THERMOSENSITIVE SURFACE-PROPERTIES OF POLYETHYLENE FILM WITH POLY(N-ISOPROPYLACRYLAMIDE) CHAINS PREPARED BY CORONA DISCHARGE INDUCED GRAFTING

Polyethylene (PE) film was treated by corona discharge and then grafte d with N-isopropylacrylamide(NIPAAm) for modification of the surface. The grafted amount was determined by gravimetry and the surface morpho logy was observed by using a scanning electron microscope. The surface analysis was carried out with a x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron probe microanalysis. It was clarified that grafting was limit ed surface and there was no change of the surface morphology after gra fting. The water absorption at various temperature under the absolute humidity (11.4 g/cm(3)) and the leakage of electrostatic charge from P E film were measured. Poly NIPAAm that was introduced onto PE surface has hydrophilic-hydrophobic transition properties at the 32 degrees C in the atmospheric condition. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.