(US5447636-A)      A reinforced composite membrane is produced by (A) forming an ion exchange film from a fluorinated polymer, (B) forming a porous hydrocarbon substrate, (C) coating at least 1 side of (A) and/or of (B) with a solvent for the polymer below the decomposition temp. of (A) and (B) and (D) pressing the coated side(s) of (A) and (B) together below the decomposition temp. of (A) and (B) to facilitate bonding between (A) and (B). The membrane is pref. heated and/or a vacuum is applied to remove the solvent. The membrane is pref. hydrolysed and the substrate and/or the membrane is (are) impregnated with an ionic surfactant.    The solvent is pref. a lower alkanol, a perfluorinated cycloalkane, a perfluorinated aromatic cpd. or a perfluorotrialkylamine. The solvent pref. contains dissolved or dispersed an ion exchange polymer, esp. the same as (A).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In fuel cells, electrolytic cells and other chemical separators. A virtually non-porous composite reinforced ion exchange membrane which can be produced at room temp. or below avoiding degradation or melting of the substrate.    (JP9506662-W)      Mfg. a composite membrane comprises: (1) forming anion exchange film from a fluorinated polymer and opt. hydrolysing the polymer film; (2) forming a porous hydrocarbon substrate; (3) coating a side(s) of the film and/or substrate with a solvent for te polymer at a temp. below the degradation temp. of the substrate and the film; and (4) contacting the coated side(s) of the substrate and film at a temp. below the degradation temp. of the substrate and the film.    Also claimed is an ion exchange membrane so made.    USE -   Used in fuel cells, electrolytic cells and other chemical sepns.    ADVANTAGE -   The simple, inexpensive, reproducible process provides a reinforced non-porous membrane with good mechanical strength and very low resistance to ionic conduction, with high permeation and transport rates. The process eliminates th need for a costly heat lamination step and provides an alternate method for making membranes when high temp. lamination will degrade the components.    (EP734410-B1)      Mfg. a composite membrane comprises: (1) forming anion exchange film from a fluorinated polymer and opt. hydrolysing the polymer film; (2) forming a porous hydrocarbon substrate; (3) coating a side(s) of the film and/or substrate with a solvent for te polymer at a temp. below the degradation temp. of the substrate and the film; and (4) contacting the coated side(s) of the substrate and film at a temp. below the degradation temp. of the substrate and the film.    Also claimed is an ion exchange membrane so made.    USE -   Used in fuel cells, electrolytic cells and other chemical sepns.    ADVANTAGE -   The simple, inexpensive, reproducible process provides a reinforced non-porous membrane with good mechanical strength and very low resistance to ionic conduction, with high permeation and transport rates. The process eliminates th need for a costly heat lamination step and provides an alternate method for making membranes when high temp. lamination will degrade the components.