X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry studies of some surface modified hydrocarbon films

Abstract

Near-ultraviolet light induced graft copolymerization of water soluble monomers such as acrylamide (AAm), acrylic acid (AAc), and sodium salt of 4-styrenesulfonic acid (NaSS) onto pristine and ozone-pretreated polyethylene terephthalate (PET), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polycarbonate (PC) had been carried out. An emeraldine (EM) base was then coated onto the AAc and NaSS polymer grafted substrates to give rise to self-protonated conductive surfaces. Using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry techniques, it was found that ozone pretreatment led to a substantial enhancement of the density of graft, and subsequently, the extent of protonation of the EM base on these polymer substrates. The models describing the graft structure or morphology are also presented.