JP2017045707A - Production method for reinforced electrolyte membrane - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a production method capable of conveniently suppressing reduction in durability of an electrolyte membrane reinforced with a porous membrane.SOLUTION: In an electrolyte membrane production method, a porous membrane is elongated in the width direction, while being transported in a transport area of the longitudinal direction. A transport roller for receiving an elongated porous membrane from a transport area and sending downstream is subjected to temperature adjustment so that heating/softening of the porous membrane adhering to the roller surface, and softened state can be maintained. An electrolyte membrane is stuck to the elongated porous membrane, while sending the elongated porous membrane adhering to the roller surface of a transport roller subjected to temperature adjustment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing a reinforced electrolyte membrane.

  A reinforced electrolyte membrane reinforced by impregnating an electrolyte membrane with a porous membrane as a reinforcing membrane is known. Such a reinforced electrolyte membrane contributes to improving the durability of a fuel cell in which the reinforced electrolyte membrane is incorporated. In order to obtain a reinforced electrolyte membrane, a manufacturing method has been proposed in which a porous membrane is stretched in the width direction, bonded to an auxiliary sheet and wound into a roll, and the wound porous membrane is bonded to the electrolyte membrane. (For example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-114887 A

  Said manufacturing method is excellent at the point which adhere | attaches the porous membrane extended | stretched to the width direction to the adhesion area | region of an auxiliary sheet, and suppresses generation | occurrence | production of a neck-in. On the other hand, in order to improve the durability of the electrolyte membrane, it is desirable to prevent the shrinkage from occurring as much as possible in the porous membrane as the reinforcing membrane. For these reasons, there has been a demand for a method for producing an electrolyte membrane that can suppress a decrease in durability by suppressing the shrinkage of the porous membrane.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms.

(1) According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for producing a reinforced electrolyte membrane in which an electrolyte membrane is reinforced with a porous membrane is provided. This manufacturing method includes a step of stretching the porous membrane in the width direction while transporting the porous membrane in a transport zone in the longitudinal direction of the membrane, and receiving the stretched porous membrane from the transport zone and downstream The transport roller that is fed to the roller is heated to soften the porous film that is in close contact with the roller surface, the temperature is adjusted to maintain the softened state of the porous film, and the stretched porous film is temperature-adjusted A step of bonding the electrolyte membrane to the stretched porous membrane in a state where the electrolyte membrane is in close contact with the surface of the transport roller.

  In the manufacturing method of this embodiment, while the stretched porous film is sent downstream by the transport roller, the stretched porous film is heated and softened by the transport roller, and the soft state of the porous film is maintained. To do. Therefore, while the stretched porous film is sent out and transported, the stretched porous film develops tackiness (adhesiveness) because it is in a softened state and sticks to the roller surface. Shrinkage in the width direction of the conductive film is suppressed. And the manufacturing method of this form bonds an electrolyte membrane to the porous membrane which has been stretched and the shrinkage in the width direction is suppressed. Therefore, the manufacturing method of this embodiment has the advantages described below because the electrolyte resin constituting the electrolyte membrane is allowed to enter the pores of the porous membrane that has been stretched and also suppressed in the shrinkage in the width direction.

  If no action is taken, the stretched porous membrane shrinks in the width direction over time, and this shrinkage occurs even when the porous membrane alone is wound into a roll. For this reason, if the elapsed time from when the film is stretched to when it is bonded to the electrolyte film becomes long, the porous film is bonded and impregnated with the electrolyte film in a contracted state in the width direction. There is room for the porous membrane to expand after bonding.

  In the manufacturing method of the reinforced electrolyte membrane of the above aspect, the electrolyte resin (electrolyte precursor) constituting the electrolyte membrane is made into the pores of the porous membrane that has been stretched and the shrinkage in the width direction is suppressed as described above. Since the electrolyte resin enters the pores in this way, the subsequent shrinkage of the porous membrane is regulated. As a result, according to the method for manufacturing a reinforced electrolyte membrane of this embodiment, the durability of the electrolyte membrane can be reduced by suppressing the contraction of the stretched porous membrane and the expansion of the electrolyte membrane during the power generation operation accompanying the suppression of the shrinkage. The decline in sex can be suppressed.

(2) In the method for manufacturing a reinforced electrolyte membrane according to the above aspect, in the step of bonding the electrolyte membrane to the stretched porous membrane, the stretched porous membrane wider than the membrane width of the electrolyte membrane The stretched porous membrane to which the electrolyte membrane has been bonded is bonded to the electrolyte membrane without causing the stretched porous membrane to adhere to the roller surface of the transport roller at the end portion. The end portion of the stretched porous membrane is cut along the transport direction while being transported downstream from the location, and the stretched portion left by the cutting is left at the cut end portion A tension larger than the tension applied in the width direction may be applied to the porous film. This has the following advantages.

  The end portion is not in close contact with the roller surface of the transport roller upstream from the cut portion, and continues to be continuous with the porous membrane (stretched) before the electrolyte membrane is bonded. Therefore, since the tension greater than the tension applied to the porous membrane in the width direction is transmitted to the end portion upstream from the cut portion through the cut end portion, the porous membrane before the electrolyte membrane is bonded Even if it tries to neck-in by receiving a force to narrow the film width, the neck-in can be suppressed.

  Note that the present invention can be realized in various modes. For example, it can be realized in the form of a manufacturing apparatus for a reinforced electrolyte membrane or a method for manufacturing a fuel cell including a reinforced electrolyte membrane.

