FT-IR SPECTROSCOPIC INVESTIGATIONS OF PHOTOCHEMICAL GRAFTING OF AMPHIPHILES ONTO POLYACRYLONITRILE SURFACES

The photoreactive amphiphile p-(stearyl amido) benzoyl azide (SABAz) w as synthesized and grafted onto surface of thin polyacrylonitrile (PAN ) films by irradiation with UV light. Two different techniques were ap plied, namely, Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) deposition and casting from solu tion. A high degree of order and a hydrophobic surface were establishe d by reflection-absorption FT-IR spectroscopy (RA-IR) and contact angl e measurements. The stability against treatment with water, tetrahydro furan, and chloroform was tested. A considerable amount of amphiphilic molecules remains on the surface also after treatment with chloroform . RA-IR spectra taken from photomodified PAN films prepared by both te chniques are almost identical after chloroform treatment, indicating a similar coupling mechanism. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.