CHEMICAL-REACTIONS ON PLASMA-TREATED POLYETHYLENE SURFACES

Oxygen plasma treatment as a surface functionalization technique is di scussed. Oxygen-containing functionalities were introduced on the surf ace of high- (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) by glow discha rge. The number of surface hydroxyl groups was increased by a post-dis charge wet treatment in a reducing solution. The effects of the substr ate nature, the discharge parameters, and the post-discharge wet treat ment on the surface functional groups are discussed, and the effective ness of functionalized surfaces on the yield of coupling reactions is shown.