It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the structure of the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus in this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus typically planarly from the A direction in FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing in alignment with line 3-3 in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically schematic structure of an electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus by a side view. It is process drawing which shows the manufacture procedure of the reinforced type electrolyte membrane sheet | seat which is a manufacturing object with an electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the mode of sample manufacture used as the object of performance evaluation. It is a table | surface which compares and shows the dimensional change rate of embodiment product and a comparative example product. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the structure of the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically schematic structure of the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment by side view. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the structure of the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically schematic structure of the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus of 3rd Embodiment by side view. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the positional relationship of the conveyance roller with respect to the porous membrane sheet seen from the B direction and C direction in FIG. 11, and a 2nd conveyance roller.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a configuration of an electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100 in the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100 in plan view from the direction A in FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view schematically showing the schematic configuration of the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100 in a side view. In FIG. 4, the transport locus of a sheet such as the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is indicated by a bold line. The same applies to other figures.

  The electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100 is used for manufacturing a reinforced electrolyte membrane in which an electrolyte membrane is reinforced with a porous membrane, and includes a first delivery roller 110, a second delivery roller 120, a transport roller 130, and a pressure transport roller 132. A winding roller 140, a widening mechanism 160, a sheet cutting blade 170, and a control device 200. The control device 200 is an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), and executes the above-described rotation drive control of each roller, the temperature adjustment control of the transport roller 130 described later, and the like, and outputs various drive signals to a roller drive device such as a motor or the like. Output to controlled devices such as heaters and dielectric coils.

  The first delivery roller 110 delivers the wound porous membrane sheet Ps with the rotation of the conveyance roller 130 for conveying the porous membrane and the rotation of the sheet end gripping roller in the widening mechanism 160 described later. The porous membrane sheet Ps is formed in a sheet shape as a porous membrane having a thickness of 1 to 5 μm and a porosity of about 40 to 75% using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In addition, the porous membrane sheet Ps is made of polyolefin resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer; polysiloxane; methacrylate resin such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA); polystyrene, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer ( AS resin), styrene resin such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS resin); polyamide; polyimide (PI); polyetherimide (PEI); polyamideimide; polyesterimide; polycarbonate (PC); Polyarylene ethers such as ether (PPO); polyphenylene sulfide (PPS); polyarylate; polyaryl; polysulfone (polysulfone); polyethersulfone (PES) (Polyethersulfone); Polyurethanes; Polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET); Polyetherketones such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK); Polybutyl acrylate, Polyacrylic Polyacrylic acid esters such as ethyl acid; Polyvinyl esters such as polybutoxymethylene; Polysiloxanes; Polysulfides; Polyphosphazenes; Polytriazines; Polycarboranes; Polynorbornene; Epoxy resin; Polyvinyl pyrrolidone; polydienes such as polyisoprene and polybutadiene; polyalkenes such as polyisobutylene; vinylidene fluoride resin, hexafluoropropylene resin, hexafluoro Either it may be porous film using a resin such as acetone resin (such as a thermoplastic resin).

  A widening mechanism 160, which will be described later, is disposed between the first delivery roller 110 and the transport roller 130, and a section from the first feed roller 110 to the transport roller 130 is a transport / extension section. The conveyance roller 130 is disposed at the end point of the conveyance area in the conveyance / extension section. The widening mechanism 160 is disposed at both ends in the width direction of the porous membrane sheet Ps delivered from the first delivery roller 110, and constitutes a wire-type widening mechanism. The widening mechanism 160 includes an upstream sheet end gripping roller 161, a downstream sheet end gripping roller 162, and an endless gripping wire 163. As shown in FIG. 2, the upstream sheet end gripping roller 161 and the downstream sheet end gripping roller 162 are disposed to be inclined with respect to the transport direction which is the film longitudinal direction of the porous film sheet Ps. As shown, the gripping wire 163 rotates while gripping the sheet end Pse of the porous membrane sheet Ps. A plurality of small-diameter gripping rollers (not shown) that grip the sheet end Pse of the porous membrane sheet Ps together with the gripping wire 163 are disposed between the both end rollers.

  The widening mechanism 160 having such a configuration is located facing both ends in the width direction of the porous membrane sheet Ps, and holds the sheet end Pse across the conveyance area, and the upstream sheet end gripping roller 161 and the downstream sheet end gripping roller. The porous membrane sheet Ps is transported in the transport area between the upstream sheet end gripping roller 161 and the downstream sheet end gripping roller 162 in the transporting / stretching section by the rotation of the gripping roller between 162 and both end rollers. The widening mechanism 160 adjusts the degree of inclination of the upstream sheet end gripping roller 161 and the downstream sheet end gripping roller 162 with respect to the transport direction to change the porous film sheet Ps to a film width whose film width is a predetermined magnification. It extends | stretches in the width direction, conveying so that it may become. In the present embodiment, the widening ratio obtained by dividing the winding width Psh0 (see FIG. 2) of the porous membrane sheet Ps by the stretching width Psh1 at the end point of the transport area is a widening ratio within a range of 110 to 150%. The porous film sheet Ps is stretched in the width direction by the widening mechanism 160. Hereinafter, such stretching in the width direction of the porous membrane sheet Ps is simply referred to as stretching. In addition, a heater may be installed in the conveyance area of the porous membrane sheet Ps in the widening mechanism 160, and the porous membrane sheet Ps may be heated by this heater.

