Functionalization of Fluropolymers and Polyolefins via Grafting of Polyelectrolyte Brushes From Atmospheric‐Pressure Plasma Activated Surfaces

Abstract

ETFE, PE, and PP surfaces were functionalized by a procedure involving the activation of the substrates with cold, atmospheric‐pressure helium plasma, formation of surface‐bound peroxides in air, and subsequent grafting of polymer brushes from these initiators by means of free‐radical polymerization. Strategies for obtaining weak and strong polyelectrolyte brushes are presented and the applicability of the method to the different polymer substrates is evaluated. The wettability of the modified surfaces was found to be increased on all three polymers, resulting in a decrease of contact angle from 100° in the unmodified state to about 10° after modification with the most hydrophilic brushes. Examples of surfaces with strong wettability contrast or with reversibly switchable wettability are shown.

Advanced Water Management in PEFCs: Diffusion Layers with Patterned Wettability

“…While AA is a well-known low-cost compound, NVF offers the possibility to extremely decrease the contact angle and produce a "fully-wetting" surface. 37 A parametric study including the effect of monomer concentration and reaction time was performed for both systems. The modified polymeric films were characterized in terms of the mass increase (gravimetric degree of grafting), infrared spectroscopy and the surface wettability.…”

Characterization Challenges of Micro- and Nanografted Polymer Systems

“…IR spectroscopy is well suited to monitor the progress of postfunctionalization reactions-for example, for the quaternization of P4VP (see Figure 4.1B) or the hydrolysis or reduction of poly(vinylformamide) to yield primary amines (see Figure 4.1C) [1,2]. Moreover, the presence of undesired by-products such as boric acid after using borane/THF adducts for the aforementioned reduction reaction can be detected.…”

“…In Figure 5.3, UV spectra for a number of graft polymers on ETFE are shown [2]. In Figure 5.3, UV spectra for a number of graft polymers on ETFE are shown [2].…”

Functional Polymer-on-Polymer Structures

“…The examples discussed here were all grafted from poly(ethylene-alt-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE), poly(propylene) (PP), and poly(ethylene) (PE) using activation with extreme ultraviolet (EUV) interference lithography [1] for nanopatterned brushes or atmospheric pressure helium plasma for activating larger areas (e.g., in the context of wettability studies) [2]. The examples discussed here were all grafted from poly(ethylene-alt-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE), poly(propylene) (PP), and poly(ethylene) (PE) using activation with extreme ultraviolet (EUV) interference lithography [1] for nanopatterned brushes or atmospheric pressure helium plasma for activating larger areas (e.g., in the context of wettability studies) [2].…”

“…The impact of the chemical functionality of grafted polymer brushes on the wettability of the substrate was investigated for a number of neutral polymers as well as for weak and strong polyelectrolytes (Figure 4.2) [2]. It is evident that the wettability of the hydrophobic ETFE substrate can be tailored over a wide range with polymer brushes.…”