WE report here a new method for modifying polyethylene surfaces by incorporating various functional groups onto the surface. The critical surface tension value (γc) of polyethylene treated with an electron deficient moiety (EDM) such as a carbene or nitrene can be changed to a desired value by selecting the proper electron deficient moiety. The γC of untreated polyethylene is 31 dynes/cm, but on exposure to carbethoxycarbene the value is increased to 39 dynes/cm and when exposed to difluorocarbene the value approaches 21 dynes/cm.