A novel amphoteric ion exchange resin was prepared by radiation-induced grafting styrene (St) and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) onto the poly(vinylidene fluoride) resin

followed by sulfonation and protonation processes.Micro-FTIR

XPS

TG and SEM analyses testified that the grafting and sulfonation of St and DMAEMA units in poly(St-co-DMAEMA) grafts had been carried out successfully as designed.The grafting yield (GY) was greatly influenced by the grafting conditions including the solvent

the total absorbed dose and the monomer concentration

while the composition of the graft chains only depends on the initial molar ratio of St and DMAEMA.The ion exchange capacities (IEC) increases with the increasing of GY

and eventually the maximum cation and anion exchange capacities can reach to 2.16 mmol/g and 1.06 mmol/g

respectively.This type of new ion exchange resin can be used in treatment of heavy metal waste water and as ion exchange membrane material.