  The conveyance roller 130 is disposed at the end point of the conveyance area of the widening mechanism 160 and is configured as a heating roller that generates heat by controlling energization to a built-in heater or induction coil. The transport roller 130 generates heat under control of energization to the heater and induction coil by the control device 200, and heats and softens the porous membrane sheet Ps that is in close contact with the roller surface, and maintains the softened state of the porous membrane sheet Ps. The temperature is adjusted to The transport roller 130 adjusted in temperature in this way receives the porous membrane sheet Ps that has been stretched by the widening mechanism 160, and pressurizes downstream in a state where the received porous membrane sheet Ps is in close contact with the roller surface and is softened. It sends out to the conveyance roller 132. Therefore, the transport roller 130 receives the porous film sheet Ps from the widening mechanism 160 at the end point of the transport area of the porous film sheet Ps in the transport / stretch section, and the sheet bonding position by the pressure transport roller 132 from the receiving position. The roller surface up to is a contact / heating section for heating the porous membrane sheet Ps in close contact with the roller surface.

  In the present embodiment, since the porous membrane sheet Ps is formed using PTFE, the porous membrane sheet Ps on the roller surface is heated at 120 ° C. by the transport roller 130 in consideration of the thermal characteristics of PTFE. did. When the porous membrane sheet Ps of PTFE is heated at such a temperature, it softens until the strength in a normal temperature environment is almost halved, and in the adhesion / heating section conveyed in close contact with the roller surface of the conveyance roller 130, Maintain a softened state. Therefore, while the stretched porous membrane sheet Ps is in close contact with the roller surface and is fed and conveyed by the conveyance roller 130, the stretched porous membrane sheet Ps has a tack property (adhesiveness) because it is in a softened state. The shrinkage in the width direction of the porous membrane sheet Ps that has been expressed and adhered to the roller surface and has been stretched is suppressed. Since the strength is also reduced by the softening of the porous membrane sheet Ps, and the internal stress, which is the force that the porous membrane sheet Ps itself tends to contract, is also relieved, this also allows the stretched porous membrane sheet Ps. Shrinkage in the width direction is suppressed. When the heating temperature of the porous membrane sheet Ps is increased from 120 ° C., the tackiness is increased and the adhesion to the roller surface is increased by the progress of softening, the strength is further decreased, and the internal stress is further relaxed.

  In the present embodiment, the surface roughness of the roller surface of the transport roller 130 was also adjusted in order to ensure the effectiveness of sticking the sheet to the roller surface due to the tackiness of the porous membrane sheet Ps softened as described above. When the surface roughness of the roller surface increases, the contact surface area of the porous membrane sheet Ps with respect to the roller surface decreases. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the surface roughness Ra of the transport roller 130 is adjusted to 1.0 or less and the softened porous membrane sheet Ps in the surface finishing process of the transport roller 130, specifically, the polishing process. The effectiveness of sticking the sheet to the roller surface due to the tackiness of was secured.

  The second delivery roller 120 sends the wound electrolyte membrane sheet Ms with the rotation of the pressure conveying roller 132 and the rotation of the winding roller 140. The electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is a sheet body of an electrolyte precursor that is a sulfonic acid-based electrolyte resin that exhibits hydrogen ion conductivity through a predetermined treatment such as hydrolysis. In the present embodiment, the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms has a thickness of 4 to 20 μm. A sheet body of an electrolyte precursor such as a Nafion membrane (Nafion is a registered trademark) was used. The electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is wound around the second delivery roller 120 in a form superimposed on the back sheet Bs, the back sheet Bs is on the roll surface side of the pressure conveyance roller 132, and the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is the conveyance roller. It is sent toward the pressure conveying roller 132 so as to face the porous membrane sheet Ps on the surface of 130 rollers. The back sheet Bs is a sheet made of a fluorine-based resin sheet having releasability with respect to the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms, for example, Teflon (Teflon is a registered trademark) or a hydrocarbon-based resin.

  The pressure conveyance roller 132 forms a bonding section together with the conveyance roller 130, and the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms fed from the second delivery roller 120 is made to adhere to the roller surface to the porous membrane sheet Ps that is fed out. Apply pressure together. Since the pressure conveyance roller 132 is disposed to face the conveyance roller 130 at the end point of the conveyance area of the porous membrane sheet Ps, the pressure film conveyance roller 132 is bonded to the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms for widening. The porous film sheet Ps has been stretched to a predetermined widening ratio by the mechanism 160 and heated by the transport roller 130. In other words, the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms has been stretched to a predetermined widening ratio and the porous membrane sheet Ps in which shrinkage in the width direction is suppressed as described above, using the transport roller 130 and the pressure transport roller 132, It will be pasted together. The electrolyte membrane sheet Ms can be softened by adopting a configuration in which the pressure conveying roller 132 can be heated at the time of such sheet bonding. In this way, the softened electrolyte membrane sheet Ms can be bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps that has been stretched to a predetermined width-expanding ratio and that has been prevented from shrinking in the width direction. Note that the pressure applied during sheet bonding is defined by a nip pressure that is adjusted by the distance between the roller surfaces of the conveyance roller 130 and the pressure conveyance roller 132.

  The winding roller 140 feeds the porous membrane sheet Ps from the first delivery roller 110, delivers the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms from the second delivery roller 120, and the electrolyte membrane sheet by the transport roller 130 and the pressure transport roller 132. The electrolyte membrane sheet Ms rotates in synchronization with the rotation of each roller for bonding Ms, and is wound in a state where the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps that has been stretched to a predetermined width-enlarging rate.

  Two sheet cutting blades 170 are disposed downstream of the bonding position of the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms in accordance with the width of the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms, and cut the excess sheet portion Pso on the sheet end side of the porous membrane sheet Ps. . Therefore, as schematically shown in FIG. 1, the winding roller 140 is a state in which the porous film sheet Ps having the same width as the electrolyte film sheet Ms is bonded to the electrolyte film sheet Ms and has been stretched to a predetermined widening ratio. Thus, the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is wound together with the back sheet Bs. The electrolyte membrane sheet Ms wound up in this way is treated as a semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps. The surplus sheet portion Pso cut by the sheet cutting blade 170 is taken up by a collection roller (not shown) with a long cut portion Psh therebetween. For convenience of illustration, only one sheet cutting edge 170 is shown.

