SURFACE MODIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF POLYETHYLENE FILM

LDPE and a blend of LDPE and LLDPE (50/50) films were etched by hot fu ming nitric acid to introduce polar groups on the film surfaces. The p resence of polar groups, mainly, -COOH, >C=O, -NO2 and -NO, was confir med by IR studies. Deconvolution of the ESCA peaks also supported the generation of active polar groups. The surface morphology of the etche d films was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical pe rformance of laminates of these active films with epoxy (Araldite) res in was tested by tensile property measurement. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.