SURFACE CARBOXYLATION OF PEEK FILM BY SELECTIVE WET-CHEMISTRY

Surface carboxylated PEEK films were obtained from a common key-interm ediate, the PEEK-OH film, resulting from the surface reduction of amor phous PEEK film. Substitution of the hydroxyl groups, under mild acidi c conditions, with 4-aminobenzoic acid and succinamic acid gave PEEK-P h-CO2H and PEEK-(CH2)(2)-CO2H in 38% and 70% yields, respectively. The sample surfaces were analysed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Th e reactivity of PEEK-(CH2)(2)-CO2H was assayed by activation with WSC, SOCl2 or CDI, followed by coupling to H-3-lysine and liquid scintilla tion counting of the radioactivity associated with the samples. (C) 19 97 Elsevier Science Ltd.