  When the semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs on which the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms has been bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps is wound around the winding roller 140, the porous membrane sheet Ps is peeled off from the roller surface of the transport roller 130. The porous membrane sheet Ps is softened by heating by the transport roller 130 to develop tackiness, and is adhered to the roller surface with an adhesion strength A. On the other hand, the adhesion strength B representing the bonding strength of the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms to the porous membrane sheet Ps is defined by the nip pressure between the conveyance roller 130 and the pressure conveyance roller 132. Then, if the above-described adhesion strength B is adjusted to be larger than the adhesion strength A, the semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs in which the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps is wound around the winding roller 140. At this time, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is peeled off from the porous membrane sheet Ps without the porous membrane sheet Ps being peeled off from the roller surface of the transport roller 130. Therefore, in this embodiment, the adhesion strength B of the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms to the porous membrane sheet Ps is increased with the conveyance roller 130 so that the adhesion strength A of the porous membrane sheet Ps to the roller surface of the conveyance roller 130 is larger. The nip pressure with the pressure conveying roller 132 was adjusted.

  The electrolyte membrane sheet Ms (semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs) wound around the winding roller 140 is sequentially fed to an impregnation section and a hydrolysis treatment section (not shown). By heating in the impregnation section, the porous membrane sheet Ps impregnates the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms (specifically, the electrolyte precursor) to become the electrolyte-impregnated porous membrane sheet MPs. The electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is utilized as a reinforced electrolyte membrane having hydrogen ion conductivity after being subjected to hydrolysis in the hydrolysis treatment section in the state of the electrolyte-impregnated porous membrane sheet MPs. The electrolyte membrane sheet Ms can be directly conveyed to the impregnation section or the hydrolysis treatment section in a state of being bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps that has been stretched to a predetermined widening rate. The winding roller 140 is not necessary. Further, as described above, the porous membrane sheet Ps can be impregnated by bonding the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms to the porous membrane sheet Ps while being heated by the pressure conveying roller 132.

  FIG. 5 is a process diagram showing a procedure for manufacturing a reinforced electrolyte membrane sheet which is a manufacturing target in the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100.

  In manufacturing a reinforced electrolyte membrane sheet using the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100, first, the controller 200 controls the temperature of the transport roller 130 so that the roller surface temperature becomes 120 ° C., and the roller surface temperature is reinforced. The temperature adjustment is continued so as to be maintained until the production of the electrolyte membrane sheet is completed (step S10). Next, the porous film sheet Ps is sent out from the first delivery roller 110 and stretched as described above in the transport process by the widening mechanism 160 (step S100), and the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is sent out from the second delivery roller 120. (Step S110) is executed synchronously. As a result, at the end point of the conveyance area in the conveyance / stretching section (see FIG. 2), the porous membrane sheet Ps is stretched at the predetermined widening rate described above, and the stretched porous membrane sheet Ps is conveyed. It is delivered to the roller 130.

  Since the transport roller 130 has already been temperature-adjusted so that the roller surface temperature becomes 120 ° C. in step S10, the porous film sheet Ps that has been stretched at a predetermined widening ratio is transferred by the temperature-adjusted transport roller 130. In a state of being heated and softened on the roller surface of the transport roller 130, the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is pressed and bonded by the transport roller 130 and the pressure transport roller 132 (step S120). This bonding is applied to the porous membrane sheet Ps, which has been stretched to a predetermined widening ratio by the widening mechanism 160 and softened by heating from the transport roller 130 and also suppressed in shrinkage in the width direction as described above. The sheet Ms is bonded.

  Thereafter, the surplus sheet portion Pso that extends from the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is cut by the sheet cutting blade 170 disposed downstream of the bonding position of the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms (step S130). Then, the semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs in which the porous membrane sheet Ps having the same width as the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms has been stretched to a predetermined widening ratio is bonded to the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is wound around the winding roller 140 (step S140). The surplus sheet portion Pso (see FIGS. 1 and 4) cut by the sheet cutting blade 170 is wound and collected by the collection roller (step S150), and each of the steps described above is repeated. The semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs obtained in step S140 is conveyed to the next step such as the impregnation section and the hydrolysis treatment section.

  Next, performance evaluation will be described. The performance evaluation was performed on the dimensional change rate. In performing the performance evaluation of the dimensional change rate, test samples of the embodiment product and the comparative products 1 to 3 were prepared. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state of manufacturing a sample to be subjected to performance evaluation.

  The embodiment product is configured such that the temperature of the transport roller 130 of the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 5 can be adjusted as described above, and the temperature adjustment (step S10) of the transport roller 130 at 120 ° C. in FIG. The semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs obtained according to each procedure of the steps S100 to S150 was used. The comparative example product 1 used the semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs obtained according to each procedure of steps S100 to S150 in FIG. 5 using the transport roller 130 as a simple feed-out transport roller configuration. The comparative example product 2 was obtained according to the procedures of steps S100 to S150 in FIG. 5 while the conveyance roller 130 was configured to have a sheet suction to the roller surface and the porous film sheet Ps was suctioned to the conveyance roller 130. Semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs was used. The comparative product 3 has a roller configuration in which the transport roller 130 is hung from the center to the end of the roller to form a tapered roller surface, and the porous film sheet Ps is mechanically widened when being transported by the transport roller 130. However, the semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs obtained according to the procedures of steps S100 to S150 in FIG. 5 was used.

