Grafting Method By Means of Ionising Radiation Using a Reactive Surfactant Molecule, Textile Substrate and Battery Separator Obtained by Means of Grafting

Abstract

A method for grafting functional chemical groups to a textile substrate is provided, wherein the substrate is impregnated with a solution of a functional molecule, containing the functional chemical group and a group that is reactive to ionising radiation, as well as a surfactant molecule that can improve the wettability of the textile substrate by the solution. The surfactant molecule contains at least two types of groups that are reactive to ionising radiation. Subsequently, ionising radiation is applied to the impregnated textile substrate and the reaction of the reactive groups bridge-grafts the functional molecules to the surfactant molecules. A textile substrate and a battery separator grafted using the above method are also described.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A method for grafting functional chemical groups on a textile substrate, said method comprising the steps of impregnating said textile substrate with a solution of a functional molecule comprising a functional chemical group and a reactive group in ionising radiation, and a surfactant molecule which is capable of improving the wettability of the textile substrate by said solution, which surfactant molecule comprises at least two types of reactive groups in ionising radiation, and applying ionising radiation on the impregnated textile substrate to graft functional molecules by means of coupling with the surfactant molecules and by means of a reaction of the reactive groups. 
   
   
       19 . The grafting method according to  claim 18 , further comprising basing the textile substrate on synthetic material fibres. 
   
   
       20 . The grafting method according to  claim 18 , providing a solvent which is water. 
   
   
       21 . The grafting method according to  claim 18 , further comprising providing said solution with a functional chemical group capable of exchanging cations or anions. 
   
   
       22 . The grafting method according to  claim 21 , further comprising selecting the cation exchange chemical group from the group consisting of sulphonic, carboxylic, and phosphoric groups, and the amine and ammonium groups. 
   
   
       23 . The grafting method according to  claim 22 , further comprising selecting the functional molecule from the group consisting of sulphoalkyl methacrylates, carboxylic alkyl acrylates or methacrylates, phosphoric alkyl methacrylates, ethylene glycol methacrylate phosphate, dialkylamonoalkyl methacrylates, and alkyl trialkyl ammonium methacrylates. 
   
   
       24 . The grafting method according to  claim 18 , further comprising providing the solution with two functional molecules each comprising a different functional chemical group, and arranging the ionising radiation applying step to graft each of the functional chemical groups on one face of the textile substrate, respectively. 
   
   
       25 . The grafting method according to  claim 24 , wherein said ionising radiation applying step comprises applying ionising radiation on each of the faces, with a penetration thickness of said radiation which is less than the thickness of the textile substrate. 
   
   
       26 . The grafting method according to  claim 18 , further comprising selecting the reactive groups in ionising radiation from the group consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, carbonyl, acrylate, methacrylate, allyl, amine, amide, imide, and urethane groups. 
   
   
       27 . The grafting method according to  claim 26 , further comprising selecting the surfactant molecule from the group consisting of diacrylates, polyethylene glycol diacrylates (PEG DA), triacrylates, ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylates. 
   
   
       28 . The grafting method according to  claim 18 , wherein the impregnating step is performed by means of padding, with the impregnated textile substrate being dried before the application of ionising radiation. 
   
   
       29 . The grafting method according to  claim 18 , wherein said ionising radiation step comprises electron bombardment. 
   
   
       30 . A textile substrate wherein at least one surface is grafted with functional chemical groups, said grafting being performed by means of coupling with a surfactant molecule using a method according to  claim 18 . 
   
   
       31 . The textile substrate according to  claim 30 , wherein said substrate is based on synthetic material fibres. 
   
   
       32 . The textile substrate according to  claim 30 , wherein the functional chemical group is capable of exchanging cations or anions. 
   
   
       33 . The textile substrate according to  claim 30 , wherein said substrate comprises two faces which are each grafted with a different functional chemical group. 
   
   
       34 . A battery separator comprising a textile substrate whereon sulphonic groups and phosphoric and/or carboxylic groups are grafted, said grafting being performed by means of coupling with at least one surfactant molecule using a method according to  claim 18 .