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Analysis of polyethylene surface sulfonation
Author(s) -
Fischer Dahlia,
Eysel Hans H.
Publication year - 1994
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/app.1994.070520410
Subject(s) - polymer , polyethylene , sulfuric acid , polymer chemistry , penetration (warfare) , sodium salt , sodium , chemistry , low density polyethylene , ion exchange , contact angle , materials science , analytical chemistry (journal) , ion , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , operations research , engineering
Attachment of SO 3 H groups onto the surface of polymers by treatment with fuming sulfuric acid is a well‐known procedure. In the present study we compare the number of SO 3 H groups per unit area measured by a number of methods including weight gain, thickness, FT‐IR transmittance spectra, FT‐IR surface spectra with ATR method, sodium exchange, and p H measurement of water in contact with the polymer surface. It can be shown that, under the chosen conditions, i.e., room temperature and 32% SO 3 in H 2 SO 4 , oxidation of PE is the main reaction, while sulfonation accounts for less than 20% of the weight gained during reaction. Differences in the reactivity of high density and low density polyethylenes are discussed. Deprotonation in water compared with H + /Na + exchange indicates a poor penetration of sodium ions into deeper layers of the polymer. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.