  Then, each of the semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheets CEs described above is subjected to impregnation and hydrolysis of the porous membrane sheet Ps using a heating roller into an electrolyte resin (electrolyte precursor), so that a reinforced electrolyte membrane as a finished product is obtained. It was. Next, the obtained reinforced electrolyte membrane (embodiment product / comparative product 1 to 3) was cut into a 10 cm square sample shape shown in FIG. 2, and the cut sample product (embodiment product / comparative product) 1-3), the dimensional change rate (swelling) of the conveyance direction dimension MD and the width direction dimension TD after being immersed in warm water of 80 ° C. for 20 minutes was determined. FIG. 7 is a table showing the dimensional change rates of the embodiment product and the comparative products 1 to 3 in comparison.

  Since the reinforced electrolyte membrane sample products of the embodiment product and the comparative example products 1 to 3 are individually manufactured with the roller specifications of the transport roller 130 shown in FIG. 6, the example product is stretched by the widening mechanism 160. The sample is a reinforced electrolyte membrane sample product in which the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps that has been softened by heating with the transport roller 130 and is prevented from shrinking in the width direction. The comparative example product 1 is a reinforced electrolyte membrane sample product in which the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps that has just been stretched by the widening mechanism 160. The comparative example product 2 is a reinforced electrolyte membrane sample product in which the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps in which the dimensional change due to the stretching by the widening mechanism 160 and the suction to the transport roller 130 is suppressed. The comparative example product 3 is a reinforcement in which the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps that is mechanically widened between the stretching by the widening mechanism 160 and the feeding and transporting by the transport roller 130 by the tapered roller surface. Type electrolyte membrane sample product.

  As is clear from FIG. 7, the embodiment product causes only a dimensional change (swelling) of about 3 to 4% in both the conveyance direction dimension MD and the width direction dimension TD, and the dimensional change in the conveyance direction and the width direction. Is well balanced. On the other hand, each of the comparative example products 1 to 3 has a slight dimensional change in the transport direction dimension MD, but the width direction dimension TD has a dimensional change (swelling) of about 18%. Woke up and unbalanced in the dimensional changes in the transport direction and width direction. When the dimensional change of the electrolyte membrane is small, mechanical stress on the electrolyte membrane is reduced due to a change in wet and dry conditions during the power generation operation of the fuel cell in which the electrolyte membrane is incorporated. In particular, when the power generation operation of the fuel cell causes the electrolyte membrane to wet, the electrolyte membrane easily swells. Therefore, if the dimensional change of the electrolyte membrane is large, wrinkles occur in the electrolyte membrane, resulting in a decrease in durability. Invite. In light of the result of the dimensional comparison shown in FIG. 7, it can be determined that the embodiment product is an electrolyte membrane having high durability.

  Both the embodiment product and each comparative example product are common in that the porous membrane sheet Ps has been stretched in the widening mechanism 160. Therefore, it seems that the unbalance of the dimensional change in the conveyance direction and the width direction seen in each comparative example product occurred due to a difference in treatment for the porous film sheet Ps in the conveyance roller 130. The comparative example product 1 lacks the heating / softening of the porous membrane sheet Ps made in the embodiment product and the suppression of shrinkage due to the tackiness associated with the softening. It is assumed that an imbalance has occurred. The comparative product 2 was intended to increase the adhesion by suppressing the sheet shrinkage by sucking the sheet onto the roller surface, but the sheet to be sucked is the porous membrane sheet Ps, so the adhesion does not proceed and the sheet shrinks. Since the suppression did not occur so much, it is assumed that an imbalance between the dimensional changes in the transport direction and the width direction occurred. The comparative product 3 was intended to suppress shrinkage by causing the porous membrane sheet Ps to exert a mechanical widening force by bringing the porous membrane sheet Ps into close contact with the tapered roller surface. However, since the slippage of the sheet on the roller surface and the mechanical widening force did not act on the porous membrane sheet Ps, the shrinkage was not so much suppressed, and the dimensional change in the conveyance direction and the width direction was unbalanced. It is assumed that

  As described above, the method for manufacturing a reinforced electrolyte membrane of the present embodiment using the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100 allows the porous film sheet Ps that has been stretched by the widening mechanism 160 of the transport / stretch section to be downstream by the transport roller 130. During the feeding, the stretched porous membrane sheet Ps is heated and softened by the transport roller 130, and the softened state of the porous membrane sheet Ps is maintained. Since the porous membrane sheet Ps thus softened is softened during the feeding and transporting by the transporting roller 130, it is tacky (adhesive) and sticks to the roller surface of the transporting roller 130. Does not cause much shrinkage in the width direction in the state. And the manufacturing method of the reinforced electrolyte membrane of this embodiment using the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100 is because the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps that has been stretched and the shrinkage in the width direction is suppressed. The electrolyte resin constituting the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is allowed to enter the pores of the porous membrane sheet Ps that has been stretched and also suppressed in the width direction. The electrolyte resin that has entered the pores in this way regulates subsequent shrinkage of the porous membrane sheet Ps. As a result, according to the manufacturing method of the reinforced electrolyte membrane of the present embodiment using the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100, the contraction of the stretched porous membrane sheet Ps is suppressed, and the electrolyte membrane during the power generation operation accompanying the suppression of the contraction is performed. By suppressing the expansion of the electrolyte film, it is possible to suppress a decrease in durability of the electrolyte membrane. Moreover, since it is possible to easily suppress the decrease in the durability of the electrolyte membrane by laminating the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms using the conveyance roller 130 whose temperature has been adjusted at the end point of the conveyance area of the porous membrane sheet Ps, It is.

  The stretching by the widening mechanism 160 and the superposition of the porous membrane sheet Ps and the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms using the transport roller 130 and the pressure transport roller 132 can be easily achieved with existing equipment. The apparatus for producing an electrolyte membrane can be easily modified so that a reinforced electrolyte membrane having excellent durability can be produced.

