Zinc ion-imprinted polymers were prepared by the combination of surface template polymerization and irradiation by γ-rays. Dioleyl phosphate, which has two C−C double bonds in the oleyl chains, and divinylbenzene were employed as a functional monomer and a cross-linking agent, respectively. After the surface template polymerization with water-in-oil emulsions, the imprinted resins were irradiated with γ-rays to make the polymer matrices more rigid and also to allow the functional monomer to attach firmly to the matrices. The irradiated imprinted resin exhibits a tremendously high selectivity toward zinc ions over copper ions. Thus it is understood that the postirradiated imprinted polymers are characterized by stable and highly specific recognition sites. The combination of surface template polymerization with irradiation with γ-rays offers a potential technique to construct highly selective molecular-recognizing polymers applicable to the adsorption of various water-soluble substances.

A novel process for graft polymerization onto a polyethylene (PE) film using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was examined. First, a PE film irradiated with an electron beam was treated with carbon tetrabromide, thereby introducing tribromomethyl groups. The number of tribromomethyl groups introduced onto the film could be controlled by adjusting the electron beam irradiation dose. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was then graft-polymerized by ATRP in the initiator-introduced PE film in the presence of a copper catalyst. Based on FTIR spectra from the PMMA grafted films, the behavior of graft polymerization reactions on the film surface and inside the film are discussed.