Amino acids grafting of Ar+ ions modified PE

Polyethylene (PE) was irradiated with 63 keV Ar+ ions to the fluences from 1 x 10(12) to 3 x 10(15) cm(-2) and then grafted at room temperature from w ater solution with amino acids (alanine, leucine). Using various spectrosco pic techniques (UV-VIS, FTIR, RES and EPR) it was shown that the amino acid s penetrate into PE where they are eventually captured either on double bon ds or on free radicals created by the ion irradiation. Grafting with amino acids in the whole specimen layer modified by irradiation is observed. The ion-beam-modified and amino-acid grafted PE is supposed to exhibit increase d biocompatibility. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.