Surface modification of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) film by plasma graft polymerization of sodium vinylsulfonate

Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) surface was modified by the graft polymerization of sodium vinylsulfonate, and the chemical composition of the graft-polymerized PTFE surface was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Peroxides were formed on the PTFE surface by a combination procedure of argon plasma irradiation and air exposure, and the graft polymerization of sodium vinylsulfonate was initiated by the peroxide groups at 65–80°C. The peroxide concentration is 3 × 10⁺¹³ to 5 × 10⁺¹³ numbers/cm². The average degree of polymerization of the graft polymers was 3.4 × 10³. The graft polymer is distributed over the PTFE surface, but part of the PTFE surface remains uncovered. The coverage with the graft polymer is 43%. The PTFE surface graft polymerized with sodium vinylsulfonate was somewhat hydrophilic, but the hydrophilicity was lower than that of the PTFE surface modified by plasma treatment. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 77–84, 1997