Preparation of hydrophilic polyethylene foam of open cell type by radiation grafting of acrylic acid

Abstract

AbstractHydrophilic polyethylene foam was synthesized by radiation grafting of acrylic acid onto polyethylene foam of open cell type using monomer solution containing Mohr's salt which inhibits homopolymerization of the monomer. The graft foam was easily dyed by cationic dyes and showed excellent moisture regain. The wicking properties were also excellent and were almost the same as those of commercially available PVA foam. The surface resistivity of 1016 ohm of the original foam decreased to 106 ohm and half decay time of surface charge decreased from 8000 s to 1 s by the grafting, indicating that the grafted foam has excellent antistatic properties.