  In order to make the transport roller 130 a roller configuration that can heat and soften the porous membrane sheet Ps, it is only necessary to use a heater configuration that incorporates an existing heat generating device such as a heater or a dielectric coil, and to control this heat generating device. . Therefore, it is easy to manufacture a reinforced electrolyte membrane having excellent durability simply by replacing the existing reinforced electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus with a transport roller 130 capable of heating and softening the porous membrane sheet Ps. Can be modified.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically showing the configuration of the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100A of the second embodiment, and FIG. 9 schematically shows the schematic configuration of the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100A of the second embodiment in side view. It is explanatory drawing. The second embodiment is characterized in that two heating rollers capable of temperature control are used at the end point of the conveyance area of the widening mechanism 160. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same members as those in the above-described embodiments, and the configurations and functions thereof are omitted. The electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100 </ b> A includes a second transport roller 131 on the downstream side of the transport roller 130 disposed at the end point of the transport area of the widening mechanism 160, and the second transport roller 131 is a heating roller similar to the transport roller 130. It is said. For this reason, the second transport roller 131 generates heat under the energization control of the heater and the induction coil by the control device 200, heats and softens the porous film sheet Ps adhered to the roller surface, and the porous film sheet Ps Maintain a softened state. Therefore, the second transport roller 131 receives the porous membrane sheet Ps that has been stretched by the widening mechanism 160 via the transport roller 130, and then is in close contact with the roller surface and is softened in the downstream pressure transport roller. Send to 132.

  The transport roller 130 is configured so that the roller surface from the receiving position of the porous film sheet Ps from the transport / stretching section to the transfer position of the second transport roller 131 is the surface of the porous film sheet Ps as shown in FIG. An upstream close contact heating section that closely contacts and suppresses shrinkage in the width direction, and the second transport roller 131 has a porous surface from the sheet delivery position from the transport roller 130 to the sheet bonding position by the pressure transport roller 132. The downstream sheet heating section is intended to suppress shrinkage in the width direction by closely contacting the conductive film sheet Ps to the roller surface. In this electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100 </ b> A, the heating conditions of the transport roller 130 and the second transport roller 131 are different, and the adhesion strength of the transport roller 130 is smaller than that of the second transport roller 131. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the sheet feeding from the transport roller 130 to the second transport roller 131 from being hindered. In the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100A, a pressure-conveying roller 132 and a second conveying roller 131 form a bonded section, and the second conveying roller 131 is used as the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms sent from the second sending roller 120. The porous film sheet Ps that is sent out in close contact with the surface is pressed and bonded. The effect described above can also be achieved by the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100A. Then, the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100A of the second embodiment is porous in the sheet conveyance path where the porous film sheet Ps is applied from the upstream adhesion heating section of the conveyance roller 130 to the downstream adhesion heating section of the second conveyance roller 131. The shrinkage in the width direction of the film sheet Ps is suppressed. The sheet width direction shrinkage suppression in the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100A of the second embodiment is performed in a longer sheet conveyance path than the sheet width direction shrinkage suppression in the electrolyte film manufacturing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment including only the conveyance roller 130. It will be. Therefore, according to the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100A of the second embodiment, the transport direction dimension MD and the width direction dimension TD are larger than the semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs manufactured using the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment. Dimensional change can be suppressed. In addition, you may comprise each conveyance roller as a heating roller using three or more conveyance rollers.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view schematically showing the configuration of the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100B of the third embodiment, and FIG. 11 schematically shows the schematic configuration of the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100B of the third embodiment in side view. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory view for explaining the positional relationship between the first transport roller 133 and the second transport roller 134 with respect to the porous membrane sheet Ps viewed from the B direction and the C direction in FIG. In the third embodiment, the first conveyance roller 133 and the second conveyance roller 134 instead of the conveyance roller 130 and the second conveyance roller 131 in the first embodiment are replaced with the sheet end Pse of the porous film sheet Ps in the conveyance process. There is a feature in that tension is applied to the sheet end Pse cut by the sheet cutting blade 170 after preventing the contact. Similar to the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100A, the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100B uses the first transport roller 133 and the second transport roller 134 to closely adhere the porous membrane sheet Ps to the roller surface and suppress shrinkage in the width direction. An upstream contact heating section and a downstream contact heating section are formed, and the sheet end Pse cut by the sheet cutting blade 170 is wound up by the sheet end winding roller 180, and the tension described later is applied to the sheet end Pse during the winding. Add Fr. Each of the sheet ends Pse may be wound up by an individual sheet end winding roller.

  The 1st conveyance roller 133 and the 2nd conveyance roller 134 make the center area | region of the substantially same width as the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms bonded together by the pressurization conveyance roller 132 into the temperature control roller part which can control temperature, The both sides ( Let the roller both ends be small diameter roller parts 133s and 134s. The small-diameter roller portion 133s of the first conveyance roller 133 and the small-diameter roller portion 134s of the second conveyance roller 134 have a smaller diameter than the temperature adjustment roller portion in the central region of both the conveyance rollers, more than the film thickness of the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms. Has been. Therefore, the small-diameter roller portion 133s and the small-diameter roller portion 134s have both small-diameter roller portions at the sheet end Pse that is the end portion of the stretched porous membrane sheet Ps wider than the membrane width of the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms. Do not stick to the roller surface.

