and (c) are calculated as a proportion of the total amount of monomers in the copolymer being 100%.