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Controlled gas‐phase sulfonation of low‐density polyethylene films
Author(s) -
Allan Jacqueline M.,
Dooley R. Larry,
Shalaby Shalaby W.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(20000624)76:13<1865::aid-app3>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - polyethylene , materials science , contact angle , low density polyethylene , surface roughness , polymer chemistry , phase (matter) , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , surface finish , chemical engineering , analytical chemistry (journal) , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
In the current research, a highly controllable system operating at low temperatures and for short reaction times is employed for the surface sulfonation of low‐density polyethylene. This system provides the advantages of short reaction times and low reaction temperatures, as compared with previous methods of surface sulfonation. Low‐density polyethylene films were sulfonated at 40°C for time periods ranging from 5 to 30 min. Subsequently, all films were analyzed by SEM, EDX, horizontal ATR–FTIR, surface roughness, and dynamic contact‐angle measurements. Sulfonation was effected at all reaction times. The degree of surface sulfonation increased through 10 min and reached a maximum between 10‐ and 30‐min reaction times with concomitant changes in the physicochemical properties of the material. At 30 min, the film topography changed substantially, indicating that sulfonation was no longer limited to a strictly surface reaction. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 1865–1869, 2000