Effect of solvent polarity on polyethylene-solution interfaces Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • The goal of this research is to study the structure of polyethylene-solution interfaces and to investigate the dynamics and reactivity of functional groups at such surfaces. The authors have studied how the reactivity, mobility, and accessibility of functional groups at a polyethylene surface vary as a function of solvent polarity. The results from these studies support our earlier studies using ESR labeled oligomers entrapped in polyethylene. They show that the functional groups in entrapment functionalized polyethylene are at a diffuse interface. The mobility and accessibility of the functional groups in this interface as well as the depth of the polymer-solution interface are dependent upon the ability of the solvent to swell the polymer surface. Functional groups in the polymer-solution interface become more accessible and the polymer chains are more mobile when the films are exposed to good swelling solvents like THF and CH2Cl2. In solvents such as ethanol and cyclohexane, the interface is not swollen and the functional groups behave as if they are in a dry polyethylene film.

published proceedings

  • American Chemical Society, Polymer Preprints, Division of Polymer Chemistry

author list (cited authors)

  • Hein, M. D., Huang, K. J., & Bergbreiter, D. E.

complete list of authors

  • Hein, MD||Huang, KJ||Bergbreiter, DE

publication date

  • April 1989