  The first transport roller 133 and the second transport roller 134 are the transport rollers 130 that have already described the porous membrane sheet Ps to which the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms has been bonded by the pressure transport roller 132 in the temperature adjustment roller section in the central region. While being heated in the same manner as described above, the sheet is conveyed downstream from the bonding position of the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms. The sheet cutting edge 170 cuts the sheet end Pse of the porous membrane sheet Ps to which the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms has been bonded, along the conveyance direction on the downstream side of the second conveyance roller 134. The sheet end take-up roller 180 takes up the sheet end Pse cut by the sheet cutting blade 170, and has a tension Fr larger than the tension applied to the sheet end Pse in the width direction on the porous membrane sheet Ps left by cutting. Add FIG. 12 schematically shows how the tension is applied and its influence. In this embodiment, the width of the porous membrane sheet Ps left by the cutting at the sheet end Pse cut by the sheet cutting blade 170 is shown in FIG. A tension Fr having a magnitude of about 10 times the tension Fw applied in the direction was applied. In this case, the magnitude of the tension Fw applied in the width direction to the porous membrane sheet Ps depends on the winding tension of the winding roller 140 that winds the cut semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the tension Fr that is ten times the winding tension of the winding roller 140 is applied to the sheet end Pse cut by the sheet cutting blade 170.

  According to the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100B of the third embodiment described above, the porous membrane sheet Ps at the temperature adjustment roller portion excluding the small diameter roller portions 133s and 134s from the entire roller area of the first conveyance roller 133 and the second conveyance roller 134. By the close contact heating, the effects described above can be achieved. In addition to this, the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100B of the third embodiment has the porous membrane sheet Ps left by cutting at the sheet end Pse cut by the sheet cutting edge 170 shown by a cross hatch in FIG. 12, that is, FIG. The tension Fr greater than the tension Fw applied in the width direction is applied to the porous membrane sheet Ps in the region indicated by the right-down hatching in FIG. In addition, the arrow which shows tension | tensile_strength Fw in FIG. 12 applies tension | tensile_strength Fw to the width direction to the porous membrane sheet Ps depending on the winding tension | tensile_strength of the winding roller 140 which winds up the cut semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet | seat CEs. It shows the situation and does not show the magnitude of the tension Fw or the location where the tension occurs.

  The sheet end Pse is not in close contact with the roller surfaces of the transport rollers of the first transport roller 133 and the second transport roller 134 upstream from the cutting position of the porous film sheet Ps by the sheet cutting edge 170, and the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms. It remains continuous with the stretched porous membrane sheet Ps before bonding. Accordingly, the sheet end Pse upstream from the cut portion in the region indicated by the hatching in FIG. 12 passes through the sheet end Pse where the tension Fr larger than the tension Fw applied to the porous membrane sheet Ps in the width direction is cut. Therefore, even if the porous membrane sheet Ps before the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is bonded is subjected to the tension Fw so as to narrow the membrane width, the neck-in can be prevented. In this case, the portion of the porous membrane sheet Ps to which the tension Fw is applied in the width direction is in close contact with the roller surfaces of the first transport roller 133 and the second transport roller 134 and the contraction in the width direction is suppressed. Neck-in due to the addition of Fw can be prevented more reliably.

  Also for the embodiment product obtained by the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100B of the third embodiment, the temperature of the first transport roller 133 and the second transport roller 134 is adjusted (FIG. 5: step S10), and subsequent steps S100 to S100. The semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs obtained in accordance with each procedure of S150 is subjected to impregnation and hydrolysis of the porous membrane sheet Ps using a heating roller into an electrolyte resin (electrolyte precursor), and a reinforced electrolyte as a finished product A membrane was obtained. Next, the obtained reinforced electrolyte membrane (third embodiment product) was cut into a 10 cm square sample piece shape shown in FIG. 2, and the cut sample product (third embodiment product) was heated at 80 ° C. The dimensional change rate (swelling) of the conveyance direction dimension MD and the width direction dimension TD after immersion for 20 minutes was determined. As a result, in the third embodiment product, the dimensional change rate of the conveyance direction dimension MD was 1.9%, and the dimensional change rate of the width direction dimension TD was 0.7%. From this result, the third embodiment product causes only a dimensional change (swelling) of about 1 to 2% in both the conveyance direction dimension MD and the width direction dimension TD, and balances the dimensional change in the conveyance direction and the width direction. Is removed. That is, the third embodiment product has a dimensional change rate lower than that of the embodiment product when the electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment is used (see FIG. 7), which prevents the above-described neck-in. It is assumed to be an effect. And according to 3rd Embodiment which applies tension | tensile_strength Fr to the sheet | seat edge | side Pse which has been cut | disconnected, generation | occurrence | production of the wrinkle to an electrolyte membrane is suppressed highly effectively by the large suppression of the dimensional change of the conveyance direction and width direction of an electrolyte membrane. By doing so, it can be said that durability can be further improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, examples, and modifications, and can be realized with various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments, examples, and modifications corresponding to the technical features in each embodiment described in the summary section of the invention are to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or In order to achieve part or all of the above-described effects, replacement or combination can be performed as appropriate. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, it can be deleted as appropriate.

  In the above-described embodiment, the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps by the pressure type roller configuration using the nip pressure. However, the existing bonding mechanism may be used. Good. For example, at the end point of the conveyance area, a wrap type in which the pressure conveyance roller 132 is disposed downstream in the conveyance direction from the conveyance roller 130 and is bonded so that tension is applied to the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms on the roller surface of the pressure conveyance roller 132. A bonding mechanism may be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the widening mechanism 160 has a wire-type widening mechanism using the gripping wire 163. However, the sheet ends Pse at both ends in the width direction of the porous membrane sheet Ps are gripped across the transport area. Any mechanism that can widen the film while conveying the porous membrane sheet Ps may be used. Therefore, a tenter-type or clip-type widening mechanism that grips the sheet end Pse from above and below may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the porous membrane sheet Ps stretched by the widening mechanism 160 is made into a porous membrane sheet having a thickness of 1 to 5 μm and a porosity of about 40 to 75% using PTFE. Although the sheet Ps is stretched at a widening ratio of 110 to 150% by the widening mechanism 160, a porous membrane tape formed in a tape shape using PTFE may be stretched by the widening mechanism 160. In this case, a porous membrane tape having a width of 30 to 50 mm may be stretched by the widening mechanism 160 at a high magnification so that a reinforced electrolyte membrane having a width of 150 to 300 mm is obtained.

