Nafion (N324, N424, N438) Reinforced Cation-Exchange Membrane for Industrial Electrolysis, CIERCEMN
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The Nafion™ N324, N424, and N438 series are reinforced composite membranes produced by Chemours. Unlike the "classic" N117 or N115 (which are pure PFSA films), these membranes are impregnated into a reinforcing fabric (usually a PTFE or "Teflon" mesh) to provide extreme mechanical durability. Because of their thickness and strength, they are primarily used in industrial-scale electrochemical processes rather than small automotive fuel cells.
N324 is a classic choice for the Chlor-Alkali industry, where it is used to produce chlorine gas and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). It is a reinforced membrane with a "bimembrane" structure (one side optimized for cation transport, the other for chemical resistance). It is specifically designed for use in concentrated caustic soda (NaOH) production. The reinforcement prevents the membrane from stretching or tearing under the weight of large-scale industrial industrial electrodes.
N424 is perhaps the most widely used reinforced membrane in general industrial electrochemistry. Similar to N324 but typically uses a slightly different polymer layer configuration to balance voltage and efficiency. It is mainly used for water electrolysis to produce hydrogen in industrial scale, and show exceptionally long service life in harsh chemical environments.
N438 is a higher-performance evolution of the reinforced series. It features a specialized internal reinforcement that allows for a higher ionic flux while maintaining physical rigidity. Its main application fields are Chlor-Alkali and Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) electrolysis. It is designed to offer a lower cell voltage (lower ohmic resistance) than N424, which translates to massive energy savings in 24/7 industrial operations.
| Part Number | CIERCEMN324 | CIERCEMN424 | CIERCEMN438 |
| Name | N324 | N424 | N438 |
| Thickness (um) | 280 | 380 | 305 |
| Reinforcement | PTFE Fabric | PTFE Fabric | Specialized Mesh |
| Typical Use Case | Concentrated NaOH production | General salt splitting / Water electrolysis | High-current efficiency electrolysis |
| Primary Industry | Chlor-Alkali | Industrial Hydrogen / Mining | Chlor-Alkali / HCl Recovery |
| Package Grade | 10cm * 10cm/pcs/pack | 10cm * 10cm/pcs/pack | 10cm * 10cm/pcs/pack |
Use Note:
(1) The membrane marked with "CATH" should face to cathode side to avoid irreversible damage. If the mark cannot be found, the more smooth and shiny side is the side face to cathode part.
(2) The dry form of above membranes should be pre-treated before use.
Step 1: Cleaning. Soak the membrane in deionized (DI) water at room temperature for 30–60 minutes to remove any surface dust or debris from shipping.
Step 2: Hydration/Expansion. Soak the membrane in DI Water at 60°C to 80°C for 1 to 2 hours, which will "relaxes" the polymer chains and allows the membrane to reach its equilibrium dimensions. Since the PTFE mesh does not expand but the Nafion polymer does, doing this slowly prevents internal stresses.
Step 3: Acid/Base Soak (Optional based on application). (a) For H+ form (Electrolysis): Soak in 3–5% H2SO4 at 60°C for 1 hour. (b) For Na+ form (Chlor-Alkali): Soak in 2–5% NaOH at 60°C for 1 hour.
Step 4: Final Rinse. Rinse thoroughly with DI water at room temperature until the rinse water is neutral pH.