SYNTHESIS OF GRAFTED POLYETHYLENE BY ION-BEAM MODIFICATION

The chemical reactivity of polyethylene modified by irradiation with 4 0 keV Ar+ ions to fluences of 1 x 10(12)-1 x 10(15) cm(-2) was studied . Ion beam modified polyethylene was exposed to the solutions of CH2=C H-COOH, CH2=CH-CN and Br, and the chemical and structural changes were examined using IR-, UV-VIS-spectroscopies, electronparamagnetic reson ance and Rutherford back-scattering techniques. The above agents were found to react with radicals and conjugated double bonds created by th e ion irradiation. Radical and additive reactions in the ion beam modi fied surface layer may lead to the creation of a grafted surface layer up to 150 nm thick. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.