  In the embodiment described above, since the porous membrane sheet Ps is formed using PTFE, the temperature of the conveying roller 130 is controlled to 120 ° C. at which the sheet strength in a normal temperature environment is almost halved. What is necessary is just to adjust the heating temperature of the conveyance roller 130 according to the material used for formation of Ps. In the embodiment described above, the porous membrane sheet Ps formed using PTFE is heated by the conveyance roller 130 to 120 ° C. at which the sheet strength in a normal temperature environment is almost halved. If the adhesion to the roller surface due to (adhesiveness) and the suppression of shrinkage due to this adhesion can be secured, the porous film sheet Ps made of PTFE may be heated by the conveying roller 130 at a temperature lower or higher than 120 ° C.

  In the third embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 12, sheet cutting is performed outside the semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet CEs, that is, outside the edge in the width direction of the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms bonded to the porous membrane sheet Ps. Although the sheet end Pse is cut by the blade 170, the sheet end Pse may be cut by the sheet cutting blade 170 including the edge in the width direction of the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms.

  In the third embodiment described above, the sheet end Pse cut by the sheet cutting blade 170 is about 10 times the tension Fw that the porous membrane sheet Ps before bonding the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms receives so as to narrow the membrane width. However, the tension Fr may be increased or decreased according to the material used for forming the porous membrane sheet Ps.

  In the third embodiment described above, both the heating conveyance rollers of the first conveyance roller 133 and the second conveyance roller 134 are provided with a small-diameter roller portion 133s and a small-diameter roller portion 134s and have a step with respect to the temperature adjustment roller portion. However, both the small-diameter roller portions described above may be tapered small-diameter roller portions that have a smaller diameter as they proceed from the temperature adjusting roller portion toward the roller end.

  In the third embodiment described above, the small-diameter roller portion 130s and the small-diameter roller portion 131s are provided on both the heating conveyance rollers of the first conveyance roller 133 and the second conveyance roller 134, but for bonding with the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms. You may provide the small diameter roller part 134s only in the 2nd conveyance roller 134 which is a near heating conveyance roller. Even in this case, the effect of preventing neck-in can be obtained.

  In 1st Embodiment already described, although the conveyance roller 130 is provided as one heating conveyance roller, the small diameter roller part similar to the 1st conveyance roller 133 of 3rd Embodiment is used for the conveyance roller 130 in this 1st Embodiment. The tension Fr already described at the time of winding may be applied to the sheet end Pse cut by the sheet cutting blade 170 after the electrolyte membrane sheet Ms is bonded. In addition, in the form having three or more heating and conveying rollers, each heating and conveying roller may be provided with a small-diameter roller portion similar to the first conveying roller 133, or at least the most downstream heating and conveying roller, Similarly to the second transport roller 134, a small-diameter roller portion 134s may be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Electrolyte membrane manufacturing apparatus 110 ... 1st delivery roller 120 ... 2nd delivery roller 130 ... conveyance roller 133 ... 1st conveyance roller 133s ... small diameter roller part 131 ... 2nd conveyance roller 132 ... pressurization conveyance roller 134 ... 2nd conveyance Roller 134s ... Small diameter roller part 140 ... Winding roller 160 ... Widening mechanism 161 ... Upstream sheet end gripping roller 162 ... Downstream side sheet end gripping roller 163 ... Holding wire 170 ... Sheet cutting blade 180 ... Sheet end winding roller 200 ... Control Equipment Bs ... Back sheet CEs ... Semi-finished electrolyte membrane sheet Ms ... Electrolyte membrane sheet MPs ... Electrolyte impregnated porous membrane sheet Ps ... Porous membrane sheet Pse ... Sheet end Psh ... Cutting part Psh0 ... Winding width Psh1 ... Stretched width Pso ... Surplus sheet part

Claims (2)

A method for producing a reinforced electrolyte membrane in which an electrolyte membrane is reinforced with a porous membrane,
Stretching the porous membrane in the width direction while transporting the porous membrane in the transport zone in the longitudinal direction of the membrane;
A transport roller that receives the stretched porous membrane from the transport zone and sends it downstream, heats and softens the porous membrane in close contact with the roller surface, and maintains the softened state of the porous membrane Adjusting the temperature and bonding the electrolyte membrane to the stretched porous membrane in a state where the stretched porous membrane is in close contact with the roller surface of the temperature-adjusted transport roller; A method for producing a reinforced electrolyte membrane. A method for producing a reinforced electrolyte membrane according to claim 1,
In the step of bonding the electrolyte membrane to the stretched porous membrane,
The electrolyte membrane has been bonded to the end portion of the stretched porous membrane that is wider than the membrane width of the electrolyte membrane without causing the stretched porous membrane to adhere to the roller surface of the transport roller. Cutting the stretched porous membrane along the transport direction while transporting the stretched porous membrane to the downstream side of the bonded portion of the electrolyte membrane,
A method for producing a reinforced electrolyte membrane, wherein a tension larger than a tension applied in a width direction is applied to the stretched porous membrane left by the cutting to the cut end portion.

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